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MAKE ME A STONE: Chapter Three

It's complicated.

Thanks as always to wedjateye for great beta-ing, encouragement and support.

This is a slashfic. It is not at all graphic, indeed not a lot happens between the parties concerned, but there's a definite undercurrent.

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Mal's in Shuttle One, checking it over after their less than careful docking yesterday. Don't seem to be any serious damage. Could do with a bit of fixing up though - not unlike the rest of Serenity. Problem is, they got next to no coin to pay for it.

Mal sighs and rubs his temples. Looks like they've got two options: go cap in hand to Badger or pull a job themselves. Neither prospect fills him with joy. Didn't much like the way Badger took over his boat last time they had dealings with him. Nor the look of near-disappointment on his face when he realized Atherton Wing hadn't managed to fillet Mal after all.

On the other hand, at least Badger's always got a job needs doing. Plus he has the contacts. Only kinda job Mal could do on his own is one where the take's something he can use his own self. Like coin. Or fuel. Or food.

The thought of food makes Mal's stomach growl. Been up for hours already puzzling this. Might think straighter with a full belly and a shot of caffeine.

On his way to the kitchen, he pauses on the catwalk to look down into the cargo bay below. Jayne and Simon are on a collision course, he realizes – too late to do anything about it.

Simon studying his hand-held intently and don't look up until he's but three feet from Jayne. Mal watches as he registers the mercenary's murderous glare – the look of a man whose hopes of coin and play have been recently, and needlessly, ruined. The Doc ain't Jayne's favourite person at the best of times. He oughta move aside, let the big man pass. But 'course, being Simon Tam, when Jayne shows no sign of giving way, he don't neither. Just keeps right on walking. Right into the angry wall of muscle in front of him. How he m