A/N: I have gone through and reread the entire story tonight. And I am very irked after all the years that part of one of the chapters is missing. That being said, I'm going to try to dig my old laptop out of storage and hope that it will turn on and the originals are still on that computer cause they are not on my external hard drive. If I can find the original work docs then I am going to re upload that chapter with all the good bits that seem to be missing. Until that happens, bear with me as I try to finish out this story/series. I will write/post what I can between the rest of tonight (it's currently 10:55 cst) and part of tomorrow.

Janelle walked into the galley to find Inara and Kaylee sitting in the lounge playing cards, while Jayne was sitting at the table cleaning his gun.

"And you couldn't do that in your bunk?" she asked as she sat down with a cup of tea.

"Nope, needed more space," he said not looking up from the gun.

Simon was in the kitchen with River. He spooned some rice into a bowl and set it in front of River.

"I don't want it," she said staring at the bowl.

"River, you have to eat," said Simon. "It's good, it tastes like…it's good…" said Simon around a mouthful of food he refused to swallow.

"It smells like crotch," said Jayne looking up from his gun.

"Then maybe you need to wash yours better," said Janelle looking at him

Jayne turned his attention to Janelle who had a smirk on her face. Kaylee and Inara were laughing in the background.

"We don't even have to go someplace fancy," said Wash. "We can just go to the park or something. Feed the pigeons."

"Sure. Feed the pigeons, probably get the firing squad for littering," said Zoe as she wrapped her arms around her husband's neck.

"Come on. It's not that bad," said Was following her into the galley.

Simon and River had joined Jayne and Janelle at the table. River was still staring at the bowl and refusing to eat. She looked over at Janelle and nugged the bowl in her direction.

"Nope, sorry sweetheart, he made that just for you," said Janelle pushing the bowl back towards River.

"It is. It's a core planet. It's spotless, it's got sensors, and where it doesn't have sensors, it's got feds," said Zoe. "All central planets are the same.

"Could you please tell my wife the fun she's missing out on?" questioned Wash as he looked around the room.

"Ariel's quite a nice place, actually," said Inara. "There are some beautiful museums, not to mention some of the finest restaurants in the core."

"Do you have plans for our short stay here?" asked Janelle looking over at Inara.

"Maybe," she said with a smirk. "Maybe not."

Both women laughed as Inara turned her attention back to her game with Kaylee.

"But…not boring like she made it sound," said Wash.

"Now you're boring, 'nara," said Janelle.

"There's, uh….uh…uh…." he said looking over at Simon.

"Uh, there's hiking," he supplied.

"Yeah, hiking, and you can go swimming in a bio-luminescent lake," said Wash.

"I don't care if it's got sunsets 24 hours a day. I ain't setting foot on that planet," said Zoe.

"No one is setting food on that fancy rock," said Mal walking into the galley. "I don't want anyone leavin' the ship."

"Guess there goes your plans 'nara," chuckled Janelle.

"Come to think of it, I don't want anyone looking out the windows or talking aloud," said Mal. "We're to drop off Inara and that's it."

"Never mind," said Janelle as she took her cup to the sink.

Inara chuckled.

"What's the point in coming to the core if I can't even step off the boat?" asked Jayne.

"You could have got off the boat with Shepherd Book at the Bathgate Abbey," said Mal, not looking up at Jayne. "Could've been meditating on the wonders of your rock garden by now."

"Well, it beats just sitting," muttered Jayne.

"It is just sitting," said Wash before he sat down with Inara and Kaylee.

Janelle walked back over towards the table and whispered in Jayne's ear, "I'm sure you can find something to do on the boat, other than just sitting."

Jayne looked up at her as she walked away. He eyed his guns and the doorway for a moment before he continued what he was doing.

"She's gonna get mad," said Kaylee.

"You don't even know what she said," said Jayne.

"Bet it has something to do with getting you alone," said Kaylee. "And you're still sitting there."

