Disclaimer: This story is in no way meant to infringe on the rights of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Universal Pictures, or 20th Century Fox. Just wanted to have a bit of fun with these characters is all. Please don’t sue me.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate the feedback – as well as your patience. Sorry I’ve been gone a while, but when Uncle Sam calls…

Rated PG-13 for a little bitty fight scene and some good ol’-fashioned Chinese cussin’.

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Inara was very tired. It had been a long night, helping Simon look after Petaline, and today…well, today was going to be hell. There was still work to be done, and the poor girl needed some fresh water and clean towels. She headed down the hall to check –

And suddenly Mal was there, shirtless, coming from her room. He started.

“Um…”

“Well,” she said, looking away.

“I was just, um, I had to tell Nandi about the…it’s near time to…big fight today.”

Inara seemed surprised, but not shocked. “Mal, please.”

“Hey no, I’ve got, I’ve been up thinking…”

“So you took to bed with Nandi. I’m glad.”

“Thinking and pondering the…” He was suddenly confused. “Glad?”

“Yes!” Inara said emphatically. “She’s a dear friend and probably in need of some comfort about now.”

Mal was caught completely off guard. “Well, I…”

She cut him off, a practiced half-smile tugging at the corner of her face. “One of the virtues of not being puritanical about sex is not being embarrassed afterward. You should look into it.”

“Well I just…didn’t want you to think I was taking advantage of your friend.”

“She’s well worth taking advantage of. I sincerely hope you did.”

“So, you’re okay?” Mal asked, then shook his head. “Well, yeah. Why wouldn’t you be?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m entirely okay,” she said. Mal looked at her.

“I’m a little appalled at her taste!”

And with that, Inara brushed past him, ever cool, ever graceful, and continued on around the corner, into a side closet, and quietly closed the door behind her.

She stood there,