Freedom to the Free 10/21
Title: Freedom to the Free
Author:Dreolin
Summary: To protect River, Kaylee, Wash and himself after they are abducted and sold into slavery, Simon is forced to make some difficult choices while hoping for rescue. Will he be able to keep them safe? And at what cost?
Rating: M
Characters: All
Pairing: Simon/OFC, (hints at future Simon/Kaylee)
Warning: Non-con (mostly off "screen") directed toward Simon by OFC, also some violence and adult themes.
Genre: Angst
Setting: This story can be seen either as taking place pre-BDM, or as going AU after the final episode. However, if I write the sequel that I hope to, then it will be considered AU.
Disclaimer: Neither “Firefly” nor any of its characters belong to me, unfortunately. As everyone knows, the honors go to Joss Whedon.
Author's note: Previously posted on fanfiction.net. Any mistakes in Chinese translation are mine alone. I would like to hugely thank the wonderful and patient Annuette wild for being the best beta one could hope for!
Sometime later Simon passed the crying baby to Abigail who cleaned him off and wrapped him tightly in a blanket. Simon closed the incision, relieved that the woman’s vitals were strong and the baby appeared to be healthy. His focus was so intent on the patient in front of him, that the bang of the flung open clinic door made him jump. Jackson barreled into the room and glanced around, as Carsey followed him in.
“The baby alive?” he asked as the baby continued screaming.
As one, the three others turned and looked at him in disbelief. Carsey, the only one allowed to voice what they were all thinking spoke. “Jackson, you really that stupid?”
The man’s face turned red. “Can it go now?”
“Go?” Simon asked.
“When can it go to the buyer? I’ve done told ‘im it’s on the way.”
“Umm...” Simon hesitated.
“The man asked you a question, boy.” Carsey’s voice was hard, her eyes glaring.
“Go.” Simon repeated quietly. “He really should be monitored for at least twenty-four hours.”
“That’ll do.” The man said, apparently more to himself than to Simon.
“Come on, Jackson,” Carsey started toward the door, obviously expecting the man to follow her, “we’ll get payment scheduled.”
She turned back to Simon. “How’s the girl?”
“Stable.”
She nodded slightly. “I’ll send someone to help you get her moved to the bed.”
It was a couple of hours later when Carsey came back. The mother was asleep in the bed; her baby, still tightly wrapped in the blanket, was asleep on the other. Simon and Abigail looked up from their cleaning as she entered.
“How are they?” She glanced over at the beds.
“They both seem to be doing well.” Simon also looked over to where the young woman and the baby both slept. “The baby should be fine. The mother is still stable, but she’ll need to be watched closely.”
She nodded, “How long before she can go back to Jackson?”
“I’m not sure yet. Does he have someone who would be able to take care of her?”
“That’s not my problem, nor is it yours. I just need you to give him the instructions and medications he’ll need, and I need a time frame letting him know when he can take her without killin’ her.”
“I don’t know...if I had to say...”
“You do.” She glared.
Simon shook his head slightly and took a breath. “Then...forty-eight hours. If nothing changes.”
“Good enough. Abigail,” as Carsey said her name the girl looked up from the sink where she was cleaning the surgical instruments, “I need you to leave off what you’re doin’ and go help in the dining hall.”
Abigail looked confusedly from Carsey to Simon before she quickly left the room. Carsey waited until the girl had left and then, eyes on Simon, she yelled back over her shoulder, “Frank, get in here.”
Simon froze, his entire body going numb, as the man entered the room. He had Kaylee with him. He had one of her arms twisted behind her back, his other arm wrapped tight around her waist which simultaneously pinned her other arm to her side.
Carsey walked over to Simon, grabbing his chin in her hand forcing him to look away from Kaylee and at herself instead. “I think there’s a lesson you haven’t learned...” She stared him hard in the eye, gripping his face tighter. “As you rightly pointed out, I bought you because I needed a doctor, and I realize you are better qualified to do your job than I am. However,” She punctuated each word by a slight shake to his head, “you are NEVER to speak like that to me again. I warned you what would happen.”
Still gripping his chin she forced him to look back at Kaylee. “Frank, how would you like a go with our little mechanic?”
Frank grinned at Simon, baring his teeth, and slipped the tips of his fingers from Kaylee’s waist down along her stomach into the waistband of her trousers, eliciting a small involuntary whimper of fear.
The rancher pulled Simon’s face back around to look at her own. His eyes were wide with shock. “On your knees, boy.”
She let go of Simon’s chin allowing him to look back at Kaylee who cried to him, tears in her eyes, “Simon, don’t do it.”
“I’m sorry, Kaylee.” He lowered himself to his knees, unsure if he was apologizing for what he was doing, or for what he had done that had allowed this to happen in the first place.
“She’s not the one you should be apologizing to.” She nodded her head slightly at Frank who began backing out of the door with Kaylee who began to struggle.
“No! Don’t!” Simon grabbed the rancher’s arm, looking up at her, pleading. “I’m sorry! Please, don’t hurt her!”
She held her hand up and Frank stopped his retreat. She looked down at Simon, “And what are you sorry for?”
Simon thought quickly, looking back where Frank still held Kaylee then back up at Carsey. “For talking back.” He made it almost a question, not sure what she wanted to hear.
“Close. I’ve warned you what will happen if you disobey me, and that includes any sign that you’ve forgotten your place.” She grabbed his chin again. “This time do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“That’s enough Frank.” She let go of Simon and looked at the other man. “Take her back to work, and remember hands off unless I tell you different.”
Carsey watched as Frank pulled Kaylee from the room then turned back to Simon who was still kneeling, staring at the floor. “I’ll send the girl back in here, and you do what you need to finish up in here, then you come to my room.”
Simon, getting to his feet reflexively responded by saying, “The girl has a name.”
The words were no sooner past his lips when he realized his mistake as her face darkened dangerously. “I’m sorry! God, I’m sorry! Please,” he glanced in the direction Frank had taken Kaylee and then looked back at Carsey, wide eyed, “I didn’t mean...”
She looked at him. “I realize you’re still new, and they’ll be slip-ups, but you’re a doctor which tells me that you should learn quicker than some, so you best be more careful with your tongue.”
She started toward the door, then stopped and looked back at him. “Besides I have better uses for it.”