She backed out his grasp only to find her back pressed against the bulkhead. He stepped forward blocking any means of escape and invading her personal space. He repeated his question. “What do you want, Inara?”

“I- I want . . .”

“You.” The ethereal whisper came not from Inara but from around the corner. River seemed to almost materialize into being. She cocked her head to one side as though listening and her eyes lost focus for a moment. A secret smile bloomed across her face and her eyes fixed on them again. “She wants you. And you want her.” With that she disappeared again as silently as she had come.

Inara’s mouth hung open in silent denial. Mal stood just as speechless, rooted to the spot, eyes blinking slowly in disbelief. He shifted his gaze back to Inara hesitantly. “Well I, uh, that was . . .” Mal cleared his throat. “Bracing.”

“Yes, I-- I don’t know what to say.” Inara tucked her hair back behind her ears blushing brightly.

Mal scrutinized her expression closely. “She’s never wrong, ya know.”

“I know.” The silence between them lengthened becoming oppressive.

“We should probably talk--”

“Cap’n!” Wash called from the cockpit. “We’re being hailed.”

“Maybe later then.” Mal turned hurriedly away.

“Yes, later.” Inara turned just as quickly and headed in the opposite direction, hopeful that later would never come.

~

“River, honey, can you come out please? We need to talk about what you said earlier. You remember? In the hallway, with the Captain?” Inara kneeled in the cargo bay in front of the opening to one of the many ‘secret’ storage areas on board.

“What’d River say, ‘Nara?” Kaylee came down the steps, Lil’ Captain close at her heels.

“Oh, mei mei.” Inara stood stiffly as though the cold of the deck plates had sunk into her joints. A clammy fist of fear and dread closing itself around her heart. She sat back down on the bottom step and Kaylee followed suit. Haltingly at first then with greater ease Inara told her the short but traumatizing story. Realization that