Mal was questioning his decision of even bringing Jordona on board when the last of his crew entered the dining area. He watched as Kaylee took a seat beside Simon, all eyes where currently on Jordona who sat squirming slightly behind him in a chair. He had to admit he was enjoying her being uncomfortable but he wanted to make this as quick as he could so he took a deep breath and started in, "This is Jordona Macleod and she has an offer I want the rest of you to hear. I won't take this job without all of you knowing what's involved." He looked around the table meeting all their gazes, Zoe was the only one still looking behind him at Jo, he knew that look, it was one of those that always made him feel like she could see his soul, mighty uncomfortable, he gave a small smirk as he turned to glance behind him at Jo. A deer in headlights look and wide eyes where staring back at Zoe. He wanted to laugh but cleared his throat instead, "Uh, you want to come up here where everyone can see you?" he asked her.
She blinked then and looked at Mal, "Huh? Yes, sorry…" She said finally managing to tear her gaze from Zoe's. She stood then and walked to the table taking a place beside Mal. He heard her suck in a deep breath as she opened the box in her hand and laid it on the table for everyone to see. Jayne and Simon both gave small appreciative whistles.
"Ta ma duh! Is that a rock or what?" Jayne said with a large smile, he stood to get a better look.
Mal reached out and slid the box a little closer to himself with a warning glance to Jayne.
Jayne took his seat and the room grew quiet once more. "Go ahead…" Mal prompted Jo.
She nodded, "This is what my family calls the 'Sterling Sapphire'. It's rumored that it came from a town called Sterling in a state called Montana on Earth that was, hence the name of the stone itself. That should tell you a little about how old it is, it also tells you how valuable it is. I'm in the market for a buyer and a few weeks ago I found one…on New Melbourne. I'd like to hire you all to get me there, escort me to the sale and then see me safely back to Persephone. How's this sound so far? Agreeable?"
"Why the escort an' all?" Jayne asked her.
"As you can imagine the money this will fetch is, well let's just say astronomical in nature, and therefore people would like to see me dead and have it for themselves. I'm the last of my family and I have no one I can rely on to help me make this transaction smooth. You all and Captain Reynolds are well known for shall we say…being discreet?" She heard a few chuckles from around the table and continued, "I can promise you this, as I've told Mal…if this goes according to plan you all won't have to worry about money for a while because I plan to pay handsomely for the help."
"How handsomely?" Jayne asked with a slick smile.
"A hundred thousand cash, give or take some depending on the buyers bid." She answered without flinching.
Another round of whistles then silence. "That's it…any other questions for me?" She asked looking around the table. She saw a few heads shake so she looked to Mal. "I'll be in the cargo hold while you make your decision." She said taking the box from the table and closing it as she turned to go.
"Kaylee…show her down and then come back here will you?" Mal asked quietly.
Kaylee nodded, "Sure Cap'n."
Mal waited for Kaylee's return before proceeding, "Tell me what you all think?"
Zoe was first, "Sir…how much do you trust her? Can she be trusted enough onboard with Simon and River?"
Mal sighed, this would be hard for the rest of them to hear and he took a minute to think through what he was about to say, finally deciding on the direct route. "I trust her with my life, like I do the rest of you." He answered slowly, "She's aware of the Miranda issue, I have no doubt of that…if she was dealing with Badger then she's done some homework."
The first part of his answer had caused total shock and dead silence along with some open mouthed stares. They knew he trusted no one until they'd proven themselves to him, so this was big to say the least.
Kaylee was up next, "With your life? Sir, can I ask…how you know each other?"
Mal had known this was coming and he felt his chest tighten as he gritted his teeth before he gave up the answer. "We where…engaged to be married prior to the war." He'd said it very fast but you would have thought he'd dropped a grenade because everyone was talking at once and he had to whistle to get their attention, "Nee mun doh BEE-jway!" He yelled finally having to take a seat himself. "My personal life aside, what do you all think of the offer?"
He was looking at Zoe when he asked it, she didn't fail him, "Do you believe that she can really come up with that much cash?"
He nodded, "Yes."
Jayne hooted, "Well hell, let's take it then! It doesn't take an idiot to do the math, that there little lady's about to make us rich! What else is there to think about?"
Mal looked at Simon, "And you? What do you think about this? You willing to take the chance?" They both knew he was talking about his and River's safety…the Alliance was still more then a little interested in laying hands on them, if for nothing else then to make them pay for bringing Miranda's secrets out of the closet to the rest of the Verse.
He saw Simon take in a breath and a beat of silence, "If you trust her…then it's good enough for me. River and I both know by now we're safe here."
Mal saw Kaylee give Simon's hand a squeeze as she gave him a kiss and a smile as well.
"Well then, if everyone's settled…I'll go tell our new guest she's got a deal and that she's staying a spell. Zoe, go tell River to break atmo and give her our destination while I show Jo to her quarters." He said over his shoulder as he left the room.
"Aye, Aye Sir."
Mal spotted Jo sitting atop one of the boxes they'd loaded on board, her feet swinging over the side. Her head was bent and she was starring at the black, velvet box in her hands. He shook his head, "I have to be insane…" he mumbled to himself as he walked down the stairs to the cargo hold. She looked up as he descended, he could feel her eyes on him and he gave her a small smile and a shake of his head.
"So…am I bound for the air-lock or am I staying?" She asked with a grin.
"How did you get up there?" He asked her coming to stand directly in front of and below her.
She shrugged, "Climbed…So?"
"Your staying, and you better come through or so help me Jordona I'll take great pleasure in pushing you out into the black myself." He reached for her as she slid forward and off the boxes and as she did she wound up sliding literally down the full length of him. He didn't think either of them where breathing as they stood rooted to the spot staring at each other. She was the first to break the spell by moving out of his grasp and making a grab for her bag. It wasn't his imagination that he heard her voice shake slightly as she asked, "Where am I staying then?"
He reached out and took her duffle from her, "Follow me. I'll get you settled and then give you a quick tour of the ship." 'Completely crazy….' He thought giving himself a small mental shake.