Chapter Text
One moment, Jason was walking alongside Tim, both dressed in civilian clothes, on their way to grab a coffee. The next, he found himself on the ground in a place that was clearly not Gotham. The sun was shining and to his left, Tim was lying on the ground. A good start for a day… He stood up and shook Tim, the kid didn’t look hurt, which was good.
People were walking, minding their own business all around them, no one seemed to mind their presence.
“What?” Tim finally murmured, opening his eyes.
“Wake up sleeping beauty, we’re going on an adventure,” teased Jason.
“What?!” he said this time, sitting down abruptly.
“Look around, we’re not in Gotham anymore.”
“Shit.”
Jason couldn’t help but agree. With their chance, they were probably in another Universe. He was trying not to panic, but it was starting to be difficult. He looked at Tim, the kid had this face when he was trying hard to think without panicking.
“Huh. Where are we?” he asked.
“No fucking idea. Can you stand?”
“Yeah, I don’t think I’m hurt.”
He wasn’t hurt, but that didn’t stop Jason from helping him stand up anyway. There they were, standing in the middle of nowhere. Okay, not anywhere… A planet for sure, a weird one, certainly not the Earth. Good Lord, they were on another Universe and another planet?
Jason scanned the surroundings, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the bustling marketplace. Colorful stalls lined the dusty street, selling goods that looked both futuristic and oddly rustic at the same time. The air carried a mix of foreign spices and engine fuel, a stark contrast to the Gotham City they knew.
Tim was also surveying the scene, his eyes narrowing as he assessed their situation.
“This isn't some new villain's plot, is it?” he asked, more to himself than to Jason.
Jason shrugged, not entirely sure.
“Doubt it. Feels more like a sci-fi crossover. Maybe we stumbled into a parallel dimension or something.”
Tim sighed, his fingers instinctively tapping on his utility belt, which, much to his dismay, was missing.
“Well, no gadgets here. We're on our own.”
As they navigated through the lively crowd, they overheard snippets of conversations. Words like 'Persephone,' or 'Market' caught their attention. Jason exchanged a glance with Tim.
“We need information,” Tim said, his detective instincts kicking in. “Let's find someone who might talk to strangers.”
They approached a nearby vendor, a weathered-looking man with a hat pulled low over his eyes. Jason leaned against the counter, adopting a casual demeanor.
“Hey, old-timer, mind filling us in on where we are?”
The man squinted at them suspiciously, but eventually sighed, as if used to peculiar questions.
“Y'all new in town? This here's Persephone. If you're looking for work, you might want to talk to some captains.”
Jason and Tim exchanged puzzled glances but thanked the man eventually.
“Persephone… none of this sounds like home,” Jason muttered.
“Let's look around, there's not much we can do for now,” Tim suggested.
As they made their way toward the docking area, the vibrant mix of cultures on this foreign planet became more apparent. Jason couldn't help but marvel at the blend of high-tech gadgets and a frontier-like atmosphere. It was a stark contrast to the crime-ridden streets of Gotham.
Upon reaching the dock, they spotted a worn-out spaceship with the name 'Serenity' etched on its side. A woman, not much older than Jason, was sitting in front of the open ship. She looked at them with a wide smile, she seemed nice, but the two Bats couldn't help but be suspicious.
“Hello! You seem lost,” she said, coming to them.
The two boys exchanged another glance before Jason answered.
“You can say that, yeah.”
“We can give you a ride!”
“That's nice, ma'am, but we're good.”
“I think you'll come with us.”
Jason smiled but didn't answer. They said goodbye and continued their way, Jason some steps in front. But they didn't go too far from the ship when Tim, unfortunately, bumped into someone, too distracted by the sci-fi atmosphere around them.
“Shit,” he mumbled.
The man turned around, a look of hatred in his eyes. Tim takes a step back.
“Didn't your mama teach you t’watch where you're going, kid?”
“Didn't yours teach you to wash?” he replied, miming plugging his nose.
“Ha, a kid who ain’t afraid, eh,” he said, taking him by the collar of his jacket. “I'll teach you t’be scared.”
But the man didn't have the time to do a thing to Tim as Jason arrived like a wild animal, and punched the man in the face, who dropped his target. Jason took Tim by the arm and put him behind him in a gesture.
