The Way Back
By Auburn Red
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They belong to Joss Whedon and the folks at Fox. I do however own Willa Tam, Liz and Joe Adler, Nigel Wharton, Spenser Everett, and Jaycee.
Note: This has an important character death, and has slash between two characters. If you don't want to read, you don't have to. If you are against those things and wish to read anyway, remember you've been warned.
Other Note: I am referring to a few characters outside of Firefly in passing.
Chapter One: Gone Horribly Wrong
"I am a man of constant sorrow
I've seen troubles all my days
I've bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised.
The place where he was born and raised."
~ From "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys

Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds flicked off the switch and turned to his crewmembers. "Now did everybody get that?" he asked as he faced them.
"Yes," eight voices chorused like bored schoolchildren to their lecturing instructor.
"Mal" Wash Warren piped up. "It's not like we've never been through deliveries before. I think we know what we are doing."
The brown haired captain turned to the blond pilot a look of annoyance and surprise on his face. "I'm sorry Wash," he said in mock obedience. "I just wanted to go over the rules one more time, so this plan gets off without too much trouble. Is that all right, I mean I do have your permission."
Wash turned a bright red in embarrassment. "Yes, sir, I mean no sir, I mean uh, help me out here Zoe?" He said turning to his wife.
Zoe bit back an amused smile at her husband's attempt at bravery but then turned to her captain, with a serious look on her face. "It does seem rather routine and easy sir. I don't think there should be too much trouble."
Mal glanced towards the silent communicator as if it would give him some answer. Perhaps, they were right and he was just being paranoid. But, then on the other hand being cautious was better than getting caught by the Feds or getting dead. He first said solemnly to his second. "I know Zoe, that's what worries me."
Before he could speak to the entire crew, Inara raised her manicured hand. "I hate to interrupt the instructions, but I do have to remind you that I have a job to do and I don't want to be late, so may I be excused?" Mal nodded ignoring the companion's attempt at humor.
"Good luck," Kaylee called to her friend as Inara left waving good-bye without turning around.
Mal watched Inara's ebony hair bounce and her pink full skirt flow as she left. Zoe and Jayne had to clear their throats to snap him to attention. "Oh, okay, your instructions. Zoe, Jayne you two are with me as usual. The rest of you guys wait for us to get back and wait on the ship in case things get messy." He then motioned for Zoe and Jayne to get ready for their assignment.

Simon gently led his younger sister, River to her room. The young girl looked nervous as usual, but Simon took silent pride in the fact that she wasn't in hysterics. "Time for your injection, mei mei," he said softly.
"The road will end soon Simon," River said as she rocked herself back and forth. Simon had to put a hand on his younger sister's shoulder to stop her. She sat still, but continued speaking as Simon filled the injection and inserted it in her arm. "It will all be over for us and it will end in blood."
Simon caught his breath, trying not to reveal any outward emotions but hoping his little sister didn't have suicidal tendencies. "No, River, we will always be together you know that."
Simon then led his sister to her bed as she felt exhaustion sweep over her. He bundled her up in her covers, and kissed her on the forehead. "Sleep now, mei-mei," he said.
River's voice was drowsy as she spoke. "Simon, the way back is where you will find the answers. The child will bring matters forward. The mercenary is comforting."
Simon sighed as he held his sister's hand, to make sure that she had fallen in the deepest sleep. Sometimes River was a puzzle even to him. He figured that the mercenary that she was referring to was Jayne, but comforting? He was grateful for what Jayne did on Ariel, but he didn't consider him comforting not even by a long shot. Boorish, sometimes. Vulgar, a great deal. Always looking for a fight, all the time. But comforting? Simon shrugged, sometimes people can be surprising. He watched River sleep, to make sure that it was peaceful. He saw her closed eyes move in the REM sleep, before he was satisfied enough to return to his duties.

Jayne panted as he lifted the heavy box with his arms. Every few steps it kept slipping from his grasp, so he had to kick it with his knee. He called to Zoe and Mal. "Hey, either of you two feel like helpin' me with this thing?"
