I decided to have a little fun with Wash's given name as listed on IMDB (apologies to Sarahetc). This is my first fanfic, comments are welcome, but please be gentle.

Disclaimer: All characters property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Thanks for the loan.

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Mack finished counting the whiskey bottles in the case, all there, minus the customs seals and Alliance tax stamps of course. He paused for a moment, overcome by a painful fit of coughing. Gorram Factories, Gorram lungs.

As he moved on to the next case, his mind wandered to the boy. Seventeen years old, smart as a whip, more'n a little wild, and bored. All in all, it was a dangerous combination. Why just last week, the local deputy had almost caught him drag racing out on Canyon road. It was harmless fun, sure, but who knew what he would get himself into next, when drag racing wasn't enough thrill.

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"Gorram dust and smog." Jerry Lee cursed to himself as he pulled out the blackened air filter. This was the third time in a month that a clogged

filter had grounded his pride and joy, a Z750 Wallace Aircar. Of course, he figured it was worth a clogged air filter just to get the satisfaction of leaving Zach Johnson eating his dust out on Canyon road. Jerry Lee grinned at

the memory, it had been a great race, and with the latest mods he'd made to the 'car, Zach hadn't stood a chance. Neither had Deputy Harkness, for that matter, who'd wanted to write him up for racing but had to catch him first.

He cleaned and replaced the filter and fired her up. A couple of coughs and stutters to work the dirt out of her systems and the engine settled down nicely. Man he loved this 'car. Not very pretty to look at, sure, but he had the engines running smooth as glass, and she could do quite a few things now that she hadn't been able to do the day she flew out the factory door. He flew out of the shed and headed down to the warehouse to meet his grandfather for the evening run. Maybe he'd pick up Sara Beth for a rid