“Just try to touch him again,” threatened Jason.
The man, nursing his jaw, shot a venomous look at Jason before deciding it wasn't worth the trouble. He grumbled something unintelligible and walked away, disappearing into the crowded marketplace.
As Jason turned to Tim, ready to talk, a man in a long brown jacket interjected, the same woman who had approached them earlier at his side. The brothers simultaneously pivoted to face them, with Jason instinctively positioning Tim slightly behind him once more. Tim rolled his eyes but allowed him to take a protective stance.
“You two alright?” the man asked, crossing his arms.
“Yeah, why?” answered Jason, miming his stance.
“Don't start a fight you can't win, kid.”
Tim, now at Jason's left, couldn't help but chuckle, which earned him an elbow in the ribs from Jason.
“Oh shut up you,” he said to Tim before turning his attention back to the man. “What makes you think I couldn't win?”
“I'm Kaylee, by the way,” interrupted the woman, still smiling. “Aren't you two a pair of interesting fellas! What brings you to Persephone? Looking for work, or just passing through?”
What a nice way to change the subject. Jason exchanged a quick glance with Tim.
“We're just passing, got dropped off here unexpectedly.”
“Not many folks get here by accident. Where you're heading now?” asked the man this time.
“Nowhere.”
“And everywhere,” finished Tim with a smirk at Jason. “You?”
“Nowhere and everywhere. Want a ride?”
The brothers looked at each other, why not accept? It's not as if they had anywhere to go urgently after all. But Jason wasn't fooled; nobody offered a service for free.
“Not for free, I suppose, eh.”
“If you could pay a little something…”
“I ain't got no money on me.”
“Would that be enough for both of us?” interrupted Tim.
Jason stared at him with wide eyes. He was trying to pay with the beautiful watch Dick had bought him this year for his birthday. No! Tim loved that watch!
“Hey, no! You love this watch, it's…”
“I know, but he'll understand. Jay,” he almost begged.
Jason hesitated, glancing between Tim and the watch. After a moment, he sighed, realizing that desperate times called for desperate measures. He nodded reluctantly, and Tim handed the watch to Kaylee with a forced smile.
The woman inspected the watch with genuine interest.
“Well, ain't that a shiny piece. You got yourself a deal, boys. Welcome aboard Serenity,” she said, giving the watch to the man, who put it in his pocket.
“Welcome aboard. I'm Captain Malcolm Reynolds.”
“I'm Jason, he's my little brother, Tim.”
“We're going to leave now, you've got anything else?”
“'Dropped off here unexpectedly' man, so no, nothing more.”
Captain Reynolds smiled before leading the way to the ship, stopping for a brief moment in the cargo bay to speak with another member of his crew. Jason and Tim exchanged a wary glance, unsure of what kind of adventure awaited them on this peculiar spaceship.
xXx
Tim and Jason were side-by-side in the galley of the ship, listening to the Captain give his speech about meal times, the kitchen, and the rules in general.
In addition to them, there were three other passengers, all men, and each of them seemed to have secrets. Tim and Jason exchanged looks, none of the crew members seemed to know. They shrugged it off and set it aside; they weren't there to investigate, but to find a way back home.
Reynolds spoke about the Alliance, a place called 'Whitefall,' and a mission, but it was clear to the Bats that he was lying, and the crew knew it. Although they kept secrets from the passengers, Tim and Jason chose once again to ignore it. They only understood half of what was being said, even if it wasn't their first time on a spaceship.
“Kory's ship is much better,” Jason whispered in Tim's ear.
“She's royalty; of course, it's better,” he replied, also whispering.
They refocused on the Captain's speech, but he was again talking about moons and planets they didn't know. Finally, he asked his second to take them to their quarters then to the cargo bay to retrieve their belongings. They followed even though they had nothing to take from there.
They were standing on the steps, observing the other passengers and the crew for a moment. The Doctor seemed to be both confident and hiding the biggest secret of all; the Shepherd seemed kind and helpful; as for the last passenger, he was hiding his true nature by pretending to be clumsy. Jason looked at Tim, who was hiding a smile in his hand.
“Amateur,” he whispered to him.
