Disclaimer: Not mine, no pay.

Thanks: To Jacqui, Josh and to Rion, my own personal BDH. You guys are the greatest.

Rating: PG-15, for references to violence.

Remarks: Jayne and Kaylee struggle to define their relationship amid plans for a shaky job. Set following my most recent story “The Birthday Gift”, after “Objects in Space”. Inara has departed from Serenity and things on board ship are getting more difficult. Click on my name to read the backstories.

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Leaps of Faith

Chapter Six

The bright rim of Aberdeen arcs across the black, nearly fillin’ Serenity’s bridge windows.

Mal steps through the doorway, tells Wash, “Wave Emerson. Let him know we’re in orbit. Keep it simple, but I wanna know what he’s got in mind. There’s a lot of farmers down there and I don’t reckon on havin’ this deal go down where innocent folk are like to get caught up in it.”

Jayne pokes his head into the bridge. “Look, Mal, I need to have a word with ya. Got a minute?” The merc gestures toward the corridor with a tilt of his head.

Mal pats Wash’s shoulder. “Holler if you need me.” He follows Jayne out into the corridor.

The big man is obviously tense, fidgety. “You know I ain’t felt right about this job since the get-go.”

The Captain nods.

“We been gorram lucky so far. Got the goods off Santo clean, ain’t even seen a hint of any Alliance patrols. But luck’s got a way a bein’ fickle and I just wanna make sure you know what kinda guy we’re dealin’ with here.”

Mal sets his jaw. “I take it you got some personal history with the man I might need to know about, so I’m listenin’.”

Jayne goes on, ”Couple a years back, I done a bank job with Emerson an’ another guy. Equal split a the take. Day before payday in a little company town, so bank’s full a coin. You know, just get in, scare the hell outta