"She'll be alright. I'll untwist her panties later," said Jayne.

"Wow, you really are a winner, aren't you Jayne," said Zoe. "So how long are you gonna be planet-side, Inara?"

"Shouldn't be more than a day or two," she said.

"Big stop just to renew your license to Companion," said Wash. "Can I use "Companion" as a verb?"

"It's guild law," said Inara. "All Companions are required to undergo a physical examination once a year."

At that moment Jayne hocked a loogie onto his sharpening stop.

Simon looked at him disgustedly, "Could you not do that while we're….ever?"

Jayne looked at him and did it again. This time Janelle had come back through the galley and slapped him on the back of the head as she passed by him.

"Damn it woman, what was that for?" said Jayne glaring at her.

"Take your pick," she said glaring right back at him.

"So, two days in a hospital. That's awful," said Wash. "Don't you just hate doctors."

"Hey…" said Simon standing up from the table.

"I mean, present company excluded," said Wash throwing up his hands in defense.

"Let's not be excluding people. That'd be rude," said Jayne and he focused on sharpening his knife.

Janelle was bouncing between listening to the group and watching River. She turned her attention to Simon, after the "doctor" comment and smiled. Suddenly Jayne exclaimed, River had sliced his chest open. Jayne reacted suddenly and back handed River, who fell to the floor.

"What the hell?" said Simon as he watched the.

Janelle, Kaylee, Inara, Zoe and Wash were on their feet in an instant.

"Oh, my god. He's bleeding," said Kaylee as she neared Jayne. Janelle grabbed one of the towels on the counter and was gently shoving Kaylee out of the way and she placed it on his chest. Jayne grunted in agony at the pressure.

"Get your shit in check," she said. "I'm trying to help you."

Jayne clenched his fists together as she applied pressure to the wound.

"Is River okay?" she asked.

"River?" asked Simon as she sat up and turned to look at Jayne.

"He looks better in red," was her response.

Kaylee covered her mouth in shock while Janelle's mouth hung open.

"Come on, let's get you down to the infirmary.

"Think he's gonna make it doc?" asked Janelle with a chuckle as Simon started stitching the wound closed.

"He'll be fine, but no strenuous physical activity for at least a day or two," said Simon. "If it can be helped. Don't want the stitches to pop."

Janelle looked between Simon and Jayne. "See, if you had followed me earlier, this wouldn't have happened."

"Don't start with me, Fēng nǚrén," said Jayne.

"Who you calling Fēng nǚrén, Pìgu," said Janelle as she walked away.

"Gorram freak's completely off her axle," said Jayne as Mal walked into the room.

"I'm sorry about this," said Simon as he pulled the needle through Jayne's chest. "I don't know what…."

"Shut it. I ain't talking to you," said Jayne looking over at Mal. "She gotta go. Both of them gotta go. Ariel's as good a place as any to leave them. Might even pick us up a reward for our troubles."

"No one's getting left," said Mal.

"She belongs in a bughouse," said Jayne. "You don't pitch her off this boat right now, I swear to you…"

"What? What do you swear, Jayne?" asked Mal as he turned around and looked at him.

"They don't get gone, you better start locking up your room at night," said Jayne. "Next time little sister gets in a murdering mood, it might be you she comes calling on. Or Kaylee or Inara. You let them stay, we're gonna find out."

"Or Janelle?" said Mal as he got right in Jayne's face. "Finish your work, Doctor. This is my boat. They're part of my crew. No one's getting left. Best you get used to that."

"You owe me a shirt," said Jayne as he stormed out of the infirmary.

Jayne stomped through the boat until he came to the passenger bunks. He found Janelle's and knocked on the door. She slid the door open and glared at him.

"What do you want?" she asked, blocking the entrance to her room.

"I wanted to see you," he said.

"Really? This is after he said not strenuous physical activity and after you called me Fēng nǚrén," said Janelle. "Not on your life right now."

