A/N: Apparently the majority of inspiration for this story comes at work. So when I have spare moments at work, I work on it. Yesterday and today were the first instances in a little while, which is why this is so late!

Jayne had been right. As soon as they got a safe distance from Jiangyin, River, as he had come to know her, was gone. The old River, the moonbrain, had returned. She no longer made sense an' her head was in the clouds. He flipped the switches allowing Kaywinnet to self-direct on the course River had set.

"Butterflies crack out of their cocoons. They have to dry their wings in the sun to fly."

"Yeah, an' you've gone woolly." Jayne rolled his eyes. Havin' to put up with this was just one small burden to their rather substantial success. Didn't mean he couldn't hate it, though. He picked her up, arms under her shoulders and knees. When she moved as if to cause him to drop her, he spoke again. "Don't ya dare, moony. Nnot 'less you wanna be slung over m'shoulder." The girl stilled, thanks be and he managed to get her to her quarters where he put her down.

"You know the drill. When you're all fixed up in that brain pan o' yourn, you come an' let me know. We'll have chow then." He closed the door in her face, but he didn't bother to lock it as the girl knew five different ways out of her quarters at this point. She'd stay out of his way at the very least.

He was cleaning Vera in the common area of their ship a few hours later when River walked in. "Good. You're here. I was gettin' hungry."

"Job went well, do you not think?" Her speech always got so proper. Made him want to shake her.

"Went well 'nough. Got our pay, didn' we?" He watched as she ran her fingers along Therese, saying nothing. The girl was perfectly capable of handling firearms when she weren't woolly. Wasn't like he'd be able to take the gun from her if she didn't want to give it an' that was a true fact.

"Yes. Let's eat." They worked in tandem to prepare their simple meal.

Conversation was sparse during the meal, as usual. "When're gettin' to Boros?"

"Approximately nine days from now. Should be an easy drop off and resupply. We can go straight to Persephone from there."

Badger had waved them yesterday with a job for them.

As he shoveled in the food, he considered their situation. Weren't no one who coulda predicted their partnership. The least likely of everyone on firefly to work together. It was somethin' of a surprise they hadn't kilt each other in the beginnin'.

Now, after a year of working together, well, their alliance had cemented into a friendship. An odd 'un if anyone else seen, that's fer sure.

Simon'd try an kill him, were he alive. Wouldn't succeed, o' course, but he'd try.

"Simon would be proud." River's voice broke his silence. "He wanted me to work on my interactions with the real world. I wasn't very good at it. You helped."

"What'd I tell ya 'bout readin' my brain, girly?"

"That it was intrusive and impertinent."

"It's rude an' ya have no right."

"I can't help it if you throw your thoughts in my direction."

"I don't throw my thoughts nowhere."

"Precisely. You do." Jayne frowned, she was needling him somehow an' he couldn't quite work out how. But she had that look in her eye, the earnest 'un. Great. She always wanted t'fix somethin' that weren't broke.

"I do not." He finally said.

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"I'm gonna go workout. You stay here. I don't." Jayne stood and stomped out of the room, only pausing to dump his dishes in the galley area. He ignored her words after him and headed for the holding area.

"Well, well, well, if it ain't the lonesome twosome." Badger always was a charming 'un.

"Badger, a pleasure as always." River stepped forward to allow the disgusting little man to kiss her hand.

Jayne growled and River slanted him a look, her lips quirking.

"C'n we get inside? Don't 'preciate bein' a spectacle."

"Come now, Cobb. We're all friends." Badger smiled.

"An' friends take friends inside."

"Wot? A fella can't take a look a-round outta his gorram hole?"

"Not when we got business to ply." Jayne hated bein' stared at when it weren't part o' the job. His instincts were twitchy now an' twitchiness meant danger. Finally, Badger lead them inside.

"Maybe as wot this world's like, someone wot be important be needin' protectin iffen ya know what I'm sayin'" Badger said as he poured tea for the three of them.

"We comprehend and are perfectly capable of providing said protection. What are the details?" River was so very much more efficient at this than Mal'd ever been. She had her hands laced together, sitting on top of the table and her expression was mild.

Jayne'd never had good standin' with Badger. The bugger had-what had River called it way back?-delusions of standin'. He thought Jayne beneath him, the thought of which made Jayne bunch up his shoulders and growl softly, too softly for Badger to hear, but River slanted a glance at him that clearly said shut up. He shut up. It was best for his health after all. His life, considerin' River's particular talents.

"Is there some private negotiatin' wot be goin' on?"

"No, Just plannin' for this excitin' new job." Jayne stretched his lips, pretendin' to smile and badger sneered in disgust. Which was his general reaction to the bigger man. Jayne found it funny.

Fortunately for them, Badger seemed to be harborin' an interest in River. Saw her as kin or some such.

"Well, the man's name is Alinor, Michael Alinor. He's a top o-fficial in Trainor Associates." The company was well-known and, at times, widely criticized.

"He is attendin' a ball here on Persephone and would like the assurance of keeping his life." How Badger had come to this knowledge, he didn't know.

"Naturally, what has he requested?"

