Dinner For Fourteen

[Haven Tam]

Haven set Bella's gun on the table as she walked in, muttering under her breath. Hugging Inara, she let the smell of good food fill her senses. "Mmmm that smells delicious." Leaning on the counter, she was waiting to tell everyone as wanted about the adventure.

Throwing her jacket off, she set her head on River's shoulder. "River, whats wrong?"

[river]

"I'm alright" said River "I'm alright"

River wasn't sure if she was telling her that because she was trying to convince Haven or herself or both. River was scared and that never ended well , Mal and the others knew that but the children didn't understand the full extent of River's ability. The academy being planet side worried her. She was afraid of being found and sent back to the school back to being an expirement to make a weapon out of her.

"Mal" said River quietly

[danieltam]

When Daniel returned to the ship, he quickly went and got his tools. He started to look around the ship for River until he entered the kitchen. He looked over and saw River with Haven. She looked a little distressed, more so than usual. He went over and rested his hand on hers, "Hey, River, you ok?" Daniel just remembered the letter Vincent gave him, everyone knew that they were close, he figured it might cheer her up. "Oh, I just remembered, Vincent wanted me to give you this." He handed it to her, he looked over and saw Bella, he felt his heart begin to race again. "Hi, Bella."

[OOC-River, I've sent you a message telling you what's written on the letter.]

[Arabella Hart]

The chicken had started to brown over. Bella was in her state wher enothing else mattered. She didn't know hwo to help River and thought it would take time to learn. Grabbing another pan, she began to heat it up to make the vegetables seperately because of Haven. But it needed to heat up first.

She started to hum to herslef again, not blinking often. Looking up, she smield at Daniel and Haven. "Hello. Anything?"

[Haven Tam]

haven eyed the letter. Him and River were close...but they never enxchanged letters in front of them. "He's alive. We are sure of it." She hoped that owuld help River. It helped Haven a lot.

Looking over at the food, Haven smilked. Bella seemed far off while cooking. Maybe her brother could bring her out. She seemed like she went into her own world when cooking. "Do you space out when cooking?" Haven gave River a kiss, hoping that would help too.

[river]

"Thank you Daniel" said River "He'll be fine he's alive"

River could feel that Mal was still alive. She wasn't sure if he was in one piece but he was alive and they would find him. River looked down at the letter Daniel gave her. She opened even though she knew what Vincent was going to say she liked to hear it or in this case see it.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.


Don’t be afraid. As long as you fear them, they have control. You have no need to fear. As long as there are people that care for you, who would do anything for you, who would give their lives to keep you safe. Whenever you are afraid, remember these words. Control your fear. Then, no matter how much they come after you, no matter what they do, no matter what they say, they will no longer have control. And without that control…………you are free.

River felt alot better after reading Vincent's letter. He was right she knew he was, she'd stopped fearing them once she would do it again. River let herself connect to Vincent's mind, she felt safe there cared for. River sometimes had the impulse to jump into Vincent's arms and just stay there, she often times fought back the urge so she wouldn't make a fool of herself. This time she wasn't going to do that once he was back on the ship she was going to hug him and hope he wouldn't get mad.

[danieltam]

When River looked at the letter he just handed her, Daniel saw her face light up. Whatever Vincent wrote to her was clearly exactly what she needed to hear. "Don't worry none. He'll be back soon. He's stubborn if anything." He decided to leave River alone with her thoughts. He made his way over to Bella, "The others are on the trail. We found someone who knows where Mal's being kept. They'll be back in no time." Daniel chose to omit certain details so as not to worry her, she's been through enough as it is. "You settling in ok?"

[Arabella Hart]

Bella stirred up the meat with the spoon adn then took the vegetables and thew them in. Shrugging, she was vague towards Haven. "Sometimes...." Looking up quickly at Daniel, she moved over some for him. She was cooking, so her feelings were trying to flutter up, but she pushed them away.

