Not my ‘verse, I stole it. Not my story, I stole it to. Just wanted to tweak things my way for fun. I believe the only original line is “Simon says”.

You can take the boy out of Hera…

By: Jailbird

Chapter Five “One Last Job”

At lunch Inara had whipped up sandwiches with country ham the real canned kind, real processed cheese with a fresh loaf of bread straight from the oven. Everyone was there except Mal and River.

When Mal did climb out from his bunk and walked into the dinning room. Everything stood still. “Ahh…about last night; I stepped over the line and for that I’m...”

Interrupts Simon. “No…no Captain, not gonna be a problem, I do believe I overreacted and then overreacted to my overreaction.”

“Yeah what the Doc said.” Mal is little confused by happy Doc. “Well, times have been tough all around.”

Everyone glances uncomfortably at Zoë.

“Yes, ah, of course, how are you two, and don’t let captain meanie ruin it for you.” She was truly happy for them.

Mal in his own defense “I tried to apologize.”

Simon admits sheepishly. “No really, Inara smooth out everything and I sort of…cracked.”

“Yeah, Doc you sure did.” Jayne says between bites of sandwich. “Almost had two moon brains on board.”

“Where is River? She should be here for this.” Mal says looking around table.

No one has the slightest clue.

“Haven’t seen her since dinner last night.” Simon just now realizing he hasn’t seen or heard from his sister since he stormed out.

Jayne says as her glares at the good Doc. “Yeah, bet you haven’t seen much outside of Kaylee’s panties since last night.”

Inara gives the mercenary her most threaten look and says. “Jayne Cobb, you will leave them alone. You her me.”

“River.” Mal yells out as he looks around the dinning room.

“Yes, Captain.” Comes her reply over the comm.

Mal continues “Well since she doesn’t have to be here to hear me. I shall go on. I hope we all enjoyed our time off, however we’ve got ourself’s one last job right here.”

The ever loyal first mate questions. “Like what, Sir?”

“Salvage.” Mal replies.

Jayne says weary. “What like Reavers’ junk.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of Alliance junk; like fuel cells, food stuffs and spares.” Mal is being very serious.

“We going heavy, Sir?” Zoë wonders out loud.

“Yeah, real heavy too.” Mal is all business now.

“Any reason why?” Zoë wonders where this is going.

“Yeah, one last job then everyone’s off the boat!” Mal states it like everyone should have seen this coming.

“What!” Five voices exclaim in unison.

“No, Mal you can’t, this isn’t about last night, is it?” Inara says questioning the Captains motives.

“No, not about last night at all…I be happy to leave the Tam’s in Kaylee’s hands. However this is about us all being humped. We’re all marked; like with a giant bulls-eye on the haul. The Miranda broad wave made us famous and not in any good ways, either. We may have changed the mind of a single government assassin; however those who sent him will no doughtily be after River with more convection than ever. And with every hudan bounty hunter in tow.” Mal wonder if any of them saw this logic.

Everyone was quite until Simon speaks up “I’ll get off, me and River, we’re the one’s they want.” Simon says as he blames himself.

“Not good enough Doc, unless you turn yourselves in that is. They will keep coming and use this crew to get to you. I am sure of it.” Mal says with a little sadness.

Inara is shocked. “Mal you can’t just give up!”

“Oh, yes I can. After this last job we sell off ship, salvage, everything. Then split it up a go our separate ways with pockets full of coin.” Mal reiterates himself.

Kaylee was worried for her gal. “No, not Serenity.”

Mal holds up his hand to get everyone to stop jabbering. “The way it is the way it is. Miranda didn’t change all that, if we did any thing here we marked the Doc and his sister even more. Some Alliance dim wit will figure out we’ve had them stashed here all this time. They will be after them, I have not doubt.”

Mal walks out toward the crew quarters with Zoë right on his heals.

“Mal!”

“Yeah, Zoë.”

“It don’t have to be this way.”

“Yes it does.”

“Why!”

“Too start a new.”

“A new what?”

“Exactly!” Mal says over his shoulder while deciding the ladder to his bunk, effetely ending to conversation.

*** TBC