Tim couldn't help but laugh, drawing attention to them. Jason gave him a friendly tap on the head, and the 16-year-old boy laughed even louder. Jason hid his smile behind a frown. He forced Tim to follow him towards the passenger rooms, just as a final crew member appeared, a brunette woman dressed beautifully.
Back at their room, Tim couldn't help but remark.
“This is different from the Manor.”
Jason rolled his eyes.
“Obviously. We're not on Earth, remember?”
Tim chuckled, appreciating the reminder.
The brothers took advantage of this moment of tranquility to take out their respective phones. There was no network here, but as long as they had battery, they could use it. Jason took a selfie with Tim, to have proof of where they were when they would be back home.
When mealtime arrived, Tim and Jason went to the kitchen, curious about how it was going. It was a simple meal, the crew — except for the third woman they had last seen, and the passengers around the table. Tim and Jason were side-by-side, between the Doctor and the 'Amateur', as they had both renamed him. They soon noticed that there seemed to be a mix of chinese traditions, they ate with forks, but also with chopsticks. Mandarin words could also be heard, fortunately, they knew the language, for once their training paid off.
The crew and passengers were talking about each other when the Shepherd talked to them.
“What about you two? Where do you come from?”
Tim and Jason looked at each other, not really knowing how to answer, then Tim grinned and Jason understood directly.
“Nowhere and everywhere,” they said at the same time.
“We've been dropped off on Persephone,” continued Jason. “Nowhere to go for now. I'm Jason, by the way, that's my brother, Tim.”
“'Nowhere and everywhere'? That's enigmatic,” commented Kaylee.
“Always fun t'be enigmatic, y'know,” laughed Jason.
“Who dropped you on Persephone?” asked the Captain.
“No one you want to know.”
Tim looked at Jason with a face that usually means, 'That's the best you could do?' Well, yes, that's the best answer Jason had found.
“We are not fugitives or runaways,” explained Tim, “just… lost I guess?”
“Hope you find your way back,” said Kaylee with a warm smile.
The crew nodded, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. As the meal progressed, Tim and Jason found themselves learning more about the crew and passengers.
After the meal, everyone dispersed, leaving Tim and Jason to explore on their own.
As they strolled back towards the galley, they caught snippets of conversations from the crewmembers. In the distance, a heated argument seemed to be brewing in the cargo bay. Tim and Jason exchanged a glance and quickened their pace.
Upon reaching the cargo bay, they found Mal, Simon, and the 'Amateur' who happened to be an undercover cop, engaged in a tense argument. Shepherd Book attempted to mediate, but the escalating tension hung thick in the air.
Instinctively, Tim and Jason positioned themselves between the arguing parties, adopting a calming demeanor like Shepherd.
“What's happening?” asked Tim, hands in front of him, showing he wasn't a threat.
“Shut up, kid. That's not concern you!”
“Let's not escalate this. We're all just passengers on this ship,” continued Jason, taking a step at the same time as Shepherd Book.
The Cop, still agitated, glared at them. In a split second, the Captain made a sudden move, grapping Simon, causing panic through the place. The muzzle of his gun shifted, and a stray bullet was about to be fired.
“Why's every…” started Kaylee who was coming now in the cargo bay.
Reacting swiftly, Tim skillfully redirected the Cop's gun toward the ceiling, ensuring no one was harmed. The loud bang echoed in the confined space. Jason acted a second after. He delivered a powerful punch in one fluid motion, knocking out the undercover Cop. The cargo bay fell silent as the unconscious man slumped to the ground.
The Shepherd, the Captain, and now all the others stared in astonishment at the turn of events. The Captain, who was previously holding onto the Doctor, let him go. Tim and Jason exchanged a glance. They had defused the situation without anyone getting hurt. Good.
Shepherd, breaking the silence, sighed deeply.
“Well, that's certainly one way to resolve a conflict. I appreciate your intervention, boys.”
“Jayne,” intervened Zoe, a gun in hand, “tie him up.”
Jayne obeyed without delay but was not happy. He looked like he wanted to kill the man instead.
“Captain, we've been hailed by a Cruiser,” Wash's voice resonated over comm. “Ordered to stay on course and dock for prisoner transfer.”
