All day long, the crew had been bickering and undermining his authority as captain. Captains should have their authority respected. And it said 'captain' right next to his name on the ownership papers. Which made him captain. Which meant his authority should be respected. Simple as that.

After he had practically screamed himself hoarse to that effect, the crew all scattered to their bunks, grousing about their mean ol' captain. Plus, he was starting in on a corker of a headache. A captain-y headache, one might say.

He dragged himself to the mess for some tea, hoping to soothe both his head and his throat. Inara was there, also fixing herself some tea.

"Oh, hey there," he fumbled awkwardly. "Can't sleep either?"

She smiled. "Well, your voice carries quite well inside the cargo bay. Woke me up."

Mal blushed a bit, but had the presence of mind to duck his head in the hopes she wouldn't notice. "Yeah, uhm, sorry 'bout that. Ai ya, my head is poundin' and my throat is practically raw."

"I've got some special tea that might help. Ginger and lemon - good for a sore throat."

She set the kettle to boil and prepared two cups for the hot water.

Mal suddenly looked a bit embarrassed. "Hey Inara, do you ever get tired of having to be in control?"

She looked a bit startled, but quickly regained her composure. "Companions are trained in the art of control from a very young age, Mal."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know. But doesn't it ever get wearying, having to be the one in charge all the time? I mean, look at me. I gotta play the part of Mean Ol' Cap'n Mal to get anything ruttin' done around here."

The kettle whistled before Inara could respond, so she busied herself pouring the water.

"I thought you liked being all Captain-y, being in control."

Mal grinned ruefully. "It has it's perks at that. But just gorram *once* I'd like someone else to be in control."

Inara brought the tea over to Mal. He could smell the ginger and the lemon, and a faint bit of nightblooming jasmine that was uniquely Inara. He took a sip and felt his throat loosening up. "You never answered my question."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Don't you ever get tired of being in control? Of calling the shots?"

It was Inara's turn to look down in the hopes that Mal had not seen her blush. "Yes. Some days."

Mal cocked his head and reached out a tentative hand to place over hers. "Like today?"

"Yes. Like today."