Zoe and Mal enter the galley just as Kaylee was helping the very pregnant Inara to a seat on the corner couch. Simon stood in the corner by Inara and Kaylee, keeping an eye on the mother to be. Aside from the cargo hold, the galley was the largest room onboard Serenity and a natural gathering place. It served as their eating-place, but also their conference room, lounge, library and sitting room. The wall paintings of fruits, leaves vines and flowers made the room pleasant and homey.
"Where's River?" Mal looked over at Jayne, who was eating a roll and some protein spread at the table.
"Stowin something in her room." Jayne answered. "Probly some girl stuff she didn't want me to see. Got all secretive and paranoid on me when I asked."
Mal tosses the letter to Simon.
"Mail for you Doc."
Simon slowly turned the letter in his hand. It was obviously from his father, possibly announcing his new position with the government, likely pleading with him to return home. He had reservations about opening it, unsure of whether he wanted to do that much soul searching, so soon after the more pleasant activities he'd just finished with that morning, with Kaylee. She'd told him he had to help her practice her companioning skills and laughed at him when he got all shy. Simon smiled at the memory.
"Now that I got you all together." Mal announced. "After we drop our second load in Dyton, I was thinking we should take another run out to Harvest."
'I'd like that Cap'n." Kaylee piped up, but Jayne's face registered a less pleasant look.
"I don't think anyone at Harvest has call to be angry with us." Mal added.
"Harvest! You got angry people right here Mal. Wasn't we goin to Persephone? Pickins been getting mighty thin lately," Jayne crowed, glowering at Inara. "And Harvest ain't gonna cut it."
"Tain't no-ones fault." Mal added, seeing the glare Inara shot back at Jayne. "Just wanted let people know. We might need a bit more time before heading to Persephone. There could be trouble there."
"We ain't never had trouble there before Cap'n. 'Cept for last time." She recalled.
Simon just sat in the corner with Kaylee now contemplating the letter in his hand and ignoring the banter around him.
"We an't never left there like we did last time. Port authority might have second thoughts about welcoming us back."
"Sir, I'll be on the bridge." Zoe said flatly. She also didn't look too pleased with his decision. "Not sure I can take all this jubilation."
"Good." The captain said, sitting himself next to Jayne. He was not feeling the love just yet, but that never bothered him before and it wasn't about to start now. "Jayne? You get everything you needed?"
"Sure did, Mal." Jayne sounded unusually pleased considering they were still cruising backwater planets. "Turns out the kid is a natural. She got everything on the list."
"Comon Simon." Kaylee urged, from the corner. "Open it up. At least see what he has to say."
"So?" Mal asked, trying to filter out Kaylee's prying into Simon's affairs and focus on Jayne.
"Well" Jayne continued. "After the whores, I figured there was only coin enough left for half of it. She got the whole lot. Nara must be teachin her to negotiate like a ruttin companion or somethin."
The doctor opened his letter slowly and started to read, not even reacting to Jayne's comment.
"Glad to hear it. We can use the savings." Mal confessed. "It's been hard living in the margins, with the way you go through the whores, that is."
"I'm tired of shipping low profit crop for back-world drudges, Mal." Jayne complained. "And Boros. Dang Mal, they're so deep in Alliance, they transfer all the cash over the cortex. We don't even get a chance to steal it. It just ain't fare."
"If you can find us better work?"
"Well I ain't the one knocked up our meal ticket now, was I?" Jayne snapped. "Kaylee ain't gonna take up the slack – 'cept for the Doc there."
"I'm trying to stay civil here Jayne, so you might want to watch where you're going with this." The sound of Inara and Kaylee laughing made them both look up momentarily.
"I think you'd make a fine Companion Kaylee," Inara said. "And I'm sure the doctor has no problem helping you practice."
"And she'll be back to normal in a few months." Mal assured the big man.
"You just ain't getting this, are you Mal?" Jayne retorted. "She's gonna have a kid, and that's gonna change things permanent. This ain't no place to bring up a kid."
"It don't look so bad." Mal said looking around. He'd touched a nerve in Jayne he'd never seen before and wanted to see where it went.
"Oh sure." Jayne railed. "What about crazy aunt River that likes to play with knives, and Uncle Jayne's gun collection, not to mention all them moving parts in the engine room and that great big cargo hold full of heavy things."
"What? You don't think this is a nurturing environment?"
"Simon?" Something in Inara's tone alarmed Mal. "Simon, what's wrong."
Mal and Jayne looked up again. Simon had slumped onto the corner of the couch. His hand, holding the letter, fell to his side. His face registered shock.
"Doc?" Mal queried.
"What's the problem, taxman finally catch up to ya." Jayne loped to the corner, taking the letter from his hand. He took a quick look at the letter and fell silent.
"What?" Mal asked, as Jayne handed him the letter.
"It ain't good Mal." Jayne said.
"What's wrong?" Kaylee slipped around Inara, putting her hands on Simon's slumped shoulders. "Simon?"
"His Mom's dead." Jayne explained.
"Oh no." Kaylee knelt down in front of the grieving doctor, Inara took his hand.
The letter was short and direct, more of an information bulletin than a letter, really. Mal walked to the intercom. "Zoe – tell Abernathy we'll be taking a detour to Osiris, before heading to Dyton."
"Sir?"
"Just tell him." Mal snapped. "One day out of our way. Then we'll drop his shipment."
"Yes, Sir."
"Captain, I … " Simon started.
"It ain't no trouble, son."
"Captain, Abernathy don't mind the delay – long as we don't die in the void and lose his load."