Hey,
I'm hoping to expand my first fanfic into a much bigger story.
updates will be intermittent at best as I'm trying to juggle A-levels and driving tests as well.

Hit me up with reviews and let me know what you think.
Thanks.


Chapter 1

Captain Malcom Reynolds strode purposefully and silently through his ship, bright blue eyes taking in every detail as he passed from the steel grey and cold crew quarters into the warmer dark yellow of the dining area. He was dimly aware of the lights fading on slowly as the motion detectors responded to his unexpected presence in the room. When he checked his clock it was deep into the sleep cycle of the ship, roughly 3 A.M.

Mal took pause in the dining area, studying the stencilled on flowers Kaylee had painted about a year back. He ran one of his large hands through his short brown hair.

Almost time for a trim, you're getting shaggy Reynolds he thought to himself.
He re-diverted his attention to the flowers. They were fading and starting to flake off the bulkhead but Kaylee would soon fix it. Mal permitted a smile for just an instant then he spun around, pulling his gun out of its holster at a noise from behind him and the bottom of his stomach fell out as he saw who was standing on the threshold watching him.

"Bwwagh!" Inara almost smiled at Mal's involuntary warrior like shock but was equally as shocked to have been caught watching him. He lowered the gun he had trained on her instantly. She recovered quickly and directed a smile so radiant at him that Mal was almost worried he'd get sunburned.

"Good morning Captain, it's a little early to be practising your war cries don't you think?" She said, teasing him lightly. She moved gracefully to the little stove and heated it to boil some water.
Mal watched her as she walked across the room to the galley, her soft pink silk night gown whispering as she moved. He remembered the last time she had sneaked up on him when he was cleaning his weapons, she had induced a similar response from him even then. He looked at the deck sheepishly as he re-holstered his gun.

"Sorry for pulling my piece on ya, been a mite tetchy since Early.." He apologised to her. The very last thing he had ever wanted to do was aim a gun at Inara. It had been almost a week since Early had invaded Serenity and he had to patrol his ship at least twice a night still before he could find peace.

"I understand Captain, he shook us all up a little." She replied glancing up at him in surprise at the straight-forward apology. He'd been so jumpy after that incident that she was a little surprised no-one had been shot by accident yet, not that she would ever admit that.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked, pausing in the act of reaching for a second cup and looking at him.

He was looking at her in with a far-off and thoughtful gaze and didn't appear to have heard the offer.

"Mal?" He looked up suddenly and shook his head to clear it. He grinned his crooked grin that turned her insides to jelly and nodded.

"Yes, please. I'm thinkin' a tasty, hot beverage served by a lovely lady such as you would do my nerves a worlda' good" He replied, watching Inara smile at the not-so-subtle compliment. Mal took his usual place at the table. He changed his mind and moved over to the couch in the little sitting area opposite the galley. He sat heavily and rubbed his eyes wearily groaning in discomfort.

Inara set Mal's tea in front of him and sat across the round table from him in the small armchair. There was a moment of silence as Mal collected his tea and took an exploratory sip, wincing in surprise. It was very hot.

"Yeoww, gorramit that's hot" He stated needlessly. He looked at Inara who had left her tea to cool before trying to drink it. She had pulled her feet under her and was watching him with amusement.

"Thanks 'Nara, can't tell ya how bad I was keenin' for this." He winked at her. Inara snorted, a very un-companion thing to do but she didn't mind at the moment.

"It's no problem," She started, looking down and scooping up her tea cup to warm her hands, "I'm just glad I'm not the only soul awake and in need of a drink." She took a sip and closed her eyes as the sweet tea tickled its way down.

Mal realised he was staring and cautiously sipped his tea again. It was refreshingly light and uplifting, if a little too sweet for him. He smacked his lips appreciatively. Inara looked at him again and had to look away lest she choke on her tea. She gulped it down and turned to look at Mal again, his head tilted back and his teacup balancing on his forehead. She chuckled softly.

"What the gúay are you doing Mal?" She asked barely controlling her mirth.

She realised, since she had told Mal that she was leaving, that although the captain was very jumpy and still prone to massive and unpredictable mood swings she was really enjoying the time they spent together. Tonight, she mused, was a perfect example. She felt perfectly at ease and the captain was doing nothing wrong or hurtful and she was almost laughing at everything he did. Except when he got shot or beaten, then it was never a laughing matter. She pushed the thoughts of him lying beaten and bleeding in the infirmary away and focussed on the handsome and downright perfect buffoon attempting to extricate his teacup from its perch without spilling it.

