In Between Jobs

"Why are we going back to Persephone?" asked Zoë.

"Because," said Mal. "We've been running around a bit and I want to go."

"Janelle said something about going," said Wash.

"And we're going to a Central Planet because she asked?" said Zoë.

"Wash asked, too," said Mal.

"Oh. Okay," said Zoë.

"We haven't had a day off in a while," said Kaylee following Janelle off the ship.

"I'm not the only one thankful for civilization," said Janelle as they watch Inara's shuttle fly off.

"Yeah, she happy to be back from the border planets as well," said Kaylee. "So what are your plans today?"

"Shopping," said Janelle.

"Shopping for what?" asked Kaylee

"Fabrics," said Janelle looking over her list. "I'm getting a bit tired of wearing the same clothes over again so I am sending some new fabrics off to my seamstress to get new dresses."

"Wow," said Kaylee.

"I can have her make some things for you as well," said Janelle.

"I don't have anywhere to wear them," said Kaylee.

"And I do?" chuckled Janelle. "Doesn't matter if you have somewhere to wear them, that you have them just is case is the point."

"Okay," smiled Kaylee. "Well I'm off to the junkyard."

"You're working on your day off?" asked Janelle.

"I need to replace a few parts and if I can do it for free then I'm gonna," said Kaylee.

Janelle nodded and took off for town.

"And the red silk," said a woman as Janelle walked into the store.

"Be right with you Ms. Janelle," said the lady with a bolt of fabric.

The other woman in the store turned around and smiled. It was Inara.

"I thought I was the only one who shopped here," said Inara.

"Likewise," said Janelle. "Having new dresses made or redecorating the shuttle?"

"A little of both," said Inara. "You?"

"New clothes," said Janelle.

"Going to show them off for Jayne?" chuckled Inara.

Janelle rolled her eyes at the comment.

"I heard about what you did," said Inara. "Dropping him in your room."

"How…" said Janelle.

"Mal told me," said Inara. "And it won't take long before everyone else knows about it as well. It's a small ship when things like that happen."

"Great…" said Janelle.

"Don't worry mei-mei," said Inara. "The only one to give you hell is probably Mal and possibly Wash."

The store owner returned a few moments later with Inara's fabrics. She said her goodbyes and walked out of the store. Janelle smiled at the woman and placed her order.

"And send them to Bridgett," said Janelle. "She's expecting them."

"Yes, miss," said the woman.

"Everyone on board?" asked Mal.

"All but Janelle," said Wash. "She said she about five minutes away."

Mal nodded his head. As he was turning from the windshield he saw a man running towards the boat. He frowned and made his way to the airlock.

"Can I help you?" said Mal stopping him from entering.

"I'm looking for someone," said the man.

"Aren't we all," said Mal with a sarcastic tone.

"No, she's supposed to be on this ship," said the man. "Her seamstress just told me she was in town buying fabrics. I came looking for her."

"Really? And who might this girl be?" asked Mal.

"Janelle Whitlock," the man.

"Can't say I've heard of her," said Mal. "Now if you don't mind please step off my ship. We're leaving town."

The man conceded and let the airlock close. Mal called up to the bridge.

"Tell Janelle to catch a ride with Inara," said Mal.

"Will do," said Wash.

"Thanks for the lift," said Janelle walking out of the shuttle.

"No problem," said Inara. "I just wonder why Mal wanted you to catch a ride if you were headed this way to begin with."

"Who knows," said Janelle.

"There was someone looking for her," said Mal walking over to them. "And I'm sure she didn't want this man finding her. Otherwise she would've told him she was in town."

"A man?" asked Janelle.

"Yeah. Fancy looking too," said Mal. "Wouldn't happen to know who I'm talking about, would you?"

"Nope. Sorry," said Janelle pushing past Mal.

Mal let her go. He knew she knew who the man was, and if she didn't want to fess up that was her problem.

"Did he give a name?" asked Inara.

"Nope. Just said that he was looking for Ms. Whitlock," said Mal.

"Whitlock?" said Inara looking at the captain.

"Yep," said Mal. "Our Ms. Janelle is a Whitlock. One of the most powerful families on Persephone."

"Wow," said Inara.

"Which explains how she keeps with the monthly rent so easily," said Mal.

"Rent?" asked Inara.

"Yeah, she's renting her cabin since she feels she isn't much help to us," said Mal. "I'm not complaining about the extra money, either."

Inara rolled her eyes and went back into her shuttle.

"So, why would that fine young man be looking for you?" asked Mal walking into the dining area.

Janelle was sitting at the table with a cup of tea and a book. Jayne was sitting at the other end eating, while Shepherd Book and Kaylee sat in the lounge.

"Someone was looking for you?" asked Kaylee.

"Apparently," said Janelle.

"Come now, Ms. Whitlock," said Mal. "I'm sure you know who he was."

"Whitlock?" said Kaylee. "You're a Whitlock?"

"How did you find out?" asked Janelle looking up at Mal.

"The young man was kind enough to fill me in," he said. "Well? Who is he and is he going to be an issue?

"It doesn't matter who he is and no he isn't," said Janelle. "If he was he would've already become one."

Mal nodded and headed to the bridge. Jayne and Kaylee were staring at her now.

"What?" she said.

"How come you're out flying with us when you could be at parties?" asked Kaylee.

"It's not always parties," said Janelle.

"How come Patience isn't as rich as you?" asked Jayne.

"Who said she isn't," said Janelle. "And I'm out here because I chose to be. Can we please drop this?"

Janelle stood up from the table and went to her cabin.

"How come you didn't say anything Jayne?" asked Kaylee.

"I did," he said. "I asked about Patience."

Kaylee rolled her eyes. "Not about that."

"About what?" asked Jayne.

"About Janelle," said Kaylee.

"What are you talking about girl?" asked Jayne.

Kaylee sighed, "Men...don't know what's right in front of your face." Kaylee stood up from the table and walked over to Jayne. "She likes you, and from the way I've seen you look at her you like her too."

"Ha," said Jayne. "The only girl I like is Vera."

Kaylee rolled her eyes and left the mess hall.

Jayne sat at the table thinking about what Kaylee had said.

There's no way she likes me, thought Jayne.

"I just don't get it. I've spent time with him," said Janelle. "Maybe I'm not as good at flirting as I thought I was."

Inara chuckled as Kaylee walked into the shuttle.

"What ya laughing at?" she asked sitting down with the other two women.

"Janelle is questioning her flirting abilities," said Inara.

"You talking 'bout Jayne?" asked Kaylee.

Janelle nodded.

"With Jayne you gotta knock him over the head with something heavy before he will notice something sometimes," said Kaylee with a smile. "I say you go up to and kiss him. That will get his attention."

All three of them laughed. Unbeknownst to them Jayne was standing outside the shuttle listening to the conversation. He had a smirk on his face. He was secretly hoping she would take Kaylee's advice about just kissing him.

A/N: Thought I'd post something that does happen in an episode. Also, I've started posting the images of the dresses that Janelle wears throughout the story. A new dress will goes up with almost every chapter. So swing by my profile and see what they really look like! ~Kat