Rating: PG

Disclaimer: they belong to Joss

Characters: Mal/Inara

Timeframe: Missing scene from Heart Of Gold

Note All sections are linked. If a broken link occures, please let me know.

Something’s Gotta Give: Part-1- Shattered

By

Lattelady

Feelings of hurt, surprise and confusion rocked Inara to her soul. She was a Companion, schooled in the art of control. At the moment that control was cracking and threatening to shatter into a million pieces. Why did the sight of Malcolm Reynolds walking out of Nandi’s room casually buttoning his shirt have such an effect on her? It was obvious he’d slept with her friend.

‘So what,’ she tried to tell herself and had to fight to keep from picturing Nandi and Mal together as they must have been the night before.

‘It should have been me in there with him.’ Her inner voice cried out, as something essential broke away, leaving her defenseless against her feelings. ‘Why would he go to her when he looks at me with nothing but distain?’ Her mind was shouting things she daren’t ask.

Inara heard words echoing in her ears as she prattled on about the advantages of not feeling guilt about the act of sex, anything to cover her inner turmoil and keep from shouting to the rooftops the thoughts that were eating her alive.

At the moment the only thing that was important was the unconcerned mask she was hiding behind. It was all that kept her going as she turned and walked down the hallway, away from the man who had hurt her so badly. Her one satisfaction was that she had hidden it from Mal. She was oblivious to the anger that had tinged her voice or the tears that burned her eyes until she looked anything but unconcerned.

Inara closed and locked her door, rushing to the corner; she slid to the floor and let her tears come. She held her hand over her mouth. The walls were thin and she didn’t want anyone to hear the gut-wrenching sobs that shook her body and soul. They dredged up feelin