Kaylee sat with Mal on the bridge. Mal was uneasy. He got ready to confront Kaylee. He’d been sweating this all day. They’d finally left space around Sol 3 but the images of Jayne’s mother and the dead Alliance soldier still floated through his head. ‘Definitely not my finest hour,’ he thought.

“I saw you and Jayne together today.” He was lying in the hope that if it was true, she would confess right then and there thinking he knew everything already. He felt like a real go se bastard.

Kaylee drew a sharp breath. She was confused and startled. “Do you mean in the galley when Zoe told us?” she asked slyly. There was no way he could have seen them in the engine room. Jayne had sexed her right up against the closed door.

“No. I mean after.” Mal looked down, ashamed. Kaylee saw his face and thought she was caught. He’d seen her with Jayne after all, however the hell that had happened.

“Oh,” she said.

Mal wanted her to deny it. When she didn’t he wasn’t disappointed, but he was furious. “Gorramit Kaylee! I thought you had more brains then to do something this stupid!” Kaylee looked at Mal, near tears.

“Mal! Don’t talk to her that way! You don’t know anything about the two of them!” Inara’s voice came from the door. “I know enough to know that Jayne Cobb will never love anyone as much as he loves himself! You knew about this didn’t you? I’ve got half a mind to throw you off my ship! All three of you!”

“Mal don’t you think you’re over reacting to this?” the companion said coolly, betraying no fear or sadness. “You didn’t say anything about this to me! Neither of you! That’s just as bad as lying!” Mal looked angry and pained when he looked at Inara. “You lied to me.” Inara looked away.

“He loves me.”

Both of them turned to Kaylee. She was standing looking at the floor. Tears slid down her face. “He loves me and I love him. And I’ll leave,” she looked up into Mal’s face. He realized she was just as angry as he was. “But don’t you say anything about him, Cap. That’s my man you’re talki