"Fine. Been trying to help River." Taking some stir fry sauce she had, she sprinkled i tover the chicken and turned the heat down. if it was done before the captain was back, she could put it in the oven. The rice didn't take long to cook, so while the doctor saw him, she'd make that.

[Haven Tam]

Haven tried to look at the letter, but couldn't see it properly. Frowning, she shrugged. Bella was relaly distant to her. She didn't know why Daniel was being so vague. But fo rRiver's sake it was good. They knew how to blcok their minds, so he could tell Bella later. It would be easier.

"I have a feeling we got no money from this." Mal was supposed to get a job. But if he was ambushed, then he may have not gotten any. And they would need fuel bad.

[river]

"Mal will get a job and he will get paid" said River

River thought through Vincent's note again, she needed that badly. She wanted Vincent to hold her and keep her safe and warm. River kept her mind connected with his he would never know that she was that close to him until he got back on the ship. River was finally calm enough to speak with Bella again.

"Thank you for trying to help me it is appreciated but you can only try and please don't tell Simon" said River

She was desperate that Simon didn't know about her episodes which had started to come back. They'd been coming back for a long time and she couldn't bring herself to tell Simon. She was going to tell Mal though so he wouldn't worry to much about her.

[danieltam]

Daniel was glad to hear that Bella was doing ok. It probably wasn't an easy thing to leave one's home, so Daniel was going to do everything he could to make her feel more at home. "Thats good to hear. About Aunt River, Simon, my dad, he tends to worry a bit too much about her. Especially when she gets like this." Daniel felt he had too elaborate a bit on the situation between his dad and River. There's a good chance it would be a regular occurrence. Daniel saw that Bella was deeply focused on her cooking so he decided that he should probably get on with his own work. "I'll let you get on with that. I have work to do anyway. I'll just be though there if you need anything." Daniel gave her a quick smile and headed for the bridge.

[Out-Bridge]

[river]

River shook her head at what her nephew was thinking she smiled at Vincent's letter to her again. She remained in his head needed to be close to him at the moment. River would know when he got back on and she was going to go to him. No power in the verse could stop her.

"It'll get worse if Simon finds out that I am having episodes again" said River

She kept Vincent's letter in her hand it was what she needed more than anything.

[Arabella Hart]

Bella nodded. She was understanding everything a bit more. Mixing the vegetables, she reached over and burnt her hand. Running cold water, bella let it sit there for a moment before turning back; she had burns and this was just another to her.

Bella looked at River. She was curious what kind of job Mal would get-if River knew. Maybe...maybe River knew what Bella was thinking. Well, of course she knows. It's just does she know that.

The meal was large. But it smelt good to Bella. And almost done. "I won't mix the meat and vegetables like normally. Just let everyone do tha tas they please." Grabbing the sauce, she covered the vegetables, hearing it sizzle. Taking the meat off, it was done. Putting it on a plate, she put the oven on warm and set them in there. She didn't know how long until they all came back, so keeping it on warm would keep the heat in.

[Haven Tam]

Haven savored the scent of real food-and the fact someone cared about her diet. Looking at her aunt, she smiled. "You want to come to the bridge with me and Daniel?" Haven thought it might be bset until Bella could learn to block her mind and so she was with family.

Haven sighed. She had hoped Daniel would have been smart enough to try and pull Bella out of her shell. Rolling her eyes as he left, she looked at River. "I need a talk with Daniel. Please come if you want." Kissing her aunt's cheek, she turned out, calling after Daniel.

[out-bridge]

[river]

River looked at Haven and smiled. Haven may have invited River to the bridge but her mind was elsewhere. River got a gleam of a girl who needed a home. River sent the thought to Vincent giving him the girl's location so he could grab her after they found Mal.

"I'm coming Haven" said River almost absent mindedly

River walked toward the door and then looked at Bella. River knew what Haven was going to talk to Daniel about but she didn't care.

{out-bridge}