Mal sat across from the mercenary, surprised at the mixture of feeling he had at seeing Jayne again. There was a residue of anger and disappointment, for times past. But mainly, relief - and even pleasure - at seeing his ruttin' ugly face again.

The two men were sitting, opposite each other, at the booth. Mal looked expectantly at the merc. Jayne looked back, steadily, with his old air of defiance and nonchalance. But Mal noted a flash of anxiety in his eyes. I'm not sure I would've noticed that before, he thought to himself.

Somehow, Mal had known he would be here. But further, he had a feeling that the merc had wanted to be found. Jayne was looking mighty comfortable in his booth. In fact, he had the air of a man who had been sitting here for days. He was alsolooking mighty well.

He was wearing a black shirt and cargo pants that, against the tanned colour of his skin, made his eyes glint like cobalt. There was no hint of a single bruise. In fact, besides the old scars he had of old, Jayne was as well as Mal had ever seen him. Big, strong. Vibrant. Occasionally, his hand also went out to Vera, whom, Mal was heartened to see, looked as clean and loved as she'd ever done.

The old Jayne, thought Mal. He's back. And he found, to his surprise, a twinge of boyish excitement run down his back. At last. We can have go some - real fun.

"So?" asked Mal, his voice betraying his happiness: "Ain't you gonna tell me where you've ruttin' been for the past half-year?"

Jayne looked up from his drink. "Well, I guess," he began. "But first you gotta buy me'a beer." He gave a half-smile. It was devilish – again, like times of old. But also, Mal noted – ever so slightly warm.

Presently, the men settled down to exchange their news. "Anyways," began Jayne. "I spent about two months at home."

He continued: "First thing I did was see my ma. Turns out she's pretty well, though bro's not too hot. Sick, y'know, with the Damplung? Anyways, that was good an' all. Weren't quite as chuffed to see the old man. In fact, I bust his head pretty good the first time I laid eyes on him. And I've gotta say, it felt great. He stayed pretty much away from me after that, the drunken old goat."

Jayne lifted his mug to his mouth. "But then I din't really go there for no reunion. In fact I din't know why I wanted to go there at all 'til I got there. But it turns out I jus' needed to go back, y'know, remember where I came from. Think about stuff."

He fell silent for a while.

"Well," prompted Mal: "What stuff?"

"Well, I'm still not totally sure. But I talked to the old dear about it some. She came up with some old gosa about me not forgivin' mysel' for the boy, and I dunno if that's true, but after she said it I felt a bit better'n I did before. So I guess there's somethin' in it. It was weird, y'know. Like I never really talked to her much before. I gotta say I won't be agin though 'cos when I started she jus' started to bawl like she was sad, but kept goin' on about how happy she was. Too confusin'."

The merc took a cigar out of his pocket, lit up and hung it off his lip. He carried on: "Though I think I really laid it to rest when I went up to Lester's tombstone. His fam'ly left a good while ago so it took me a'time to find it. Now I don't want you to tell no one this - but I kinda - talked to him for a bit. I mean I know he's dead so it made me think I really had gone bug-housed. But anyway, it seemed the right thing at the time. I told him about Vera, y'know. And how I killed that old bastard. And, well, other stuff."

Jayne's eyes momentarily darkened. "But then after a while, I realised I was talkin' to a dead guy, and stopped. But I left him a few o' Vera's bullets. He liked bullets, y'know."

The mercsucked at his cigar and looked across at Mal.

"You got the whole crew here, yeah?" he asked, suddenly.

Mal nodded. "Yeah. But go on,"

Jayne hesitated momentarily, before shrugging. "Hm. Anyway, I hung around for a bit and helped fix up the house. Pa'd let it go to gosa, the ruttin' pig-dog. So I bust his head agin for that. But then I got me a-thinkin' about what I was gonna do next. You know, it cost a few credits to fix up that place, and after a while I only had a few bits left. So I looked around for some work while I decided what to do. But y'know Mal, there's a lot of ruttin' crap-heel jobs out there. That pay like stink and make you wanna shoot yersel' from boredom. Can you believe it?"

