That night Jayne was in the cargo bay with Mal when Wash came up to them. Mal looked at him. "What's up Wash?"

"Wifey told me to come and make sure you behaved when Jia left for her date."

Mal sighed, "I'm not gonna make a scene." He turned to Jayne, "You planted the bug right?"

"Yep."

Wash was concerned, "What bug?"

"You really thought I was gonna let her go unescorted?"

Wash rubbed his forehead imagining telling his wife the news.

"It's just a listening device. I ain't gonna interfere unless he don't mind his manners."

Mal was going to say more when he noticed Wash's focus was behind him.

Wash was beyond real words. All he could do was make a series of sounds. Jayne was looking as well.

"Well, I'll be a horse's uncle."

Mal turned around to see his cook decked out for her dinner. She wore a very simple light grey slip dress that went to her knees, with her hair put off her face by nothing but a strip of the same material. Her feet were not covered by her heeled sandals. Mal couldn't remember something so simple that was so profound.

She walked by the men without a word but with a grin on her face as she passed them. Mal was upset, but waited until after she left to say to Jayne, "She wore that for him?"

"Guess so."

Wash rolled his eyes and left to report to his wife that all had gone smooth. He didn't want to worry her about the bug, her being pregnant and all. It really wasn't a big deal.

---------------------------------------------------

Mal huddled around the receiver to his bug he had Jayne plant. He was stationed across the street from Badger's headquarters. He heard Jia walk into Badger's lair and the criminal's attempt at small talk. He was disappointed that Badger didn't start off on a bad note. He was sure it would get that way though. Soon Jia got down to the reason for her dinner.

"What's the job Badger?"

"All business aren't you darling?"

"With you yes."

"We'll get to that later, first I want to ask you something. What do you really think of your employer?"

"Why do you care?"

"Just wanna know what it would take to steal you away."

"Mal is an honorable man Badger. I don't think you are capable of that. Plus you don't care who you do business with."

"That ain't true love. I refused to deal with your captain once. Thought he was too pretentious."

Jia laughed, "He can be, but I love my job Badger."

"Sure it's your job you love?"

Jia started to get up and was stopped by Badger's hand on her arm. "Sorry love, not the topic for conversation apparently."

"No it's not," She sat back down. "I am not in love with Mal."

"I just know that he thinks very highly of you. Wondered what was going on."

"Nothing. Like I said earlier, he's an honorable man." She smiled, "But I don't suppose you would know anything about that."

"Honor is overrated. Gets in the way of a business man such as meself."

Jia laughed again, "I suppose it would with your clientele."

"Ain't the most honorable criminals I deal with, not the least honorable either."

"Probably not. Why did you bring me here Badger?"

"Can't I have just wanted your stirring conversation?"

"No."

"Alright, you caught me. I wanted to tell you something." He leaned closer, "Reynolds don't deserve you."

Jia sighed, "Badger..."

"Let me finish love. He is too uptight for a woman such as you. You need a man not afraid to tell you what he thinks."

Jia leaned in closer, "Let me guess, you're that man right."

He smiled his half smile. "That would be right love."

"Malcolm Reynolds is not my man."

"He wishes he was."

Jia scoffed, "Right."

"I notice things love, little things. He protects you like a piece of property. You're his and ya don't even know it, and I'm starting to think you like it."

Jia was a little stunned by the turn of conversation. "Mal and I are friends," she paused. "He isn't interested in me."

"Are ya interested in him?"

She didn't say anything for a long time, "No, of course not."

"He'd never be yours love."

"That's not true. Not that I would want... I mean..Ahhhh, you're confusing the issue."

"I can guarantee I'd be yours."

"For the time until you got sick of me and started screwing everything that moved."

Badger smiled. He didn't say anything. Jia laughed. "Let's get back to the job before you make me angry."

Badger shrugged and sat back, "Alright if I must."

He went on to describe a job like none other that the crew of Serenity had ever tried before. Once the listening Mal got into it he liked it, but it wouldn't be easy. He left right before Jia to get back before her. To his dismay, Badger had been a perfect gentleman.

Mal was the only one in the cargo bay when she came back. "How did your date with the weasel go?"

She pulled out a clear piece of film from the bodice of her dress, "Like you don't know."

Jia had discovered his bug. She threw it at him and started towards her room. Mal followed her.

"Did you just expect me to leave you to that degenerate."

She whirled to face him, "Degenerate? He was not the one listening in on my conversation."

"I just wanted to see you safe."

"At least I don't have to tell you about his insane job. You could have trusted me."

"I do trust you, just not him."

"What I do or do not do with him is my business, not yours."

"You really want anything from that...that..."

Jia turned once again and headed for her room. Mal followed her yet again. When she got to her room, she shut the door in his face. Never one to be denied, he opened it and went in. He closed it behind him.

"How dare you come in here."

"It's my ship and my room. You just live here."

"Maybe I can fix that."

Mal sighed, "You really gonna leave over this? Maybe Badger has a job for you. Don't think you'll be doing much cooking though."

Jia was enraged. She reached under her bed and came up with her sword. She presented it between herself and Mal. He instantly backed off.

"If I chose to be his whore it's none of your damn business."

Mal closed the distance between them by one footstep. She brought the sword to his throat, but most of the fire had gone out of her.

"If that's what you really want, then no it ain't my business, but I don't think it's what you want."

"You have no idea what I want."

He spoke in almost a whisper, "I think I do."

She was shocked. Her defenses were weakening.

"Tell me the truth, is he what you want?"

