Stopping next to a door, River waited for Simon to open it. With a shrug, Simon swiped his pilfered key card and the door slid silently open. Staring at the scene in front of them, Simon, Kaylee and River all tilted their heads to the right, then left, looking extremely confused.

Zoe stood on Jayne's knees, her back braced against a wall while her teeth held a blind fold that covered Jayne's eyes as she tried to pull it off. It all looked very awkward.

"Should we come back?" called Simon finally.

At the noise, Zoe's head shot up as both she and Jayne crumpled to the ground.

"Is this a privet party?" questioned Kaylee, "Because if it is, that's shiny."

"Kaylee?" hissed Zoe, "How'd you get here?"

"Heck, I don't care," grunted Jayne from under Zoe, "Just get us out of here girl."

Smiling to themselves, Kaylee and Simon moved forward, quickly cutting Zoe and Jayne's arms free. "Well, you two looked to be having some fun," commented Kaylee.

"Later Kaylee," barked Zoe. Looking to Jayne, she rolled her eyes, "I take it since you're here, then so is Inara."

"Well, yeah…" Jayne began to defend himself.

"Bi jweh," snapped Zoe, "We have to find Inara and the captain."

Gracefully dancing out the door, River spun around, "This way," she called.

As Inara was brought into the room, Mal yanked and struggled against his bindings. There were several bloodied places on Inara's silken gown and she looked like she couldn't even hold up her own weight. "Yu bun duh wong ba duhn," spat Mal, "Let her go!"

"We both know that's not going to happen," chided Niska as he walked over to her. A large man pushed her to the floor as Niska ran a hand through her hair, "It is such a shame to waste such a beautiful specimen of a man's body."

Curling his fingers in her hair, Niska yanked her head back, making her whimper in pain. Mal could only watch as Niska ran a single finger down her throat, stopping only when he reached the swell of her breasts. "Don't hurt her," growled Mal softly, "She could be useful to you… A full-fledged companion working for you."

Niska looked thoughtful as his grasp loosened on her hair. "You may have something," he said thoughtfully, "But then again…" Lifting a claw like device Mal had saw before, Niska raised it over Inara's chest.

"Rung tse fwo tzoo bao yo wuo muhn," breathed Inara only moments before he plunged the device down into her chest.

As her body bucked, a shot rang out, then two and three… Niska's guards dropped to the floor one by one before Zoe barreled into the room. With no hesitation she pulled the device from Inara's chest before she gently laid her to the floor.

Moving into the room, Jayne unstrapped Mal and stepped back as his captain rushed forward, clocking Niska with a right. When he mutely held his hand out Jayne provided him with a gun. "You will never hit me or mine again," he spat before he pulled one clear shot into Niska's head.

As Simon rushed into the room, Mal dropped to his knees next to Inara, "'Nara," he called, "Ta ma duh, Inara you open your gorram eyes and look at me!"

When she moaned, Mal's lungs were rushed with air. She was still alive… there was hope. Checking her pulse, Simon nodded before he jumped. Inara let out a strangled scream that would have scared the reapers.

Taking her hand, Mal was shocked when she pulled his hand to her stomach. "This isn't right," she hissed through clenched teeth.

"No, it's not," agreed Simon, "We have to get her back to Serenity."

"That shouldn't be a problem," said Zoe, "Jayne you're with me."

As they left, Mal lifted Inara into his arms, "I take it you all have a shuttle?" he asked.

Nodding, Kaylee and River led the way.

Zoe frantically began to flip switches when they made it to Serenity, "Can you ruttin believe those idiots?" questioned Jayne as he covered Zoe.

"They're cocky," sighed Zoe as Serenity rumbled to life. "Let's go pick up everyone and get the hell out of here."

As they swooped out of Niska's ship, Zoe smiled at River's clever hiding place. "Can you all hear me?" she called.

"We're here," called Kaylee.

"Good to hear. Come on home so we can get out of here."

"Yi Chi shen huxi," said Mal as he held Inara's hand.

"I am," hissed Inara as she tried to concentrate on her breathing.

"Good," breathed Mal, "I will never let you get hurt again…"

"Shi yan?" questioned Inara breathily.

"Yes," assured Mal without hesitation, "Ni Hao? Do you need anything?"

"Yes!" hissed Inara, "Joo koh…"

As she cried out in pain again, Simon took his place at the end of the bed. "It's time Inara," he called.

