Author's Note: This was a fic Riverismygoddess and I talked about, we decided to each take a few basic story elements and do with it what we like. See how different they end up. This is my version.

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=11178&nid=16105>From Bad to Worse: by RiverIsMyGoddess

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“Are you sure you really want to go back Sir?” Zoe didn't often question Mal and it took him a moment to recover.

“There's no need to talk about it anymore. I've been avoiding it since before the war but we're too hard up to pass up this job. It's legal and should go smooth.” He walked up the stairs onto the bridge and smacked Wash on the back in an over zealous attempt to be optimistic. “Set course for Shadow.”

“Smooth.” Zoe's doubtful voice sounded in his mind like an omen.

~

Mal was standing outside a tall run down wooden barn. He ran his hand slowly along one of the large doors, it's bottom hinge had rotted out and the door didn't move easily. It was already ajar and so instead of trying to move it he slipped right inside. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim barn interior after the bright afternoon sun, but it wasn't too long before he could make out the familiar setting. He stepped in further surveying the dilapidated condition surrounding him.

He once again began to run his hand across the half rotted wood.

“Thought you might make your way down here.” He turned around quickly from the stable he'd been looking at and didn't see anything, for a moment he questioned actually hearing the voice. Being in a place like this could scare up more then a few memories. Then through the long shafts of particle filled light bursting through the cracks in the wood he saw the silhouette of the reason he'd been avoiding Shadow.

“It is home,” he said perhaps too brightly in an attempt to sound nonchalant.

“I want you off this rock, Reynolds.” The voice was confident, like it was used to getting what it asked for.

“Claire, how you been?”

“Get off this rock