Freedom to the Free 17/21
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!
When Simon returned to the room, the day's events suddenly caught up with him. Shakily, he walked over to the bedrolls and lowered himself down next to Wash. River turned knowing eyes toward her brother. It was the look she sometimes had, as though she were looking through walls to see something that should have been obvious. She walked over to Simon, and sitting down beside him, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his chest. Closing her eyes, she said, "Inara was here. Wasn't she?"
Simon looked down at his sister in wonderment.
"Is that true?" Kaylee came over and knelt down in front of them.
Simon nodded.
Wash, forgetting Simon couldn't speak, asked rapidly, "Is she okay? Is she still here?"
Simon looked at him and nodded once slowly, then after a slight pause, shook his head.
"See," Kaylee said, becoming excited, "they're gonna get us out! I told ya!"
Simon actually felt momentarily grateful that he couldn't answer. He didn't want to have to tell her what had actually happened. He didn't want to destroy her hope, to take that little bit of happiness away from her.
Wash must have sensed some of what Simon was thinking, because Simon felt him take his hand and give it a slight squeeze, the most comfort he could give. Simon tried to shake off his melancholy, and turned his attention to checking Wash's progress and changing the bandages.
+++
The next day Simon saw several patients during the morning, and he was able to put Inara's visit, and his evening with Carsey, out of his mind.
After lunch, Carsey and Buckey brought a man into the infirmary, half-carrying him. The man had a cut above his eye, blood running down his face. He seemed dazed. They got him on the exam table and Abigail, noticing the cut, brought over suture materials and disinfectant.
Simon started cleaning the cut, preparing to close it, when Carsey spoke, "After you get that taken care of, I want him castrated."
Simon whipped around so fast he knocked over the tray holding his instruments. The words also made it through the man's haze, as he made a clumsy, drunken attempt to run off, but he barely made it off the table before Carsey and Buckey had him back on it.
"Doctor, you get him sedated and get to work." Carsey looked hard at Simon as she and Buckey held the man on the table.
"No." Simon said, backing away, "I'm not doing it. I am a doctor. I took an oath. You can't make me do it."
"Oh, I can't?" Carsey asked, her voice turning dangerously cold. "Here are the options: If you don't do it, it'll still get done, the same way we've done it before without a doctor, and it'll be done without sedation or anything for pain. Then after it's done, we'll do the same to the pilot. Or, you do it yourself, with sedation and pain medication and medical care, and we leave the pilot in one piece. Those are your options."
She turned to Buckey, "Stay here and make sure it gets done. One way or the other." She let go of the man, leaving him to Buckey, as she left.
"You heard her," Buckey said, "what's it gonna be?"
Simon’s thoughts raced. Since rescuing his sister, he had been forced to make horrible and difficult choices, choices he would have never thought himself capable of making. But this time...to use his skills and knowledge as a doctor to cause harm, irrevocable intentional harm, to someone who had never hurt him, had never harmed or threatened anyone he cared about. Someone he didn't even know... He didn't know if he could do it, not even to save Wash. As far as Simon was aware, the only difference between this man and Wash was that Simon knew Wash, while this man was a complete stranger. What gave him the right?
"Doc,” Buckey’s voice cut into his thoughts, "this man knew what would happen if he caused one more fight. It's him or the both of them, and if it happens that way, it won't be pretty. If you care for your friend at all, you'll do what she says.’
"Look at it this way," he continued, "you're not causing sufferin' you're preventin’ it. For the both of them." Buckey's voice was, surprisingly, almost sympathetic.
Simon closed his eyes, made his decision, took a deep breath, and injected a sedative as the man began to scream.