Jamie headed down towards the passenger bunks, not at all excited to see Inara right now. He peeked his head into his room, saw that she was just getting dressed. She turned and saw him, and her eyes lit up. He entered the room and locked the door behind him.

"Mm, getting ideas already? I'm a bit hungry to be doing that, but..." she murmured as she approached him.

He took one of her arms and held her out away from him for a moment, long enough for her to stop moving and give him a curious look. Why is he holding back?

"Inara, there's something I have to tell you, and you're probably not going to like me much when I do."

"Jamie, what's wrong?"

He told her. He told her the unvarnished truth, the spaces inbetween his first story and the real one. Her face changed several times; incredulous at first, she became stonefaced as he finished.

They stood for a moment in time, then, quicker than a flash, she slapped him, and walked out.

Guess I deserved that. He sat heavily on the bed, wondering if this was going to change anything.

Zoe heard the bunk hatch open, and Inara climbed down the ladder. She was stonefaced for a moment, then fell beside Zoe and began sobbing.

The older woman rubbed her back gently, waiting for Inara to get a bit of control, then started.

Mal had buttonholed her just after Jamie had left down to the passenger bunks, and gotten the others cleared out of the galley with work so they wouldn't interrupt.

"Inara, I know you're upset, honey...but look at his story again. Don't let our hatred of the Operative tarnish what you saw as a good man.

"Jamie's already bled for us, and a little bird told me that he got all of our outstanding warrants deleted from the Marshal's database. Serenity's in the black, and we're not broke.

"Not much's really changed in his story, just the names. He was protecting us even then; I'm not the most charitable person in the 'Verse, and even I can see that. He knew Simon and River's warrants were phony, or at the very least overblown. You really do care for him, if this bothers you that much.

"Bao Bei, he obviously wants something real with you if he was willing to give up that secret; it probably would have gotten him thrown out the airlock before anyway."

Inara looked up, newfound respect in her eyes. "You think so?"

"I surely do."

"You missed a calling as a Counselor."

"Nah, I'm usually more comfortable putting bullets into people than getting feelings out of them."

"I'm still angry with him."

"I'd be angry too. Doesn't mean you have to love him any less."

Inara's eyes brightened up at that. "Am I really that obvious?"

"You really are."

Jamie was making his way slowly towards the galley when Inara came out, an angry look on her face. She grabbed him tightly by the arm and dragged him to the shuttle that had once been hers. Sealing the door behind him, she whirled on him. He expected to see wrath on her face, but only saw a smile.

She hugged him tightly, and he grunted in pain as she pressed on his still-sore shoulder.

"Oh, I'm sorry bao bei. I'm just a fool."

"'Nara, I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to keep that a secret, it just..."

She pulled him down so they were both kneeling. "Honey, let me talk.

"I think I love you. It surely isn't just physical, or I wouldn't have been so angry you lied. I understand why you did, and I'm still a bit angry with you...but do you think I'll be angry for long?"

His eyes held a strange mixture of confusion and delight. "You...love me?"

"Of course I do, Ai ren. Now, I want you to swear to me; no more secrets, no more lies. Only truth with me. Dohn ma?"

"Dang ran, bao bei. Everything I am. Nothing I'm not. Starting now. I love you too."

"Are you going to tell the crew?"

"I hadn't wanted to. Might be for the best if I did though."

"I think it will."

Dinner that night had been excellent, and with little to do on the ship, the crew and Badger had played shoes, played music, and generally just relaxed all day. It was the first time in at least a few weeks the crew had time for play, and they enjoyed it.

As dinner was being cleared, Jamison stood up. "Everyone, real quick before we all go off to do whatever we're going to do...after some talking today, I've decided to tell the whole truth about who I am. I think it's for the best."

He told them. He wasn't focusing on the story anymore, but on their faces; he saw much more of a mix of emotions. Mal and Zoe were stonefaced as usual, but it was tinged with a touch of acceptance. Inara sat patiently for him to finish, her emotions all wrung out earlier in the day. Badger had an odd look on his face; maybe confusion, but also a bit of glee? Kaylee was horrified, but later as the implications became clear, she smiled. River and Simon were studies in nonchalance, but he could see their exceptionally intelligent brains working through what he was telling them, and soon they were nodding. Wash easily found acceptance; Jamie had the feeling this wasn't the first time a secret like this had been told.

Jayne was the strange outlier. Angry at first, he began nodding, and when the story was done, stood up and clapped Jamie on his (good) shoulder. "Hell, ain't the first time we've had odd folk on the boat, is it? Can't be throwin' stones m'self," and headed off to his bunk.