Hatred

She couldn’t watch, she didn’t want to see, but here she was waiting for them. The feelings bemused her, frightened her, she didn’t understand them.

For a long time now her thoughts had been constantly on him, she had watched his every move, listened to his every word, breathed his every breath.

She found herself trying to please him, to behave better, to contribute even a little to his plans and schemes.

Her efforts were rewarded at last when he included her in one of his plans; she was determined to prove herself to him.

Instead she had been overwhelmed by the Reavers’ thoughts and everything had changed.

The loss of their friends, finding Miranda, the battle with the Reavers had altered their lives. Some for the better like her brother and Kaylee, some for the worse, bereft Zoë.

Some not at all, because even though she was much saner now her emotional attachment to him remained, unrequited.

Inara had returned and this time the Captain had wanted her to stay. They became more and more intimate until she knew consumation wouldn’t be long.

She watched unseen as they strolled up the ramp arm in arm, actually happy in each others company, and for the first time in her life River felt the bitterness of hatred.

*****************

Understanding

He could just about feel the hatred ripplin’ off the girl as she crouched in the shadows watchin’.

He knew she’d been waitin’ for them to come on board and had kept guard in case she did somethin’ stupid. Because he knew, all to well, how stupid a person could be when they were crazy ‘bout someone.

It gave him a sorta fellow feelin’ for her.

He’d always suspected that the crazy girl had a hankerin’ for the Captain, but hadn’t really known it till ‘Nara came back to Serenity.

The girl hadn’t been quick enough to hide the pain in her eyes the first time she saw Mal and the companion sittin’ together at the table and she’d been mopin’ round ever since.

Her feelins were there for everyone to see, ‘cept they wer