Title: Ain't No Sunshine

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I don't own anybody but anybody you don't recognize

Summary: Love triangle of sorts with someone from Mal's past coming back to want... that can't be right.

"Well, that went easier'n a three dollar whore," Jayne Cobb was used to being thought a pig, so it didn't phase him much when the rest of the crew either didn't respond or rolled their eyes. He laughed happily, swilling his over-priced beer and thinking of what he was gonna do with his cut of the loot. He'd send Ma about a quarter this time. More'n usual, but he was getting' more'n usual so it evened out.

"I'm gorram happy to be getting' that Lassiter off my ship, that's for sure." Malcolm Reynolds took a bite of his fried chicken and chewed thoughtfully. It'd been a long time since he'd been back to this planet. Not since the war, anyway. The war and-

"The last time we were in this place it was a piece of gose bar with two tables, piss flavored beer, and we're not even going to get into the food," Zoe took an appreciative bite of her cornbread. "Seems unification agrees with Dixie more than they thought it would."

Mal grunted, "This whole place's gone prettified."

Kaylee leaned forward eagerly, picking at her sweater and glad to have a reason to step out of her role as ship's mechanic for a while, "What'd the place used to look like, Cap'?"

"Well, this fancy restaurant used to be a hole-in-the-wall bar for the field hands on pay day."

"That pretty church we passed comin' in with the gold and the stained glass used to be the garrison," Zoe supplied. "And none of this other stuff was here."

"Planters realized there was money to be had, started buyin' up second houses and such near where the merchants were settin' up shop to show off their cash," Mal took a bitter bite of his chicken and chased it with a swig of beer.

"So a one horse town turns into a big ole city when the rich folks decide to show off and the tourists decide to put down roots."
"S'even got it's own whore district."

"Guess where Jayne's goin' after dinner," Zoe's husband Wash muttered under his breath.

"Aids the digestion," Jayne winked, "Ain't that right, 'Nara?"

"I"m sure I don't know what you mean," The companion sniffed.

Jayne laughed lasciviously, "My foot, woman, you was busier'n we was this trip."

"It's true, I did have a few Clients this trip-"

"Now we know Dixie's not the backwater it used to be, Zoe," Mal interjected.

"But," Inara shot a heated glance at the captain, "being a companion is considerably different than a common whore on the Tenderloin."

"How so?" Mal's tone challenged and he ignored the waiter bringing the check, "So far, only difference I see's the clothes."

"Well, for example," Inara rose gracefully and placed a few credits next to her still-heaping plate, "You could never afford me. Even after the money from fencing that antique." She was gone in a swirl of silk and Mal cursed colorfully in Chinese.

"That was fun," Jayne reached for Inara's untouched plate and dug in.

"You really are a rutting ape, aren't you?" Doctor Simon Tam looked disgustedly at the mercenary and wondered again what the man's purpose in life must be.

"To many nutrients to gift the dispensary when it expects halves and thirds," River Tam supplied helpfully to her brother, swiping the roll from the plate before Jayne could claim it.

"What'd she say?" Mal asked, reaching for credits and not really paying attention.

"Waste not, want not," River translated herself and took an overly large bite of the bread.

"Don't touch me, Clayton Butler!"

"Now you listen here, you little whore, I"m takin' what's mine and you bein' willin' don't really matter much a'tall," Clay Butler's handsome face leered and the woman side stepped. They were in the pretty Front Street house- his now after his father's death- and their voices bounced off the vaulted ceilings.

She brandished the wickedly sharp letter opener from his father's desk in his face. He glared. Her eyes flicked through the foyer, trying to find means of escape. She feinted left, then took off right, but her yards of skirt and corset hampered her and she tripped.

"Get your hands off me! Clay, please!"

"Well, that was damn near the best meal I've had this side of the 'verse," Jayne rubbed his hand down his belly and belched loudly.

"Glad you enjoyed it, s'gonna be the last real food we have for a while."

"Oh, come on, Cap' maybe we can get some extra supplies- I saw a grocer at the end of the street," Kaylee was already trying to dissect the secret ingredient to the cherry cobbler.

"No. Soon's I can remember how to get back to the sip we're leavin'." Mal stopped in front of a house so full of stained glass it fair glittered and looked down both directions of Front Street. "I never much cared for this gorram planet."

"S'not how I remember it, sir," Zoe slid her hand easily into Wash's back pocket. "We came from that way."

"Yeah, but we was lost then too. Seems t'me a drunk midget designed these-" Mal was cut off by a sound that shook the windows of damn near every house of the street. He turned like everyone else.

The big oak doors were opened and a woman stood silhouetted and shaking at the top of the front steps. She was breathing heavy and at first she stumbled, but then she was running down the stairs and straight into a very surprised wall of mercenary.

Mal's mind ticked away quick details about the woman Jayne had to grab to keep from falling. She was pretty but her lip was bloody and her eye was swollen. The black velvet dress was expensive and hung ripped open to her waist. She was holding a silver letter opener in her hand. Her breasts nearly heaved over the lilac brocade of the corset. His mind clicked into place, "Liandra?"

Her attention was focused so entirely on Jayne it was like she was blind. Her voice was urgent, shaking but strong and it left no room for argument. "You have to help me. He'll kill me."

"Liandra you whoring slut of a social climbing bitch!"

She gasped, nearly clawing her way up Jayne's chest. And then she surrendered to the blackness.

"Actually, there's nothing here to make me think she's experienced any kind of trauma before today."

"Did he...?"

"She's hurt pretty bad. I've staunched bleeding and staved infections but there's some rippage and-"

"Well I wanna know what that gou cao de thought he was doing!"
"I've never seen anybody hurt that bad down th-"

"Don't worry, Little Kaylee, he won't be hurtin' nobody any time soon."

"Jayne I didn't know you could fight like that with a coupla hundred pounds'n your arms."

"Aw' she don' weigh more'n one-ten soakin' wet. S'that feng le dress that's a pain in the-"

"Well I think it's best she stay with me-"

"You think that's a good idea, Mal?"

"Zoe, I'm the captain and-"

"She fell inta me, she should stay with me."

"I see I missed an interesting time."

"Howdy, Shepherd!"

"Eyes go from black and cold to technicolor confusion."

"I see you picked up another stray."
"Inara! When'd you get back?"

"Where're my clothes, please?"

Everything stopped.