Of course he never managed it and less than a minute later they were in the infirmary. Inara was pretending to be angry at him while she looked for where Simon kept his cold compresses and Mal, sat on the chair, was protesting vehemently that he would have had it under control if he hadn't of started laughing.

"Honestly, can't take you anywhere Mal without some injury befalling you in one way or another. " Inara chided. She found a blue gel bag, wrapped it in a towel and pressed it to Mal's face. He jumped as it made contact with his slightly reddened skin.

"Bwwagh!" Mal pressed his hand onto the bag, forgetting that Inara's hand was still holding it. As Mal's hand rested on hers, all time seemed to slow to a stop. He looked deep into her huge, liquid eyes and saw the shining barrier, the wall she erected to shield herself.

Inara looked back into his bottomless eyes and saw pure feeling, fear, hope and anger. She moved close to him, her lips wanting to feel his but something changed in his eyes. Disappointment was the only thing she could see. She pulled back but left her hand under his.

"You're still protectin' yourself." Mal said quietly shaking his head at her look. "You miss my meanin', I ain't accusin' I'm just sayin'. It's good... I guess. For the best n'all"

Inara sighed. "I suppose you're right. It's... I'm..." She faltered, not quite knowing what to say. She had been thinking very, very hard over the last few days and nights and figured she may as well let Mal know what her plans were.
"I don't want to leave Serenity, I love her too much to just run and abandon her and the family I have here." Mal looked for all the world like he had just had a heart-attack and been mortally offended at the same time. Inara blinked, taken aback. His eyes went flat.

"Before I even try to make sense of what you just said, let me make something one hunderd percent clear." He said, his voice taking on a threatening edge. This was not the response Inara was expecting.

"My boat ain't sly." He said maintaining his threatening demeanour for a few seconds until Inara's brow furrowed in confusion. He winked cheekily at her and laughed. Inara scowled but couldn't stay upset at the man now hooting with laughter.

"Touché Captain." Inara said, helping him out of the chair.

"Well it's fine if you want to stay. Stay just as long you wanna. I daresay lil' Kaylee will be more'n happy to find out your stayin'." Mal replied. They stood and faced one another preparing to go their separate ways once more.

"Goodnight Mal" Inara reached onto her tip-toes and kissed him on the cheek and then retreated through to the cargo bay and up the metal stairs to her shuttle.

Mal had decided long ago that if Inara ever kissed him he would rather die before allowing himself stand there staring like a dolt, touching the place her lips had touched like some helpless romantic.

"Huh" Was all he could manage as he stared into the cargo bay like a dolt and touching his cheek like a helpless romantic.

Mal snapped out of it and ran up the stairs to the main corridor on the ship, had a quick look in the engine room to check the ships power plant. He moved on before he got hypnotised by the spinning engine. He walked back through the galley and dining area, stopping to wipe up a bit of tea he'd missed before. He finished that and carried on. He checked the access hatch that Early broke into the ship through and made sure Kaylee's improvised locking mechanisms were working.

He kicked open the hatch that lead to Kaylee's bunk and slipped down into her room. He took in the situation. He was surprised the young doctor wasn't in here. He made his way to Kaylee's sleeping form and gently shook her.

"Kaylee?" Mal asked softly. Kaylee nearly fell out of bed as she jumped in shock and rolled over to look at who had woken her. Mal felt a pang of guilt for scaring her like this but he figured it had to be done now.
"Sorry little one, I didn't mean to scare ya none."

"Cap'n? What's wrong?" She asked, blinking her large eyes, words slurred from only just waking up. Mal crouched down so he was a little closer to her.

"How much do I owe you?" Mal asked in a flat voice. Kaylee looked at him dumbly for a few seconds, not understanding his meaning.
"The bet we made? How much was it again?" Mal clarified. Kaylee's eyes went very wide as she smiled a smile of pure happiness as she finally understood.

"Cap'n! I... Well... that's just so.... Sweet!" Kaylee gushed, grabbing Mal into a massive hug.

"It was 20 Creds we finally 'greed on, weren't it?" She said after she had stopped giggling.

"Oh yeah, 'course, remind me never to bet with you" Mal said, grinning as he reached into a pocket of his dark shirt and unfolded a 20 credit note.
"There y'are, lil Kaylee, now you get on back to sleep"

"Sháí sháí cap'n!" Kaylee said re-folding the note and putting it under her pillow. "g'night!" She called as Mal made his way up her ladder.
"G'night" Mal called before he shut her hatch. He stepped over to his hatch, kicked it open and descended into his bunk. He stripped to his boxers, used the head, washed his hands and face then climbed into his bed and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Serenity had watched her captain and waited until he was asleep before she turned all the lights out and resumed her night cycle. Her clock read 3.32 A.M.