Dinner was an awkward silent affair. Kaylee or Simon never did show. River, Jia and Zoe were not talking since they were worried about their friend and sister. Wash was now concerned about the effect this was having on his very pregnant wife. Shepherd Book thought over what he should offer in ways of consolation. Mal was still angry but that was lessening. Jayne simply enjoyed the unusual silence and shoveled food into his face.
At the end of the meal Mal broke the silence by clearing his throat. "Any ideas about looking for jobs Zoe?"
Zoe looked at him confused, "We didn't get a job today sir?"
Mal shook his head, "They didn't have anything for us today but wanted to hire us for future jobs. Had to disappoint um and tell them we do on a job to job basis. Thought it was funny myself when they broke off pressuring me at the sight of my new muscle here." He pointed to Jia, "You really do scare people you know."
Jia raised her eyebrows, "Wonder what they would think of the fact I was scared out of my mind."
Mal scoffed, "Drew ain't that bad. Bit of an idiot but not bad."
Zoe went back to the original question, "Boris worked last time. Then there is always the enthusiastic response of Ranger."
Mal winced, "Last time he sent us to a core planet."
"Maybe cargo's different this time sir." She smiled, "Then of course there is Badger Sir."
Mal's expression darkened at the mention of Badger.
Zoe continued, "Or we could just do what we always do Sir and go see what Persephone has to offer."
Mal shrugged, "Too much Persephone lately. I'll talk to Ranger in the morning and see what we can get."
Wash now contributed, "Don't we usually get paid more when we think up our own jobs?"
"Gotta take what comes Wash. Don't see nothin on the horizon so gotta go get somethin. Simple as that."
The conversation was over and no one volunteered anything else. They all went to bed a little distracted.
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Jia awoke in the middle of the night to someone entering her room. Kaylee hesitated a second before running to her. She threw her arms around the older woman and started crying harder then before. Jia consoled her as best she could. Kaylee didn't talk, just cried. She was there for an hour before she said thank you and just left.
Jia was still concerned at breakfast the next morning. They were all seated, except Simon when Kaylee came in. She wasn't in her usual cheery mood but wasn't crying. She waved good morning to everyone before sitting down and eating breakfast with them. After she simply got up and retreated into the engine room.
Wash followed his wife down to the couch outside the infirmary. It was the most comfortable and had since become her favorite spot.
She flopped down with a sigh, "I feel like an unemployed whale."
Wash sat beside her and sighed, "You are not a whale and you are not unemployed."
Zoe shrugged. "I'm not doing anything so I might as well be."
He shook his head, "Gotta just take these last three months easy and you will be up risking your life before you know it."
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Ranger had agreed to meet again with a job offer. Jayne had been complaining about doing nothing but his leg still had not healed. The fact that Mal wouldn't let him go on the job was not helping his mood. Zoe once again suited up the cook to go with Mal to get their new job. Jia wasn't happy since it took her away from her regular job. She stood in the cargo bay with a bothered look on her face waiting for the captain. They left both now in a bad mood. The crew waited an hour, then another, and another. Wash's voice suddenly came over the intercom and beckoned Zoe to the bridge. When she got there her husband was very upset.
"Just caught an Alliance bulletin over the wire. Not something I was supposed to pick up but I did. We got to get out of here."
"What?"
"This planet has been taken. They found out what the Ranger boys have been doing. They hit their headquarters and are now dusting the planet for anyone or anything that might be related."
"What about the Captain and Jia?"
"No communication. All I got was a small craft that took off about ten minutes ago. Alliance ain't following it. Nothing to say where they are. We gotta get out of here as fast as we can."
"I am not leaving them."
"We don't and there won't be anything for them to come back to."
Zoe sighed, "What's so special about this craft you talked about?"
"Only one thing was communicated off the ship before the line was cut. NO communications allowed off the planet."
"What was it?"
"The letters S. E. R. E. It's all I got before it all went black."
"Could be Serenity."
"Could be a lot of things. The thing is that if it is not them, we don't have much hope."
"Why's that?"
"I know they reached the city. That was the last word I got. Alliance just destroyed it."
