“Jayne an’ Zoe’ll be hangin’ around in case somethin’ happens to ya.”

Jayne looked over at Mal. “We will?”

Mal gave ‘im a look an’ turned back ta the doc. “They’ll be able ta follow what’s goin’ on through that little transmitter in yer ear. Shouldn’t be something he’d be able ta see er get suspicious about. Just don’t let ‘im nibble on yer ear er nothin’.”

Mal grinned. The doc gave ‘im a look fit ta kill.

“I’ll try.”

Mal handed Jayne an’ Zoe their own transmitters. Jayne popped his in an’ pulled on his earlobe ta get it comfortable.

“Where exactly we gonna be hangin’ around at?” Kinda hoped fer a spot in the whorehouse.

“In the hills ta the south. Far enough away not ta be noticed, but close enough ta ride in with guns blazin’, should our doc find ‘imself in danger.”

Damn.

“Guns?”

Mal nodded. “’Course.”

“When we leavin’?”

“I’m not really in a hurry.” The doc looked downright pissy.

Jayne gave ‘im a smile an’ ambled in the direction of his bunk. “I’ll hurry, then.”

Vera was waitin’ right where he’d left ‘er. He pulled her off of ‘er pegs an ran a hand down ‘er barrel real soft. Kissed ‘er gentle-like.

“So you have kissed more th’n one girl.”

Jayne whipped around. Kaylee was standin halfway down the ladder, holdin onta it with one hand an’ smilin’ at ‘im.

“You that nice to all women? Or just guns?”

She came the rest of the way down the ladder.

Jayne smiled. He’d tried goin’ back ta the engine room last night, but by the time he’d got up the rocks ta do it, she’d left. He was real glad ta see ‘er again.

“Depends on the woman.”

“Yeah? How so?”

Jayne looked down at Vera. “Well… if she’s good ta me, I’ll be real good ta her. Keep ‘er clean. Oiled. Make sure all ‘er parts work right. An’ that they get worked often.”

He looked back up at Kaylee.

She was still smilin’, bitin’ her lower lip now, though. Her cheeks were kinda pink.

Jayne took a step toward ‘er.

“Women do have their advantages over guns, though. Warm skin’s always better ‘n cold metal.”

Her cheeks were darker pink now.

Jayne’s heart was speedin’ up. By the looks of ‘er face, Kaylee’s was, too.

“Oh?”

“Always.”

Someone cleared their throat. In his ear.

“Wonder what’s takin’ Jayne so long. We’d better get movin’ soon.”

Zoe.

His gorram transmitter was in.

Shi.

“Gotta go.”

Kaylee blinked. “What?”

“Gotta… uh…”

Jayne waved Vera like she could answer for ‘im.

He moved toward the ladder. Kaylee moved aside.

He looked down when he’d reached the top. She was standin’ at the bottom, lookin’ up at ‘im with a look on her face that near broke his heart.

Jayne took a deep breath an' forced 'imself not ta go back down there.

When he got ta the cargo hold, Zoe was lookin’ real carefully at her gun.

Simon was lookin’ at him like he was gonna kill ‘im.