2:45 a.m.

How long had he been lying there already? Letting out an exasperated sigh of discontent, Jayne rolled onto his back, staring blankly up at the ceiling. The soft humming of Serenity's engines reverberated throughout the ship, the gentle thump,thump becoming a soothing lullaby that could've put even the most fussiest of infants to sleep.

Sleep, that's all Jayne wanted...just to close his eyes and let his body drift into the marvelous dreamland he always seemed to find himself in...where luscious, beautiful nymphettes tantalized every bit of his senses...ahh yes...the very thought of it all was enough to bring on a stiff one to break through the zipper on his pants.

But as he lay there, trying to force himself alseep, Jayne knew that happy little head trip was miles away. Pulling the thick wool blanket up around him, Jayne rolled over onto his side, trying his damnest to get comfortable, feeling the firmness of the mattress beneath him.

Soon...soon they would be hitting Lanai. And stepping foot on that wondrous, hustle and bustle of a rock meant getting paid finally.

Damn that Mal...always wantin to do everythin' perfect...why couldn't he have just gone with Brennan Meijer's offer back on Raymer? That son of a bitch was going to offer a handsome sum for everything! Jayne thought then...he didn't know what was worse...going for two weeks without seeing a single credit in his hot little hands or going two weeks without being laid. Had there been a bout of temporary insanity that had seeped unmercifully into his skull when he hooked up with Mal and Zoe in the first place?

There had been days...oh good lord there had been days...days when Jayne found himself wanting to wrap his hands around Mal's neck and just squeeze...just choke the life from him. But then again, there was a certain tenacity Mal possessed, a certain subtle stance that commanded and begot respect. Jayne could readily admit it even if another living soul would never hear him say the exact words, he could give credit where