Inara's Shuttle

[Hollywood Heidi]

Inara's eyes widened as her happy expression melted into shock and horror at the sudden turn of events. Knowing her own reaction would only make things worse, she was able to gather herself quickly while River was distracted in whatever thoughts had taken her down a dark path to terrorizing memories.

"River!" she called out sharply, scooting to the edge of her seat as her hands going to the monitor, feeling helpless over not being able to physically place calming hands on River. "River, listen to my voice." She spoke loud, yet kept a calmness to the tone. "Come back to me. You're safe, do you hear me?" Her hand caressed River's hair on the monitor, willing so hard for River to feel the deep love and care she held for the sweet girl in her heart. "You're with your brother now. You're with us, on your home. On Serenity. Please, mei-mei. Come back to me," she pleaded.


This was all her fault. With so much darkness clouding River's past, she shouldn't have brought up the past at all. But with her training, Inara kept the guilt out of her tone and off her features, knowing that River needed nothing but positivity in this moment.

[DarkSideCookie]

(River via video screen)


At first, River seemed unable to receive the words of calm, but the stronger Inara's voice became, River finally calmed. She was still holding her head but had stopped screaming. Also, her breathing was still heavy, yet calmed slowly.

"Th-" River spoke up again at some point, still not looking back at the monitor but instead down, as if through her own hands that still were resting close to her face without holding it anymore. "They are- not safe."

[Hollywood Heidi]

"River? River, look at me, Bao bei." She waited for River to do so. "Who's not safe?" she asked very calmly to show that she felt River's words were important but that maybe--hopefully--they weren't relevant to the present.  Her tone and attitude were serious but levelheaded, devoid of any panic or fear as if trying to get River to empathically pick up on that same feeling and treat this in the same manner.  Inara was hoping River was still mentally stuck in the past and therefore, that her warning was regarding something that had already happened.

"We're all safe here, mei-mei. Wash has been diligently watching the monitors for any visitors," she reassured, hoping whatever threat River had felt was fading, because if not, then that might mean the danger she was picking up on was presently unfolding.


_______________________
Bao bei = sweetheart

[DarkSideCookie]

(via video screen)


River's breathing was still heavy when she spoke up again after a while. "W-Wendy.." she said, still not looking directly at Inara. "She isn't feeling- well.. She's- suffering..."

[Hollywood Heidi]

Inara had witnessed how River and Wendy's empathic gift-in-common seemed to connect them in this invisible, unspoken way, so she did not doubt River's sense regarding Wendy right now.

She was saddened but she did not hide it, feeling that right now, River would be less likely to panic if she saw that Inara fully trusted in her reading and had someone to commiserate with. "Wendy told us this would be happening soon," Inara gently reminded in a somber tone. "The fact they didn't immediately return must mean that the doctor was in residence and is doing everything he can to help her."

It was the only logical explanation. When Wendy had hacked the satellite monitoring the doctor's ranch to be sure the coast was clear before going planetside, there'd been no sign of enforcements lying in wait. All had been calm and quiet with no ships or shuttles anywhere in the vicinity and no other ships had gone on- or off-planet since.

[DarkSideCookie]

(via video screen)


At first, River didn't seem convinced, but then, after a few more seconds, she finally nodded slightly, looking somewhat at ease.