Archangel – Chapter Thirty-Five

Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. Fanfic only.

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Morning found the crew gathered around the table in the small kitchen they’d been using at the monastery. No one had much to say, lost in their thoughts.

“Well,” Mal said at last. “Best be gettin’ on. Time’s wastin’.” As a group they stood, and headed for the ship, some leaving, some saying goodbye. It was a quiet walk.

At the ramp, Mal stopped, and everyone else followed suit. Gradually they drifted away in small groups.

“Promise me you’ll be careful, Jayne,” Kaylee looked up at him. “Promise me you and River’ll look out for one ‘nother, and be okay.”

“I promise, Kaywinnet Lee Frye, that I will do just that,” Jayne smiled down at her. “And that River and I will guard each other’s backs, and be waiting when you return.”

“You sound like a core-man when you talk like that,” Kaylee teased.

“Well, it was how I was taught to speak, when I was here,” Jayne shrugged. “Guess being here brings that back. Don’t want a rap on the knuckles,” he chuckled.

“You get hurt, an’ it’ll be more’n a rap on the knuckles,” Kaylee warned him.

“Well, you just watch out for that Operative,” Jayne warned in return. “If lays a hand on you, even in greetin’, I’ll. . . .”

“I won’t get no where near him,” Kaylee vowed. “Stay on the ship, even.”

“Good,” Jayne nodded. He bent his head, then, and kissed her soundly.

Meanwhile, Mal was talking to Zoe.

“Don’t even land, you can help it,” Mal ordered. “Wave him when you’re close by. Remind him that the Operative wanted whatever information we could dig up, and this is it.”

“Got it, sir,” Zoe nodded. “We’ll get it done.”

“I know,” Mal’s voice was soft. “Fly safe, Zoe.”

“And you, sir,” Zoe replied. She hugged him briefly, then spun and stalked onto the ship. Inara remained.

“I’ll see you in a week or so,” Mal smiled. Inara didn’t return it.

“Please be careful, Mal,” she almost whispered. “Don’t get killed.”

“I’ll do my