DISCLAIMER: All the characters are the property of Mutant Enemy, very gratefully borrowed.

RATING: for language translations

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter has a title because it presented itself. Again, not much action. I indulge in character exploration. Sometimes its a weakness, sometimes its a strength. Some foundation was needed for River's role, as it becomes evident that she has a part to play.

SPOILER warning for anyone who did not see the unaired episodes in the US.

THINGS FALL APART

Chapter 4 - Talks with Weapons

River was good. She let her brother put her into the hidey-hole, a space just large enough for her to lie down comfortably. He put a mattress and a couple of blankets inside, and a sidelight that gave off a glow bright enough to read by. Kaylee gave her a little portable player and headphones, although River wasn't that impressed by her taste in music. There was a bottle of water and some food cubes, enough for a couple of days. Kaylee told her she'd try and smuggle her something a little more tasty after dinner. There was a bucket with a lid on it for her toilet, although using it was going to require a lot of flexibility on her part in such confined quarters. Simon was endlessly apologetic about that and said that if there was any chance he'd try to get her to the toilet. River would have told him that she'd endured far worse - had been made to endure far worse - for people who did not love her, but she knew that would just upset him so she didn't.

All of these preparations were only in case she woke up before it was safe to do so. When Simon gave her the pills she took the first one and swallowed it dutifully. The second she held under her tongue. She'd asked what it was and he'd told her, not thinking it would matter. Twelve hours was enough to sleep, to have her brother check on her a few times and be sure that she was safe. Truth be told she'd rather sleep in this hole than be awake the whole time. The journey to the station took eighteen hours, she'd