Chapter 6

Once dressed, Mal goes up to the bridge.

“Setting down in Eavesdown docks in fifteen minutes, cap’n.”

Zoë is standing behind Wash. “So, who’s going on this little adventure then, sir? Not sure that you’d be a good idea, considering Atherton would be only too willing to shoot you on sight.”

“Well, Zoë, thanks for volunteering, take Jayne with you. You know the drill. Don’t trust him, and if he tries to take over, let Juliet loose on him. And try not to let him shoot everything in sight.” He gives Zoë a sarcastic grin. “However, if he shoots Atherton in the leg, I’d take it as a kindness.”

“Right you are, sir.” Without smiling, Zoë exits the bridge. “I’ll get shuttle two prepped then,” she calls back.

“You go do that!” Mal smiles, turning back to Wash. “Ok, you wanna take Kaylee, find us a new compression coil?”

“Sure, cap’n. She’ll love that.”

“Oh, I’m counting on it.”

~*~*~

Just over ten minutes later, Wash gives Zoë and Inara the atmo call and the shuttles detach, Inara bound for a client, Zoë flying shuttle two to Juliet’s rendezvous point.

Jayne is polishing Vera, slightly puffy eyes concentrating on the rag as it cleans out the big gun. Juliet sits cross-legged on the floor, watching him run over the scene with Kaylee in his head again and again.

“Jayne,” she says to him.

“Yup,” he replies gruffly, not lifting his eyes.

“He wouldn’t throw you out. Not really.”

“What?” Jayne snaps, looking up at her. “Gorram moon brain,” he mutters.

“Reavers affect us all profoundly. Make us remember the things that hurt us. He was feeling protective, making up for the people he couldn’t look after. Kaylee needs someone. She needs a hero.” We all do, she thinks.

“Will you stow it!” He gets up, pacing around. “Donno what you’re talkin’ ‘bout anyways.”

Juliet shrugs. “Suit yourself.”

~*~*~

They touch down perfectly and walk out into a deserted dock.

“So where is this shima lakkoren anyhows?” asks Zoë, looking round.

A gun cocks at her temple.

“Ah. There.”

“Language, little girl, really,”