"Well, will you at least lock your door, so nut job little sister doesn't come after you," said Jayne.

"She's not gonna come after me, Jayne," said Janelle. "I trust her a hell of a lot more than you do," she said before closing the door in his face.

Jayne grunted and kicked the wall before walking away.

"Just look at the bright side," said Kaylee walking along the catwalk with Inara. "Maybe you'll meet a young, handsome doctor. He'll ask you out, and…What's the Companion policy on dating?"

Inara chuckled, "It's…complicated.

"Hmmm…well, that figures," said Kaylee.

"Stay out of trouble," said Inara.

"You, too," she said before hugging her friend and descending the stairs to the cargo area.

"How are we going to find a job if we don't leave the ship?" asked Jayne.

"Alliance territory…ain't any jobs worth having," said Mal as he lined up his shot.

"Or the last three places we've been," said Wash.

"Mal, I need to go planet-side," said Janelle, all but running down the stairs.

"No, everyone stays on board except for Inara," said Mal.

"Of everyone on this boat, with the exception of Inara, who I'm pretty sure has already left, I am the only one least likely to be stopped by the feds and questioned," said Janelle.

"And yet, you still haven't told us who that man on Persephone was the last time we docked," said Mal.

"And I told you that if he was going to cause problems he would have already," said Janelle.

"The answer is still no," said Mal. "Inara only."

Janelle grunted in frustration as she turned and stomped away.

Mal turned and looked at Jayne, "Would you handle that?"

"Handle what? Her?" he asked, pointing at where Janelle had disappeared. "Yeah, that ain't my fault."

"Actually, it is," said Zoe. "She told me what you called her."

"Jesus, you women-folk can't keep your mouths shut," said Jayne throwing his hands up into the air.

"Well, that's what you get for calling her a Fēng nǚrén," said Wash.

"Oh, yeah, you really need to fix that," said Mal.

"How, she wont let me in her bunk and she won't talk to me at all when she's out of her bunk," said Jayne.

"Don't know, figure it out," said Mal.

"My pop always said, 'Anyone who can't find work ain't looking hard enough," said Jayne as he tossed his horseshoe.

"We ain't even looking," said Mal.

"You can stop looking," said Simon walking down to the cargo floor. "There is a client. Me. I have a job for you.

Mal and Jayne turned to look at him.

"You've got a job for us?" said Mal skeptically and with a chuckle.

"One that will pay for itself ten times over," said Simon.

"Ah, forget it. We ain't that desperate," said Jayne.

"Do you know what this is? It's a common immune booster called isoprobyline," said Simon holding up a bottle. Street value for a dosage this size is 50 platinum, maybe 20 credits. Propoxyn, Maybe 80. Hydrozopan, 200."

"What's going on?" asked Janelle as she walked back into the cargo area.

"Simon's got a job for us," said Jayne still looking skeptical.

"And why are you naming off various drugs?" she asked, turning to Simon.

"All of these are just from the medkit I had with me when I came on board," he said looking around him. "At a hospital like the one in Ariel City, they'll have shelves of that stuff. Whatever the take, it's more than enough payment for what I have in mind."

"So the me vault isn't the job?" asked Wash.

"Simon, what are you wanting us to do, then?" asked Janelle.

"That's the payment. I tell you how to get in, get out, and what's worth taking," said Simon turning to look at Mal. "If you help me get River into the hospital's diagnostic ward."

"Oh, Simon," said Janelle. "Does River know about this?"

Simon shook his head.

"What's in the diagnostic ward?" asked Mal, crossing his arms.

"A 3-D neuro-imager," said Simon. "If I can get River in there, I might be able to figure out what they did to her at the academy."

"So we get you and your sister into the "watcha" thing and you tell us how to clean out the hospital," said Mal.

"Essentially, yes," said Simon.

"Not to be negative," said Janelle, "but don't the hospital need that medicine?"

