Act Two

-------

Inara stood there frozen for what seemed like an eternity. When Elliot walked up to her, she cursed every god she’d ever heard of that she was too dizzy to even construct a single thought.

Suddenly, a movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Mal was silently coming up behind Elliot, ready to take him out. Before Inara had the time, let alone the common sense to react, Mal had tapped Elliot on the shoulder.

“Hi there,” Mal said cheerfully when Elliot spun around, before sending his knuckles on a collision course with Elliot’s nose. The young man stumbled back and immediately slumped down onto the muddy ground, unconscious.

“Mal!” was all Inara managed to say. She quickly ran up to Mal, standing next to him as they both looked down at the limp form that was lying completely still in the middle of the deserted alley.

“Well. That was bracing,” Mal muttered. “I got half a mind to riddle him with holes right now. Wouldn’t be fair though, him bein’ knocked out an’ all. Better wait till he wakes up.” His hand was twitching impatiently on his gun holster, so Inara quickly put a soft hand on his forearm to stop him from doing anything he might regret later.

Not taking her eyes off Elliott, she said, “Will you help me bring him on board?”

Mal looked at her as if she’d gone all kinds of crazy. “’Nara, I ain’t bringin’ a guy like this on board of Serenity.”

“Please Mal, trust me on this. I know what I’m doing,” she replied, her eyes wide and pleading. She could almost see Mal’s resolve begin to waver.

“Fine,” he said after a beat, putting his hands up in surrender. “But I ain’t takin’ my eyes off this hwoon dahn for one second.”

~ * ~ * ~

It took them a considerable amount of time and effort to drag an unconscious Elliot all the way back to the ship and into the infirmary. As Inara had expected, everyone on board was fast asleep, something she was more than grateful for.

“You alright?” Mal inquired, eyeing her. She looked pale and unsettled. “You ain’t said