To Make a Decision
AN: I really wanted to call this "Non-practicing Companions Have Sex, Too!" but I wasn't sure if that title would be ok to post on the list for everyone to see. Also, this story is a little different for me because I usually write Rayne and I'm not sure if I got this right, but there have been a whole bunch of Rayne stories posted recently (yay!), so I decided to change it up a bit. Hope you enjoy (and review!).
Mal and Inara never openly talked about having a baby. The issue just kind of resolved itself one day after they had been together officially for three months (and unofficially for nearly two years).
The crew was in the mess, talking about the scheduling of jobs and when and on which planets they were going to stop. Inara had been sitting playing cards with Kaylee while everyone else sat around the kitchen, either eating in Simon and River's case, scheduling in Zoe and Mal's case, or doing both in Jayne's case.
The meeting ended and people finished eating and Kaylee won the game. Slowly, everyone trickled out of the kitchen to go do whatever. Mal stayed at the table finishing the coffee he had neglected while planning with the others.
Inara drifted over. "Um, Mal?"
"Mhmm?" He didn't look up.
"It's been almost a year since my last physical."
He looked up then and stared blankly at her, then he suddenly understood, "Arial." He didn't look too happy about the possibility of going back there.
"Actually, no. I'm not an active companion anymore. Even before rejoining Serenity I had reduced my license to teaching only. So I don't have access to the Guild's doctors."
"Why not?" He knew he was missing something, but couldn't figure it out.
"Each house has its own doctor for most medical problems, but the Guild doctors are only for practicing Companions." When the confused expression remained on Mal's face, she decided to be blunt, "For Companions who are having sex."
Mal's eyes widened as he realized that's exactly what they had been doing for three months now. But he still had to ask, "What's so special about the guild doctors?"
"They give us birth control once a year and test us for STDs."
"So, do you need to go or not?"
"I don't have to go to Arial or the Guild at all, but I'd need to stop at a doctor that is well supplied enough to get more birth control . . . If there's time that is," she added, looking at the packed schedule that just barely gave them time to get from place to place. Jobs had gotten easier when the Alliance pulled out, or was forced out, of most of the rim worlds after Miranda.
She had just put a huge decision on Mal without even fully realizing it. He looked at her and then down at the schedule, a little smile playing over his lips. He decided to dive in. "No, there's no time. We can't stop or we won't have enough to get that engine part that Kaylee's been incessantly talking about us needing." He looked into her eyes, still smiling.
"If that's your decision . . ." She started.
"It is." His smile getting bigger.
"Then I guess I'll be just fine without a doctor." Her smile matching his.
She leaned forward and kissed him suddenly, and then just as suddenly pulled away and walked out the door toward her shuttle. At the doorway, she paused, glancing over her shoulder with what could only be called a "come hither" look. Mal came hither.
AN again: If you think that last line is dirty, well then it's all your fault for having a dirty mind ;). I would certainly never jump into that gutter, shame on you.