“Freya,” Mal called from the bridge.

“What?” she said, stepping out of the kitchen into the corridor.

“We got us a job.” The captain of Serenity came down the stairs towards her.

“Great. Where?”

“Santo.” He stopped as he reached her. “Only we have to leave before nightfall.”

“Shiny. I’ll go set the co-ordinates.” She went to move past him but he put his hand on her arm.

“Inara ain’t back yet,” he said.

She looked into his blue eyes. “And that matters how?”

He ignored the slightly obstinate tone and just said, “We were planning to pick her up day after tomorrow. This job’s gonna take ‘bout a week.”

“So?”

Mal looked at her from under his eyebrows. “So, she’s not answering our hails. Kaylee says she thinks it might be something wrong with the comunit on the shuttle. So you’re gonna go tell her.”

“What?” Freya looked surprised, then shook her head. “No, no, Mal. Look, I … why not get Jayne to go? He’d probably appreciate some fresh air.”

“Because I’m telling you. ‘Sides, I think you and her need to have some time alone together. Talk things through.”

“You think we need to?”

“Frey, the atmosphere around here is so thick you can almost see it. Kaylee’s even been wondering if it’s the purifiers. You need to get this sorted out.”

“Mal –”

“No. Decision’s made. It ain’t far – ‘bout an hour’s walk.”

“Walk? Mal, can’t I take the other shuttle? Be there much quicker.”

“Which is why I’m saying walk. Give you a chance to think on things yourself.” He shook his head. “I ain’t having it like this. Bad enough we got people out there wanting to encourage us to meet our maker, without me having to be concerned you two are going to start killin’ each other at the dinner table.”

“Not at the dinner table,” she assured him. “I’d never interrupt food. How about the old mule? Still give me time to think.” She knew she wasn’t going to get out of it.

“No. You walk. Then Inara can drop you back if she needs to stay.”

“You really think this is goin