Chapter 13

Since Batha couldn't give any more information beyond a general direction, Mal was forced to split his crew up, sending Zoe, River, Hank, Declan and Jayne to different corners of the bar district, while Kaylee and Simon were detailed to keep watch around the Firefly, just in case Cat and Freya turned up.

'Want to come.'

"Nope." He checked a comm link then looked at the panther. "We had this conversation, remember?"

'Still want to.'

"No. You stay here. Look after the cubs." It wasn't until he heard Batha laughing in his head that he realised what he'd said. He felt a blush burn up his chest, and hurried outside before it reached his cheeks, seeing the others disappearing into the rain.

He'd headed himself for the upper market end of Amsterdam Street, knowing it was close to a store where Frey liked to get some of the kids clothes. The first two bars were quiet, then as he headed east he could hear what sounded unmistakeably like a fight. He began to jog towards it, then put on speed as he saw law officers heading the same way from the opposite direction. "Gorramit," he breathed. Okay, if Frey was inside, best thing to do was grab her and get out, hoping the fracas would keep the lawmen's attention off them. And Cat too, he supposed.

Still, as he opened the double doors, having to step back briefly as a chair whipped by his head, all his good intentions went to hell.

There, in an area of calm within the heat of the fight, Cat and Freya stood facing each other, barely breathing hard. The redhead was speaking, and somehow he was able to make out the words, despite the noise.

"I was protecting you. You know smoke isn't good for a woman in your condition."

"I'm pregnant, Cat. Not broken."

He felt his jaw drop to his knees. "You're pregnant?"

"Oh, shit." Cat and Freya had spoken together.

At that moment the lawmen arrived and thrust him to one side. He had to hold onto the doors to prevent himself from falling, hearing an amplified voice shout,