Author: Tinadoll (aka Tina- That’s me!)

Setting: After BDM.

Rating: R to NC-17.

Spoilers: Yes.

Author’s note: This is a new chapter. Don’t remember if this chapter was Beta’d or not. I try to do the best I can editing by myself but you can do nice by just ignoring all the mistakes.

Chapter 19-Staring Death in the face.

Jayne growled and Maria looked at him. It was an indescribable look. It wasn’t about fear or hate but something that he understood and he shut up.

It was a “If we get caught, we die.” Kind of look.

The dashing officer and the undercover snake chatted for what seemed like an eternity. Jayne looked bored, but did his duty. What else was he going to do?

With much fanfare and applause- Ming had arrived. After all- it was his birthday party and he always liked being the center of attention. No wonder he was surrounded with a bevy of beauties and immediately went to the food table where Maria approached him daintily. She heard Jayne chuckle as he kept surveying the room for any suspicious activity. It took a bit of coaxing on Maria’s part, to part the red-sea of ladies but when she did she everything went into a blur. She managed to speak with him for a brief moment ad she said the phrase that was to grant them access. After that she found a data chip in her hand with the pick up and drop off locations and now Jayne and her could depart. But she couldn’t help feel a sense of dread. She made eye-contact with Inara who seemed to be having a good time. But there was a presence that she couldn’t shake.

**

Lady Yoshida watched her from her perch. She smiled an evil smile. It was only a matter of time…

**

She had to get out of there. Her job was done, she motioned to Jayne who was inching closer and closer to the food and he r agreed to leave. Before she left though she grabbed a couple of strawberries for Kaylee and a banana for River and hid them in her purse.

She felt bad for Jayne so she tossed him an orange.

He seemed grateful.

McGovern