Chapter 21

Early Morning

Lara stretched slowly as her eyes fluttered open. She was laying on her side, curled into Jayne's side. He had his left arm curled around her possessively while he snored on. Her left leg was on top of his legs. She wiggled her thigh up to his waist and leaned over him a bit. She slowly ran her fingers thru the hair behind his ear as his snoring lessened. His arm slid down her waist and pulled her over top of him. She gasped loudly in surprise as his other hand grabbed the back of her upper thigh. She smirked at him as she ran a hand through the dark, curly hair on his chest. His eyes were open as he watched her.

"Good morning," she whispered as she smiled.

"Yes, it is," Jayne said thickly as he pinned her to him and captured her mouth with his.

His hands wandered as they kissed. She pulled back grinning and wiggling her eyebrows at him suggestively. He chuckled deeply as he pulled her back to him.

Planet Side One Week Later

Once again Jayne, River, and Mal sat at a grimy table waiting for The Herald. Mal crossed his arms across his chest as he watched the door. River was slouched with one elbow on the table as she leaned her head on her hand. Jayne slowly ran a finger in circles around the rim of his half filled glass. His right leg slightly bounced up and down with impatience. Mal peered at Jayne sideways.

"You in a hurry?" he asked.

Jayne shrugged as he stared down at his drink.

"Normally that glass would've been empty a few times by now."

"Just wanna get paid and get back to the ship," Jayne said lowly.

River smirked a little as her eyes bounced from bar patron to bar patron while she quickly brushed their minds for any signs of a threat.

"Any particular reason?" Mal asked with a sparkle in his eyes.

"Promised Lara I'd help her do somethin," Jayne mumbled.

Mal quirked up an eyebrow.

"Lara wants to make treats," River giggled.

Jayne's eyes narrowed as he glared at River. She giggled again as she sat up straight and folded her hands together on top of the table.

"He's here," she said nodding towards the door.

Mal and Jayne looked towards the door just as The Herald walked through. He weaved through the growing crowd and sat down in the vacant chair across from Mal.

"So good to see you my friends," he said lightly as he leaned forward and handed Mal a bag under the table, "I hope your payment is adequate?"

Mal peered inside and shuffled around the coins, "Appears to be more than we agreed."

"You are a few days early," The Herald said smiling, "A bonus is always good in situations like this."

"You have another job for us?" Mal asked as he pulled the string closed on the bag.

"Well I still have quite the list, but it depends on what you'd like to do next," The Herald said slowly.

"Meaning?" Mal asked.

The Herald sighed and looked up at Mal, "I have a few jobs similar to what you have been doing, but I also have a request that requires a full crew with their heads on straight."

River started quietly tapping with her left pointer finger on the table.

"This special request pay a lot?" Mal asked.

"Yes," The Herald said, "But its dangerous."

"You mind givin us a few more details," Jayne asked gruffly as Mal put a hand over River's tapping one to silence her.

She looked up at Mal and frowned, "A good job."

The Herald looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "Depends on one's definition of good."

He turned back to Mal, "I have a client who is willing to pay a fortune to someone who can return her sister. She was taken by slavers towards that planet the Alliance wants to terraform. All manner of illegal goods can be sold or bought at the outpost orbiting close by."

Jayne stilled at the mention of slavers.

"She is also willing to pay extra for any other slaves that you bring back. She would ultimately want them shut down, but she knows everyone has their limits. Slaves are the priority."

"Thats a risky job," Mal said quietly, "Let me talk to my crew. We'll be in touch."

Hour Later in the Galley

The whole crew was called to the galley. Mal sat in his usual spot at one end of the table. Zoe sat to his right with Wash to her right. Inara sat to Mal's left with Kaylee next to her. Simon sat next to Kaylee holding her hand. Jayne was in the chair on the other end of the table. He had pulled it out a bit more away from the table and leaned back in it while he crossed his arms. River sat on the couch.

Lara went about bringing everyone coffee and setting a few plates of goodies in the middle of the table. She paused for a second near Jayne and then turned towards the kitchen again. Jayne reached out and caught her arm. He pulled her over to him and down onto his lap so she sat with her left side against his chest. Her cheeks turned a slight pink as River giggled lightly. She made herself comfortable on his lap while everyone drank their coffee waiting for Mal to speak.

Mal took a long sip of coffee with his eyes closed.

He opened them and looked over at Lara, "Glad you're back on your feet," he said grinning.

Lara smirked and leaned her head against Jayne's shoulder with her forehead against his neck. He moved his right hand up her back a bit to weave it into her hair. He lazily played with it as his attention turned to Mal.

"The Herald has a choice of jobs for us," Mal started, "we could keep doin ones like what we've been doin... or our next one could be worth quite a bit more coin. Seems some rich lady's sister got took by slavers. Lady wants us to rescue her and any other slaves. Sounds like she'd really prefer them shut down as well, but we'd have to play that by ear once inside. Herald wired us a few more details and I've got some maps I thought we'd look over. Now I ain't accepted this job... I want everyone on board with this if we're gonna do it."

"Since when do we vote?" Jayne grumbled.

"This isn't a vote," Mal said as he stood up and set his cup down, "This is dangerous and it isn't something we have to do."

Mal glanced at Zoe's growing stomach, "We don't normally get a choice of job, so what kind of job do we wanna do next?"

Everyone thought quietly for a few minutes. Lara looked around and then sat up.

"I know its dangerous for all involved," she said quietly, "But how can we choose not to try and save them?"

Jayne's fingers continued to weave thru her hair as he turned to look at Mal, "Danger, more money, and doin somthin good? Did you really have to ask Mal?"

Jayne smirked as Lara grinned widely.