Mal could have sworn that Sherlock paled at the mention of the name.

"Magnussen. You're sure. What proof do you have?"

"Why? You know him?" Zoe asked.

"Answer my question first," Sherlock replied.

"Get the gun away from Doc and River and we will," Mal said with an even voice.

Sherlock glanced at the gun in his hand as if he did not know where it pointed. It was still aimed at River. Sherlock turned and looked at John's gun, glanced at where it was pointing, saw it was focused on Simon, and nodded to John. Both lowered their weapons.

When Mal remained silent, Sherlock impatiently stated, "Now, if you please."

"Right. I don't got proof. All I know is that two different offers came up on a bit of cargo we had. One of them was Magnussen."

Sherlock nodded. "And the other?"

"A man I've worked with before. Now answer our question. You know this man?"

Sherlock sighed. He was not going to get any more information at this time. "Yes, I know of him. He's a criminal that no one has been able to convict. He is guilty of theft, embezzlement, bribery, murder, and countless other crimes."

"If you know he is guilty of all that, why haven't you arrested him yet?" Simon asked.

"We have no proof," Sherlock said simply. "and we didn't have his location." He smiled. "That is, until now. Captain, I propose a trade. Your ship, crew, and freedom, in exchange for Magnussen."

Mal gave a short laugh, "Ha! Okay. Under what authority can you make that agreement? Because, in case you've forgotten, you're a hostage. In my ship. Under my authority. Don't make deals you can't keep."

"Oh, I intend to keep this one," Sherlock replied.

"Really? How?" Mal asked, almost uninterested.

"Connections."

"What connections?"

"My brother. He practically runs the Space Station England. He's wanted Magnussen for a while."

"Sherlock, what are you doing?" John whispered.

"Trust me, this will work."

"He's telling the truth," Simon told Mal. "His brother has a high position in the government. A few years ago he took control of the Space Station England."

Mal weighed his options. "How can I be sure your brother, or you for that matter, will stick to your end of the deal?"

"Yeah, how can we be sure you won't arrest us too?" Jayne demanded.

"I can assure you that my brother would rather let a few smugglers go free, for a while at least, if it meant putting Magnussen behind bars."

Mal continued to sort out the pros and cons.

"What other choice do we got, Cap'n?" Kaylee asked.

"Not much Kaylee. You still got that com?"

Kaylee nodded.

"Hand it over."

She handed it to Mal who tossed it to Sherlock. "Call your brother."

"Wait," Zoe intervened. "Where's my husband?"

Jayne looked around, as if suddenly realizing Wash was not there.

When Sherlock did not answer Zoe continued. "I noticed right away he wasn't with you. Where is he?"

"In the closet I was locked in," John replied.

"If you don't mind Captain."

"Go ahead."

Zoe walked by John, got the keys, and walked down the hallway to the closet.

Sherlock watched her walk away. Her confidant manner was a show. She was worried Sherlock would not follow through. Her getting her husband was only half the reason for leaving. She left just in case they had to shoot Sherlock or John. She would not be back for a while, but she would not be far.

He turned back around and faced the barrel of a gun. Mal had come to stand right next to him.

"Call him," Mal said simply.

Sherlock turned the com on, pushed a couple of buttons, and waited a minute. Then someone answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello Brother dear."

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Inara asked Mal nervously.

The crew and the two hostages were standing in the cargo bay. Mycroft had pulled some strings and they were getting escorted out… in a federal shuttle.

"I sure hope so," Mal responded.

Zoe had come back with Wash when Mal called for her and told her the plan. Wash had explained what had happened. While he was guarding Sherlock and John, River walked up and snatched the keys from him. Before he could react she had kicked him hard in the chest, sending him flying against the door John was locked in. While Wash was distracted, River had unlocked Sherlock, who in turn had pushed Wash into the now vacant closet and River locked the door. River gave the appropriate key to Sherlock and he had freed John.

John had looked back and forth between River and Sherlock, then asked, "What's going on."

"I don't rightly know," Sherlock had replied, studying River.

"You need to help us out," River said simply. She then handed Sherlock a gun and stood in front of him, facing the direction of the kitchen.

Wash banged on the door and muffled demands filtered through.

John looked to Sherlock for direction and noticed his friend's eyes moving rapidly. Sherlock was forming a plan.

"Sherlock—"

Sherlock led River forward and said simply, "Follow my lead."

John had.

A loud clank suddenly came from the kitchen. Mal looked back and saw smoke pouring through the doorway. Ten armed Alliance Officers ran through. The whole crew put their hands above their heads. John and Sherlock stood off to the side. At least ten officers surrounded the crew, taking their weapons. Two others stood next to John and Sherlock while the remaining one opened the door.

All according to plan.

The crew was escorted out the door one by one, all with hands above their heads. No funny business, no looking around, just follow the person ahead of you. Just follow the plan.

Mal had exited Serenity first. The officer before him walked out boldly and straight to an open shuttle. Despite himself, Mal glanced around. They were in a large white hanger full of officers. He saw Lestrade and Donovan staring at them. Donovan was smirking. He stepped into the shuttle. Two long rows of seats stretched the length of both walls. He was pushed to the very front of the shuttle, since he had entered from the back. He was pushed roughly into the corner seat closest to the cockpit. A seatbelt and a pair of handcuffs were attached to his chair, which were immediately placed around his waist and wrists. He looked up at his crew being shoved into various seats. He noticed that the officers put the crew in every other seat, leaving an empty seat between for the officers to sit in. Once everyone was in the shuttle, the doors closed and the engine turned on. Right before they lifted off, the officers handcuffed Sherlock and John to their chairs. Sherlock rolled his eyes and John looked confused.

"I'm sorry, but—"

"Orders," the officer said simply, almost sympathetically.

Mal smiled.

Everything according to plan.

Mal heard a pair of doors opening and the shuttle flew through. Based on the sound, they were flying within the space station.

They flew in silence. Shepard sat across from Mal, eyes closed, probably praying. Next to Shepard, not including the officer, sat Wash. Next was Inara, then Kaylee, then Zoe, then Sherlock. Next to Mal was Simon, then Jayne, then River. Jayne did not look comfortable with River right next to him. Her casual confidence was a little unnerving for him. Next to River was John.

A few minutes later the shuttle landed and the back opened.

"Brother dear, what have I told you about getting into trouble?" Mycroft asked.