Word Count: 5128 words, give or take a few.

Spoilers: Set during the series, post Trash, but pre Heart of Gold.

Characters/Pairings: Mal/Inara/Saffron. Yes, that's what I said ;o)

Rating: PG-13 to R for this part, NC-17 overall

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, nor am I affiliated with Mutant Enemy, Fox, Universal or anyone else related to the Firefly 'verse. I just like to play with 'em.

Author's Note: Written for noneofyours who has been crazy patient and deserves much better from me :o( So, here's a few thousand words, *still* not getting into the nitty gritty of what you asked for, but working up to it. I had to try and make it as plausible as possible, I’m sorry! It's still complete crack, so maybe I should have just gone all out cracky and saved us both some time, but, this is what you're getting ;o) And, no, Part 3 isn't ready yet, I'm still writing it, but I WILL finish it for you, darlin'. I promise!

Special thanks to anjulie who has always been there to listen to my whinge and moan when I couldn't write, and to homespun who *totally* can't wait for me to finish this story ;o)

Go back and read

Title: A Laser, A Journal, and A Man: Part 2/3

Author: 2x2

The brilliant rays of Greenleaf's morning star filled the shuttle's cockpit as it rose over the horizon of the planet below, the bright light rousing Inara from her restless sleep in the pilot's chair. She sat up slowly, blinking as awareness brought with it the knowledge that the time had come to prepare for the meeting with Saffron. It had been a long time since Inara had approached a day with such a feeling of trepidation and dread and she was reluctant to move from the sheltered cocoon of the cockpit. Though she chided herself for her behaviour, she pulled her feet up onto the chair, wrapping her