Simon takes a step back, looking terrified. Whatever he was hiding was about to explode in his face. He wasn't a bad guy, Tim and Jason knew that. A man like him wouldn't be a fugitive without a good reason, but the Captain didn't seem to know that.
They were screaming at each other, again, about changing course or not. Jason was really tired of these people.
“For Hell's sake, just change your fucking course, or we tell whoever's coming what you're hiding!” he exclaimed.
The Captain seemed ready to retort but quickly changed his mind when he realized he was exposed in some way or another.
“Zoe, change course.”
“Wash… change course and go for hard burn. We're running.”
For a moment, only silence was heard. The Captain was looking at Tim and Jason, but also at Simon. Anger was written on his face.
The tension in the cargo bay lingered as Wash changed the course of Serenity, preparing for a rapid getaway. The crew exchanged wary glances, and Shepherd Book cast a look at Tim and Jason.
“Looks like you boys just stepped into the middle of something you didn't quite understand,” he commented, his tone measured.
“We're not here to meddle.”
The Captain's eyes darted between Tim, Jason, and Simon, who was visibly distressed. The Captain clenched his jaw, caught between the pressure of the Alliance and the conflicts within his own ship.
Simon stepped forward, his voice determined.
“Captain, please, I can explain, but you need to listen to me. Please.”
“You better have some mighty fine explanations, Doc.”
Zoe, meanwhile, had secured the undercover Cop, Jayne still eyeing him with hostility.
Tim stepped forward, addressing the Captain.
“We may not know all the details, but it seems like you're not exactly the law-abiding type either.”
The Captain shot him a sharp look but didn't deny it.
“We're trying to make a living. Not everyone gets the luxury of a comfortable life in the Core planets.”
“We're not here to judge,” Jason spoke up.
The Captain glanced at Tim and Jason, a calculating look in his eyes.
The cargo bay was still tense, the atmosphere thick with uncertainty. The Captain was waiting for an explanation from Simon and was suspicious of Jason and Tim. Everyone was looking at them.
Tim and Jason felt the weight of everyone's scrutiny. They exchanged a glance, then Tim took another step.
“We're not looking for trouble, and we don't want to be part of yours.”
The Captain, although still skeptical, seemed to consider their words. He turned to Simon, who was taking a deep breath, then went for the big container he had come with. They could see the struggle on his face, it was as if what he wanted to do was happening far too soon.
Well, they weren't expecting that...
xXx
Tim and Jason were sitting outside the infirmary, observing Simon and his sister, River, with a distracted gaze. According to Simon, his sister had undergone experiments, radically changing both her personality and abilities. He had done everything to get her out of there, ready to do anything, even if it meant losing himself along the way. Tim and Jason could only empathize with him.
Despite the problems it caused for the crew, the Captain had still chosen to continue their ongoing job while leaving Simon and his sister on that planet...
Tim was leaning against Jason, who had an arm around his shoulder. The younger of the two was starting to close his eyes, the fatigue of the past few hours becoming more apparent.
Jason was reflecting on the recent events. Currently, the Captain must be with Jayne or Zoe, interrogating the Cop. He must not be having a good time.
Jayne. He was a man they had easily figured out. He loved money more than anything, had no loyalty, and would be willing to sell anyone, even his Captain. So, it was highly likely that the Cop would manage to win Jayne over if he promised him a good amount of money. They needed to keep a close eye on him.
"We need to keep an eye on Jayne. Money talks louder to him than loyalty," Jason murmured to Tim.
Tim opened his eyes slightly.
"Agreed. If the Cop manages to strike a deal, it could jeopardize everything."
As the brothers contemplated their next steps, the infirmary door creaked open. Simon emerged with weariness etched on his face. He approached Tim and Jason, acknowledging their presence.
“Thank you for your help earlier.”
“We couldn't stand by when things got out of hand,” Jason replied, exchanging a glance with Tim.
Simon nodded, appreciating their sentiment.
“I needed to find a way to help River. She wasn't safe there, and I couldn't allow her to suffer any longer.”
Tim and Jason shared a knowing look. The desire to protect family was something they understood all too well.
“'Know the feeling,” said Jason.
“You'll do anything for your brother,” Simon continued.
This wasn't a question; he knew that Jason was the big brother, so he knew damn well what a big brother would do for his sibling.