"You know when you ask like that, Jayne, the answer will be no," Zoe quipped.
Mal smiled a thin smile and was about to answer with a comment of his own as they walked into a large crowd of people. The three brushed past several oncoming pedestrians, pushing past them and muttering apologies. One person bumped into Mal on the shoulder, "Excuse me," Mal said, but the person was swallowed up by the crowd. Mal looked behind him, but couldn't find him.
"Is something wrong, sir," Zoe asked.
"Just I thought I saw someone familiar," Mal answered. "Must be my imagination." They continued walking, until they came upon a saloon door. An elderly woman with gray hair tied back in a long braid and dressed in a plain brown dress stood waiting for them. Mal pointed her out, but gulped. Up close, she reminded him a lot of their contact from Whitefall, Patience!
"Why do I have this sudden feeling that she is going to shoot me?" Mal whispered to Zoe and Jayne. But, he put on his professional face and turned to the woman. "Ms. Spencer?" he asked.
The woman nodded as Jayne unceremoniously dropped the box with all of the grace of an ox. The woman glared at Jayne as she leaned over to open the box. She inspected the contents, and then nodded. "Nothing's broken, everything's intact. Very well done," she said. Then she handed Mal a roll of money. "Here you are Captain Reynolds all yours."
"Thank you ma'am," Mal said and motioned for Zoe and Jayne to follow him.
"That was easy," Zoe said. "Almost no challenge to it at all."
"Who cares?" Jayne answered. "We got our coin, let's get out of here."
"Nothing in this 'verse is easy," Mal told his friends. "You learn that one lesson, your time with me will not have been ill spent."
Suddenly, a ring of Federal Alliance Officers encircled them. "See, I told you so," Mal said.
"Malcolm Reynolds, Jayne Cobb, Zoe Warren, you are all under arrest," the lead officer said.
Despite the situation Mal looked behind him, where he could still see Ms. Spencer. She was deep in conversation with a man that Mal could clearly make out his derby, oily dark hair and stubble, and probably if he were close enough could hear the hoity toity British accent. It was the same man, Mal bumped into earlier, he was sure of it! Badger!
"Hate to state the obvious, gang, but we've been set up!" Mal said dryly.
"No kidding," Zoe answered sarcastically.
"Can I?" Jayne asked, giving his captain an almost puppy look, but wound up looking more like a demented bull.
"How can I say no to a pretty face like that?" Mal asked. "Now!" Zoe, Jayne, and Mal quickly took out their weapons and before the Federal Agents could move shot at some of them! The three ran into the crowd, as the leader screamed for his forces or what was left of them to follow them.

Kaylee looked through the small telescope that was a gift from her boyfriend, Gune. Each turn of the lens showed a different colorful pattern. It was beautiful, because it showed colors and shapes in a 'verse that was sometimes gray and messy. She giggled and was about to turn to another when a sound broke into her thoughts. It sounded like something in the cargo bay. She put down the telescope and absently reached for a crowbar. She walked out of her room, hoping that it was her imagination but the approaching creeping figures of Simon, Book, and Wash told her otherwise. Wash put his finger to his lips to shush them as the four slowly walked down to the source of the noise.
Where's River, Kaylee mouthed to Simon. Simon pointed to his sister's room and put his hands together to indicate sleep. The two leaned further into the cargo bay as Wash led them down. Two Federal Agents were tearing through the compartments looking for anything that they might find. Book, Wash, Simon, and Kaylee all knelt closer to get a better look then they tiptoed down the stairs. Kaylee slightly tripped her foot and gave a little gasp.
"What was that?" the guard asked.
"I don't hear anything," the other one answered.
"I don't think they heard us," Simon whispered.
"No, but we did!" a loud voice said from behind them. "Put your hands up!" The four raised their hands in the air, then followed the Federal Agent down to the main floor.
