Shades of the Past – Chapter Eleven – Clearing the Air

As always, all nods to Joss Whedon, the master of sci-fi. You da man, Joss!

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When breakfast ended, the crew broke apart quietly. Inara stayed behind to do the dishes, as the rest filed away to their jobs, Kaylee taking time for one more venomous glare at her soon-to-be ex-captain. Mal said nothing, knowing he deserved it. Simon told River to come and see him when she wasn’t busy, concerned about her lapse into third person speech. She nodded absently, walking to the bridge in a near daze.

Simon gave Mal a glare of his own, then departed quietly for the infirmary.

Zoe simply left, probably following River to the bridge. After a long silence, Mal cleared his throat.

“Inara,” he began.

“Yes, Captain?” Inara replied neutrally, and Mal winced at that. Formality was her hiding place, trained into her over years of Companion study. Not a good sign.

“I wanted to apologize about last night,” he managed to say it without gagging. Apologizing wasn’t something he cared for, as it meant admitting he was wrong.

“I’m really not the one who deserves the apology, Captain,” Inara informed him with polite calm. “You do realize how badly you have upset River, I suppose? Noted her re-lapse?” Mal winced again, nodding.

“I didn’t mean for that to happen,” he mumbled. Inara threw away her formality, then, anger lighting her dark eyes.

“Damn you!” she hissed, and Mal recoiled. “She was so happy! Pursuing Jayne made her feel like a real woman, not some prize display! Everyone on this ship was happy, until your need to run every aspect of our lives ruined it!”

“I over reacted, Inara,” Mal said lamely. “I heard you three talkin’. . .”

“And that’s another thing! You have no right. . .” she stopped, and her mask slid into place again. “I’m sorry. I forgot. Only you have rights on this vessel. The rest of us are simply here to serve. Will there be anything else, Captain?”

“Inara, I said I was sorry,” he stammered. “I’m trying to fix things! Pl