Inara closed the door and turned to the girl. “What the tyen shiao duh are you doing here?”

“Helping.” River walked around the room, running her fingers over the expensive furnishings.

“Helping. How, exactly?” Inara was angry now. “This is nothing to do with you.”

“You’re going to find your son.” River stopped and fixed her with a stern eye. “You should have told Mal. Face to face.”

“He’s in the middle of … and it’s nothing to do with him either.”

“He’s your friend.”

“He’s got enough to worry about.”

“And now he’s worrying about you.”

Inara glanced at her then dropped onto the sofa, exhaling noisily. “River, I have to do this.”

“I understand. But you don’t have to do it alone.” River joined her, taking her hand. “It isn’t safe.”

Inara looked at her sharply. “Safe? How is it not safe?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Sometimes …”

“I know,” River said airily. “Everyone feels like that about me occasionally.”

“Don’t you care?”

The girl laughed. “It’s much more fun to keep people guessing.”

“But running off and not telling anyone …”

“Exactly.”

Inara glared at her. “Did you tell them where I was going?” she asked, not wanting to admit she had done anything in the least bit foolish.

“No. That’s up to you.”

“And how did you –“

River put her head on one side. “You were very loud. And you promised to help me get ready for dinner with Jethro. And I don’t have a dress to wear.” She sighed. “He is not going to be pleased we’ve had to put this off another day.”

“That’s nothing to do with me!”

“No?”

“Oh, River.” Inara sounded so exasperated that the young psychic smiled. “And don’t look so happy about it. I can only imagine what your brother’s going to say when he hears about this.” She glanced towards the Cortex link and sighed loudly. “Well, I suppose I’d better let them know you’re not floating around some moon somewhere.”

“Captain Branscombe wouldn’t have done that.”

“No, but I might.”

---

“… so it looks like River