"Kaywinnit Frye, Jerry Warren, Shepherd Ezekial Book, and Simon Tam you are all under arrest!" The agent demanded.
"Yeah, says who," Book asked.
"Says I," said a feminine voice. The source of the voice pushed her way through the agents until she could be in full view. She was dressed in the same blue uniform as the agents and her red hair was cut in a neat perm. She stared at them with cool green eyes and a triumphant smirk, the same smirk she had when she almost took the Serenity!
"Saffron!" they chorused.
"Very good meeting all of you again," Saffron said. "Now, if you please get down on the floor we can conduct our business." Kaylee, Wash, and Simon swore in Chinese as they sat down. Privately, Book was thinking the same thing.
"What are you going to do to us," Simon asked.
"I haven't decided yet," Saffron answered. "I might keep you here, or I might give you the honor of staying in a Federation Prison."
"My sister was treated at one of the Alliance schools, I consider that 'honor' enough," Simon answered sarcastically.
"Oh speaking of which, find River Tam," Saffron commanded her officers. Two of them nodded as Saffron again held the others at gunpoint.
Book sat with his hands folded and prayed for deliverance for his companions. Kaylee looked down at the ground, not letting the Feds see the tears that were threatening to fall. Wash looked at the door, hoping that Zoe and the others were safe and they wouldn't find them de- or captured. Simon looked to the direction of the guards, hoping that they wouldn't find River.

"Mal! Zoe! Jayne!" Inara called as she pushed her way through the crowd to catch up to her friends. "I have bad news!"
Mal absently held Inara by the shoulders, but he let go when she fixed him a look. "What happened, Inara?" he asked. "Did your client's wife show up?"
Inara shook her head, ignoring the captain's sarcasm. "No, we finished it, but while I was getting dressed. I overheard my client make a dispatch call to the Alliance and mentioning you guys by name!"
"It's a Small 'Verse After All," Mal quoted from one of the songs on Disney Planet. "We just found out we got set up by our old buddy Badger!"
"You don't think the others are hurt do you?" Inara asked.
"We're on our way to find out," Mal answered.
The four crewmembers stopped in front of the doorway. Mal pointed at Zoe and Inara as they got on one side of the door, while Jayne and Mal stood on the other side. They could hear a female voice talking from inside the cargo bay and she sounded commanding. Mal ticked three off his fingers as the four jumped up and into the ship.
"So glad you could make it dear husband," Saffron said looking at Mal.
Mal's eyes adjusted to the light, but then focused on Saffron. "Well, honey I can see that you have moved up in the world. Palling around with the snakes, I knew you could do it someday."
Saffron glared at Mal, then snapped her fingers as some Federal Agent officers disarmed Zoe, Mal, and Jayne. Jayne growled as the man tried to grab Vera, his favorite gun, but Mal silenced the mercenary with a look. Saffron continued to Mal "You know, I may just have the others arrested and you, Mal, could stay here and be my plaything."
Mal smiled. "The only time I ever slept with you, was when I was drunk and that is not a night I would want to repeat ever."
Saffron grinned. "I would love to reminisce about this for ever, but we have to welcome our other guest. And here she is," she laughed as two guards pulled in River. Saffron leaned closer to the young girl and fondled her face a little bit. River looked at the woman and spat. Saffron drew back then slapped the girl across the face.
"No!" Simon yelled, but he was stopped by a guard.
"Uh uh," Saffron said shaking her finger. "Such manners. I'm sure the Alliance will make good work of you, of all of you!"
Suddenly, River began to shake. Her whole body jittered almost involuntarily and her face looked flushed. She looked straight at Saffron and began to mutter, her voice getting louder with each sentence. "Two by two, hands of blue. Two by Two hands of blue! TWO BY TWO HANDS OF BLUE!!"
"Somebody shut her up," Saffron commanded. But the lights and power flickered off, then on, and off then on again.
"No power in the 'verse can stop me," River said, her voice low and threatening. Suddenly, the Serenity crew's weapons floated in mid air, The Alliance stood too stunned to catch them, but the Serenity crew took advantage of the situation to arm themselves.
