“See, this is why I don’t like it when the captain takes Zoe one these things” Wash raged. He, Jayne, Kaylee, Book, Simon and river were all in the lounge by the infirmary.

“I can’t think of many jobs which he hasn’t taken Zoe on” Kaylee said unhelpfully.

“I know!” said Wash “Why couldn’t he have taken Jayne?”

“Hey!” Jayne said. “What use would that have done? Wouldn’t be any less not here, we’d still have to go lookin’ for ‘em”

“Yeah” said Wash “But that would be one less crewmember who would be in favor of leavin’ them, and one more useful brain. Oh no, I forgot, they have still have the payment, don’t they? And I would venture a guess that you’ll be wanting that”

“Well hey, you would too if you’d had to lead them gorram llamas all ‘round that country side. Didn’t we have a deal where we wasn’t gonna deal in live stock no more?” Behind Jayne’s back, Simon mouthed “I can put him out” and mimed a poking Jayne with a syringe. Kaylee giggled, but Wash looked no happier.

“Where is that Kuh-oo duh lao bao-jun of a captain?” Inara’s voice wafted down the stairwell.

“He was supposed to be back an hour ago, wasn’t he? Or did the plan change?” she asked, her voice filled with sarcasm. Wash looked like he was about to answer angrily, but Book interjected

“The captain and Zoe are over two hours late, we have been discussing the best course of action”. Fear and worry flickered across Inara’s face for the briefest of moments, before she answered

“No doubt there was a squabble over half a credit, and he killed someone” she said, distaste in her voice. She turned to go back to her shuttle, then turned and added

“If- if I can be helpful in, ah, retrieving the captain, please, let me know…” Kaylee nodded, looking as cheerful as ever.

“We’ll let you pull him out, so then he’ll owe ya a favor” she beamed.

“So, this is quite a little movement you’ve got going here” Mal said when Fade had finished laughing. It was becoming apparent that this was no little misunderstanding which he cou