"Yeah, I'm all for helpin' River, but should we be taking the medicine to begin with?" added Kaylee.

"Government-run facility," said Zoe. "They'd be restocked in a matter of hours."

"She's right. They'll never miss it, said Simon.

"Plus, folks on the rim sure could use it," said Mal.

"You know, it's all very sweet stealing from the rich, selling to the poor," said Wash. "But you're talking about breaking into a highly secure Alliance facility. How do you plan on getting around security?"

"It's not easy, but it can be done," said Simon as he started to collect the bottles. "You see, like all core hospitals, St. Lucy's has its own dedicated security force, a small battery of local Alliance federals sub-stationed here.

Janelle watched as Simon, Mal, Zoe and Jayne looked over the various blueprints for the hospital. River had been contained to her room and was, as far as she knew, still unaware of what Simon had planned. She sipped her tea as the group continued to talk. Occasionally Jayne would look up at her, but she would just glare at him and he would turn away.

"You okay with this?" asked Kaylee, walking over to her.

"Not my call," said Janelle. "It's Mal's boat and crew. Plus, if Simon thinks he can help River by doing this, then that should make life onboard a little easier for us all."

"We'll need to procure a few items off-ship. I've made a list," said Simon. "Now given my status as a fugitive, someone else will have to…" At this almost everyone's hand went into the air. "We have some volunteers…"

Zoe just smiled at Mal as he rolled his eyes.

"Before we ever make it to the front door, we're going to have to breach the perimeter. Only official vehicles are allowed in, so we'll need one."

Janelle walked off while they finished plotting how they were going to get into the hospital. She wandered around the ship and finally made it back to her room.

"Awful lot of work for this, Mal," said Janelle as she walked up to him.

They stared down at Kaylee and Wash as they worked on the medical transport.

"Yeah, but this could help us," he said.

"Or it could hurt us," said Janelle. "If this goes wrong in any way…"

"I know," said Mal. "Which is why it can't."

Janelle nodded her head as she walked off, "I will be in the market while this happens. Figure if this works we will want to celebrate."

Mal nodded his head, "Oh, Janelle,"

"Yeah, Mal?"

"Talk with Jayne," he said. "I need his head in the game."

Janelle sighed and nodded her head as she walked away. She didn't get far before she ran into Jayne in the galley. Jayne looked up at her when she walked in, but didn't stop his pacing.

"Sit down," she said as she grabbed a cup from the kitchen

"I don't want no tea," he said as he sat down at the table.

"Good thing it isn't for you," she said as she poured the drink.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"You were pacing," she said. "Don't overthink it."

"I aint over thinking nothing," said Jayne.

"If you're not over thinking something, you're not thinking at all," said Janelle staring at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he said looking at her.

Janelle sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Mal wants you focused on the job."

"I am focused…"

"Stop talking and listen for once," said Janelle. "I'm not saying you're not focused, that is what Mal told me. He also told me to talk to you."

"'Bout what?" asked Jayne.

"I think it's less about what, more about fixing something," she said.

"I didn't break nothing…yet," said Jayne.

Janelle put her head in her hand. She was trying not to laugh at him. She took a deep breath before she looked at him. "Mal doesn't want you distracted by me."

"I aint distracted by you," he said with a scoff.

"Great way to make a girl feel special, Jayne," she said with a glare.

"What? What did I say?" he said as she stood up.

"Don't mind me, i'm just Yīgè fēng nǚrén," she said as she threw her hands in the air as she walked out of the galley.

"So, when I said talk to Jayne…" said Mal sliding the door to her room open.

"I tired, but he's….he's so….Yúchǔn de sometimes," said Janelle.

"I have no doubt about that," said Mal. "I need him focused."

"According to him,he is focused and I haven't caused him any problem," she said as she roughly pulled her bun down. "So, problem solved. I won't be off ship for very long. Should be back well before y'all."

