Chapter 3

A/N: Be sure to read the first two parts before you read this one. This chapter is a bit longer and darker- be prepared. Also the M/I ship is a central part of the story from here on out. Warning: The subject of rape (nothing graphic) comes up in this chapter and the aftermath is dealt with in the next chapter. If this is disturbing to you please don’t read any more. If you can hang with it, read on and see how Mal and the rest of the crew pull together to help Inara heal and ultimately get on with her life.

* * * * *

“Is everybody on board, Zoe?” Mal yelled from the deck of the hold.

“Yes sir.”

“We’re going back to the Baron’s house and see if anybody’s left alive.”

Mal had Wash land Serenity right in the center of the huge courtyard of the plundered mansion. The courtyard was already torn apart and full of debris; Mal didn’t figure they could do much more damage at this point. He wanted to be sure of a fast get-away if things went south.

The courtyard of the Baron’s home must have been beautiful, Mal could see. He, Zoe and Jayne moved slowly, almost reverently through the burned and littered grounds toward the open doors of the main building. Broken statues were knocked off marbled pedestals to either side of the entrance. A pool with a fountain still running like nothing had happened was off to one side. There was very little vegetation, just like the rest of the moon, but the residents here had made up for it through elaborate ornamentation. It was heartbreaking to see the mess left behind by the marauders.

Mal stepped through the doorway with his gun drawn and looked around before signaling to Zoe and Jayne to come in. The damage inside matched the destruction outside. After a quick run through the main floor revealed nobody, Mal headed up the stairs with Jayne and Zoe behind. Room by room, they checked for survivors.

“In here,” Mal said. He was standing in the doorway of a huge master suite. He walked through and automatically checked