Mal was just a bit worked up when he came around the sliding panel that was the door to River's room, just down the corridor from the med bay. Seemed like everything having to do with Inara had the potential to get him worked up one way or another, and he never could sort it out properly, either. "I specifically said nobody leaves the ship!" he accused, zeroing in on Inara without preamble.

Inara and Kaylee turned in surprise to look at him. "Shhhh!" Kaylee admonished, gesturing at the sleeping River in her bunk, and Inara whispered "Lower your voice!"

Mal rolled his eyes. "Zoe says you got a client on Nassau Point," he said, taking care to speak more quietly.

Inara sighed. "Yes, Mal, I have a client who happens to be at Nassau Point right now," she acknowledged, taking him by the elbow and pushing him out into the corridor. "And yes, I have arranged to see him while we're docked there."

"Well, he must not be much to think on, 'cause that is gonna be one quick visit," Mal said, unable to resist the dig, and hating himself for it at the same time. Hating himself for the black look in Inara's captivating eyes, because he knew he deserved it.

"Mal," Inara said, as though explaining matters to a thickheaded child, "this is not a pleasure cruise for me. The arrangement was that I would be able to conduct my business using this ship as a base of operations. But at our last two stops, you've pulled that 'nobody leaves the ship' go seh, and frankly, I'm tired of it. If I cannot conduct my business from Serenity, you'll force me to go elsewhere."

"Do you know what Nassau Point is?" Mal demanded.

Inara rolled her eyes at him. "Jerrode Eusabian has been my client since I was on Sihnon, and he has always kept a suite on Nassau Point," she said levelly. "I have, in fact, been there. Many times."

"Yeah, but you ain't been there with me," he said, desperate to convey the seriousness of the situation. "We didn't pick this rendezvous. Someb