Then all hell broke loose! Mal shot at a Federation officer who was standing by the steps. "Go try to find a way to make this ship take off," Mal commanded to Wash and Kaylee. The mechanic and pilot nodded and made their way to their stations when they were about to be shot by an officer. The officer then fell over after a shot in the back. Zoe smiled proud of her shot.
Two agents aimed their guns at Jayne, but he fired Vera at both of them. From the corner of his eye, he saw another headed for him. He turned around and fired. "Atta girl," he whispered to his beloved gun kissing the nozzle.
Inara felt strong arms grab her from behind. "I never touched a companion before," an officer said behind her.
"And you never will," Book vowed as he hit the man from behind with Kaylee's crowbar. The man doubled over in pain as Inara nodded thanks at the Shepherd.
Simon saw Saffron aim her gun at River, but he knocked her over. The two wrestled on the ground for a bit trying to take hold of the gun. Simon managed to knock it out of Saffron's hand and across the floor. The female officer then managed to wiggle her way out of Simon's grasp and leaped for the gun. She was able to pick it up and shoot River in the stomach.
"No!! You Bitch!" Simon yelled and was about to dive for Saffron when a guard pulled on him from behind and wrestled him to the ground.
Saffron slowly walked up to River kicking her in the foot. She grinned triumphant. Of course, the bigwigs of the Alliance will be upset with her killing their main prey, but they will be more than thrilled when she tells them that she captured the entire Serenity crew and their ship. She leaned over again, when River's eyes opened.
"What?" Saffron fell back in surprise. River stood up and looked straight at the woman. Her eyes looked like death and stared in such a way that Saffron was very afraid.
"Do you want to see death," River asked. "Do you want to know what Hell feels like?"
Suddenly, River's body began to shake and her pupils dilated. Before Saffron knew it, she felt her own pulse and heartbeat race at a real fast rate. She felt dizzy and burned inside. Whatever was happening to her made her feel very ill, like she wanted to die. Suddenly, Saffron felt great pain like her whole body was snapped in two. She could only pray for a quick release as she fell unconscious.
River smiled, and then collapsed to the ground face down.
Simon continued to wrestle with the guard, when from the corner of his eye he saw a piece of wood on the floor. He and the guard rolled over, until Simon could just touch the wood. He picked it up with his hand then bopped the man on the back of the head. He wiggled out of the way of the unconscious man, then ran for his sister. River was on the ground. Simon felt faint, but he struggled to kneel down. He held his little sister in his arms and rocked her. "It's all right Mei-mei, I'm here," he said softly. "I'm not going anywhere."
Mal looked around the room satisfied. The crew managed to either shoot or knock out all of the Alliance members. They had tossed them all out of the cargo bay when he called on the intercom. "Kaylee, Wash we're ready. Get us out of here."
"Captain," Zoe called. Mal turned to see where Zoe was pointing at Saffron's body. Mal felt her pulse. "Dead," he said without emotion. He and Jayne then gathered her up and tossed her out with the others.
The ship gave its usual rock and shake as the door closed and the ship took off for space. Mal was about to sigh with relief, about how they almost made it when he saw his fellow crewmembers in a circle. He gently pushed past them to see the commotion. Simon was gently rocking River in his arms. Mal didn't have to feel her pulse or look closely to know the truth. He touched Simon on the shoulder. The doctor looked up to his captain. His eyes filling with tears that stubbornly wouldn't fall. "Shh," he said putting his finger to his lips. "She's asleep. You'll wake her. You know how she gets."
Mal turned away from the doctor privately hoping that wherever River was that she wasn't in any more pain. He then mechanically walked to the intercom and called into it.
"Bad news gang, we appear to have had a death in the crew."
Kaylee looked up from the ship's wirings stunned and not believing what her captain was saying. From the controls, Wash took off his hat and put it on his heart in a ceremonial gesture.