Chapter 5

Surprised, Jayne reels back from Simon’s punch, staggering a few paces before instinct takes over and he grabs Simon’s collar, hoisting him bodily up and slamming him against the wall.

“Not a good move, rich boy.”

But Simon simply bunches his fist and thumps Jayne’s head. With a grunt, Jayne spins and throws him across the cargo bay floor. Simon rolls over, hatred in his eyes.

“So what, going to kill me now? Only I’m not sure you’d get the full reward if I were dead. Still, maybe it’d be easier than on Ariel. No need to fool me into thinking you were actually helping.” Shaking slightly, he stands up.

In the silence that follows there is a clatter from the infirmary and Kaylee’s voice sounds. “Where is everybody?”

The stillness is broken as Jayne suddenly drops his fists, turns and strides out toward the infirmary.

Wash’s voice sounds from the gangway. “Did he really just walk away from a fight? Honey, am I dreaming?”

We all are, thinks Mal, looking over at River.

Simon walks out, up the stairs. Good idea, Mal recons, staying out of Jayne’s way. Mal sits at the dining table for a few hours with Juliet, letting the emotions in the ship settle, playing cards. She lets him win a few times, he can tell, and he’s grateful for the kindness. He’ll have to see to Jayne and Simon sometime. After getting soundly beaten yet somehow winning, he decides to go find them.

“Right, I’m goin’, cause I ain’t never gonna win properly against you.”

Juliet smiles at him. “I can see your cards. Useful skill.”

He shakes his head and walks off toward the engine room. Jayne is there with Kaylee, Jayne cleaning his guns, Kaylee tinkering with some engine part, cleaning it out. She is chatting amicably, Jayne occasionally commenting or replying to questions. When Mal enters, making his presence known, Jayne’s look of longing toward Kaylee is swiftly masked.

“Jayne,” he says. “Need to talk.”

They exit the engine room and walk back along to the dining area. River and Juliet, the only ones there, instantly pick up the