Jayne glared across the table at the doc.

He pretended not to notice. Wiped his mouth with a napkiny thing he always brought to the table.

Made Jayne want ta punch ‘im in the head.

Man shouldn’t have womanly qualities like carin’ ‘bout how clean his face is. The doc ate like his chopsticks was made outa glass anyways. Not like he gave himself a chance ta get dirty. In the time it took the doc ta eat a bowl of soup, Jayne coulda had thirds, dessert, and sent it all out the bulkhead.

“The things you do with protein powder never cease to amaze me.”

Ai ya. Who says talks like that?

Jayne looked away as the doc leaned toward Kaylee. He stood up. Made sure to make lots of noise, gatherin’ up his things, but he heard the happy noise Kaylee made when they kissed all the same.

“Gorramit. I hear the two of you goin’ at it all night. You gotta do it in the light of day, too?”

He threw his stuff in the sink an’ walked out without lookin’ back at ‘em.

He could hear the doc makin’ angry little noises and Kaylee gigglin’.

See? He could make ‘er giggle. Doubted the doc did much. Weren’t many wacky stories comin’ outa the infirmary and there were only so many “crazy sister” tales a body could take.

Even a body as fine as Kaylee’s.

Jayne climbed down the ladder into his bunk. Went to his bed an’ knelt on it, pullin’ up the blanket hangin’ above it like it was a shrine.

“Mornin’, pretty girl.”

The light caught ‘er just right. Made ‘er shine real beautiful.

Jayne stroked a hand along the length of Vera’s barrel. Patter her fondly.

“Wish I could bring ya along.”

He ran his hand over the rest of his selection. Decided on a real manful-lookin’ hand gun an’ slipped it in his waistband.

“But we’re goin’ fer subtle today.”

Mal was waitin’ in the cargo hold.

“You ready?”

Jayne lifted up his shirt just enough for Mal ta see the gun. “Sure am.”

“Shiny. Let’s go get paid.”

***

Jayne crossed his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair. Made su