"No it's not!" Argued Inara breathily, "I still have a month!"

"You did," corrected Simon, "Now you don't. So you need to push."

Gritting her teeth, Inara bared down, "What did I let you get me into?" she cried.

"Support her back," ordered Simon.

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," apologized Mal as he leaned into Inara's back.

Letting her breath out Inara leaned back into Mal, "Don't lie," she whispered.

Pacing outside the infirmary, Kaylee looked worried, "What do you think's takin so long?" she questioned as she stopped to look at Zoe and Jayne.

"I think birthing a baby takes a while," responded Zoe, "I've heard it could take several hours."

Groaning, Kaylee through her arms up in the air, "This is Serenity, nothings ever what it seems. You'd think the baby would know that!"

"You'd think you'd know it's early," countered Jayne. When Kaylee and Zoe eyed him, he held up his arms, "What? I listen… sometimes."

Just then the intercom crackled to life, "She's coming," called River.

Crossing the commons area, Zoe lifted a radio, "We know River."

"No," said River, "Captain's fake wife."

"One more Inara, one more and you're done," called Simon, his voice strained and hesitant.

Giving her all, Inara dropped back when Simon told her to stop. Everything was quiet. Too quiet.

"What's wrong?" questioned Mal as he shifted himself to see what Simon was doing.

Between Inara's legs lay a tiny blue baby. It didn't move. It didn't cry. "What is it?" breathed Inara.

"She's not breathing," explained Simon as he suctioned out the baby's mouth before he carefully pumped the tiny infant's chest.

Watching Simon work, Mal found himself holding his breath as Inara squeezed his hand tightly.

Balancing himself atop Serenity as it continued forward, Jayne cursed under his breath. "Don't let the little freak drop me!"

"I'll hold her at bay," responded Zoe from the bridge, "Just be ready." Patting River's back, she gave her a nod before she headed for the engine room, "Kaylee!" she called.

"I need another minute," called Kaylee from somewhere behind the engine.

"We don't have that long," called Zoe as she moved to get a look at Kaylee. "She's on our tail now."

Giving something of a final whack, Kaylee pushed herself into view. "Okay, I think that's it," she called, "Just remind River to take it easy with the acceleration after the turn. If she pushes it too hard she'll blow a coil and we won't be going anywhere."

Nodding, Zoe patted Kaylee on the back, "We've got it. Good work Kaylee. River… We're ready when you are, just don't…"

"Acceleration is probable," responded River simply.

Raising her eyebrows, Zoe shrugged, "Jayne, we're on. Be ready."

"Why isn't she crying?" asked Inara when the room remained scarily silent.

"I don't know," whispered Mal as he rubbed her shoulder.

"Simon," called Inara lightly.

"Shh, Baobei, let Simon work," he eased, "He's doing everything he can…"

Jayne felt the ship jerk under his feet, making him struggle to stay straight. Regaining his footing, he looked up in time to see the other ship screaming toward him.

With a grin, he lifted his biggest gun and aimed at the other ships left engine.

As an explosion erupted, shaking her ship, Saffron screamed profanities into the black. They got her this time…

But she would have them.

Next time.

At the sound of the baby's cry, Mal let go of his breath. Everything was going better now. At least he hoped.

Crying her relief, Inara closed her eyes as Simon swaddled the baby, "Can I hold her?" she asked lightly.

"Let me just make sure she can breathe properly," responded Simon. "Just another couple minutes or so."

Clamoring out of his space suit, Jayne hit a comm, "Got her," he said gruffly.

"River?" Asked Zoe.

There was a long pause before River responded, "She's gone," she said simply.

Together, Zoe and Kaylee let out a collective sigh of relief. They had passed another obstacle in a line of many. Now they hopped another would wait some to appear.

Taking a deep breath, Mal stepped out into the commons area. Everyone was amassed there, waiting for his news.

"Before Mal could say anything, Kaylee jumped up, "How are they?" she questioned.

"Their good," responded Mal, "It was a little touchy, but every things okay now."

"Touchy?" questioned Jayne.

Watching Mal's face, Zoe cleared her throat. "Alright, that's not important. What's the name?"

"And how does it look?" added Kaylee.

"Dark head of hair, she looks like her mama," replied Mal, "Her name is Elaina Serra Reynolds."

As everyone ooh'd and aww'ed, Mal turned back to the infirmary, his eyes landing on his two dark haired beauties.

For them, he'd try anything now.

FIN