Justified

Rated: PG-13

Category: Gen, Double Drabble, Mal/Zoe Friendship, Dark.

Spoilers: None.

Summary: We did not fight the enemy, we fought ourselves, and the enemy was in us. -Chris Taylor, Platoon

Note: Written in response to the LJ prompt of 'Spree' on firefly100

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Never thought I'd see her lose control.

Saw it by accident, and truth be told, I wish maybe I hadn't.

She'd had perimeter patrol.

I should've been bedded down, but nature had come callin.

I heard it when I was done.

The unmistakable sound of a body hitting earth.

Took me under a minute to get there.

I found her with three dead.

Three warm dead wearing our colors.

I was nearly fourth before she recognized me.

She had me dead to rights when she blinked and her voice choked on "Sir?"

I nodded, and her knife left my throat as she slid to the ground.

It was then that I understood.

I thought she'd finally snapped. I'd seen it happen too many times to discount it.

But when I saw that little girl - broken, bleeding, and bruised in all the wrong places, I understood.

All too well.

If there'd been another soul left breathin' in that place 'sides her and me, I'd have gladly joined her killing spree.

As it was, all I could do was stand guard until the tremors stopped.

Then Zoe and me walked out of that place together, and we never, ever looked back.