Inferno – Chapter Fourteen

Author is not paid for his efforts, and own no rights of any kind to Firefly

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“Jayne got back, yet?” Zoe asked, as Kaylee and several of the Frye’s labored to move her to the other side of the med bay.

“Not yet,” Kaylee told her. “But Goldie just made a run back with Weldon Mann, shot in the stomach. They’re on their way down here with him now.”

“Where was Jayne?” Zoe demanded.

“Looking for the wife and children, Zoe,” Kaylee told her, exasperation clear in her voice. “They found the mister shot. Jayne brung him to Goldie and told him to get him back here to Simon. He and Liam went to see could they find the Mrs. And the young’uns.”

“Goldie left them there?” Zoe asked in wonder.

“Jayne ordered him too, Zoe,” Kaylee pointed out, speaking slowly, as if to a child. Zoe’s face heated at that.

“Kaylee, I’m just trying to find out what’s goin’ on,” she said.

“I know, Zoe,” Kaylee told her. “But we got other things to do, just now, than bring you up to speed. And it ain’t like you can do nothin’ to help, no way. So just lay back and be quiet for a while. When we get caught up, me or River one’ll come and fill you in on everything we know.”

“Fine,” Zoe growled, and lay back down.

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“River?”

River turned to see Samantha Frye, ( she hadn’t learned her married name ) walking up to the bridge. River tensed, not knowing what to expect.

“I. . .” Samantha started. “I wanted to apologize, for yesterday,” she managed. “I shouldn’t have said those things.” River looked at her for a moment.

“No, you shouldn’t,” River agreed, and Samantha recoiled as if River had slapped her. “But grief causes us to do things we would not normally do. It is understandable. Please put it from your mind.” Samantha blinked at that.

“I. . .thank you,” she finally said, and River nodded.

“Of course.” Samantha looked at her a moment longer.

“I understand that Jayne is your husband?” she asked.

“Yes, he is,” River smiled. “We were married the day before w