"One body guard. An' I have plenty o' swots wot can be used as shields, but I thought he'd 'preciate a hidden protection. You." He looked at River, who nodded.

"I should act as his date and Jayne shall be the muscle. I understand."

"You always were a sharp'un." Badger smiled and Jayne sharpened his glare at the apple peeler on Badger's desk.

"He'd like to meet the two of ya at your earl-i-est convenience at his office."

Jayne shifted in his seat as the room went silent but for the typing of Badger's secretary.

"Wotcher waitin' round for?" Be gone with ya!" Badger shooed them out, blinking in the bright light.

Persephone's dust filled their noses as they walked down the street, unconsciously matching their paces. The two looked intimidating and that cleared a path of them.

Jayne'd always had that, but ever since River'd forsaken her flowy dresses and skirts for tight leather and denim with a knife and gun belt slung over her hips, the crowds'd been making room for the both of 'em.

As they approached the Trainor building, Jayne whistled. Usually the folk they dealt with were doing well enough but this, this was wealthy. Badger'd done 'em a good turn after all. They'd had it coming.

Something in River's posture changed as she lead them into the building's entrance area. The room was two stories and encased in stonemade to look like marble from earth-that-was. Which was expensive. Not as expensive as true marble, but pricey all the same.

Jayne trailed behind, counting on River's more adaptable set of social skills to get them up to Alinor's office.

He half listened to her as she flirted with the guard-she flirted with everyone they didn' know s'long as they weren't old or hideous. Jayne stomped on the lil' part of him that found it annoyin'. She was a girl and it got them in places.

Simon'd rip his head off though and he knew it.

As they were waved past the gate, he spoke up. "Simon wouldn't like the flirtin' an' ya know that."

"That is a low blow. You know it's the only way to get in certain places without fuss."

"Yeah…" Jayne agreed frowning in her direction as they went flying up towards the top floor.

"And you, personally, have no objections?" River's voice had a tone in it, one that made his back go up. She was testing him, as always. For what, he didn't know.

The door opened to reveal a horrifyingly clean office space that reeked of wealth. Jayne wrinkled his nose. Not a place he'd like working.

River walked in as if she owned the place, though. Alinor's office was at the end of the line of offices on the left hand wall. She knocked on the door and there was a muffled 'come in' so the two entered to see a rather 'good' looking man in his early forties. Fit, so he probably had a home gym. He had curly dark brown hair that had some kind of stuff in it. A gorram sissified man, Jayne figured. Cared about his appearance a little too much.

Who would pay their bills, Jayne reminded himself. The man stood and Jayne was eerily reminded of the way River was moving at the moment. Creepifyin' to say the least.

"And who are you?" he asked.

"My name is River Tam and this is Jayne Cobb. Badger sent us." River sounded like she would've if she'd stayed in the core.

"I specifically asked Badger for a single bodyguard. Does he not hear well?" The man looked genuinely curious as well as annoyed.

"Way I see it, two's better 'n one," Jayne growled, looking the man in the eye.

"I hardly think this girl could be of any help to you." Alinor turned to River. "I hope you know I mean no offense."

"Look here," Jayne said roughly, "If'n ya really only want one bodyguard, you take River. She coul take me down 'n a heartbeat an' I'm considered one o' the best gun hands 'round these parts."

"There is no need for more testosterone, Jayne," River said. She laid a hand on his arm. "I believe Badger sent us because he had an idea that I shall explain to you. You require protection at a ball, correct?" She waited for his nod before continuing. "If you don't protest, I shall be attending as your date. Therefore, should anyone attempt to harm you, they will only factor in Jayne here and will not take me into account. I can appear very harmless, as I'm sure you've realized."

Alinor sank into his chair, his brow creased. There was silence for a few moments. Jayne shifted his weight and brushed his hand over Molly, feeling comforted by the cool metal.

"Well, I can't fault the idea, I suppose." Alinor started. "But I hadn't expected… well this is more for show, you understand?"

"We get it. We also get tha' a man of your standin' allus has enemies. Don't hurt none to have an extra hand keepin' you alive an' well. We come as a unit. Don' charge much more 'n one o' those fancy hundans you call a body guard." Jayne spoke up. He weren't givin' up money-it was true, world based body guards got significantly more because of their proven background.

"You have no issue sending Ms Tam into danger?" The man was studying him and Jayne frowned, shifting his weight again. What'd he want?

"Jayne and I are business partners. We are friends, but we are not involved. He trusts me to take care of myself." River's words jolted him.

"Sure as hell ain't romantic partners." Jayne snorted. "Her brother woulda kilt me. I know tha' an' River knows tha."

"My apologies. I must admit, I am unused to female bodyguards."

"That is fine. I hope we are not displacing a date you had already asked?" River arched one of her brows and the man shook his head.

"I hadn't yet asked anyone, close as it is to the date. I am there purely to receive the award. I hope to get out as soon as possible."

"As we understand very well," River smiled slightly. "Shall we come to escort you to the party on Saturday at six pm?"

"That sounds like an appropriate time. Now, if you don't mind…"

"We'll show ourselves out," Jayne nodded to the man, taking the offered hand to shake before guiding River out of the office.