Jayne pushed the barbell away from ‘im like it’d done somethin’ personal.

His teeth were still grit. They were startin’ ‘ta hurt. But he was frustrated. He’d been frustrated fer… over a year now. Frustrated lookin’ at Kaylee an’ not touchin’. An’ now frustrated with bein’ so close an’ havin’ that go se doc…

It was like they was lookin’ at each other through a little hole in a wall. An’ she was practically beggin’ fer ‘im ta come over ta her side.

Huh choo-shang tza-jiao duh tzang-huo.

His knuckles were white on the barbell. Gorram fantastic time fer Kaylee ta notice that there was a big piece a Jayne hankerin’ fer her.

Fan-ruttin’-tastic.

An’ what was he supposed ta do? He weren’ no gentleman. Under normal circumstances, he’da smacked the doc around an’ taken Kaylee. But this weren’t normal circumstances. They was all sittin’ in a little ship in the middle of a little rock waitin’ fer a gorram companion ta—

“You tryin’ ta hurt yourself? ‘Cause you’re doin’ a good job.”

Jayne let the barbell drop inta place real loudly an’ sat up ta look at Zoe. “Why the gorram hell are we still on this gorram rock? There are other jobs ta be done an’ other money ta be had. What’s so special about this job an’ this money that we have ta sit here an’ rot while ‘Nara goes an… an’… whatever?”

Zoe looked at ‘im real even. “We’re still on this rock because Mal said we stay on this rock. For whatever reason he has.”

Jayne stood up, his anger flarin’ an makin’ ‘is ears buzz. “Well I can’t stay on this ruttin’ ship forever! I can’t sit here an’ just…wait. If the money is so gorram important, why don’t we just go in there an’ take it an get OUT of here?”

Zoe was still givin’ him that look. “Because there are seven of us and at least twelve of them that we saw. Probably more. So if you want ta go try, be my guest. I’m gonna sit here an’ wait.”

Jayne ground his teeth an’ went ta his bunk.

***

Inara came back way before anyone expected ‘er ta. Mal called ‘em all together again