Invite to the Dance

-----------------------------

based on the world of Firefly by Joss Whedon

She hadn't gone as much as Mal and River had pleaded, Cat wasn't ready to belong again, not yet. Mal had told her they would be docked for a few days if she decided different and of course, kissed her again to make the decision even more difficult.

The liquor had lost its taste after the first drink, when you have tasted heaven in the lips of a man, nothing else quite adds up. She instead inclined her very sharp ears to take in what the assorted crowd had to say.

"Ma says we gots to shoot old Blue."

"That Sweet Susie sure knows how to give head."

"Say a firefly was attacked about half mile out. The sheriff was going to check it out later today and..."

"What did you say?" Cat lit of her chair to stay before the three men talking, all with shiny deputy badges on.

"A firefly transport ship. north of here. Heard it on the radio. Nobody's gotten close to see if there are any survivors."

"Why the hell not?!"

"Listen, girl. We save our own. Strangers aren't important enough to worry about, besides we don't have the man power."

"And they wonder why Alliance and Law disgusts me." She threw a coin toward the bar, it landing in her half full glass.

"Where you goin', Girl?"

"I'm doing what you deputies can't." She cocked a wick grin, even though her mind was filled with worry. "I'm goin' to save the day."

As she ran to the stables, her mind calculated what weapons she carried. Her hunting knife felt secure on her hip as well as the trademark .44. She could feel the smaller ivory dagger nestled in her boot, and her butterfly knives in their cases around her wrists.

The wind hit her face with each passing stride, drying the tears forming. She had just gotten him back and had just promised River lessons. Her mind flipped to River. If it was the people she thought would attack the ship, they would know the sleep word and River would be powerless. Images slid in f