Chapter 5: The Spider Web

Life quickly fell back into a pattern on Serenity; with one change – a short version of Mal running around. Every morning Inara brushed Caroline’s hair after breakfast; and every night Kaylee helped her get ready for bed. Every afternoon they would always send a wave to Persephone to her ma. No response yet. Book, said that maybe her ma was on a trip, or working real hard which was why she hadn’t responded to any of them. Jayne said “huh.” Cap’n and Zoë looked worried every time Caroline asked about why ma hadn’t responded.

The Cap’n would tell her bedtime stories always about horses. Kaylee said that the next time they were planetside for a few days they would make her a bedroom. Her very own bedroom! Cap’n said it had to be kept clean, shipshape like the res of Serenity.

During the day Caroline studiously avoided Simon and the infirmary; the idea of getting poked and prodded terrified her. She and River played games or danced. Kaylee joined them when she wasn’t busy with Serenity. River was trying to teach Caroline to dance; it was hard, especially with no music. Caroline didn’t like the needle tracks on River’s arms. She wanted River to cover them up; they made her think of her ma. River said that was how Simon gave her medicine.

Jayne made Caroline laugh, and held her when she cried. He was her favorite person out of the whole crew, he didn’t tell her NO too much. Let her swear, as long as no one else was around. Inara was intimidating, all prettified, and elegant; and pretty terrifying. Shepard Book was nice, he told neat stories; about whales, and people that turned to stones. He said that his God would keep her ma safe in his arms; which was real comforting. Wash played dinosaurs with her; but, she couldn’t go on the bridge by herself because she could hurt Serenity. Caroline also wasn’t allowed in the engine spaces unless someone was with her; which sucked because that’s where Kaylee spent most of her time. Wash was funny he always told funny st