“Yeah.”
Tim smiled at him a little, then spoke to Simon.
“I'm sorry we didn't manage to convince the Captain to keep you aboard.”
“You tried, thank you for that.”
Simon sighed, shoulders sagging. The weight of his responsibilities weighed heavily on him.
“We could come with you,” suggested Jason.
Simon stared at Tim and Jason, uncertainty warring in his expression.
“Are you sure about this? You paid for this trip too,” he asked, searching their faces for any sign of hesitation.
Tim and Jason exchanged a glance. Jason spoke up, his tone earnest.
“We're sure. We've been in tight spots before, and we know the importance of having someone you can trust by your side. Besides, we could be of help to you and River.”
Simon's eyes softened, touched by the genuine offer of support. He nodded appreciatively.
“I can't thank you enough. I never expected strangers to show such kindness.”
Jason chuckled.
“Well, we're not your average strangers.”
“Let us wait until we reach Whitefall,” continued Tim, “if the Captain hadn't changed his mind, we pack our things and go together.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They exchanged a smile, before Simon headed to his room, leaving Tim and Jason alone again. Tim leaned back on Jason and closed his eyes again. Jason followed suit a few minutes later.
As Tim and Jason rested, the hum of the ship's engines provided a soothing backdrop. The events of the past hours had taken a toll on them.
Unfortunately, the tranquility only lasted for a short time. Suddenly, the Captain's voice echoed throughout the ship, waking everyone up.
“This is the Captain,” he started, “we're passing another ship. Looks to be Reavers.”
“What the hell is a Reaver?” mumbled Jason, confused.
Tim could only respond with a shrug. Sounds like bad news if you asked him.
“From the size, probably a raiding party,” continued the voice of the Captain, with some emotion. “It could be they're headed somewhere particular. Could be they already hit someone, and they're full up, so everyone stays calm. We try to run, they'll have to chase us — it's their way. We're holding course. We should be passing them in a minute. So we'll see what they do… Zoe, you come on up to the bridge.”
And with that, he was done. The brothers looked at each other, confused, but they agreed that whatever was a Reaver, it was bad.
“Huh,” started Jason, “maybe it's better not to cross paths with one, eh?”
“Yeah…”
At the same time, Simon was talking with Zoe not too far from them, about this… Reavers. The boys looked at each other, a little panicking now. Zoe and Simon were talking about 'men gone savage on the edge of space,' and about 'raping us to death, eat our flesh, and sew our skins into their clothing.'
“Yeah, let's really not cross their path.”
“Agreed,” mumbled Tim, leaning more against Jason.
The ship's atmosphere became tense as everyone awaited the passing of the mysterious Reaver ship. Tim and Jason, along with the rest of the crew, found themselves on edge, uncertain of what to expect. The seconds felt like hours as they held their course, the anticipation thick in the air.
Then finally, finally, the Captain's voice resonated again.
“They're holding course, we're good.”
The collective sigh of relief echoed through the ship. Tim and Jason, still outside the infirmary, glanced at each other, their expressions reflecting the shared tension.
“Dodged that bullet,” muttered Jason, his shoulders relaxing.
“Let's hope we don't encounter those Reavers again,” Tim added, his eyes scanning the corridor as if expecting an imminent threat.
Simon emerged from the infirmary he went into, once more, joining Tim and Jason outside.
“Reavers, huh?”
“Sounds like trouble,” Jason replied.
“Worse than trouble. I've heard stories,” Simon said, his gaze distant. “They're monsters, living on the fringes of space. No humanity left in them.”
“Monsters or not, I'm just glad we're not on their menu,” Tim remarked, trying to lighten the mood.
Simon managed a small smile, appreciating the attempt at levity. The three of them stayed there for a while, contemplating the vastness of space and the unknown dangers that lurked within it.
Then Simon went somewhere on the ship. Tim and Jason didn't wish to move from where they were. Jason tightened his grip on Tim as he finally fell asleep, unable to stay awake any longer. A few moments later, the Captain came by, casting a glance at them before entering the infirmary. Jason kept an eye on Tim but also on River, feeling uneasy about leaving her alone and asleep with the Captain. However, the Captain didn't attempt anything and came back out a few minutes later.
