Ship - Shadowheart - Captain's Bunk

[Hollywood Heidi]

Captain's Bunk

[Lady Lee-o]

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The Shadowheart course was set towards Newhall, which left Madison to rejoin her crew in the dining area.

Halfway into the trip, the engine overheated and set a fire.

The crew puts it out but the damage is done and they are stranded, floating in space. Without the engine, the ship's systems started to fail...

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[Lady Lee-o]

Sally knew something was wrong, the air was getting thinner. The ship wasn't moving- something was wrong. Yet, Sally couldn't do anything about it. Shadowheart was giving out on them and she couldn't set things right, she was down and out and it was all her fault. She pulled herself up into a sitting position on the bed, she needed to gather her witts and than she would go searching for her crew.

[The Jester Of Tortuga]

Jeb entered into the Captain's Bunk to check in on Sally who was sitting up in bed.

"Where do you think you're going? Captain said, rest so you rest."

It had become hot, what little air there was left had begun to grow thick, Jeb had already taken his shirt off not that there was any point in wearing it the engine fire proceeded to eat most of it and the rest had gotten covered whatever the hell it was the engine decided to spit out. Rising from where he was seated he brushed a loose strand of his hair back behind the bandana he was wearing.

"I know... We both know you can't just do nothing and as soon as I leave you'll be crawling through the ship. Am I right?"

[Lady Lee-o]

"Where do you think you're going? Captain said, rest so you rest." Sally smirked as she rested back against the wall. His shirt was off and he looked like a yummy snack, she wiggled her eyebrows. "I know... We both know you can't just do nothing and as soon as I leave you'll be crawling through the ship. Am I right?"

"Systems are failing," Her voice was weak, she looked like death. Her leg was stinging badly and the fever was on the move. "I need to get the ship working before the air goes." She tried to take small breaths, saving the air because they were going to need it. "Where's Madison?"

[The Jester Of Tortuga]

"Systems are failing,""I need to get the ship working before the air goes.""Where's Madison?"

Jeb fought the urge to sigh, there truly was no stopping her.

"Captain's on the bridge, there isn't much left to get working fire took care of that. We done did what we could lest we get somebody flying by..."

They were done for was what he wanted to say.

"Miss Whitewater I know you take my breath away but this is getting ridiculous." There is always time for one last corny joke "I guess I am carrying you to the bridge then?"

[Lady Lee-o]

"Captain's on the bridge, there isn't much left to get working fire took care of that. We done did what we could lest we get somebody flying by..." Sally was determined to see the damage for herself, if she couldn't get the power back on- she could get them inside a pod and use the oxygen from there. "Miss Whitewater I know you take my breath away but this is getting ridiculous."

"Til the end," She wheezed.

"I guess I am carrying you to the bridge then?" Sally waved him closer and when he did pick her up, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips.

"To the bridge, need to piss off Madison at least once more. However, I ain't countin' us out yet." She was heavy, hot, she was barely able to keep her own head up- but she needed to help as much as she could. "I'll guide you, you'll be my hands and strength."

[The Jester Of Tortuga]

"To the bridge, need to piss off Madison at least once more. However, I ain't countin' us out yet."I'll guide you, you'll be my hands and strength."

Jeb picked up Sally as she instructed, he fully believed she could piss off Madison one more time but as for anything else... "I'm sure there is a dirty joke about hands strength and you or the Captain in there somewhere." Jeb managed to get out though his breathing was short and shallow.

[Lady Lee-o]

"I'm sure there is a dirty joke about hands strength and you or the Captain in there somewhere." Sally smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek before giving his face a light tap.

"That's my boy,"

*Jeb and Sally exit to the bridge*

[Hollywood Heidi]

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Travel time of Serenity to Shadowheart passes.

Serenity has reached the disabled Shadowheart ship to assist with repairs and an injury.

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[Lady Lee-o]

Simon decided to join the away team and someone needed to stay with Sally. She knew that Sally wouldn’t listen to anyone else, so she offered to stay behind. She told Captain Reynolds her crew would head back to Shadowheart and to send a wave if he needed anything.

