While Mal fumed upstairs Kaylee and Jia were becoming fast friends.

"So how did you become an engineer?"

"Don't know. Machines just talk to me and I can fix um. Why'd you become a cook?"

"It's the only thing I was ever really good at, liked and could make money at. Been doing it in restaurants since I was twelve."

"Shiny, sounds like Simon. Doctorin's the only thing he's ever wanted to do too."

"Why don't you tell me about everyone since I'm gonna be here for a while."

"Well, Captain's not usually as bad as he was today. Think he just gets these ideas in his head and ain't nothing tellin him otherwise. He's great though. Never hesitates to take care of us. Simon's our Doc. He's a little stiff but..."Kaylee smiled. "River is his sister. She's a little different but she's really smart. Jayne is crude and gross. Just the way he is though." she paused.

"Zoe just lost her husband. He was our pilot. We also lost someone who used to travel with us. He was a shepherd. That's why everyone may seem a little sad at times. Ben tryin' to lift spirits but there's only so much I can do."

"I'm sorry I didn't know."

"That's not your fault. I'm just happy someone new is here to kinda help take their minds off sadness."

"I'll do all I can do to help but I'm just a cook Kaylee, not a therapist."

"You let me worry about that. Some good food will help."

Jia laughed. "I hope so. But I think you've forgotten someone."

"I forgot Inara! How could I do that? Anyway Inara's real nice. She's a companion."

Jia's face fell, "Companion?"

"Yep."

"As in...guild certified?"

"I think so. Is that a problem?"

Jia snapped back to attention and smiled. "None whatsoever. Just didn't expect..."

"Oh, I understand. Didn't expect to find a bonafide companion on a ship like Serenity."

"You got it. That's exactly what I mean. She seemed to not be too happy with me."

Kaylee lied, "I didn't notice nothing, but she can't have anything against you, I mean, you just got here."

"I'm sure your right. I'm just nervous is all. I really need this job."

"Why?"

" I'm supporting my brother and sister, trying to keep them in school. They live with my Aunt. I send them money whenever I get it."

"That's real shiny, you takin care of your kin like that. How old are they?"

"My brother's 20 so I'm not really supportin him anymore, but my sister is 16. I keep sending them money so they can stay in school and not have to get jobs like I did. Not that I don't love what I do."

"What you do for fun?"

"Not much, never had much free time."

"Ya mean you've never had any fun?"

"I didn't say that, I just haven't done anything on a regular basis."

"We'll have to change that."

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Simon was sitting alone in the galley very early the next morning with a cup of coffee when Kaylee walked in.

"Somethin' wrong?"

"No, I just couldn't sleep." Simon pulled Kaylee down into his lap. "I just...no wait, every time I try to say something I say it wrong and I don't want you mad at me."

"Don't say that. Go ahead and just tell me what you want and I promise not to get mad."

"Really?"

"Yep, just tell me what your thinkin about."

Simon took a big breath, "I just was thinking. I've never met a woman like you Kaylee."

Kaylee smiled. Simon continued on, "You are so genuine, so sweet. I...think... I love you Kaylee."

"Really?"

"Yes. I mean..."

"No, stop right there."

Kaylee kissed him thoroughly and cut off any want for continuation of talking. Simon was slipping his hand up Kaylee's shirt when Jia slipped silently in.

She didn't pause and didn't look at the couple. "I understand you guys are just starting out and stuff but please no sex in the kitchen."

Kaylee giggled and Simon turned beet red. Kaylee sweetly said, "We're not gonna have sex in the kitchen Jia. That's what our bunk's and the engine room are for."

Jia chuckled as Kaylee led a even redder Simon towards her bunk. Jia called after them, "So don't go into the engine room without knocking then?"

Jia smiled and started to prepare breakfast. A half hour later a still sleepy Mal came into the galley and was startled to see someone else in there before him.

"What are you doing in here?"

"...cooking?"

"Yeah, well...why so early?"

"I wanted it to be ready when everybody woke up."