He looked at him for a second before sitting in front of them.
“How did you know about that?” he whispered, referring to his outlaw business.
“You’re easily readable, Captain, despite what ya think. Timmy and I, we can easily read people, call it a gift or a curse. It doesn't matter.”
“Easily readable, huh?”
“Yeah. Like how you pretend not to care about anyone who's not part of your crew, when it's actually the opposite.”
“And how would you know that?”
“Easy. You came to make sure Timmy and I were okay on Persephone after I hit the guy. Someone who truly doesn't care wouldn't have done that.”
The Captain didn't respond and furrowed his brows as if Jason's words didn't make sense. Jason smiled slightly, he knew he was right, now the Captain just needed to see reason.
“How old are you, kid?” he finally asked.
“Twenty-two.”
“And your brother?”
“Sixteen. Why it's matter?”
“Just thinking, I'm wondering why two kids ended up alone on Persephone. 'Dropped off' you said, but that doesn't explain anything.”
“You're going to force us to reveal our past, just like you force Simon?” interrupted Tim this time, opening his eyes, an air of challenge in his gaze.
The Captain studied them for a moment, his gaze shifting between Jason and Tim. The silence lingered, heavy with unspoken questions and tension.
“Not forcing anyone to do anything,” he finally said, leaning back and crossing his arms. “Just trying to understand why two kids like you are caught up in this mess.”
“We didn't choose this, Captain,” Jason responded. “Sometimes life throws you into situations, and you do what you can to survive.”
The Captain nodded, acknowledging the truth in Jason's words.
“We all got our reasons for being out here. Some of us are running from something, some running toward it. Just curious about your story.”
Tim sighed.
“We're not running from the law or anything like that.”
The Captain raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingered on them for a moment
“You're not what I expected when I agreed to take you on board.”
“You have no idea,” Tim said, a smirk playing on his lips.
The Captain stood up, his brief moment of introspection coming to an end.
“I see that,” he concluded, returning to where he came from.
Tim and Jason exchanged a glance, the Captain's seemed to accept their vague explanation, for now.
The brothers settled back into their quiet vigil outside the infirmary, the ship's hum a constant reminder of the precariousness of their situation. As Tim closed his eyes once again, trying to steal a few moments of rest, Jason remained alert. The encounter with the Reavers had left an unsettling energy in the air, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that more challenges awaited them.
Simon reappeared, joining them outside once more. The trio, bound by the recent events, shared a silent understanding. No words were needed; the quiet companionship spoke volumes.
Suddenly, the ship's intercom crackled to life. The Captain's voice, clear and composed, addressed the crew.
"We're approaching Whitefall."
Tim and Jason finally got up and stretched. Before making any decisions, they needed to make sure that the Captain was really going to leave River and Simon here.
The Captain, accompanied by Jayne and Zoe went out to finish their job while the others stayed in the ship.
Simon came to warn them that he was going to the cockpit to see what this planet looked like and have a little chat with the pilot. With a glance, Tim and Jason agreed on the plan. Jason would go with Simon to the upper deck, and Tim would stay in the infirmary with River.
Tim was standing at the entrance of the infirmary, his eyes fixed on River. His thoughts couldn't settle on one thing in particular, the last few hours had been so full of twists and turns, and so different from what he was used to, that he was a little lost. A loud noise abruptly pulled him out of his thoughts, and when he turned around, he found himself face-to-face with the barrel of a gun. The Cop had escaped.
“Sorry, kid, but I'm not going to let you intervene again.”
Without giving Tim a second to react, he delivered a powerful blow to his head, knocking him out in the process.
In the cockpit, unaware of what just happened in the infirmary, Jason quickly realized that Whitefall was commonly referred to as 'a backwater hole.'
“You should think about asking the Captain to drop you somewhere else," said Wash. "Whitefall ain't exactly civilization, in the strictest sense.”
“You don't have to worry about me,” answered Simon, with a glance at Jason.
“We'll go with them, Timmy and I.”
Wash looked at Jason, wide-eyed, and confused.
“But... the Captain didn't say anything about leaving you too, right?”
“Nah, but we ain't gonna left River and Simon alone here.”
The pilot focused on him for a second, before smiling a little, and continued.