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The crew all gathered in the dining room. Zoe stood at the end of the table and explained the situation.
"We already lifted off. Wash tells me they ain't detected us. I need a way to track that shuttle Kaylee."
Kaylee nodded.
"As well as monitoring all Alliance communication for news. I want to know if they were found or not."
Wash and Kaylee both nodded this time.
Jayne spoke up, "What if the shuttle ain't them?"
Zoe was still stoic, "It is."
"Yeah but what if it ain't?"
Zoe's eyes spoke murder, "Then I will take care of it Jayne. You won't have to care one way or another."
Jayne looked suitably chastised.
Shepherd Book said, "I may still have a few contacts that could help."
Zoe nodded, "I would appreciate any help as long as it don't jeopardize the ship."
"Any contacts I would use would be discrete."
Zoe nodded. "Let's get to work findin um people."
The crew all went their separate ways. There was an air of desperation about. NO one could blame them.
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Five days later Zoe was in the dining room again. The only person not there was Shepherd Book. He was in the bridge talking to a friend of his.
Zoe sighed, "How hard can it be to track a shuttle?"
Kaylee looked worn and tired, "It was one of Ranger's shuttles so it got all sorts of blocking tech. I've got past most of it but I need more time. I still can't tell who was on board, but I'm getting there."
Zoe waved her off, "I know you're doing your best Kaylee. Go back to it."
Kaylee got up and left for the bridge just as Shepherd Book came back.
Zoe looked hopeful but the Shepherd did not. "They still have no idea if they were on the planet when it was taken. I'm sorry."
Zoe let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding, "Not your fault preacher."
She dismissed them all again and sat at the table. Wash came and sat beside her and rubbed her back. She put her head on his shoulder. They were not there for long when they heard Kaylee screech from the bridge. They both ran to see, or as close to running as a seven month pregnant woman can do.
When they got there Kaylee had a big smile on her face. "I got vid from inside the shuttle. Just a minute before and after take off but it's enough."
Kaylee drew their attention to the screen they all saw their captain in th pilot's seat and their cook behind him. They saw the take off. After that the screen went blank. They all felt a great relief. They were alive. Now they just had to be found.
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Over the next two days the video had been watched many, many times. The little mechanic had seen that the captain had a wound on his side, but because of the graininess of the video, they couldn't tell how bad it was.
Zoe sat on the couch outside the infirmary waiting while Kaylee and Wash tried everything possible to track the wayward shuttle. Had it been a Serenity shuttle, they would have found it a week ago.
Simon approached her, "How are you?"
She sighed, "I wish he hadn't tried to direct the Alliance away from us and just came back to the ship."
"I asked how you were."
She looked at him finally, "What do you mean?"
"This much stress is not good for you or the baby."
"When we get the captain and Jia home my stress will go down considerably."
"It needs to be before that. I need you to slow down."
"I can't afford to slow down."
"A premature birth will slow you down even more."
She sighed again, "I don't know what you want me to say or do Simon. If I tell you I will it would be a lie. If I say I won't you won't let up. Which do you want?"
He sat next to her. " I want you to relax a little. Just a little and I'll be happy."
"I'll try."
Simon smiled and left Zoe to her own thoughts.
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It was a full two days later in the galley when things came to a head. Zoe was sitting at the table when Jayne came in and sat opposite of her.
He didn't speak so she did. "What's up Jayne?"
He didn't seem to know how to begin. "What if'n they don't come back?"
"Not to that point Jayne."
"Yeah but what if?"
Zoe narrowed her eyes, "Things stay business as usual."
Jayne shifted uncomfortably, "So you'd be the new Cap'n then?"
"Seems to be that way?"
"Gonna be the same as it was when Mal was here?"
"What's your point Jayne?"
"Just wondrin' what we gonna do that's all. Never...I mean...I...nothin'"
He got up and left in an uncomfortable huff. Zoe watched him go with a confused look on her face. Could he possibly be concerned about the Captain, or was it Jia? Was he just wanting to be Captain, or did he feel like everyone else? Like they had lost family? When Wash and Shepherd had died he had acted like this, like he missed them. Could he have finally accepted he needed the crew of Serenity?