Mal gave a wry smile. "Yes, Jayne, I can."

"I mean, there was one guy wanted me to fix his gorram boat. Did it well and good, well, kinda, but then he tried to swindle me. And I dunno, it came automatic like. You see, I…"

"Bust his head?" interrupted Mal.

"Yeah!" The merc looked at the Captain, enthusiastically. "And then it came to me. You know, I may well've done some ruttin' bad things in my time. But there are bad things and bad things. And as long as they ain't too – well, bad, I like 'em. Hell, I'm good at 'em!"

Jayne flashed a sudden, triumphant smile.

"And I'm also great with this!" He wrapped his fingers around Vera.

"As I told you six months ago, dumbass," replied Mal.

"Yeah, well, that still don't make you better'n me. Jus' makes you more – foreseeable," added Jayne, lamely. "Anyway."

The merc waved his hand in the air. The tender came over, quaking slightly, and laid down another mug o'beer.

Jayne continued: "So, I said 'bye to ma and Matty, and got on the next boat out of there. And since then, I jus' been goin' from job to job. Buildin' up a bit of cash, y'know. Getting' even with a few old hands."

At which point, he abruptly stopped talking, and started to drink.

Right, thought Mal. Seems I was right. He's back in a good place. So I'm going to start to work this. I gotta get him to the ship.

"So," Mal inquired, his voice as steady as rock, "What brought you back here?"

Jayne knocked back his drink, he caught Mal a glance. "Dunno," shrugged the big man. "Jus' turned up." His eyes revealed more than his words, however. They were - expectant.

Okay, thought the Captain. Now I think this is where River would say – he needs a push.

"So," said Mal, carefully,"You lookin' for a job? Because I could always do with – hm – 'nother gun."

At which point, Jayne's nonchalant, defiant demeanour started to give way. Mal could see - this was the opening he had been half- looking for, half-dreading. But all the same, it was obvious had been sitting here, most days, waiting for him to come and offer it.

He wanted, he realised, to come home. But at the same time, there was obvious confliction.

It had to be the girl.

Jayne hadn't mentioned her once. But Mal could see now, it was all over his face. As his body language unravelled, it was in the flash in his eyes, the way he was scratching his goatee. But most of all, the way he was now gripping his mug. He was holding onto it so tightly, his knuckles were turning white.

He said nothing.

Mal continued: "I mean, I can pay you. Thoughmy current merc don't charge me a dime. You see, she sees herself o' more of a protector I guess, rather than a merc. And figurin' that I'm still keepin' her and he brother from the Feds, it's a fairly sweet deal."

Jayne raised an eyebrow. Mal could see he was beginning to pique his interest. River with a gun. Jayne's hand carried on gripping the mug.

"But I know," continued the Captain, leaning forward: "I know that you're a man who onl'y thinks o' money. So I'd pay you. The old deal, ten percent." But there was no malice in his voice. Only challenge.

Jayne was quiet for a moment. He tapped his finger on Vera's barrel, absentmindedly.

And then, in a small voice, he spoke.

"Well, actually, Mal. I was kinda lookin' for a gig where I could… be with people I could, y'know, rely on?"

Jayne coughed. "Hm, people who might, y'know, look out for me some. If I, y'know, did that thing with their backs. The whole, lookin' out for 'em thing. Like."

Mal sat back in his seat and exhaled. Finally.

His mind flashed back to the battle of Serenity. He remembered all those faces. The bodies. All those men he had lost, some of them, the best. He had never felt as proud of anyone as he had done that day. Until now. At that moment, he felt as if his chest would burst. The words he thought the man would never say, he had.

"Gorram it!" Mal was unable to keep it in. "Gorram it! Maybe there is hope in the worl' afterall!"

Jayne shifted uncomfortably in seat. He grunted.

Mal realised he would have to be careful not to overdo it. Quickly, he pulled himself together.

But as he did so, Jayne opened his mouth again, to speak.

