All at once the crew started talking.
"Are you out of your ..."
"I can't believe..."
"Sir maybe this isn't..."
Mal shouted above them all. "Shut UP!" silence filled the room. "You can either sit down, shut up and watch or you can leave. I don't give a good gorram which one you choose, but pick one!"
Soon the table was filled with seven people all watching Jia Li cook. She didn't notice, she was much too involved in what she was doing.
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A half hour later she was done and had six dishes before the crew. All were made of protein but looked and smelled different. Jia looked on from the kitchen trying not to be nervous.
River was the only one to touch anything as she took small parts of each one.
Mal took a small portion of one and looked around, "Isn't anyone going to try anything?"
No one moved. Mal said something under his breath and grabbed his fork. He quickly ate a very small bit of what was in front of him. The crew looked at him expectantly. He didn't say a word but started filling his plate.
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Soon Jia sat in the cargo bay. Mal had sent her there to discuss her future with the crew. They were all still in the galley talking.
"Who is she captain?"
"That is Jia Li Mason."
Zoe was shocked, "Are you serious? James's daughter?"
"The one and only."
Kaylee chimed in, "Who is James?"
Zoe answered, "A corporal in the war, and a friend."
Simon asked, "Why would his daughter seek you out?"
Mal replied, "Apparently James told her that if she ever needed anything she should ask me."
Zoe said, "He always did think a lot of her sir. Maybe you should give her a job."
"I was thinking the same thing, but all of your opinions."
Kaylee said, "I think it's shiny Captain. New people, good food."
River softly said, in a moment of rare clarity. "She is honest, honorable, and necessary."
There was a moment of silence which Mal broke, "Ok, well. That aside, since we are on the up side for once and the Alliance ain't chasing us any more than anyone else, I think we can afford to give the little lady a chance. Any objections? Good."
Noticing but ignoring the pleased look on almost everyone's faces, he made his way to tell Jia Li. What he also noticed was the indifferent look on Zoe's face and the less than pleased look on Inara's face. He understood Zoe. She had just lost her husband and being pleased might be above her right now, but he didn't understand Inara's problem. He would have to talk with her later. Right now he had a chef to hire.
He came upon Jia in the cargo bay leaning on the railing.
"When can you start?"
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Jia had gone to get her few things and Kaylee was now getting her settled. Mal was looking for Jayne. He found the merc cleaning his guns in the galley.
"Jayne, we gotta have a talk."
"What did I do?"
"Nothing yet. But I know your record with women. You have come on to everything even remotely female that has come on this boat. I'm gonna give you the same advice I gave you when you first came on board. You know when I talked to you about Kaylee?"
"Yeah."
"Same thing applies. You go near her and you will be taking a short walk out the porthole, dong ma?"
"Don't worry Mal I ain't interested."
Mal looked insulted, "Why not?"
"I don't know. Usually I'd be thinking bout nothing but that sweet little piece of redheaded..." He paused at Mal's pissed expression. "But I just feel all creepified whenever I think that about her. It's disconcertin."
"Well, just so you keep your thoughts to yourself it don't matter to me."
Jayne gave Mal a superior look, "Why you want her for yerself?"
Now he knew he had gone too far. "I owe James Mason my life, and I am not going to pay him back by seducin his oldest child, and neither are you. Now, do we have an understanding?"
"Yeah, She ain't gonna have no problem from me."
"Good."
He stormed out of the galley and made his way towards Inara's shuttle.
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Mal started off on a bad note by walking in Inara's shuttle without even knocking. His first words didn't help either.
"Now what's your problem?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You got a problem with Jia or do you have somethin to say to me?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"I saw that look on your face in the galley. What is your problem?"
"I just think you agreed a little to easily to let this girl stay. You don't know a thing about her."
"I didn't know a thing about any of ya when I let you stay. I know she's a good cook and all the stuff I need to know I got. Why do you care?"
"I'm looking out for y...the welfare of this crew."
"That's my job and I wish you'd let me do it."
"Fine, its' none of my business then. I'm sorry Captain I will leave everything to you."
Mal turned and left, mumbling to himself. Inara turned and started mumbling to herself.