The traditional obligatory offering to Boss Joss. Love the work, got bored, and decided to to run with it!

This is a story co-written with a very good friend of mine, aka DeanWinchester on here. Action, adventure, drama, sweet Kaylee/Simon stuff, and BIG DAMN hints of Mal/Inara.

..................................

Inara was about to let out one of her typical Are you insane? comments on the captain, but she was halted as she realized the full gravity of what Mal had just asked. She opened her mouth to respond, but found herself unable to form words, only staring at Mal in disbelief.

“Why is it that I’m not as worried about your question as I am about the fact that you’ve asked it before?” she muttered, turning back around to scale the ladder. She doubted that he would ever understand the captain’s fixation.

"What? That was for a good cause. Of course that good cause had me getting married, but it had its good moments. Sides that was a bonnet." He called after her. He went up the ladder after she did and shut his hatch door. He followed behind her hands at his sides.

They walked towards the hall that would lead them down into the hangar bay, and passed it completely, leaving the captain more than a little perplexed.

“Wait, where we goin’?” Mal asked suddenly, pointing a thumb down the hall as she passed. “Your shuttle’s that way…”

“You honestly think I’d let you even touch one of mine?” she snapped back at him, making her way back towards the kitchen. “You really are mentally unstable, you know that?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

She spun around, infuriated. “It means that while Kaylee is still being held hostage by a psychopath, you’re getting ready to play children’s games with him! Games that could get her killed!”

Mal saw the gawking face. "What?! I ain't seeing anyone else come up with some plans. This will work.”

Inara glared at him, unimpressed.

“…I think.”

Rolling her eyes, Inara wandered out of the hall and down onto the catwalk withou