“Set her down,” With the help of Jebediah she was able to get Sally up to the captain’s quarters. Madison's bed was large and better than Sally's usual style of sleeping- a hammock. They had shared Madison's bed many times these last few months, along with their protector; Jebediah. Her room had the most comforts and she knew Sally would be more comfortable.

“Here we go,” Jebediah placed a kiss on Sally’s head and set her down carefully.

“Thank you, Qin’ai de. I’ll take it from here. Go ahead and do what you can to help the Serenity crew here.” Madison placed a hand on his arm and he leaned in to press a kiss to her forehead before leaving.

When the door closed she took one look at Sally and narrowed her eyes. “Stay put,” She said nothing else and started to gather a few things.

"You ain’t gonna yell at me?"

“No, I need to get you cleaned and into bed.” Madison placed Sally’s hat on the hook beside the door. “Help me get your clothes off.”

"You've never needed help before darlin'." Madison was unmoved by the flirtation, arms were crossed and she waited for Sally to listen. She heard a soft sorry but stayed silent because she knew it would hurt more. She was angry and upset and Sally knew that. She wasn’t ready to be the bigger person right now.

Madison pulled on a section of the wall; revealing a fold-away bath and sink. An old-world Porcelain claw-foot-tub; large enough to fit one person comfortably or two people intimately. And a large basin sink which she used to wash her client’s hair. This section had its own water supply which she rarely used these days. The tank was full and the water recycled through a filter; safe for long trips in the black. Madison rolled the chair near the sink and motioned for Sally to sit, “Keep still, Lǐjiě.” Sally nodded and limped her way to the chair. "Lean back," Madison left no room for argument.

The chair was now a low set table and Madison raised her up so she was waist-high. She carefully ran the sponge along Sally’s body, taking care to clean everything that had been missed. The anger was starting to fade and her face softened as she took care of her girl.

“Close your eyes,” She sang softly and let Sally’s fear ease…

[Lady Lee-o]

The whole way to Madison’s bunk, Sally had been cracking jokes and poking at Jebediah. Things were kept light on Serenity but she was starting to get a different feeling. Madison’s mood was shifting and it left Sally uneasy and nervous. The loss of Jebediah’s warmth made things worse, and then came the look on Madison’s face. Her stomach was in knots now, “Stay put,” Sally did not like silence, it meant she was left with her own thoughts and that wasn’t okay. She wanted yelling, screaming, passion, the heat but it did not come.

"You ain’t gonna yell at me?" Sally’s tone was heavy with disappointment.

“No, I need to get you cleaned and into bed. Help me get your clothes off.”

"You've never needed help before darlin'." Sally’s jokes were not matched with the usual banter. Madison was done and she was waiting for Sally to listen. Her leg started to bounce with her nerves and her hands started to shake. “I’m sorry,” When the usual ‘it’s okay’ didn’t come, it made Sally feel worse and then the fear hit. She was worried she might have ruined everything. She was always ruining everything, it was the story of her life.

Sally never felt vulnerable in these situations, she always oozed confidence but this was different. Madison wasn’t in the mood for games and Sally felt the tone was different. It felt like she was a scolded child and to be fair she had been acting childish lately. This past year she had gotten into more fights than ever before. She felt like she was about to self-destruct, any second she would just explode. “Close your eyes,” No argument, she closed her eyes and let Madison take charge.

The warm water was nice and she felt lighter and it only increased at the soft tone of Madison’s sweet voice. Body cleaned, Madison moved on to her hair. Wrapping her body up in a warm blanket before settling her back in.

“You need a haircut.” Madison always did her hair when Sally asked. She hadn’t recently, she let it grow long and wild.

“If you want to.” Sally sounded defeated.

“I do, lean back.” She felt Madison’s gentle hand through her hair. The feeling of the warm water cleaning out all the dirt and oils that built up. It took time but by the time Madison was done, Sally’s head felt lighter and she no longer had the low hum of a headache.

“I love you.”

“And I love you.” Madison finished getting Sally dressed and led her over to bed. Tucking her into the warm blankets and joining her, allowing Sally to rest in her arms. "Sleep, I’m here.” and Sally closed her eyes and let herself drift off.