Angelle's mine. All else is Whedon's.

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Cold...a word that could be used to describe the weather, the feel of an object, or the heart of someone who just is down right nasty....here though, it describes what I woke up to...a cold hard metal floor.

My head hurt, more so than when I had nursed a hangover or when I had spilled my guts into a pail in front of my future husband...oh, the memories. No, this was like someone had literally struck my head with the back of something hard...wait...damn it, it wasn't a bad dream.

I opened my eyes to be faced with the dark metal of an Alliance brig. If I told you how I knew what they looked like, well, I'd have to kill you. Might just tell Mal this wasn't the first time I had gotten myself locked up. Of course, Gunner still had friendly contacts in Purple Belly central. Something told me we had exhausted those long ago.

I hated Alliance cruisers. Unlike Serenity, they were so cold. You couldn't feel the engine through the plates under your feet and they were always so clean. Dust didn't settle for fear of the consequences. Of course, in my personal opinion, I always thought dust kept better company anyhow.

Something moving behind me made me turn, and get unsteadily to my feet. "A..a..angelle? Is that you?" It was Inara, about as unsteady as me, rubbing at the bump I am sure was on the back of her head as well.

"Yup." I commented, moving to sit on the small silver bench to our left. "How's your head?"

"Could use some of that root tea you keep talking about, but otherwise, I think I'm fine." She joined me, the helm of her dress still torn. Neither of us had thought of changing after Suga's assault. "Mal is going to kill you for coming after me."

"Please. I got caught same as you. There was just too many of them." I lied to her, didn't want her feelin' bad for my own protective nature, but I wasn't gonna let the Companion end up here alone. Must be my Daddy in me.

"Well, when you tell Mal, make su