Disclaimers : Everything belongs to Joss, except for one character of my creation

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Inara poured the tea into a delicate porcelain cup and handed it to him, as she had done with so many clients before. Only this wasn’t a client; it was Mal. He had actually knocked on the door of her shuttle instead of just barging in uninvited as he usually did. Formality called for formality; so she made a civilized pot of tea, and sat down to have a civilized conversation.

Mal looked around her shuttle as he sipped the tea. She was starting to pack her things. Bags and crates were open and some of the lush appointments she had made to the space were already gone. It made him feel even worse about delaying her departure and taking her out of her way. He said as much.

“I am very sorry about this,” he told her. “But time is of the essence here—we have to get to that prison before it’s too late.”

If it’s not already.. .

Inara was not used to seeing Mal so subdued, especially in her presence. He looked beaten down, and she could tell he was struggling with the decision he had made.

“Mal.” She moved closer to him on the divan. She brushed a piece of hair away from his eyes. “All I know is when the nurse came on board you were in a bad place. When she left, you were doing better. She helped you through a rough time. Now you need to help her. I understand that.”

Mal snorted. He suspected if Inara knew exactly what the nurse had done to help him she might not feel quite so generous. As far as he could tell Inara was unaware of the fact that he had actually slept with Alex. She had been off the ship on an extended job when that had occurred. How the crew had managed to keep it from her all this time he did not know; but he surely wanted it to stay that way for the short amount of time she had left.

“Well, I’m surely grateful you understand,” he said, “but I’m not sure everyone does.”

Inara shru