"Why?"

"I... it's called breakfast. I don't know how to answer your question."

"Well, ok. What are you making?"

"Since all we have is protein I thought I'd make that."

"Alright then. That sounds good."

"Good."

Jia went back to work with a worried look on her face. Mal sat down and pondered if he was supposed to talk or not. After a while he figured it was his boat and he had questions. Questions that he probably should have asked before they took off for their next job. But anyway...

"So what's your real problem with the Alliance? I know it just can't be what you told me so how about the truth?"

Jia stopped what she was doing and came to sit by Mal. "Do you know what really happened to my dad Captain?"

"No, but I think you might wanna tell me."

"The Alliance returned his body to us a month after the war ended. He had only been dead a week. Along with his body they sent recordings of what they had done to him. Apparently, their intelligence had been wrong. They thought he was a Colonel, not a Corporal. They tortured him for two years asking him for information he didn't have. And even when the war was over, they kept him. He took his own life, they never had any intention of killing him. Trust me Captain, anyone who went through what he did would have given any information within the first month, not year. That's why I despise them. They had no right to do what they did to him, and I have trouble believing he was the only one."

For all his experience Mal looked shocked. "What exactly did they do to him?"

"Starvation, sleep deprivation, electrocution, pretty much anything they could think of and a few things I never even imagined."

"Why would they send the recordings to you?"

"I wish I knew. I thought maybe it was to teach us a lesson about revolution, but I doubt I learned the lesson they wanted me to learn."

"Who else knows about this?"

"No one, not even my brother and sister. I couldn't let them see him like that. They have so few memories of him anyway."

"That's probably best. I apologize for doubting you."

"I would have doubted me too. I asked for this job because I knew if I continued to serve Alliance, I would either hit or poison one of them and I can't afford for my family to lose another to those monsters."

"Where's your mother Jia?"

"Two months after Dad was captured she sent my oldest brother and my sister to work with me, and set the house on fire with her and her two year old son still in it."

Silence greeted her pronouncement. For the first time in his life, Mal didn't know what to say. He didn't have to say anything.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything right away, but I wanted to get the job because I can cook, not because you feel sorry for me. I've made peace with my life. I'm not perfect, but I just wanna work for what I'm worth without Alliance crowding in."

"I understand."

"I would rather you didn't tell the crew about this. I don't want pity."

"Understand that too. But you may wanna talk to River and Simon. They may have a story to tell you."

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Mal and Jia were still talking an hour later when the third riser of the day arrived, Zoe.

They were both in the kitchen laughing quietly. They looked up.

Mal said, "Hey Zoe, just tellin' Jia bout James."

"He was a great man."

"Thanks, I know. Anyway, when does everyone else get up?"

Mal started walking out of the galley towards the crew quarters. "Right now."

He kicked open Jayne's door, "Jayne, Breakfast!" A loud thump could be heard from in his room along with a string of curses. Mal kicked open Kaylee's door, "Kaylee get up here. Simon go get your sister."

From the other side of the galley came River's voice. "Not necessary Captain."

Mal whipped around, "Oh, good. Hey Zoe, go tell Inara to get down here." Zoe started to go and as an afterthought he yelled after her, "Nicely!"

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Breakfast was a spirited affair as were the meals over the next two days on the way to Sierra for their next job. The crew were gathered in the cargo bay preparing for their next job.

"Alright, me, Zoe, River an Jayne are gonna do this and we will be back in an hour. Unless something goes wrong, which, of course, never happens. So, we will be back in about two hours and we will be runnin. Everyone stay on the ship."

"Sir, I still don't like...

"Don't start this Doc. You'll hit me, I'll get pissed, and this time I'm gonna shoot you. Just let it go."

River finally said something, "Simon, everything will be ok. Angels will watch over you."

Simon seemed to be pacified and while rolling his eyes, Mal led his team out. Kaylee closed the doors behind them and went to the engine room to do some tuning. Jia went to the kitchen. Simon went to the infirmary, with a scowl on his face.