locker_monster | Firefly/Doctor Who crossover fic: A Different Kind of Companion (3/20) (Reply)

Title: A Different Kind of Companion (3/20)
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Ten, Rose, Ten/Rose, Mal, Inara, Mal/Inara
Timeline: A week after "Heart of Gold" for Firefly, and just before "Army of Ghosts" for Doctor Who
Summary: After an encounter in the 26th century, Inara and Rose find themselves in unfamiliar settings.
Disclaimer: Firefly and Doctor Who belong to their respective creators and showrunners. Too much awesome would happen if Joss Whedon and Russell T Davies ever worked on something together.
A/N: The biggest thank you goes out to

browncoat_2x2 for betaing this story and helping with the minor changes.

Chapter One. Chapter Two.

Inara cast a sideways glance at Mal as Jannik ordered a round of drinks for them. It was good to know that the crew had found a paying job, but it all seemed too easy to her. Hadn’t Mal told her that there were rumours floating around about Jannik? For a man with a reputation to put Mal on edge, Jannik hadn’t come off as very ominous. His readiness to hire the crew didn’t seem quite right either.

As these thoughts went through Inara’s mind, Mal glanced briefly at her. He didn’t say anything, but she understood. He was wary of Jannik as well but he couldn’t turn down a job that would put food on the table.

And then something else occurred to Inara. Now that Mal had taken this job, they would have to divert to New Kasmir. She would have to stay on Serenity a few days more than she planned. It was a set back, but seeing as how she had yet to make definite plans for her departure, she could use the time to sort out matters.

Like breaking the news to the crew for instance…

The drinks arrived at the table and Jannik heartily encouraged them to each take up a glass in toast. Inara picked up her glass and rose to her feet as Jannik began to speak. After some hesitation, Mal copied her.

“To Captain Reynolds. May this be the start of a long and fruitful relationship.”

* * *

It felt like they hadn’t moved at all, but that was the beauty of travelling in the TARDIS. The world outside of her doors could change in an instant.

Rose tugged at the zipper of her jacket. Unlike the flat back at the Estate, the temperature inside the TARDIS never changed. She could wear layers of clothing and not feel hot. The Doctor had mentioned something about “temporal grace” when she had noticed this their first year together. It was only when she travelled outside of the time machine that she had to worry about varying temperatures. The light parka she had donned for the stingray planet didn’t seem like the right outerwear for a flower planet.

As she slipped off her jacket, the Doctor put on his long coat. It was a heavy coat, but he wore it everywhere, hot or cold planets. There were some days when Rose missed the feeling of a leather jacket against her cheek when she leaned against the Doctor, but the coat suited the leaner frame of this Doctor. Not that she would ever admit that to him.

“Can we pick something up for my mum while we’re here?” Rose tossed her jacket over the railing.

“An alien plant for your mother? I wouldn’t trust her with a ficus.”

“Wouldn’t have to be a plant,” said Rose as she headed for the doors, the Doctor following her. “Just something, y’know, you can’t get on Earth.”

“We’ll make another stop after Zaakros. There’s this little bazaar situated in an asteroid belt around a gas giant in the Bazool sector. You’ll find all sorts. Bartering system’s a bit odd. They like hair.”

“We can shave you bald then. It’d be worth a fortune.” With a grin on her face, Rose opened the TARDIS doors and stepped out.

* * *

Jannik brought the glass to his lips.

A shot suddenly rang out and Inara’s own glass slipped from her startled fingers, falling to the floor with a crash as she whirled to face the door. A group of men, nine in total, stood blocking the entrance. The man in front had his gun raised, the barrel pointed at the ceiling – it had only been a warning shot.

Mal already had his hand resting on the butt of his pistol.

“Jannik!” The man in front – a tall man with a fresh scar running down his left cheek – stepped forward. The men behind him moved to take up positions around the room. “You no good zhà pià,” the man said, levelling his gun at Jannik.

Jannik held up his hands. “I’m unarmed, Faustus. You wouldn’t shoot an unarmed man, would you?”

“I’d shoot him if he deserved it. And you do.”

The remaining eight men boxed them in, forcing the rest of the patrons and the bartender in toward Jannik’s table. Mal was the only one visibly armed.

“Let’s talk this through, Faustus,” Jannik said in a calm voice. “What is this all about?”

“Oh, that’s rich. Acting like you don’t know. The job you sent me and my men on was a deathtrap! And I see you’re all ready to hire another dupe.” Faustus looked to Mal. “Has he promised you a large pay? More money than you’ve ever seen? It ain’t worth it.”

“Just havin’ an honest drink with the man,” replied Mal.

“Honest.” Faustus chuckled harshly. “I doubt it.”

The other eight men drew their guns, covering everyone in the room.

From the corner of her eye, Inara saw the curtain flutter. Did Faustus have more men in the back or was it someone who worked for Jannik?

Mal looked around. “Well, ain’t this awkward.”

Then an odd whooshing sound filled the room.

The first thing Rose noticed was the smell. It reminded her of Mickey’s flat. Dirty laundry, old leftovers, and pickled onions. She looked around at the room the TARDIS had landed in. It wasn’t another cupboard, but it did look like a back room of sorts, full of wooden shelves stocked with cans of food and she spotted a few kegs sitting in a corner. Light spilled in through a curtain hanging in a doorway. She walked towards it, letting the Doctor lock the TARDIS doors behind her.

“Is this the right place?” she asked as she pushed the curtain aside, coming face to face with the barrel of a gun.

Rose let out a small gasp. It was a real gun, not a sonic blaster or a laser pistol. And it was pointed at her.

“Is this the O.K. Corral?” muttered the Doctor, glancing around the room as he came up beside Rose. “Been there, done…” He trailed off upon noticing the gun.

“What’s this?” The angry voice of a man made Rose look up. There were more men holding guns and they were pointed at a group of people standing around a table. It looked like a bar from out of the old west. A man with a scar was staring at the Doctor. “More Browncoats? Or is this your back-up?”

The question had been addressed to another man in a long brown coat. Unlike the others being held at gunpoint, his hands weren’t raised. “He ain’t one of mine.”

The man with the scar scowled. “Likely story.” He turned his gaze to the man holding the gun at Rose. “Kill them.”

Rose closed her eyes.

zhà piàn = cheat