(All Firefly characters are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy and all original characters are mine.)

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Part 4

Once River had finished putting all the pieces together, she checked her sights, adjusted the range and then sat back on her heels.

“Daddy? not dead or alive. Why are you here? I remember you, all blurred now can't see! Where's Simon?” She asked, then answered her own question with “Simon's lost. Poor Simon! Head’s buzzing, mind unclear, driving further towards insanity but it’s not a place just a state of mind. Can't find himself, doesn't even know who he is anymore! He needs you daddy, we all do!”

Then a faint static sound came over the small com link on the jacket. “Ready student Tango Blue” a voice barked to her.

River smiled, whispered “ready!” and popped her eye onto the eyepiece attached to the gun.

“Target headed to you. Approaching from North East in approximately 2 minutes as predicted. Target is to be eliminated on sight” came the barking voice.

River concentrated and waited for the target to appear. Mal moved closer to River and said gently “River, don't do this. You have a choice. No touching guns, remember?” He was repeating the words he had said to her the day before that bounty Hunter Jubal Early had tried to take her away.

“I remember” River said and pulled the trigger. “But it never happened!”

“What did they do to you, River?” Mal asked.

River started to sob. “They cut me up, took things that didn't belong to them. I told them...told them stealing is wrong but they wouldn't listen, told me that time wounds all heels but the voices are still screaming in my head. Please make them stop”.

Mal wanted to take River into his arms and chase away her demons but once again the barrier between them prevented him.

Behind him Mal could hear people screaming