Her questions went unanswered when Kaylee came rushing in beckoning her towards the bridge. She got up with difficulty and rushed as fast as she could after the girl.
Wash turned to her when she got to the bridge, "Found them. On Gemini."
Zoe was visibly relieved, "What are they doing there? Mal don't know anyone there."
Wash shrugged, "Maybe Jia does?"
Zoe shook her head, 'Don't matter. Hard burn Wash. Get us there."
"Got it sweety buns."
Wash turned to his console and obeyed his wife's directive.
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At hard burn it only took about an hour to get there. They found the shuttle abandoned a few minutes from a small town. Because of her limited maneuverability Zoe let Jayne follow them himself. Serenity stayed at the shuttle and waited for Jayne's directions. He followed tracks to the edge of town to a horse paddock. It was obvious even from here the town was Alliance heavy. A piece of fence had been removed recently. Two horses had passed through the gap and sped off with riders towards the east.
Jayne contacted the ship and told them what he had found. Zoe told him to come back. When he did she gathered everyone in the cargo bay.
"Jayne and Simon will take the big mule and go after them. Rest of us stay here."
Shepherd Book stepped up, "I would go with them if you don't mind."
"Sure hope they don't need a preacher."
"If you run into Alliance I could be helpful."
Zoe considered this, "Up to you Preacher."
He nodded.
She turned, "Kaylee, Wash, I need this ship to be ready to take off at a moments notice and outdistance anyone who follows."
Kaylee saluted, "No problem."
She dismissed them and Kaylee lowered the larger mule. The guys then took of in the direction the others had gone.
The trail was surprisingly straight with no stops. They soon got to a even smaller town then the last one. A half mile outside the city they parked the mule and walked. Jayne led them in the tracks. It led around the city and to the back of a large building. They stood outside the back whispering about what to do.
Jayne was for the direct approach, "Lets just go in the front."
Simon wasn't sure, "Maybe we should follow them through the back."
Jayne looked at the man like he was an idiot, "They was doin' that cause Captain was wounded and they thought they's being chased by Feds."
Shepherd sighed, "As unlikely as it may seem I agree with Jayne. If they felt safe enough to hide here it shouldn't be dangerous for us. And since we know we are not being perused we should make a good impression."
Simon shrugged but Jayne was already walking around the front. The others followed him. Jayne was about to burst in when Shepherd caught his shoulder and pulled him back. He then knocked on the door. It was soon answered by a beautiful blond haired blue eyed woman. She had on a fire red dress and was heavily made up. She was older, but that had not dimmed her beauty. She smiled at them.
"Come on in Gentlemen."
They followed her to the front parlor.
Shepherd was confused, "You know who we are?"
She turned, "Not yet but I'm sure my girls would be pleased to meet such fine gentlemen. I will be right back with my ladies."
She started to leave when Shepherd stopped her.
"Perhaps you have misread or purpose here. We are looking for someone."
She paused and slowly turned in their direction, "And who might that be Sugar?"
"A man named Mal Reynolds accompanied by a woman named Jia Li Mason."
The woman stiffened, "And why would you think they were here?"
"We followed them. We are the crew of Captain Reynolds' ship, or part of it." He extended his hand, "I am Shepherd Book and this is Jayne Cobb and Doctor Simon Tam."
The woman let out a large sigh, "You boys had me scared for a second. I'll go get them."
She rushed out of the room.
Jayne was confused, "Shepherd?"
"Yes Jayne?"
"Why would they be hidin in a whore house?"
Shepherd sighed, "I don't know. I guess we will find out."
Just then Jia burst into the room. She hugged Shepherd, "I am so relieved to see you guys."
Shepherd hugged her back, "Where is the Captain?"
"I'll take you to him."
She led them up the stairs to a room at the back. Jayne was enjoying him view along the way. Since it was early afternoon the place wasn't busy, but a few girls were in rooms with open doors. They were fully clothed but it was enough to make Shepherd uncomfortable and Simon blush crimson.
They entered a room and Mal was sitting on the bed. The room was incredibly garish and done up in red velvet. Mal was pale but still looked upset.
"What the Gorram Hell took you so long?"
