After a solid week of Kaylee pesterin’ him, not to mention the unholy stench that Jayne was giving off, Mal finally gave in and told her to go ahead and rig up some showers. It was either that or seal Jayne off permanently in one of the airlocks.

Well, OK, mebbeso not a bad idea on general principle…

It had taken another two weeks and a rather spectacular incident in which a pipe burst and flooded Zoe’s bunk, but the job was finally done. Mal was looking forward to getting to be really and truly clean when he wanted, not to mention Jayne no longer smelling like the alleyway behind a cheap Chinese restaurant the day before trash pickup.

He gathered the crew to explain the rules.

“As y’all know, lil’ Kaylee here has finally rigged us up some showers. Now, I know that most of us…” A pause to glance significantly at Jayne. “are lookin’ forward to not stinking like the septic vac on a regular basis. But that don’t mean we get to luxuriate. Which means no Core showers. Get in, get clean, get out, dong ma?”

Now the significant glance was aimed squarely at Simon and Kaylee.

“And no doublin’ up. Shower’s for getting’ clean, not dirty.”

Kaylee stuck her tongue out at him and mouthed something about “Cap’n Meany Pants.”

Jayne just scowled.

“Ya mean I can’t get Zoe here to wash my back?”

One eyebrow on Zoe’s face went up slightly.

“Not unless you want the doc here to hafta sew your hand back on.”

Mal decided it was time to re-assert his Captain-ness.

“Awright, that’s enough. Dismissed!”

With that, he headed back to his bunk to gather up a towel, and the shampoo and soap that Inara had gifted him with for his birthday, in anticipation of the showers being built.

When he got to the showers, he found Inara in the dressing area just outside, back to the door, untying her shortie satin robe. Clearly, she was looking to get the first go at the showers.

Mal wasn’t rightly sure what to do. They’d gotten as far as some heavy-duty kissing in whatever it was between them, but he was