Interlude

Mr. U's Mystery Package

Jack rubbed the bridge of her nose in annoyance. The warehouse clerk was a grade A moron. How may times did she have to explain that she was picking a package up for a friend? After another fifteen minutes of trying to tell the clerk what the order number was -he constantly asking how she knew the number if she hadn't ordered the package- she managed to convince the clerk to let her use the warehouse wave.

She sincerely hoped Mr. U would answer.

"Blunt force would lower the fierce one to the man's IQ."

Jack rolled her head to look at River. Her new mei had come along for the ride, stowing away in the back of the mule while Simon ran about the ship looking for her. Even Jack hadn't known River was in the back until Jayne spoke up. They were halfway to their destination by that time and neither felt like turning back.

"Can't you do some sort of...mind thing or whatever?" Jack asked as she leaned against the counter, waiting. "Can't this idiot-" The screen sparked to life. "You are in serious trouble buddy!"

The funny little man furrowed his brows at her, opening his mouth to argue. "Tell this wonderful gentleman that you've given your approval or I swear to Allah I'm destroying whatever is in that stupid box!"

"Give her the package already," the voice behind the screen shouted.

~!~

"What do you reckon's inside?" Jayne asked as he unloaded the crate from the back of the mule. It looked an awful lot like the coffin toombs had come on board with.

"Don't know, don't care," Jack jumped down from the driver's seat. "Riv, come on and get down."

"The girl is unsure of her her new possessions."

"After three hours of shopping?" Jayne snorted. He finished unloading the coffin shaped crate, grumbling about a lack of decent help, before he left the cargo bay. He had dinner duty again.

River glared at his retreating form before turning to look at the smallest box in her hands. "They are laughing at me."

Jack furrowed her brows, climbing back onto the mule to see what River was looking at. The small blue box contained several new pairs of panties and a few bras. They were a bit of a contrast compared tot he rest of her clothes. Bright pink and baby blue, whereas River's new sweater and shorts shifted from deepest blue to black, to chocolatey brown.

"River, you have to wear your smallclothes."

"They are laughing, snickering at her, trying to be a woman when she is still a girl."

Jack opened her mouth before shutting it. That was not what she expected. It wasn't something to laugh about either, the alliance messing around with a girl's inner workings like that. A woman's body was a sacred thing, the crislam's deviated from their roots in that idea. No man shall touch upon the divine workings of God's daughter. No man shall dictate her will.

"Did they cut on anything?" River shook her head. "Then don't worry. It'll happen when it's supposed to. And when it does, come tell me."

"And the laughter?" River asked quietly.

"Don't worry about them," Jack climbed back down. "Got shorts don't you?"

"River!"

Jack ddn't even look up from her soup when Simon came into the kitchen.

"Ain't no need to shout," Mal scowled from his seat. "Everyone's right here."

"I, sorry, it's just, I've been looking for her," Simon moved closer to his sister, only to have Zoe grab onto his arm. "I have to-"

"Sit down and eat," Zoe told him in no uncertain terms. The whole table was waiting for Simon's reaction, spoons pausing, eyes waiting. Simon only nodded, taking his place between Book and Inara.

Jack was on her second bowl when Mal spoke up.

"We know what's in the crate?"

"Nothing living," Jack assured him. "No bounties, no slaving, whatever is in there isn't about the breath when we open it up."

Mal nodded, content with Jack's answer.

"You and lil' bit have a nice time on the town?"

Jack let out a sigh as Simon began to splutter.

~!~

Mr. U's moon was easily the most unassuming little rock in the Eastern quarter. A thick layer of orange and yellow clouds passed over head, the local sun had turned the sky a bloody red, and the various breeds of flora weren't something Jack would keep on her nightstand. It was hot too. The uncomfortable mixture of muggy and still that had each crew member begging to leave this planet as soon as the drop was made. Some of the crew even opted not to go outside.

Jack had to. She was the one who brokered the deal and as the sometimes, though not very often, acting captain, she had to learn how to keep business going the way it was supposed to. That meant finishing deals and making drops in person. It wasn't honorable otherwise.

At least someone coming with her. Three someones if she was honest; it would have been four if Simon wasn't such a damagh. Mal to make sure she didnt' get cheated, Zoe to act as general intimidation, and Jayne because he was in charge of loading and unloading things.

"Mighty brassy of you, pullin' that stunt with River," Mal pointed out as Zoe drove them to Mr. U's compound.

"I didn't pull anything," Jack argued from the backseat. "River stowed away in the back. Just got a bit too lazy to drive all the way back." Zoe's snort could be heard over the sound of the mule's engine and Mal could be seen grinning in the front passenger seat. "I suppose, if he's bellyaching so much, I could go and say something kind of like an apology."

"Don't bother," Jayne snorted. "We'll be right back where we started iffin' you give that boy an once of leeway with that feng le sister."

"Much as it pains me to say so, Jayne's right." Mal turned to look at them. "This here is my ship. My crew. Ain't lookin' to treat no one member better'n any other."

"Riv's part of the crew?" Jack asked.

"Cabin gir," Mal grunted. "Makin' her clean the airducts when we get back. Part of disobeyin' orders."

Jack smiled ever so slightly, leaning back against Jayne's arm as they drove.

The drop had gone quicker and cleaner than Jack had expected, Mr. U meeting them outside of his door with cash in hand. The very moment Jayne had set the coffin-box down, all four of them had been ushed off of his porch with a hurried farewell and good luck.

"You can not be serious."

Mal only handed the cleaning supplies to River.

"Mal-"

"Can't make her go and clean her room," Mal cut him off. "Someone else already been doin' it for her." Simon flinched ever so slightly. "Sides, River spends most of her time in the ducts, might as well give her somethin' to do while she's up there."

River looked at the rag and pail in her hand, lips pursed as they tried not to curl. Mal's thought process was illogical. She had nto broken orders, there had been no orders to break. No rules to lean against, no law to ignore. Yet he was punishing her as he would any other member of his family. His family. Was this her new family? Brother Simon, Sister of Two, sister's Sister and sister Copper...

"Best learn your lesson from this," Mal grinned down at her. "Sneak out, get chores."

A soft growl escaped River's lips. Family. "Yes dad."