CHAPTER 10

"Anything interesting going on, husband?"

"Not even a little bit," Wash sighed. "Pull up a seat, my Amazon beauty. Captain around?"

"He and Jayne are working on inventory, down in the armory. Been there maybe an hour." Zoe settled into the empty seat opposite Wash. "This is a strange, strange job we're on."

Wash shook his head. "Montgomery rents the entire ship to transport something that could fit in a saddlebag? Makes no sense."

Zoe shrugs. "I was skeptical. But if the captain trusts, I'm willing to go with him." She leaned back. "And I like Beckett. She's a good type. Nice enough to have around."

"Yeah. She's - strangely normal." Wash paused. "Which in itself is unsettling."

Zoe shot him a look. "Suppose I'll have to be the one to point out how she's easy on the eyes?"

Wash sputtered, knocking over the dinosaurs on his console. "What? Woman, I'm surprised to hear you say such a thing."

"Oh, let go, honey. No harm in noticing. Honestly, I'm wondering if Mal ain't started noticing it." Zoe shrugged. "Been a long, long while, even since Inara left. The man might be lonely."

"I dunno," Wash drawled hesitantly. "You really think? With a passenger?"

"You clearly ain't seen the way they've been looking at each other." She chuckled. "More than a few sparks there."

"I guess I could maybe see it," Wash shrugged. "He really is ruggedly handsome."

After dinner, Kaylee darted up from the table to produce a surprise: a slightly lumpy pastry. "Kate and I made it! Everyone has to have some. Everyone."

She eagerly dished up the cherry-filled pastry, handing it around. River sniffed at it openly, as Simon assured her it was safe. Jayne dug in with gusto.

Mal hesitated, fork halfway to his mouth, as he locked eyes with Kate. She was watching him, her eyes sparkling, and at first he didn't get it. Until she took a bite. The fork slid over her lips, cherry filling on the corner of her mouth, and she licked it away without breaking his gaze.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Damn.

When he finally slipped into the passenger quarters late that night, Kate was curled up in bed, wearing just some soft, silky greyish robe, oddly similar to the one she was wearing that one time- that -

- that time it happened.

Her eyes were open, one hand pillowed under her cheek as she watched him cross the room, sit on the bed beside her. "Starting to think you weren't coming," she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

"Sorry. Kaylee's a talker." He paused, suddenly, desperately uncomfortable. "If - if you're tired, I can - we don't have to - "

"Shhhhhhh." She sat up slowly, her long legs unfolding, her soft hair tumbling over her shoulders. "It's fine."

"I'm sorry if I -"

She cut him off with a soft kiss, tentative, just the lightest pressure of her lips on his as she curled her hand around his jaw. He kissed her back, eager, slowly coaxing her mouth open under his. The kiss deepened, her body melting into his, warm and liquid and unresisting.

She finally pulled back, breathing hard, her hands sliding over his chest, and he knew she could feel the irrational pounding of his pulse, a frantic thudding against his ribs, so heavy it was about to burst out of his chest, and her mouth, her mouth and her hands and he was stupid stupid stupid -

"You taste like cherries," he blurted out.

She froze, her lips leaving his, and for a long moment he hated himself. Why, why was he saying stupid sentimental things that made no gorram sense?

"So do you," she whispered into his ear, her breath hot on his skin.

Her lips were on his again, hot and challenging, and when he finally touched her, she let out a soft sigh into his mouth. The silky fabric of her robe slipped off her as easy as water, leaving her bare under his touch, and he kissed her neck, her shoulder, the curve of her breasts. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.

He kissed her everywhere.

She kissed him back.

She slumped against him afterwards, panting. Her body was hot next to his, slick with sweat. He traced his hand over the smooth lines of her shoulders, hesitantly letting his fingers circle the scar between her breasts.

She covered his hand with hers, pressing his palm flat against her skin. "I was wondering if you saw it."

"Couldn't really miss it." He swallowed thickly around the thought of someone pointing a pistol at her heart and squeezing the trigger. "Doesn't look like it's new."

"It's not."

He wasn't going to ask, but Kate took a long breath and finally spoke, very quietly. "My mom - was killed when I was nineteen. We lived on Central. We were going to dinner. And - it just happened so fast. He came out of nowhere." She stopped for a moment. "I survived. She didn't."

"I'm sorry."

His body ached at the thought of it, at the thought of the innocent young thing seeing her mother crumple to the ground, then the burning that never stopped until everything went black.

"Yeah." She looked away, her jaw set. "So am I."

Mal froze, his hand still pressed flat over the scar. Because he had no place, lying here with her talking about her life like he belonged in it. And wasn't this supposed to be nothing but physical anyhow? Why hadn't he left yet?

"I - I should go." He pulled back slowly, cautiously. She didn't move as he quickly grabbed his clothes and pulled them back on.

Finally dressed, Mal ran a hand through his hair, and finally reached to pick up her robe from the floor. "Here."

"Hmm?" She took it with a quizzical look.

"In case Jayne walks by, you'd best not be nude." Right. That was it.

But Kate got that look in her eyes. The one that said I know what you're not saying. She slid her arms into the sleeves, pulling it over herself. "Fine. I promise to only be naked when you're here to protect me, Captain." Her voice was all silk, husky and teasing.

He left before he could act on the urge to...protect her. A few more times.

Mal made it back to the hallway with the crew's quarters without meeting anyone.

Until he discovered River sitting cross-legged outside his door.

His mouth fell open as he tried to find a legitimate reason to be walking back from the passenger dorms. Before he could come up with anything, the girl rose to her feet gracefully. "Good night, Captain. I hope you sleep well."

"Uh. Thank you."

He watched her trip merrily back out of the hall. Well. How about that. River acting mildly strange. That was new and exciting.

He opened the hatch and was about to swing himself down into his quarters when she stopped. "Captain?"

He looked up. "Hmm?"

"Ask her what she does with ice cubes."

With that, the girl disappeared.