Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly or any of the characters. They are just fun to play with.

Past, Present, & Future

By KaySky

Part Five

“Give me a name.” Mal was losing all his patience with these men.

“The matter wasn’t your business.” Mr. Black said. “If it was, this conversation would be over by now.”

“See, now that’s where you’re wrong.” Mal whipped his gun from his holster and aimed it between Mr. Black’s eyes. “You got a problem with one of my crew that means you got a problem with me.”

“You really expect me to believe you’re going to shoot me?” He laughed.

“Don’t seem like keepin’ you alive is making that much of a difference.” He moved his gun over to his left. Now it rested between Roberts’ eyes. “Ain’t much reason to keep you alive either.”

“Don’t shoot!” Roberts cried. “I can’t die! Not like this. What would the Mrs. think?” His voice was panicky. His knees were shaking. His brow was perspiring.

Mal didn’t need to be a genius to figure out he was scared. Finally he had an advantage. “Well if you want to see the Mrs. again I suggest you tell me who’s debt Kaylee is responsible for paying.” He pressed the cold, metal barrel in between his eyes.

The coldness rushed through his body. He cracked. “Kids name was Aarons.” Tears flowed out of his eyes as Mal pulled the gun away.

* * * *

“How’s he doing?” Kaylee’s quiet footsteps and soft voice barely alerted anyone to her presence as she slowly walked into her old room.

Simon had been cleaning up the room the best he could for the time being. Zoe was sitting in a chair beside the bed, holding Wash’s hand. Simon turned his head in Kaylee’s direction and acknowledged her with a smile. Zoe’s glance never left her husband.

“He’s going to be fine.” Zoe’s voice was just above a whisper. “He has to be fine.”

Kaylee took a few steps forward, standing behind Zoe, placing her hands on top of her shoulders. “I remember when one of his dinosaurs got left behind on Greenleaf. We were three hours out when