Part Fourteen: Back in the Saddle

Ana awoke from her doze when Mal limped back into the room from the bathroom, wrapped in a robe. She blinked and pushed herself up, sitting up properly in the chair, yawning as Mal climbed into the bed, fresh bandages on his side and smelling of something wonderfully mannish. She was in her white t-shirt and a pair of white shorts that had been issued to her- the past two weeks had been much warmer than her first one here, because of the planet’s strictly regulated climate changes each season. She noticed that she had gotten a little tan, spending a lot of time outside with her younger friends and admirers. Cal came out of the bathroom, holding a towel.

“I’ll put this in the laundry and get you some clothes, Mr. Reynolds. But I hope you don’t mind me not doin’ it until mornin’,” she said, sleepily smiling. Mal nodded.

“Alright, well, I’ll leave you two be, then, and come with breakfast and some clean clothes for you both tomorrow,” she said, and left, giving Ana a slightly mischievous look. The room darkened a little from the lack of the hallway light. Mal settled into the cot, and looked at Ana, who sat in the chair rubbing her eyes, pulling her feet up and hugging her knees.

“Lookit you,” he said suddenly and quietly. Ana’s brow wrinkled.

“What about me?” she asked.

“You’ve got all muscular on me,” he said, grinning cheekily. Ana turned pink. “Well… they…they have me doin’ a lot of work,” she stammered, smiling shyly. “I mean I had to swim and skate and do gymnastics and all… so I… sorta…” she hid her face and smiled a mile wide as Mal just gazed at her, a little awe and a lot of passion in his smiling face.

“Why don’t you come hither, you little minx, and keep me all warm and cozy tonight?” he asked, sliding a little towards the other side of the cot to make a little room for her, holding out his hand.

“Why, you got a robe,” she said playfully, in false reprimand.

“Why, I do not!” he retorted, pulling the robe off and out from under the covers and sending it to the floor. The white bandages shone against his own slight tan, his biceps and abs looked a little better than she was used to, and she wondered if he had worked on it especially or if it had just happened. She smirked a little at him and took his hand, and he pulled her onto the cot with him, making her slide under the covers and up next to him. She settled her head in the crook of his neck, her hands on his chest and shoulder. He curled his arm about her waist, stroking her side gently, feeling her firm, soft skin and the new muscles underneath. They lay still for a moment, but suddenly, Mal spoke.

“This ain’t real fair, now I come to thinkin’ on it,” he said speculatively.

“What in the nine hells do you want now?” Ana asked in false exasperation, smiling.

“Well, I was just thinkin’ that if I was naked here, maybe it ain’t fair that you’re not,” he said, grinning broadly and pulling at her until she was mostly on top of him.

“Well, I can understand what you mean, Cap’n, but what do you suggest we do about it?” she asked with a chuckle. Mal smiled.

“Hm, I was thinkin’ on that too…” his voice trailed off and he kissed her, passionate and painstaking, running his hands all over her body until he had her shirt tugged off and her shorts shortly afterward. Giving her a little push, he turned them over, kissing her neck.

It began to rain softly outside.

“Well, God, Mal, I thought it’d take forever for you to wake up,” said Wash with a laugh. Mal blinked blearily, but before anything else had sunk in, he noticed that Ana wasn’t curled up with him anymore. Light poured in from the window. Zoë was there also.

“Where’s Ana?” he ask, pushing himself up into a sitting position as he rubbed his eyes.

“I’m right here, Mal,” He turned to see her behind him, holding his clothes in her small hands, the sweetest smile on her face- and in her eyes.

“Why, are them for me?” Mal asked, looking at his clothes, in false surprise.

“’Course they are, you big nut,” she laughed, the pure and wild laugh, elegant and reckless. She tossed them at him.

“Goody!” he said, clapping. “Now, if you folks don’t mind, I gotta change,” he said. Wash and Zoë nodded and filed out the door, waiting in the hall, where Ana spied Calpurnia, with another bundle of clothes in her hands. As they walked out, she came in.

“I believe these here clothin’ articles are yours, sweetie,” she said handing Ana her old clothes, the tank top and pants and boots that she hadn’t worn in so long. She smiled.

“Thank you, Cal, but…”

“You’re done, sweetheart. You’re on your way into bigger things now,” Cal looked at her, her eyes brimming with tears. Ana hugged her healer. There was a sniff from the hall outside.

