It was going to be difficult, dangerous. Not a mission she’d take on lightly, but it had to be done. Could end up with someone lying in a pool of blood on the floor, and knowing the way her luck was going lately it would probably be hers, but … she had to do it. She knocked.

“Ching jin.”

Freya stepped through into the Companion’s shuttle, noting the incense, not unlike that she used herself. “Inara?”

The woman herself moved gracefully from the small bridge area into the room. “Freya!” She was surprised. “What can I do for you?” She held herself upright, distant, not wanting to provoke another confrontation.

Freya took a deep breath. “I … we …” She swallowed. “Can we talk?”

“What about?” Inara asked curiously.

“I … wanted to apologise.” There, she’d said it.

This broke through the Companion’s reserve. “Apologise? What for?” When Freya just stood, her mouth working but showing no signs of being able to even get her words out, Inara added, “Please, sit.”

Freya sank down onto the sofa gratefully, and Inara joined her, not close, but a safe distance away. Freya’s lips twitched and she sighed. “I ain't gonna bite, Inara.”

“I think I've had enough of that for a few days,” Inara agreed, her hand going to touch the bruise turning yellow on her face.

“Yeah, well, that’s what I wanted to apologise for.”

“Why? You didn’t hit me.”

“No, but … I was annoyed, Inara. You lied to me about those men, and I …” She stopped. “If you’re in trouble, I want to help.”

“It isn’t anything you can help me with,” Inara said regretfully.

“Why don’t you tell me and let me be the judge?” Freya smiled.

Inara was taken aback. She’d tried, attempted to make friends with Freya after the incident with … them, but she’d turned her back. Now Freya seemed to be making overtures herself.

“Has Mal told you to come in here?” she asked.

“No.” Then Freya raised her eyebrows. “Oh, you think I’m being friendly because he told me to,” she realised.

“Aren’t you?”

“Funnily enough,