Legitimate jobs normally didn't strain the crew of Serenity, but things generally didn't go smoothly for the crew of the cargo ship. The first job since Miranda had gone smoothly, so smoothly that Jayne stomped around the ship in a snit because he didn't get to use any of his newly cleaned guns. Except for Jayne, everyone including Serenity herself, let out a sigh of relief as Beaumond disappeared and the silence of the Black engulfed them.

That evening after dinner Kaylee brought out two jugs of her inter-engine brew. She had found them shortly after the crash, while she was fixing Serenity up again. It was a miracle that they had survived, so she had decided to keep them and bring them out when she thought they were needed and that time was now.

The crew scrounged glasses and mugs and broke the seal on the first jug. Mal was very surprised as he watched Inara drink several glasses of Kaylee’s concoction. Before, Inara would politely sip her jasmine tea and quietly retire to her shuttle before the crew got really rowdy.

After about two hours of laughing and drinking everyone wandered off. Jayne to his bunk to sleep off his mild buzz and Simon and Kaylee slipped away to Simon's passenger dorm.

Finally, Mal and Inara were alone. “I thinkin’ you’re a mite tipsy,” Mal said amused as he watched Inara politely lift a hand to her mouth to hide a hiccup. “I ain’t so clear-headed myself, so I know you ain’t sober.”

Inara attempted to straighten the slump that had overtaken her shoulders. “You’d be surprised how sober I am. I’ve got a surprising tolerance for alcohol. A Companion has to stay clear headed no matter how much she has imbibed.” Inara hiccuped again.

“The high and mighty Inara Serra is drunk with a petty thief.”

“I’m not intoxicated.” She emphasized pointing at Mal with a shaky finger. “I’m just a little out of practice that’s all. I haven’t had more than a glass or two of wine since I was teaching at the Training House and that was fine wine, not space ship engine brewed moo