“Alright, well, don’t take too long in here, love birds,” Cal said, and winked at Ana as she joined the crew of Serenity in the hall, shutting the door.

“Why, I wonder if you’ll even fit into them anymore, you bein’ all muscular and such now,” Mal said, standing up and pulling on his delectably tight pants and pulling his belt around his waist. Ana looked at the clothes and turned to him.

“Mal, I don’t even know how these feel anymore,” she said, shaking her head.

“Come on, now, they can’t be that old ‘o memories,” He pulled on his shirt, buttoning it. Ana laid them out on the bed and pulled off her shorts, turning away from Mal and looking at the door to the hall. She folded them and put them neatly on the bedside table, doing the same with her shirt as she pulled it off. Mal looked at her skin in the soft daylight, supple and almost glowing. He pushed himself over the cot and hugged her from behind, chuckling a little to himself as she gasped from the sudden contact without warning. She smiled and sighed.

“I missed you,” she said, resting her head against his chest.

“I missed you, too,” he replied, kissing the top of her head and pulling her clothes off the bed behind them and holding her pants for her to step into, fastening them around her small hips with delicacy. He ran his hands all over her stomach, and just held her, half-clothed, to him, just wanting to be assured that he wasn’t dreaming, that he really had what he needed as much as he needed his own life and his ship and his crew. Then, he pulled her shirt over her head and let her slide her arms through the armholes, tugging it over her, letting his hands touch the skin before the fabric did. She stepped back from him and looked down at herself.

“Them pants was always big,” she murmured, and he laughed.

“But the shirt fits you right nice,” he said, grinning devilishly. She pulled one of her boots on and tied it.

“In woman-speak, that means it’s a sight too tight,” she retorted, smiling nonetheless as she pulled on the other boot.

“At least it looks good,” Mal said matter-of-factly.

“Why, thank you, Cap’n,” Ana said, smiling and glancing back at him teasingly as she went for the door. Her hand was on the knob before she felt his hands on her waist.

“Not before this, you don’t,” he said, and before she could reply he kissed her, pressing her up against the door softly. After a moment, though, they began to feel simply overjoyed and calm, and Ana ran her hand through her captain’s hair, and Mal touched her check in return, and finally broke his kiss.

“Now we can leave,” he said, smiling, and opened the door, leading her out by the hand. The entire crew of Serenity faced them with knowing smirks on their faces.

“What?” Mal asked, feigning innocence. They all laughed aloud.

“Kaylee!” Ana ran and hugged the engineer after the doorway to Serenity thunked open on the grass. Mal smiled and walking inside, closing the door.

“Ana! Hey, my lord, it’s nice to see you again!” Kaylee smiled.

“Oh I missed all you guys… I didn’t get to hug anyone else but Mal and now you, so everyone step up an’ get a turn!” Ana delightedly hugged Wash, then Zoë, and Jayne. River came down the steps.

“You’re back!” she said, softly but happily, letting Ana hug her and smiling.

“Oh, yes, kid, I am back, back to screw things up again,” she said, laughing. River just smiled. Ana turned away from her, but then turned back.

“Hey, kid, where’s your big brother?” she asked. River smiled and pointed to the stairs. “He’s in the infirmary,”

“Thanks,” Ana dashed up the stairs and down the hall, straight into the infirmary.

“SIMON!” she yelled, and he turned from some needles and medicine samples and smiled. Before he could reply, she was hugging him tightly.

“Hey there, little one,” he said, hugging her back. “How are you feeling?”

“Never better,” Ana said, beaming. “Maybe it’s good you left me at the rehab, but please, please, PLEASE never do it again!” she exclaimed, laughing.

“Alright, I promise, I won’t,” Simon said, smiling at her. Mal came in.

“Simon, Ana, now that we’re done with the mushy reunion, please note that we’re goin’ to Haven again, and Ana, if possible, do try ‘n avoid any more reunions?” Mal smirked at her, remembering Luke.

“I’ll do my best, Cap’n,” she said with a smile.

“Mal, for God’s sake,”

“Ain’t appropriate, is it?”

“I’m sure nobody will mind you callin’ me by m’ right name, bao be,”

“Fine, Mal,” She went over to him, and Simon watched with a smile as she hugged him- again. Then she looked around outside and looked at the infirmary.

“It’s so good to be home,”