“You’re good kids.”
Silence falls for a second.
“He took her!” screamed suddenly Kaylee's voice over comm. “He took River!”
Jason and Simon didn’t hesitate a second to run in the direction of the cargo bay.
Back at the infirmary, Tim was on the ground, bleeding from the head.
“Tim!” screamed someone who looked like Kaylee. “Wake up!”
The world around Tim gradually came into focus. The dull ache in his head was accompanied by a series of muffled sounds. As his senses returned, he realized he was still in the infirmary, sprawled on the floor. Kaylee was leaning over him, concern etched on her face.
“You okay?” she asked, helping him to sit up.
Tim winced, holding his head.
“What happened?”
“Th'Cop knocked you and Preacher, he took River!”
Tim's eyes widened, the urgency of the situation bringing him back to full alertness. He pushed himself up, his mind racing.
"Take care of Preacher!"
He didn't hear Kaylee's answer and chose to run in the direction of the cargo bay. If the Cop wanted to escape with River, that's where he was heading. His head was killing him, but he had to continue.
Tim reached the cargo bay just in time to see Simon with a gun in his hand. Why would Simon have the gun and not Jason? The Cop had River at gunpoint; Wash was talking over the comm about the Reavers coming back; the Captain, Jayne, and Zoe were coming back in a hurry; Inara was panicking not too far from him; and Tim had his head spinning like Hell...
Jason took the gun from Simon in a second and shot the Cop in the shoulder, just to hurt him. The Cop abruptly let go of River, who panicked and took a few steps backward. At the same time, the Captain and the others were coming back, running into the ship. The Captain didn't hesitate and shot the Cop again, making sure that, now, he was dead.
Tim looked without blinking. He knew this would happen, but it felt like he failed somehow. 'You can't save everyone, even from the good guys,' Dick had told him one day...
Wash took off, leaving Whitefall behind, as Jayne and the Captain disposed of the body outside. Tim fell to the ground, his eyes fixed on Simon, who was holding River in his arms, his head now throbbing terribly. Jason caught his gaze and even in his half-conscious state, Tim saw the moment when he realized he was injured. Jason ran towards him, taking the stairs two at a time.
Tim clearly remembered a second ago he was in the cargo bay, Jason exchanging quick words with a voice resembling Inara. The next second he was in her shuttle; with Inara, Preacher, Simon, and River, just as panicked as them.
“Pequeño Pájaro, mírame [1],” Jason whispered, holding a cloth to his head where the Cop had knocked him out.
Tim's eyes slowly focused on Jason's concerned face as the pain in his head pulsed with each beat of his heart. He winced as Jason continued to gently press the cloth against the wound. They were sitting on the ground, leaning against the bed.
"Where we're?" he mumbled, his voice strained.
"Inara's shuttle. Reavers are after us. We'll wait here until we're sure it's safe again," Jason replied.
"If it's safe..." interrupted Simon, who was now attending Preacher's head.
Preacher, like Tim, had been knocked out. He looked way too good compared to Tim. It looked like the Cop didn't knock him as hard as him.
“Great…” Tim mumbled.
“Let me see,” said Simon, now in front of them.
Jason took the cloth and let Simon examine Tim while keeping an eye on him. The ship was speeding along, the crew chatting over the comms, but neither he nor Tim was paying attention.
“Just a concussion, nothing that can't be fixed with some rest.”
Simon looked between them and Preacher, a sorry expression on his face.
“I'm sorry he went after you to get to River...”
“Not your fault, Simon,” Tim replied with a small smile.
“The kid is right, this wasn’t your fault,” continued Shepherd, ”the choice was his.”
Simon nodded, appreciating their understanding. Jason kept a watchful eye on Tim, who leaned back against the bed, his hand pressed against his throbbing head.
“Reavers...” Tim muttered, his mind flashing back to the stories Simon had shared earlier.
The mere thought of encountering those savage beings sent a shiver down his spine.
“We’re good, people,” said the Captain over comm. “We’re out of the woods.”
Relief washed over Tim, Jason, and the others in the shuttle as the Captain's words echoed through the comm. It seemed they had managed to evade the Reavers.
They were safe, for now.
[1] Little Bird, look at me