Disclaimer: Joss is GOD

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Chapter 2

Patience is a virtue.

That’s what they say.

Right now, Mal wasn’t feeling very virtues.

Neither was Jayne, Zoe noted, but he wasn’t squirming as much as the Captain as they waited for High Lieutenant Britx to get back from his date with Inara and pay them for the cargo.

“God, what’s taking so long?” Mal complained. “He was s’pose to be here over half an hour ago.”

“I assure you, Captain,” Sgt. Reevs said. “He’ll be here soon.”

Mal snorted and leaned back in the uncomfortable chair that he was sat in. He broke his stare on Reevs and looked around the Marshal’s Office. It was just like all of the other jails he’d ever seen or had the distinct pleasure of staying in. It reminded him of the one where he and Zoe had been kept during the train job for Niska.

“Maybe she liked him enough to give him some bonus time?” Jayne suggested cruelly. “Never met a whore who’d give anyone more than the time he’s paid. This Britx guy must be good.”

It took ever inch of Mal’s control not to pull out his gun and shoot his dumb ass merc then and right there. His hand went to rest on it just in case.

Zoe noticed Mal’s move rather quickly and turned and slapped Jayne dead in the face.

“Ow!” he exclaimed and held his cheek. “What the fuck!?!”

“The next time you speak, Jayne,” she said, calm, but menacing. “I will not use an open hand.”

Jayne scowled and grumbled to himself for the next ten minutes as Mal tried to regain his calm.

“Reevs!” someone screamed from outside. “Reevs!”

The Sergeant bolted from his seat and ran out of the station. With a bewildered look to Zoe, Mal rushed out after him, Zoe and Jayne right behind him.

They found Reevs and another Marshal crouching over a bleeding man lying in the street, he to, was a Marshal.

“Sir!” the man with a huge hole in his stomach gasped. “Sir, it was Blake. He killed... Thomas!”

“Shit!” Reevs swore and stood. “Get him to the hospital,” he ordered the other M