Jayne? I think you have some explaining to do."

Slightly afraid of the warrior woman, Jayne hesitantly leaned back a little to look up at her from under the table.

"Whaddaya mean, Zo?"

"Well, at some point you're gonna have to tell me why you are playing under the table like a wayward toddler. But right now, you're needed up on the bridge."

"Uh...OK! Be right there," he responded.

Jayne looked at River and repeated his earlier query: "That the battle? You got any idea just what it is she's yellin' at me for?"

"The battle is within. You have to tell them, Jayne."

"Tell who? And what exactly am I supposed to be tellin' 'em?"

"Allies. Friends. Confession is good for the soul."

"I ain't been to confession in a long while, girl. And you're startin' to sound like the Shephard. That's a might bit scary."

"You'll be free soon," she promised and kissed him quickly. Then she climbed off of his lap and stolled out of the dining room, singing happily.

Jayne wiped his mouth as if trying to erase the memory of her kisses...which he was unsuccessful at. So he unfolded his legs and hauled himself out from under the table.

Better get this over with, he thought to himself.

On the bridge, Zoe, the Captain and Wash were waiting impatiently for him.

"Seems you got a wave from Badger. YOU, not me, not the ship," Mal told him accusingly.

"What'd it say?" Jayne asked.

"He wants you to wave him back. Now, we're gonna leave it up to you to tell us if he does or says anything shady. Well, anything more shady than usual," offered the Captain.

"Hell, Mal. I ain't got no idea what that hun dan wants with me," he replied defensively.

"Whatever Jayne. I don't want to have to go through this again with you. Next time you won't be so lucky. Remember that."

"Sir?" questioned Zoe.

"Just a little thing between me and Jayne. Personal-like."

She looked at him skeptically but silently backed down. Wash busied himself with the connection and then he, Mal and Zoe gave him some privacy as they left and closed the door behind them.

That surprised Jayne.

He sat down in the pilot's chair and waited for the static to clear. Badger's face sprang up before him.

"'Owdy, Mr. Cobb. 'S been a while. 'Ow's business?" Badger was unusually chipper.

"None of yours," he replied tersely. "What are you wantin' with me?"

"Straigh' to th' point. I like 'at! Seems a mutual acquain'ance 'as been lookin' for ya. Says 'e's gotta job for us."

"Really? Who is it and what do they want done?"

"Did'n get inta the specifics. Funny thng is 'e tol' me if I could'n find you, that 'e wan'ed me to find 'im someone else. Imagine my surprise when 'e suggested Malcolm Reynolds. See, I'm guessin' 'e don't know you're runnin' with the pretentious hundan, now do 'e?"

Jayne stared at the display, confusion clearly written on his face.

"So? Who is it?" he repeated gruffly.

"Fella by th' name o' Jester."

"Wu de ma," came a quiet curse from the mercenary.

"I forwar'ed the contact info to Cap'n Reynolds. Figured 'e would'n take to kindly to 'is 'ired gun contractin' jobs wi'out 'is knowledge. We got th' potential to make some good money on 'is; tell Malcolm I'll be expecting 'is call."

"Fine."

"'ey! 'Ow is it a mangy mercenary such as yourself knows a rich, 'igh falutin' business man like Jester?"

"Long story," came the pithy response as Jayne broke the connection and loosed a string of curses.

After a few minutes of quiet contemplation and painful reminiscing, Jayne climbed down the stairs out of the bridge. Standing in front of his bunk, Mal waited, his arms and legs crossed and he leaned back trying to appear non-chalant.

But Jayne could tell he was tense and ready to challenge him.

"Not now, Mal. It was personal. Don't concern you none. Wave Badger; he's go a job waitin'."

"Well, alright then," Mal assented and headed off to call the "middle man" in the ugly hat.

Jayne slammed open the door to his bunk and climbed down in a huff, cursing under his breath.

"Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"

"What the..?"

In a panic, Jayne lunged for the light and his gun.

River was sitting on the end of his bed.

"Gorramit girl! You TRYIN' to get me spaced? OUT! NOW!"

"You have to tell them," River repeated her statement from earlier.

"Look, I ain't got no clue what you're talkin' 'bout. Not that this is any different than usual, but right now, you seem particularly off your nut."

"Common Allies. Secrets. You don't want them to know; you believe they will think you soft if you confess. Daddy won't."

"Girl..." he started, but choked on his reply when she stood up on the bed and reached out to touch his face.

"Dragons come for you in the dark, too...don't they? Won't let you forget. I thought it was Ariel that ate at your soul; that was only part of it."

Jayne looked at her in shock. She KNOWS, he thought to himself not wanting to believe it. And yet she was still acting as if she cared, as if she was a friend. Had she forgiven him? Did he need to ask?

"Will always forgive. Sometimes your guilt shouts so loudly, I can't hear myself think. Tell them. I don't want you to hurt anymore. I don't want to hurt anymore."

"You feel that stuff too, eh? Not just all your own emotions running amuck, but other people's too?"

"Almost always. Not when you're near and we are alone. But then Simon comes, or Captain Daddy, and you think and think and it gets so crowded again. So LOUD."

"You mean...I'm hurtin' ya?"

River only smiled at him sadly and placed her hand over his chest where she'd cut him. "I guess we are even. But you have to tell them Jayne. Will start to put the family whole and quiet the voices some."

She climbed down, threw her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly, gently rubbing her face on his shirt. Then, as she started to climb out of his bunk, she paused and looked at him again.

"It is better that it comes from you than him. Not Bad. Not Mad. Just...not the same; not as meaningful. Only you know the real truth."

And with that, she climbed out.

Jayne sat down heavily where River had just been. The space was still warm. Now his room seemed to smell like her, too. Of apples...or pears. He couldn't decide which. He wasn't sure he liked how that made him feel.

Gorram girl's too pretty for her own good. Too smart as well. Better stay outta my head...

But I'll be damned if she ain't right; gonna have to tell them.

Just when though, he hadn't yet decided.