"That's not to say, o'course, that Serenity is the right place to find that gig."

Mal's face fell like a stone. The rollercoaster of this man was even getting to him.

"What do you mean? Where else are you gonna find a bunch like us willin' to put up with all of your ruttin' gosa! I mean, do you know how much trouble you've caused…"

As soon as Mal had said it however, he knew he had touched on a raw nerve. Jayne's face contorted like he had touched a hot stove.

"Like what?" he demanded. "What did I do?"

There was defiance in his voice, anger. But also, Mal recognised, fear. The big man had obviously comes to terms with a lot in his life. But, of course, a man doesn't learn without changin' a bit. The humility remained. And with it, responsibility.

He's worried, realised Mal, about the girl.

Quickly, he retorted: "Oh, nuthin'. I'm being a superior cows-ass. Jayne." And then, quietly: "I'm - sorry."

Jayne's eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open. "Shee…I guess you're right," he replied, "Seems like the world sure is a surprisin' place."

Then, another silence fell across the table. Mal looked at the merc. And Jayne continued to look at him. But both were thinking about the same thing.

River.

Finally, Mal said it.

"Look," he started: "If you're worried about her, she's fine. You didn't do anything…well, much. She got upset, but she got on with things. And you're right, she did make a fine replacement. She is amazin'. And strong."

"Is she still doin' them martial arts moves?" Jayne asked, quietly. And then, wistfully: "They were sumthin'."

"Well, yeah…" replied Mal, "Although she's takin' a break right now. Which is why I – could do with you."

"Yeah," Jayne nodded, "It ain't to overdo that stuff. You can really screw yoursel' up. Especially when you got long limbs like that. Very fragile."

Mal bit his lip.

"Listen, Jayne," he began again. "why don't you jus' come and see for yousel'."

Immediately Jayne's knuckles turned a shade paler. He grunted, non-commitally.

"Don't you wanna?"

"Well, kinda."

"Kinda?"

"Oh, hell!" Jayne gripped the mug so hard, it then shattered. Beer and shrapnel flew across the table, spattering them both. "Now look what you made me done," snapped the merc. And then, leaning forward; "Of course I ruttin' do, you dumbass. But it ain't that simple is it. I mean, I din't do such as good job of tellin' her I was goin', did I."

He paused for a minute. "I heard her, Mal. I heard that gorram wail she gave when I left. I ain't never heard no one cry like that before. I bust her," he said, slapping his hand across his heart, "In here. Do they forgive people for things like that?" His voice trembled, momentarily.

Mal laid his arms on the table. He thought of River, with her long black hair, sitting in the galley. One hand on her laser rifle, the other on her curving stomach. Her son. Their son.

This isn't bustin' anyone up but me, thought Mal. Gorram it.

He coughed, and recovered himself: "Jayne, I reckon they do. And I reckon she has. I've talked to her, y'know. She still cares for you. So if you want her, you should come back. Come back, you lunk."

The big man looked across at Mal in surprise: "And, what, you tellin' me you support that? You and the rest o' em? Even that brother o' hers….not that I care what he thinks, the poncy.."

"Even him, Jayne. Even him."

Jayne considered.

"Well that don't make sense," he said, after a time. "Why would you be so gorram laid back. I mean, you must know we was, y'know, messin' about …"

"Yes, yes," said Mal, quickly. "We know. God, don't we. But – it's okay. It's all okay. So why don't you – jus' come back, and come and see her. Come back."

Jayne looked at Mal.

"You're messin' with me."

"No, I'm not."

"Ain'tcha?"

"No."

There was another silence.

"So, you're sure? She'd be – okay- with it?"

"Yep."

The merc's face momentarily went blank, as if he was processing something inside.

Mal watched him, with growing unease. He had forgotten just how stubborn the man could be. And as it looked, he was in for a long ride.

So he was shocked when Jayne suddenly leapt to his feet, stared at Mal with strange, wide, but sparkling eyes, and grabbed for Vera.

"Okay," he said, "Let's go. Mal. Let's go now."