A/N : Thanks to all of you have reviewed chapter one, to those of you who think I made Kaylee to hard on Simon, review Jaynestown, when she gives Simon what for during the morning after
Disclaimer: All standard disclaimers apply, I do not own anything
Mal roamed Serenity's corridors, he found himself in the passenger area, as he passed Simon's room he heard Kaylee's distinctive giggle coming from within. Mal debated with himself whether he should interrupt the young couple before things went to far, before he could make up his mind, a small chime broke the silence.
Turning away from the door Mal watched as the orange robed monks made their way to their room. The eldest, who also held the bronze gong, bowed to Malcolm as he passed. Shaking his head Mal continued his way toward the common area, he once told Shepard Book that religious folks only caused people to feel guilty about themselves; his thoughts on that matter had not changed.
Mal would be most grateful when those monks were off of his boat, sure they stayed to themselves, never spoke seein as howmost had all taken a vow of silence, never caused a fuss with any of the crew, in fact they were the best payin passengers they ever had, still they gave him the willies.
Mal made his way to the common room where he found Jayne bent over a gun broken down into all it's separate parts, taking a closer look Mal thought it was Vera. "Somethin wrong with your girl Jayne?" he asked as he poured himself a cup of tea.
River's voice floated up from under the table, "I am fine Captain thank you for asking."
Jayne spat out his toothpick and sputtered, Mal laughed as he refilled Jaynes mug of tea. Course it was the meeting with the terrible twins a few weeks back that had really brought things to the fore, Jayne and River constantly spoke to each other in that twin speak, whenever River had a thought or idea she couldn't manage to make the rest of the crew understand. Mal still wasn't sure if he liked the fact that two of his crew members could speak to each other in a language he couldn't understand.
Glowering in the general direction of River Jayne thanked Mal for the tea, taking a sip he continued, "Taint Vera, picked this one up on Janvois a couple a months back. Been tryin to figure out what the moonbrained idiot did to this fine piece of machinery."
Scrambling out from underneath the table River leaned over the pieces laid out on the table, sensing the Captain tense up, she placed both hands behind her back, "No touching guns."
Peering closer she announced, "Moonbrained whoo dan tried to reconfigure Betty, did it wrong."
Jayne leaned forward to see exactly what River was looking at, letting out a string of oaths that would have turned the Shepard's hair even whiter than it already was.
Suddenly River started to dance a stationary jig, both Mal and Jayne asked "Mu Shu?"
Casting a look in Mal's direction that he couldn't interpret, River started to excitedly talk to Jayne in their secret language. Grabbing her pad she drew a diagram.
Letting out an excited whoop Jayne grabbed the pad in one hand and examined what River had drawn, with his free arm he hugged River around the waist.
Mal felt his eyebrows crawl into his hairline at this unconscious act of affection from Jayne. Maybe he would have to sit Jayne down and talk to him about not touching the crew or passengers, make that talk to Jayne with a wrench.
Looking up Mal caught sight of River's face, she was ecstatic, her face shone with happiness, she leaned forward to point something out to Jayne and rested her hand on the big mans shoulder. As far as Mal knew the only person River had felt comfortable about touching was Simon.
Both of them were talking so fast their words tumbled over each other, Mal jumped when they yelled 'Kaylee' before River ran out of the mess with Jayne hot on her heels.
Leaning back in his chair Mal contemplated what he should do, as if reading his thoughts a voice spoke from behind him.
"You should do nothing"
Letting out a squawk Mal spun around in his chair to see the eldest monk, standing in the doorway. "I am very agreeable to havin you as a payin passenger, but I would take it kindly if you stay out of my crewmembers lives"
With a soft chuckle the monk moved into the room slowly, he sank down onto the chair vacated by Jayne. "Captain could I trouble you for a cup of hot water?" Smiling the monk waited while Malcolm heated up some water.
The monk prepared himself a cup of tea from a packet he freed from his robe, taking a sip he nodded. "The river's will flow where they will once the rains come, no matter the wants of man."
Mal gaped at the monk, "You sayin I should let Jayne have his way with that young girl?"
The monk simply stared back at Mal, "Captain I would not presume to tell you what to do with your crew, I am simply making an observation on nature."
Mal repeated his earlier admonition and left the mess headed toward Inara's shuttle.