Chapter 4

Sam and Dean walked into the kitchen to see the rest of the crew sitting around the table. The two sat down in the only spots left, two chairs right next to each other. They didn't say a word, slightly intimidated by the group of people they didn't know.

"Sam, Dean, this is the rest of the crew. There's Jayne, Zoe, Wash, Inara, Sheppard Book, and River. You've already met Simon, Kaylee, and myself." Malcolm said, pointing to the correct person as he said their name. Dean nodded his greeting and waved a little. Sam did the same. The two remained silent as they ate the food they put onto their plates. Looking at the boys, Kaylee noticed they were a bit shy. Or maybe they were cautious? It was hard to tell. Also, she could see that both boys were pretty skinny. Dean was skinnier than Sam and also seemed to be eating more.

"So, boys, what's your story?" Wash asked.

"Hm?" Dean asked with his mouth full. He swallowed and continued, "Oh, you know, grew up on the planet, never knew anything different. Me and Sam decided to get out of there." He looked down at his plate, eating, as he spoke.

"Did you have a job back on Persephone?" Malcolm questioned.

"No. No one would take me. Something about being a street kid or some go shi like that."

"Street kids, eh?" Jayne spoke up, "Where'd you get the cash to come on then?"

Dean finally looked up from his plate and his bright green eyes met Jayne's dark blue ones. "Took what we needed to survive." Dean replied, sounding defensive.

"Hey, no judgment here." Zoe told him.

Dean nodded and started eating once again. The usual dinner conversation started. Sam and Kaylee started talking and trading stories. Dean and Malcolm started a conversation of their own. Soon, the kitchen was filled with the sound of laughter.


Later that night, Dean got out of his bed and opened the door quietly, as to not wake Sam. Not that it worked. As Dean had one foot out the door, Dean heard Sam's tired voice ask, "Where are you going?"

"Nowhere. Go back to sleep." Dean replied.

"Dean, don't you lie to me. I wanna come along."

"I want to learn more about the people here."

"I'm coming." Sam got out from under the covers and stood up.

"Ok, just be quiet. We don't want them to know anythin'."

Sam nodded and the two walked quietly down the hallway, Sam following Dean's lead.

"Where are we going?" Sam whispered so quietly, Dean almost didn't hear it.

"The hold." Dean whispered back.

The two remained silent until they reached the hold. Dean pointed to one end and Sam nodded. He went over and started searching, looking for anything that could be important. Dean did the same on the other side. Sam knelt down and looked at the floor. He saw the tracks on the floor.

"Dean," Sam said quietly. Dean turned to look at him with a questioning expression, "It looks like they move a lot of stuff in and outta here. There are tracks on the floor. They seem to be headin' this way..." Sam trailed off, following the tracks. Dean followed his little brother over to the wall.

"They end right here." Sam told Dean. Dean lightly hit the wall. It made a hollow thud.

"Help me get this off." Dean said to Sam. Together, the two pulled aside the panel on the wall to see a nook big enough to hide several crates. They looked inside to find it empty.

"Smuggling?" Sam asked quietly.

"Maybe." said a voice from behind. Then came the sound of a gun being pulled from its holster. Sam and Dean turned slowly to see Jayne pointing a gun at Sam's head. Dean gave him the death glare and the two stood up slowly.

"What do we have here?" Jayne asked, a smug smile on his face.

Dean immediately pulled his gun and pointed it at Jayne.

"Dean..." Sam trailed off. Dean looked to the side to see Malcolm standing on the stairs, pointing a gun at Dean.

"Good morning." Dean said with a smirk.

"Good morning indeed. I walk into the hold to find the kids I told to keep out snooping around. I just-I feel so betrayed." Malcolm replied with a tone of mock hurt.
"I'm sure you do." Dean responded sarcastically, readying his gun if Jayne decided to make a move on Sam.

"Let's talk." Jayne spoke up, gun still pointed at Sam's head.