Working the Midnight Hour

Disclaimer: blah blah blah, you know what I mean.

AN: Once again I had a conflict between what I wanted to call the story and what I thought was appropriate for the title list, so "Whores!" became this, the other title still feels like more fun, but oh well. Enjoy and review!

PART 1

Serenity set down on Newhall, where they were planning on staying for a few days to get fuel and supplies. Mal had done the landing when, after knocking on Jayne and River's hatch, all he had gotten in response was a very tense sounding, "I'm busy, do it yourself."

Since he knew Jayne was in the cargo bay helping lower the mule, Mal had been surprised by River's reply. Oh well. He had gone and landed the ship. He decided he'd ask what that had been about later, ya know, when she was calmer.

Now, they were all in the bay preparing to leave. Inara was staying with the ship, as she had yet another interview over the cortex with the Guild. She had already voluntarily given up her license and notified her client registry of her retirement, but the Guild had several interviews it was conducting to ensure that it had been Inara's choice to stay and she wasn't being forced into anything by Malcolm Reynolds. The Guild seemed especially suspicious due to an undying rumor about a pirate and a burning temple.

Mal and Zoe would be getting fuel and food, while Simon and Kaylee would be going for medical supplies and engine parts. No one knew what River and Jayne were going to do.

Every other time they had come to Newhall, Jayne had gone straight to the large and very successful whorehouse in town. He always stayed the entire time, returning only about ten minutes before takeoff. Most of the crew assumed he had a particular whore there, as close to a girlfriend as he could have.

Now, he had River, and Mal was very curious as to what was going to happen now. They hadn't come to Newhall in the eight months that River and Jayne had been together.

So, when Mal walked into the bay and saw Jayne looking spiffed up, beard trimmed neatly and a new shirt on, his eyebrows shot up and his mouth dropped open. Is this why River had been so tense? Had that son of a bitch broken up with her? But before he could ask anything, River shoved past him on her way down the stairs.

She was wearing her pretty blue silk dress. It had spaghetti straps and an empire waist with a bow and a layered bottom. This was her best dress, she had worn it to Kaylee and Simon's wedding. Also, her hair had been carefully combed until it shined and her face was clean and very lightly made-up.

She walked over to Jayne and smoothed out his sleeve where it had rolled under. He gave her a kiss and said, "You're so beautiful." River beamed.

Ok, Mal thought, so no breakup, then what are those two up to? He finished the walk down the stairs and took the list of needed food items from Zoe. He only pretended to read it, though, as he eavesdropped on what River was saying to Jayne behind him.

"Jayne, I'm not sure I can do this, why don't you just go without me."

"No, baby, you'll be fine."

Mal looked up and noticed that Simon was eavesdropping on the two of them as well. His jaw clenched slightly as he heard his sister's protests.

"Hey Mal!"

"What?" Mal's attention was pulled back as Jayne shouted at him.

"We're headin' out, we'll be back in a couple of days."

Simon sputtered, "What?! Where are you going? Are you even taking clothes?– Never mind! I take that part back!" He exclaimed after seeing River's mouth open, fearing her infamous candor. "But River, what if you have an episode?"

"Oh Simon, I haven't had one in months, and besides Jayne can handle them . . . But now that you mention it, maybe we should come back here tonight, keep it to a short visit . . ."

Jayne sighed, "Baby, I done told you and told you, trust me, this is better, you'll be fine. Now, Doc, we'll be fine, don't worry, bye everyone!" With that, he walked down the ramp. He wasn't quite dragging River, but she wasn't walking at his pace either.

"They never said where they were going!" Kaylee piped up.

"No, they didn't," Mal's brain was turning, "Zoe, can you handle getting the supplies on your own?"

"I dunno, sir, I will sorely miss holding your hand when I cross the street."

Mal gave her a look. "Fine, you go do that. Simon, think that med stuff can wait a day?"

Simon smiled, "Of course, let's go." Mal and Simon walked out of the ship and turned in the direction that River and Jayne had gone.

"Wait!" Kaylee ran after them, "engine don't need parts if we ain't going' no where! And besides, someone needs to keep you two from being too protective for your own good."

Zoe and Inara smiled as the three stalked off after River and Jayne. With a final nod to Inara, Zoe climbed into the mule.

As she started it up, she spared a moment to touch the black leather band on her left wrist that had been there for almost a year. "You gonna help me fly, baby?" She asked as she shot out of the ship, and a voice that only existed in her head answered, "Always."

Inara hit the control panel to close the bay doors before walking toward her shuttle and her interview. She chucked softly. She knew where River and Jayne were going and she wished she could see Mal's face when he realized they were going to the same place that Jayne always went to.