Mal nodded his head and turned and walked away.

Janelle was off the boat before the rest of the team and was headed to the market. Regardless of how the job went, she knew it would probably be a while before they were somewhere with fresh foods like she would find on a core planet.

She had just reached the market when she saw their transport fly through the sky. She smiled to herself as she started wandering the stalls looking for what she needed. Inara had also sent her a list of things she wanted.

"Head's up, Captain's on his way back," said Kaylee as she walked towards the cargo area.

"The job?" asked Janelle running after her.

"Had some hiccups," said Kaylee.

"What kind of hiccups?" she asked as she caught up to the mechanic.

Before Kaylee could respond, the bay doors opened and Inara joined them out on the catwalk.

"I left your items by the shuttle door earlier," said Janelle.

"Yes, I saw them. Thank you for getting those," said Inara. "I know Mal will want to get off the planet as soon as possible."

"Yeah, ain't that the truth," said Kaylee.

"What's going on here?" asked Inara when she saw the transport.

"Oh, we killed Simon and River, stole a bunch of medicine, and now the Captain and Zoe are off springing the others that got snatched by the fed," said Kaylee listing them off on her fingers.

"Killed Simon and River?" questioned Inara.

"All part of the plan," said Janelle. "Who got caught by the fed?"

"Jayne, Simon and River," said Kaylee. "Oh, there they are now," she said with a smile as the transport landed in the cargo area.

Kaylee climbed down the stairs and closed the bay door while everyone else climbed out of the transport.

"Tell me we weren't followed," said Mal as he climbed out.

"Nothing in our rear view the whole way back," responded Wash.

"All right. Take us out of the world quick as you can," said Mal.

Wash nodded his head as he took off for the bridge. "We'll be out of atmo in five minutes."

"Hey, how was your thing?" asked Mal when he saw Inara.

"As advertised, lots of needles and cold exam tables," responded Inara. "I heard you had some excitement.

"Oh, nothing much," said Mal. "Lots of running around, little gunplay. A couple needles"

"The next time we come to the core, I'm staying with the preacher," said Jayne.

"What happened?" asked Janelle as she walked over to the group.

"If you hadn't come, you wouldn't be getting your big payday," said Mal, slapping Jayne on the shoulder. "So you get what you needed?"

"I think I did. I have the information I downloaded off the imager," said Simon. "I just have to go over it, and , uh, I'm hopeful."

"What happened to your face?" asked Janelle.

"Huh?" asked Jayne, looking at her.

"Yeah, Jayne, you got a big ole know on your head," said Kaylee.

"Oh, uh, nothing," said Jayne.

"Oh, he was amazing," said Simon "I can't even begin to tell you. We wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for him. Thank you."

"Uh…hey, you're part of the crew," mumbled Jayne.

"I think I might cry," said Mal.

Janelle couldn't help but laugh at Mal. "Enough of this, everyone get changed and cleaned up and I'll have food ready for you."

"What's for dinner?" asked Mal as she walked away.

"A real home cooked meal," said Janelle. "Made with real meat and vegetables."

"Won't last long on board," said Mal.

"Got enough for the next 3 days and then it's back to our normal protein," she said,

Mal nodded his head as she walked off. Jayne turned and started helping Mal with the cargo.

"It's gotta be our best take ever," said Jayne.

"Well, Doc had a good notion. The boy's got a decent criminal mind," said Mal.

"So what are you buying with your cut?" asked Jayne after he opened the storage grate.

When he walked back around Mal punched him square in the jaw. That was also the same time that Janelle walked back into the cargo area.

"MAL?!" she said as Jayne reeled backwards and slammed into the railing on the stairs before hitting the floor. "What the hell did you do that for?!"

"Get away from him," said Mal as he walked over to Jayne.

"What is your problem!?" she said as she crouched down to look at his head.

"I said move," said Mal as he grabbed Jayne under the arms and dragged him towards the air lock.