"No."

"Do you really want to hurt me?"

Startled by the question, she didn't over think her answer, "I don't think I could."

"Is there anything between you and Badger?"

"No, not at all. I don't trust him."

He moved a little closer. The sword slid harmlessly to Jia's side. He moved to inches from her.

"Do you trust me?"

"Maybe. Is there anything between you and Inara?"

He shook his head, "There really never was and never will be."

He moved even closer.

She whispered, "So there's nothing in between us?"

Mal smirked, "Nothin besides your sword."

She dropped the sword, and with a clang it hit the floor. They never noticed. His lips connected with hers. He made no move to touch her in any other way. She knew he was waiting for her, trying not to scare her as before. She pressed back slowly and opened her mouth slightly. She brought her hands to rest on his upper arms.

Mal had to stop himself from pressing closer. His hands itched to touch her, but he had to let her lead. It was obvious she had little experience in kissing, so he just encouraged her by responding as slowly as he could. When she moved her arms to around his neck, he couldn't take it anymore. Her body pressed against his was too much. He deepened the kiss and put his hands on her waist. He found himself both wishing she had worn more and thanking God she hadn't. He ran his hands up her back and pressed her to him even more. This time she didn't pull back.

Her mind raced, at first anyway. It swam with consequences and sacrifices, but soon it was overrun with sensation. She tried to just feel for once in her life, and was surprised it worked perfectly.

His mind was racing the entire time. Racing with why thought that had always presented themselves at this time didn't. Why he felt no doubt or awkwardness. Why he didn't feel his sense of wrong at a damaged man touching anyone in anyway. River had been right, she was different.

It was Jia who finally pulled back. "I think... that I should say good night."

He looked into her eyes and saw no regret, no sadness, just passion. She wasn't afraid or ashamed. He was different for her too. He was like nothing else. Nothing else ever felt so right.

He removed himself from her arms reluctantly, knowing she was right. He backed out while still holding one of her hands. He let it go just before he closed the door. He reluctantly went to his bunk, it was gonna be a long night.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Explain this job again."

The crew had gathered in the galley the next morning to discuss Badger's offer.

"Badger's friend thinks someone is trying to kill him. He runs a recovery center where people go to get clean of their addictions to pretty much anything. One of us will go in as a doctor and investigate them and one will go as a patient to look at them."

Zoe had questions, "Why us?"

"We are the only ones that would even consider it. And now we got Jia he thinks we are more trustworthy. We also are the only ones that could possibly do it for one reason. We are the only one's in his acquaintance that have someone not wanted for anything." Mal pointed to Jia.

Simon was concerned, "I was a surgeon not a psychiatrist."

"You won't be going. You still don't have a licence."

"Neither do any of you."

"That's where not being wanted helps here. Kaylee, You know how hard it is to get something off the cortex."

"Almost impossible illegally."

"Exactly, but it is very easy to add something."

"Right they don't look at all that."

"So to take off a wanted poster would be impossible, but adding, say a degree in psychiatry would be easy?"

"If'n the person had nothing else on the cortex," Now Kaylee got it. "You gonna send Jia in with a fake degree?"

Zoe looked upset, "She ain't a mercenary Captain."

"I know but she's the only one that could possibly do it. She'll be bugged the entire time so we can solve who did it, and keep her safe."

Zoe thought it strange that Jia hadn't said anything, "You have no opinion on this?"

"It's a good plan and it's worth a lot of money. Besides it should be relatively easy compared to being intimidating."

"Will this work sir?"

"I don't see a lot of other jobs coming our way. Besides, she's right, the plan is solid."

Zoe was also concerned about the lack of fighting between Jia and Mal this morning.

Jayne raised his hand, "If'n she's the doc, who's the patient?"

Mal raised his eyebrows, "Funny of you to ask Jayne, that would be you."

Jayne wasn't happy, "What? Why I gotta go to a nuthouse?"

"It's not a nuthouse, It's a dependancy center, and you are the one amongst us with the most things to give up. Won't kill you to go a week or two without alcohol, smoking or women."

Jayne looked like it just might.

"Besides, we need someone who can protect himself and Jia."

"Why don't you go then?"

"Because I'm a bad liar you know that. I tend to tell the truth to much."

Jia looked at Mal, "I can take care of myself you know."

Zoe was shocked to hear the same argument with absolutely no fire.

Mal responded in the same even tone. "I don't want anything happening to you."

Jia simply smiled at him and looked back to Jayne, "I can help you Jayne, but I need your help too."

Zoe thought she was going mad. Jia and Mal were not arguing, they actually discussed something. Jia wasn't snapping, and Mal wasn't snapping back.

Jayne's mind was on other things, "This ain't fair. Why not anyone else?"

"Zoe's pregnant and won't have the levels of stuff in her system necessary to fool the docs that she needs to be there. Kaylee couldn't make anyone believe she was addicted to anything. Doc's a horrible actor. River can't raise suspicions or Alliance may change their minds about her. Wash barely even drinks. I think I've covered everyone else. Just bare through it and you'll be fine."

Mal did some more convincing before Jayne grudgingly agreed. Zoe was too absorbed by the newfound ease between Jia and Mal that she barely heard. Wash poked fun at Jayne for his part in the new caper. Kaylee and Simon discussed the qualifications they would need to put in Jia's resume. River sat and observed as usual, more at peace then she had been in a while. Mal's thought were not all on the new job. A little was concerned with the woman sitting next to him. Jia thought of her part in what was to come as well as her newly forming feelings for the man next to her.