Disclaimer: I do not own Serenity or Numb3rs

A.N. this is a pre-Serenity Numb3rs crossover

Mal walked into the docking bay. "Alright we have a job." He said to the crew who had congregated there, "We are going to steal some sort of time machine. You know the kind with all sorts of blinky lights and buzzers."

"Kay," said Jayne simply. "should I pack grenades?" Mal rolled his eyes.

"Be ready to go in twenty minutes, everyone goes even crazy girl." Mal said

"No, she isn't." Simon said.

"She is, I want all hands on board. Nineteen minutes." Mal said, a warning tone in his voice.

Nineteen Minutes Later

Simon, River, Kaylie, Wash, Zoë, Jayne and Mal walked off the Serenity. They were on a small dusty planet. Straight across from them was a small lab. Today the scientists were testing the time machine. A perfect opportunity.

The crew snuck through the building. When they reached the room with the time machine they walked in behind one of the workers. There it was, the time machine.

"Clear the room." a voice called.

"Hide," said Mal. After hiding they waited for a few minutes then climbed in the time machine. River, Zoë, Mal, Jayne, Simon and Kaylie all sat down in the back but Wash walked to the front.

"What do you say we get out of here? This thing can fly too you know." He said as he sat in the drivers seat and grabbed a lever.

"No, Wash don't …" started Mal but then there was a loud whoosh and then it stopped. "…pull that lever." Mal finished.

"Why?" Wash asked not sure he wanted to know the answer.

"You just took us back in time." Mal answered simply. He walked up to the dashboard and peered at a dial. "To the year 2006."

Jayne looked at him "That's…" he said as he tried to do the math. "A really long time ago."

"Oops." said Wash.

"Yeah, oops." yelled Mal, "Just push the leaver the other way."

Wash did but all that happened was a clang as the primary buffer panel fell off.

"Was that the primary buffer panel? Did the primary buffer panel just fall of my gorram time machine?" Mal asked angrily.

"Um, yeah I think the time machine is broken." Wash stated the obvious.

"Broken, broken? I am going to Break you" Mal yelled.

'He's angry' Wash thought.

"Now, now." He said aloud, "Let's not get feisty." Wash managed to escape by looking at Zoë for help. They stepped outside into a large parking lot.

tbc