“I been thinking, Inara.” Mal eased himself down onto the satin sofa.

“Really. Is that a good idea? In your current condition?” She went through to the small galley. “Tea?”

“That sounds fine. Never did get the other cup you promised.”

She smiled. “No, I don’t think you did.”

“And what has my current condition got to do with me thinking?”

“You were shot, Mal. It can make a man … introspective.”

“You mean I’ve been led into considering my own mortality?”

“Something like that.”

“Permaybehaps I have. But there’s something else I’ve been thinking about too. And that’s what you said.”

Inara paused in the act of filling the kettle. “What I said?”

“About you giving up being a Companion.” He’d heard the sudden silence, and knew she was listening intently. “Were you being honest, or were you thinking I was dying, and it didn’t matter what you said?”

She walked slowly into the room, the kettle still in her hand. “I meant it,” she said softly.

“Only you giving up whor … servicing folks don’t mean I won’t get shot any more.”

“That wasn’t what I meant. And you can call it whoring. If I haven’t got used to it by now I never will.”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”

“It’s an honourable profession, Mal.”

“One which you said you’d give up. For me.”

She sat down heavily on the sofa opposite him. “I did.”

“Would you be regretting that now?”

“No. There are … reasons …”

“Like to share them with me?”

She swallowed and licked her lips. “Mal, I …”

“Come on, Inara. Am I that scary to talk to?”

“Oh, yes, horrible.” She fell back onto humour like a drowning man clasping at a rope.

“Well, I guess I try harder.” He smiled. “So tell me.”

“I don’t want to leave,” she said in a rush.

“And I don’t want you to go.” He exhaled loudly. “There, that’s got that out of the way.”

“But if I stayed being a Companion I’d have to.”

“Did I ask you to stop? Did I tell you?” He looked at her oddly. “’Cause if I did, I don’t exactly remember