"Wh-what are you doing?" she said as she scrambled to her feet.

"Gonna teach him a lesson," said Mal as he dropped Jayne on the ground and left a walkie-talkie on the floor next to him.

Jayne shook his head as he opened his eyes. As he stood up and looked around he realized that he was in the air lock.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?!" he shouted when he saw Mal on the other side.

Mal tapped his walkie-talkie on the window and pointed at the one next to Jayne. Jayne reached over and picked it up.

"The job is done. Figured it was time for a little chat," said Mal as he pressed the button to open the bay door.

Janelle was sitting on the ground under the window listening to everything.

"Seems to me like we had a solid plan," said Mal. "Scruth you might call it. What I can't figure out is what you were doing around the back exit."

"What?! I couldn't go out the front. I had to improvise! Open the damn door!" shouted Jayne.

"You called the feds," said Mal.

Janelle gasped and looked up at Mal from her place on the floor.

"What?! I got pinched!" shouted Jayne.

"Which is what happens when you call the feds," said Mal.

"No! I would never do that! My hand to God!" shouted Jayne. "May he strike me down as I'm standing here!"

"Well, you won't be standing there long," said Mal turning to look at him. "The minute we break atmo, you'll be a lot thinner once you get sucked out that hole."

"Oh, come on, Mal!" shouted Jayne.

Leaving atmo in two minutes, said the computer

"That aint no way for a man to die!" shouted Jayne.

Secure airlock door at once.

"You wanna kill me, shoot me. Just let me in!"

"You know, I hear tell they used to keelhaul traitors back in the day," said Mal staring at Jayne. "I don't have a keel to haul you on, so…"

"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry, all right!" said Jayne.

"Sorry for what, Jayne? I thought you'd never do such a thing," said Mal.

"Money was too good. I got stupid. I'm sorry, okay. Be reasonable," begged Jayne. "What are you taking it so personal for? It ain't like i ratted you out to the feds."

"But you did! You turn on any of my crew, you turn on me!" shouted Mal. "But since that's a concept you can't seem to wrap your head around, then you got no place here! You did it to me, Jayne. And that's a fact." Mal turned and walked away and headed up the stairs.

"What are you gonna tell the others?" asked Jayne.

"About what?"

"About why I'm dead," said Jayne.

"I hadn't thought about it."

"Make something up," said Jayne "Don't tell them what I did. Don't…don't tell Janelle…"

"Why?"

"I don't…I don't want her thinking any less of me than she already does," said Jayne.

Mal stared at him for a moment before he leaned over and closed the airlock door. "The next time you decide to stab me in the back, have the guts to do it to my face." he said before he dropped the walkie-talkie in the window and walked away.

"Can I come in?" asked Jayne staring through the window.

The door suddenly slid open and Jayne stumbled to keep himself upright. He looked around and saw Janelle sitting on the floor next to the control panel. Her eyes were red and filled with unshed tears.

"Janelle…" he started.

"Don't…" she choked out. "I thought Mal had lost his mind when I saw him hit you," she said sniffling. "But then he told me, and I heard the whole conversation, sItting under the window, the whole thing. How could you do that? To Simon? To River? To Mal? To…to me?" she asked with a sob.

"Janelle…" he said reaching for her.

"I don't understand why you did it, or why you didn't want Mal to tell me," she said standing up. "Or that you think I think so little of you. Are you a great, big, dumb idiot sometimes, yes you are, but that doesn't mean i don't think well of you.

"Janelle, please," said Jayne stepping towards her.

"Please don't," she said stepping away from him. "I need some time…" she said before she turned and walked away.

Jayne sighed and kicked one of the crates before she stalked off to his bunk.

A/N: Here is the long awaited next chapter. Probably gonna free write another chapter before I get to episode 10 (War Stories). I feel like I need to flesh out Jayne?Janelle situation before I move forward with the story as a whole. Please enjoy!