Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Allan. He's mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

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This story takes place nearly four years after Serenity (BDM) and has the established couples of Simon/Kaylee, Mal/Inara, Zoë/Allan and Jayne/River. Follows after Big Blue.

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A/N:

Thanks again Chris for the Beta.

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Birthday

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Chapter Three

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After a quick com call from Reggie. Mal, Jayne, River and Zoë returned to Serenity. While they had been gone, looking for Allan around the restaurant where he was supposed to meet Winslow, another hit came in from Allan's beacon. It was off world and moving fast.

Ground crews had refueled Serenity and Inara had re-docked the detached shuttle while Mal and the others had been gone.

“Let's get in the air Albatross,” the Captain ordered as he exited the hover truck as soon as it stopped in the cargo bay.

“Mal... we need to wait a few minutes,” Reggie said as he began to help Jayne secure the truck for storage.

“For what?” Mal snapped. Zoë just glared at the former Fed.

“Got an extra gun hand on the way.”

“What? Who in the hell do you think you are? You ain't no Alliance officer no more Reggie. You're not even officially crew!” Mal snapped , “You ain't got no say in who comes on this boat!”

Despite her own anger and fear over Allan, Zoë, as ever, was the calm voice of reason, “Who are we waiting on?”

“Sargent from my time in special forces. One of the best damn shot's I've ever seen and a cool head in a crisis. Got retired like I did after getting hurt.”

“Another gorram purple belly,” Mal snarled.

“That's right! Just like me. Just like Oso,” Reggie snapped back, “We're welcome on this boat, why not Sgt. Vorrasi?”

“Because... I'm the Captain!”

“I've no doubt of that... Captain. But remember this. Because of Sgt. Vorrasi, we know where to look for Allan and what ship is carrying him.”

“Huh?” Mal sputtered.

“How did this, Sgt. Vorrasi get this information?” Zoë asked.

“Because I work in the