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. Action, adventure, drama, sweet Kaylee/Simon stuff, and BIG DAMN hints of Mal/Inara.

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Mal didn't quite remember much after Jayne picked him up. He was out like a light for some reason in the distance it took to get him onto Serenity. Doc had worked on him patching him up. He could feel cold air blowing in his face and his body tensed and shivered some.

Inara had been sitting beside Mal, holding his hand, since Simon had finished removing the bullets from his chest. Hell, maybe even a little before that.

An eyelid peeked open and he found that he wasn't in a steel box dead or nothing. He was on his ship. His Serenity. He let out a relieved sigh at that openning both eyes now. He turned his head and found someone was still holding his hand.

"You kinda like me now don't you?" He asked Inara with an amused smirk. Looking down at his body some he found he was back in his pants and that was it.

She felt Mal stir from his sleep, and she readjusted on her chair, smirking down at the healing man. “Not really,” she teased with a dry expression. “I trust you had a good nap?” She smiled quiet, nodding at his question.

"Very good nap. I'm lovin whatever the doc gave me on the ship. Although all I remember is Jayne saying he'd drop me and then kinda nothing." He said lifting his free hand up to rub his forehead.

"Please tell me you put these one me. I'd hate to have had Jayne dress me." He said putting his free hand to lay on his chest. He had gauze that was drapped over what once was bullet holes. He really was not going to have an easy day.

“Don’t worry, gong zhu, I washed my hands before and after.” She hadn’t quite gotten around to actually letting go of the captain’s hand just yet. And Inara didn’t feel like it was particularly important to the subject at hand, so she simply continuing