Jayne hated goodbyes; all that hugging and well-wishing and saying things that you normally wouldn't. There was always a chance that the moment someone left your sight you'd never see them again. Wasn't no call to get all maudlin about it.

"I wish he wouldn't leave," Kaylee said, watching as Book said his goodbyes to Inara. "I'm gonna miss him."

"You miss everybody. Even got weepy over that gorram war-buddy of Mal and Zoe's after he tried to kill you."

"He turned out all right in the end," Kaylee said.

"Just cause Mal put a bullet in him," Jayne said.

"But the Shepherd is part of the crew, it won't be the same," Kaylee said. "I wish he'd tell us why he was leaving."

Jayne knew exactly why Book was leaving and it was the one reason why Jayne wished he'd stick around. A man's past weren't nobody's business but his own. It wasn't Jayne's story to tell, as much as he might want to. He knew Book would never speak of it. Hell, Mal didn't even know. All he knew was that something had gone bad on the job. Figured it was Jayne's fault. Didn't reckon that it had anything to do with Book knowing far more about torture than a man of God should.

The Shepherd had strayed too far from his own teachings on that job. He'd rustled up a person that he'd tried to forget. So he was gonna run away from the temptation.

Jayne thought it was a pity. The Shepherd had been good at what he'd done. It was a waste of his talents. He would've liked someone like Book watching his back.

Book let go of Kaylee who was bawling openly now, and turned to Jayne. He walked over to where his belongings were sitting and picked up the guitar. Offered it to Jayne.

Jayne stared at the guitar. "Wash knows how to play. It'd be better off with him."

Book shook his head. "I want you to have it."

"I ain't a musician."

"Your hands are capable of far more than just killing, " Book said.

Jayne wasn't sure he believed him. It was just another goodbye with too many words that shouldn't be said.

He took the guitar anyway.