Chapter Three: I Need To Know

Mal, Zoë, Wash and Jayne all walked up the ramp into Serenity's cargo bay.

"Wash, get ready to leave as soon as everything's loaded," Mal instructed. Wash nodded and hurried up to the bridge.

Kaylee walked down the steps into the cargo bay and asked, "We leaving soon?"

Mal nodded, "Soon as everything gets loaded, we're taking off."

"Shiny," Kaylee said. She turned and headed toward the engine room. There were a few things she needed to get taken care of before they left.

"Wait for Adam here," Mal instructed Zoë. "And let me know when he gets here."

"Sir?" Zoë asked.

"Just let me know when he gets here," Mal said, giving her a look that said they would discuss it later.

Mal walked through the cargo bay and into the infirmary. Simon was sitting in front of a screen entering some information.

"We're taking on a passenger to Beaumonde," Mal said.

"Alright," Simon said, surprised. Ever since he and River had joined the crew they had rarely if ever taken passengers on. There was always the chance that one of them might recognize him or River. "Who is it?"

"Wash's brother, Adam," Mal said. "We're giving him and his cargo a ride to Beaumonde." He looked around the infirmary, "Might be a good idea if you and your sister lay low while he's here."

"But if he's Wash's brother, shouldn't he be trust-worthy?" Simon asked.

"I'm not locking you in your bunks for the whole trip, just try not to draw any attention to yourself until we know more about him."

"Right," Simon said. He was confused. If the passenger was Wash's brother, why didn't Mal trust him? And since when did Wash have a brother? True the crew of Serenity tended to keep quiet about their pasts but Simon thought that if Wash had any family, he would have mentioned them.

"Just lay low," Mal instructed. "And try to keep your sister under control…well more under control than normal."

Simon nodded and headed towards the passenger dorm where River was sleeping. The new medication that he had been trying seemed to be keeping her calm but he still worried that it wouldn't be long before her system became immune to the drugs and she required a new regime.

Mal left the infirmary and walked back out to the cargo bay. Zoë was getting the cargo bay ready for Adam's cargo.

"Adam here yet?" Mal asked.

"Haven't seen him," Zoë said.

"Good," Mal said, pulling Zoë aside. "What's your gut feeling on the guy?"

"Who, Adam?" Zoë asked.

"Yes, Adam," Mal said, annoyed. "What's your take on this guy?"

Zoë shrugged, "He seemed okay."

"Okay?" Mal said. "You didn't get any kind of weird vibe from him?"

Zoë shook her head, "No."

"Something's not right with this guy," Mal said. "I can't put my finger on it but….I don't think we should trust him."

"Wash trusts him," Zoë pointed out.

"And Wash always has perfect judgment," Mal snapped.

Zoë shot him a "Do you really want to go there, sir?" look. "Wash wouldn't let anyone on Serenity that he didn't trust. Besides it's his brother."

"The brother he's never told you about, the brother that shows up out of nowhere and wants to hire us. Does that make sense to you?"

"Could be a coincidence," Zoë said. "But even if it's not, what's wrong with Adam trying to track his brother down?"

"So why'd Wash never mentioned this brother before?" Mal pointed out.

"He has his reasons," Zoë said. She had no idea what they would be but if her normally open husband chose to keep quiet about something then there must be very good reason.

"Find out what they are," Mal told her.

"Sir?" Zoë asked, startled.

"Talk to Wash," Mal instructed. "Find out whatever you can about this guy and what his story is."

Zoë started at Mal and then said quietly, "Is that a request or an order?"

"It's ahh ." Mal said. He'd been about to say that it was an order but the look on Zoë's face stopped him.

"Sir," Zoë said, even more quietly. "Are you going to order me to spy on my husband and his brother?"

"Well..uh…" This conversation was not going the way Mal had planned.

"You want to know something about Wash or Adam, ask them yourself," Zoë told him and walked away.

Mal's eyes flew upwards to the bridge, "Right, she obeys me, alright," He muttered under his breath. He looked towards the entrance and saw Adam walking up the ramp.

Mal took a deep breath and walked over to him. "Where's your cargo?" Mal asked.

Adam gestured behind him where a mule was parked loaded with several wooden crates, "It's all there. You're welcome to check it if you'd like." Adam said, using the formal tone that he'd used back at their meeting.

"No," Mal said. "Let's get it onboard." He'd let this round go but he'd check the cargo personally if Adam gave him even a slightest reason.

Mal, Jayne, Zoë and Adam loaded the crates easily into the cargo bay.

"What's in these?" Jayne asked as he set one down. "Doesn't feel like there's anything in them."

Adam set down his own crate, "Just a few items that needed shipping," Adam said, his voice still formal. "It's all above board, I assure you."

Jayne started to speak but was interrupted by the sound of the doors closing. Zoe hit the comm. and said, "Wash, we're all on aboard."

The engines started and Serenity lifted up into the air.

Comments? Critcisms? This is my first Firefly fic so I welcome any!