DISCLAIMER: All characters and whatnot belong to Joss Whedon, any bizarre reference belongs to other owners of other rights. It's just something stupid-i-hope-fun that i wrote...try to just laugh and enjoy.

Remember the "laughing" part...and the "stupid-i-hope-fun" part...

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When Inara received the 'wave from Wash, she wasn't precisely sure why he had chosen to speak in an accent resembling the German accent from Earth That Was, nor was she clear on why he was so very emotional about a plant dying. She hadn't even known he'd had a plant. Then he had stopped mid-sentence and resumed his normal tones as he informed her there was a virus affecting every last one of the crew...and if she was smart she'd remain on her shuttle even after docking until someone let her know the 'Going Crazy Flu' (as he'd called it) was over and done with.

Since she had no desire to contract any new sort of disease, she had gratefully accepted the reprieve and, once docked safely in the shuttle bay, found a reliably enchanting book to read and settled in. She hardly noticed the sensation of the ship breaking atmo as it left Boros behind.

Until River tapped on the door of her shuttle.

Remembering Wash's advice, she spoke through the comm system.

"Hello, River," Inara said as warmly as possible through the channel. "How are things out there?"

"I seem to be the most normal person left," River said in her vaguely distracted way. "Which is why I find it necessary to appeal to you to handle the final detail."

"Final detail?" Inara asked, her confusion evident in her voice.

"The man is coming back to take the Serenity," River replied. "He seems to think we're incapable of stopping him. Flying is easy. Talking...isn't."

Inara frowned. While Wash had explained that the virus made everyone dream while awake, it was hard to tell if River was still affected or not.

"Fever's gone," River said, reminding the Companion again of the child's uncanny ability to know things that should have