Jayne hadn’t slept well. He’d had real stupid dreams. In one of ‘em, he was playin’ cards with Mal an’ some guy with an apple fer his head. The apple guy kept tryin’ ta cheat an’ Jayne’s cards was all backwards. An’ then Kaylee showed up an’ took a bite outa the apple guy’s head an’ he exploded. An then Kaylee an’ Jayne started makin’ out real hard on the table while Mal rambled on about how Jayne’s boots were too dirty.

He woke up real cranky.

Felt a little better when he walked down the hall ta the kitchen an’ smelled somethin’ real tasty cookin’.

Kaylee an’ Inara were the only ones sittin’ at the table. Jayne nodded to ‘em, scratchin’ that spot on his stomach that always seemed ta itch when he woke up. He walked over ta the stove. There was a pot of somethin’ ‘er other sittin’ there. He got himself a bowlful an’ turned back ta the table.

Inara was lookin’ at ‘im, an’ Kaylee was tryin’ real hard to look anywhere else.

Jayne realized he’d just walked in on a conversation about himself.

He set his bowl down on the table across from Kaylee an’ sat down.

“So.”

Jayne looked at Inara. She was lookin’ at Kaylee, who was lookin’ at her bowl.

Inara looked at ‘im real quick.

“So.” She cleared her throat real delicate-like. “Jayne. You’ve met Mr. Pink, haven’t you?”

Jayne nodded an’ took a bite of breakfast.

Tasted real nice. He said as much.

“Kaylee made it.” Inara smiled at Kaylee, who was still lookin’ at her bowl.

“Nice cookin’, Little Kaylee.”

She glanced up at Jayne an’ smiled. Gorram, she was pretty when she smiled.

She got up an’ went over ta wash her bowl. Jayne watched her as she went by him.

Inara cleared her throat again an’ Jayne looked at ‘er.

“So what’s he like? Anything I should know about him?”

Jayne shrugged an’ took another bite. “He’s slick. Yanno what I mean? Talks real pretty. Like the doc.”

Kaylee dropped her bowl. Jayne glanced over at her.

“Is he… I mean… does he seem honest?” It was real obvious that Inara was