Next chapter in my fic. Thanks to all of you for being patient.

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“Da-shiong bao-jah-shr duh la-doo-tze!” Mal yelled as his whipped his pistol out of the holster to point towards the person that was now standing in his cargo bay. It was Brian, the young man that had started this whole mess in the first place.

Brian calmly looked at Mal, then at the three guns that were aimed in his direction, and said, “Is this really necessary Captain Reynolds? I mean you no harm.”

Mal chose to ignore the question and ask one of his own. “River, what the hell is this?”

River calmly walked up to the edge of the pit in the floor, and leaned over to give Brian a hand up. Once he was out, she turned towards Mal and gave him a look that told him to be quite. Then, quick as lightning, she spun around and slapped Brian as hard as she could.

Mal got a tighter grip, and prepared for the fight that was coming. Brian, however just stood there, holding his cheek and looking down into River’s sad eyes.

“You’re late,” River told him.

Brian continued to stare into River’s eyes, and after several moments, softly said, “I know, bao-bei, and I’m sorry.”

River smiled, and jumped into his arms. They twirled around, until Brian sat her down and leaned in to touch his forehead to hers.

Mal was still holding his gun during all this, but it was no longer aimed in any particular direction. While watching the brief exchange, he managed to catch a glimpse of Simon’s face. The man looked like he was ready to die of shock. Chuckling to himself, Mal replaced his gun in the holster.

Hitting the button to close the doors, Mal began to make his way across the bay, when River suddenly jerked back and started pulling Brian in Simon’s direction. Not wanting to miss anything that was about to happen, Mal quickened his pace, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught the rest of the crew heading in the same direction.

He managed to arrive just in time to hear Brian utter, “It’s nice to fi