Title: Can’t Stop the Signal

Author: Missjasadin

Rating: PG

Characters: All

Summary: Mal and Inara are together, but Inara owes the Guild for all her training.

Website: http://www.livejournal.com/users/jasadin

CHAPTER ONE

“Mal, we’ve had this conversation one hundred times before. I don’t like this anymore than you do, but it’s what I have to do.” Inara sighed looking at the stoic man sitting before her.

“But, I thought, since we, ‘you know’, that you’d… stop, ‘you know’.” He replied looking into her eyes, searching for answers she couldn’t give him.

“Malcolm Reynolds!” Inara stood eyes flashing, a surge of anger rushing through her at his words. “If you make one more comment about my ‘whoring’…” she threatened, glowering at him.

Mal stood at once, shocked by her reaction. He had not meant to insult her, hell he hadn’t even thought about using any sexual innuendos as he usually did to get her riled up. He was just speaking, and he’d gone and gorram screwed up, again.

“Shenme? God, ‘Nara. No, all I meant was that…” he looked down at the ground suddenly feeling self-conscious in her presence. “I don’t want to have to share you with those men. I can’t.” He stated.

Her glare softened and she approached him slowly, talking his strong calloused hands in her small smooth ones.

“I know. But the guild was my home for so many years and I owe them so much. I must pay back my debt before I am free.”

“But we could…” he started hoping to convince her that there were other ways.

“No Mal” She immediately knew what he was suggesting that she do. “No running, not this time. Besides, we don’t need another fugitive on this ship. They would surely hunt me down and the price which I would pay…” She trailed off, her eyes widening in fear.

“Fine. We’ll pay them their dues and then you’ll be free of their hold.”

“Mal,” Inara spoke softly not wanting to upset him more than necessary, “there is no we.” He looked at her in shock. “Sorry, that was wrong. Yes, there is a ‘we’, but not for this. This is so