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jebbypalUnbeta-ed and prompted by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mona1347's repeated plea for me to explain why Book left Serenitiy.
The rain pours and has soaked him to the bone, but Book has no inclination to return to the shelter of Serenity. Oh, he'll have to go back eventually, but if he returns before the fire is put out, he'll break more commandments than just taking the Lord's name in vain.
He tenses when the sound of footsteps joins the pounding patter of the downpour. Old instincts die hard and he's counting to ten, no to one hundred, when the sound draws close enough to be identified as Captain Malcolm Reynolds. An old voice wonders if the man was foolhardy enough to come alone and unarmed. His logic puts that voice down rather quickly - no way Zoe would let Mal come to him unarmed after the row they'd had earlier. And if she did, no doubt she was observing from a sniper scope somewhere nearby. Book repeats his vows silently even as he prays to God to give him the patience to do no more bodily harm to Malcolm.
The footsteps fall to silence a few yards away, but Book refuses to turn or speak. To his mind, one miracle has already occured today - the mountain has indeed come to him.
Soon, a cough sounds followed by Malcolm's raspy voice. The pride Book feels for every cough and strain as the captain hesitantly begins is sinful. "You should come on back to the ship now, Shepherd. It's all over and done with, in the past. Forgiven, even."
But not forgotten. Neither of them could forget. Years in the abbey had taught Book how to submit, how to hide the color of the wolf that he has longed to kill. Since the day he first stepped onto Serenity, Malcolm has baited him incessantly, daring him to challenge him for dominance. It's a testament to his faith that he was able to hold back as long as he did.
"Meaning that the only reason you are here, son, is that Wash refuses to start the engines until I return."
A boot kicks at the mud causing clods to land in his field of vision. "Didn't have to, Kaylee gave the catalyzer to River." That news causes the first smile of the day to grace Book's face. "I don't want this to be another standoff with you, Shepherd, but you were out of line. Serenity is my ship and I won't have you interefering with her or my crew. If we can't agree on that, well, maybe it's time your journey with us ended."
Book's instincts recognized the implied threat even as the man he was today spotted the lie. But the words were full of truth nonetheless. Even so, his conscience and his calling demanded that he attempt one more time to save Malcolm's soul.
"What you did yesterday, transporting that hudan..."
"Was a job," Mal interupted. "Nothing more. No one got hurt, the Alliance got a little frustrated, and we made a little money out of it. Better deal that I've gotten with those two orphans that you and half my crew is deadset that I keep hauling."
Frustration coursed through his body as Book shook his head and resumed his meditation on the combined beauty and destructive force of the rain. "One day, Malcolm, maybe not soon, but one day, you'll be called to answer for decisions like this one. The excuse that you delight in frustrating the Alliance won't be a good defense."
Book could almost hear Mal's teeth grind. "Well, be sure to stay out here long enough to get Him out of your system. I believe I told you before that your god wasn't welcome on my ship," Mal said before his footsteps left Book alone once again.
Book counted to a hundred again as he waited for the rain and his faith to extinguish the fire once more. Captain Malcolm Reynolds was denser than Book had thought if the man believed he'd been referring to God.
In his heart, Book knew that Malcolm had been right. Book would have to leave Serenity soon if he wanted to avoid breaking any more commandments in his life. He relaxed a bit as his instincts felt the invisible watcher leave her sniper's nest. The old voice tells him that he'll have to leave very soon if he wanted to prevent Zoe from taking his own life.
mona1347's repeated plea for me to explain why Book left Serenitiy.The rain pours and has soaked him to the bone, but Book has no inclination to return to the shelter of Serenity. Oh, he'll have to go back eventually, but if he returns before the fire is put out, he'll break more commandments than just taking the Lord's name in vain.
He tenses when the sound of footsteps joins the pounding patter of the downpour. Old instincts die hard and he's counting to ten, no to one hundred, when the sound draws close enough to be identified as Captain Malcolm Reynolds. An old voice wonders if the man was foolhardy enough to come alone and unarmed. His logic puts that voice down rather quickly - no way Zoe would let Mal come to him unarmed after the row they'd had earlier. And if she did, no doubt she was observing from a sniper scope somewhere nearby. Book repeats his vows silently even as he prays to God to give him the patience to do no more bodily harm to Malcolm.
The footsteps fall to silence a few yards away, but Book refuses to turn or speak. To his mind, one miracle has already occured today - the mountain has indeed come to him.
Soon, a cough sounds followed by Malcolm's raspy voice. The pride Book feels for every cough and strain as the captain hesitantly begins is sinful. "You should come on back to the ship now, Shepherd. It's all over and done with, in the past. Forgiven, even."
But not forgotten. Neither of them could forget. Years in the abbey had taught Book how to submit, how to hide the color of the wolf that he has longed to kill. Since the day he first stepped onto Serenity, Malcolm has baited him incessantly, daring him to challenge him for dominance. It's a testament to his faith that he was able to hold back as long as he did.
"Meaning that the only reason you are here, son, is that Wash refuses to start the engines until I return."
A boot kicks at the mud causing clods to land in his field of vision. "Didn't have to, Kaylee gave the catalyzer to River." That news causes the first smile of the day to grace Book's face. "I don't want this to be another standoff with you, Shepherd, but you were out of line. Serenity is my ship and I won't have you interefering with her or my crew. If we can't agree on that, well, maybe it's time your journey with us ended."
Book's instincts recognized the implied threat even as the man he was today spotted the lie. But the words were full of truth nonetheless. Even so, his conscience and his calling demanded that he attempt one more time to save Malcolm's soul.
"What you did yesterday, transporting that hudan..."
"Was a job," Mal interupted. "Nothing more. No one got hurt, the Alliance got a little frustrated, and we made a little money out of it. Better deal that I've gotten with those two orphans that you and half my crew is deadset that I keep hauling."
Frustration coursed through his body as Book shook his head and resumed his meditation on the combined beauty and destructive force of the rain. "One day, Malcolm, maybe not soon, but one day, you'll be called to answer for decisions like this one. The excuse that you delight in frustrating the Alliance won't be a good defense."
Book could almost hear Mal's teeth grind. "Well, be sure to stay out here long enough to get Him out of your system. I believe I told you before that your god wasn't welcome on my ship," Mal said before his footsteps left Book alone once again.
Book counted to a hundred again as he waited for the rain and his faith to extinguish the fire once more. Captain Malcolm Reynolds was denser than Book had thought if the man believed he'd been referring to God.
In his heart, Book knew that Malcolm had been right. Book would have to leave Serenity soon if he wanted to avoid breaking any more commandments in his life. He relaxed a bit as his instincts felt the invisible watcher leave her sniper's nest. The old voice tells him that he'll have to leave very soon if he wanted to prevent Zoe from taking his own life.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-24 07:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-24 08:45 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-24 12:37 pm (UTC)Years in the abbey had taught Book how to submit, how to hide the color of the wolf that he has longed to kill.
Lovely imagery here.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-24 12:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-02-24 04:59 pm (UTC)