“Where’re you off to this time of night?” Mal asked, stepping into the cargo bay from the infirmary, just finishing his last rounds.

Jayne settled the collar of his favourite thin-striped shirt. “We ain’t leavin’ until tomorrow, are we?”

“No. But that doesn’t answer my question.”

“Well, ‘less you need me, there’s a house I’ve been to before. Not far from here.”

Mal was about to ask what kind of house when the mental light went on in his brain. “Right. Well, don’t do anything likely to get yourself pinched.”

“Not intending to, Mal.”

The Captain of Serenity went up the stairs towards his bunk. “And make sure you’re back in time to load cargo,” he called over his shoulder. “I don’t pay you to get that kind of itch scratched.”

Jayne grinned and stepped down the ramp. “ Tzao gao ,” he said, shuddering to a halt. “What’re you doing here, moonbrain?”

River stood in the light from the bay. “You don’t need to go,” she said wistfully.

“You get to your bed,” he said. “Shouldn’t be out here. Ain’t safe.”

“Who for?”

He shook his head. “You go inside. I got places to be.”

“Miss Buford’s.”

“How’d you – you stay outta my mind!” He glared at her.

“They can’t give you what you need,” the young psychic put her head onto one side. “Only physical.”

“Yeah, well, maybe that’s all I want,” Jayne said, stepping past her. “Easier that way.”

“You know that’s not true.” Her voice followed him into the darkness.

Crazy girl, he thought as he strode towards the lights of town. Always being in the way, getting on his nerves like she did. Everywhere he turned, there she was, her big eyes gazing at him, that dark hair hanging over her face. After he’d given her that clip, too, couple of Christmases back. Never wore it, just let that curtain hide what she was thinking. Damn girl. Getting into his brain like that, rummaging around like she was going through his drawers. Not that it would be that much fun for her if she did, considering what he kept in ‘em. He grinned b