This is my first Firefly fanfic, and is set a couple of weeks after 'Serenity'. Initially my idea is to see how the remaining crew are coping with the loss of both Book & Wash. A more prominent storyline (i.e. 'big bad') will most likely come afterwards, providing people don't hate my story :-)

Hope you all enjoy, and please don't forget to leave a review to let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: All characters & backstories related to Firefly & Serenity are owned by Joss Whedon, Fox & Universal


1. Ignoring the Tears

"Jayne! Jayne! Gorram it... he's never around when you need him."

Mal paced impatientally through his ship; stopping at every door long enough to thrust his head into each doorway, frantically searching for Jayne. It had seemed recently that Jayne had been more distant than usual. At times like these, however, Mal wanted nothing else but for the crew to pull together... especially since the incident with Wash. Things had never really got back to normal without him, the void he left simply being too big to conceal.

"Damn it! Do I have to do everything myself around here?" Mal stormed through the living quarters and up towards the bridge. Slowing his pace, he quietly entered the bridge and looked around. Glancing over at the co-pilot's seat, he noticed a shadow cast over the control panel.

"Zoe? That you?" He asked calmly.

The figure in the chair jolted, and quickly stood up, turning around startled.

"Oh... captain. You scared me, sneaking up on me like that. Is something the matter?" The relieved Zoe inquired. Mal noticed her eyes were glazed over and her cheeks a little reddened, but decided not to pry. Zoe had gone through a lot recently, so it was hardly surprising that even she would need time to grieve.

"Oh... no nothing..." Mal's eyes wandered the room, his brain searching for something worthwhile to say. He hated feeling uncomfortable around people, and normally in this sitation would just react brusquely... but he found himself trying harder with Zoe. Perhaps, in his mind... he could see that he was all she had left. "... I've been looking for Jayne. Need to make the drop soon, gotta get suited up. But, at this rate... looks like I'm going solo. I can't find him anywhere! Have you seen him?"

"I saw him about an hour ago, climbed down into his bunk. He's been spending a lot of time there recently." Zoe replied, hoping that Mal would stop trying so hard and leave her be. True, he was all she had left... but sometimes people just need to be alone. She especially hoped he hadn't noticed the tears, the last thing she wanted was her closest friend thinking she was weak. "Perhaps you should try there, I'm sure he hasn't moved."

Mal saw in her eyes she wanted to be alone. After all, he had known her so long... by now he ought to know when his friend doesn't want him around. He looked down at his feet, and slowly brought his eyes back up to meet hers.

"Okay, thanks... I'll go look. How long til we land?" He would have left there and then, giving Zoe her space. But, business is business... and this drop was hardly straight-forward. Zoe let out a little sigh, small enough that she hoped Mal wouldn't notice. Sitting back in the chair, she swivelled around til she faced the control panel once more.

"You've got about two hours... better hurry." Trying her best to conceal her emotions, she remained facing the control panel, a tear beginning to roll down her cheek.

"Right, thanks. I'll go then." Mal turned and walked quietly towards the living quarters. As he did so, he heard a murmer... and sobbing. He knew it was Zoe, but he wouldn't let her know he noticed. 'Obviously she waited for me to leave for a purpose' he reasoned.

- - - -

Mal found himself at Jayne's bunk, or at least the door to Jaynes bunk. 'Why didn't he reply when I shouted here just now?' He asked himself, peering down into the entrance of the bunk. He was tempted to simply clamber down the ladder and surprise Jayne, but after a little forethought he reasoned he had better give him some kind of warning first.

"Captain coming down... all magazines and substances are to be hidden out of view." Mal spoke aloud with a big grin.

"Ah! Uh... wait a sec, just a few sec's! I'm... getting changed! Yeh, thats right..." Jayne's voice showed clear angst, and Mal decided to soak up all the laughs he could. Listening closely, Mal could hear draws opening, closing; bottles being moved... generally the normal sounds you would expect, from a teenager still living with his parents.

"Ready or not, here I come!" Mal was clearly loving this, torturing Jayne was such fun sometimes.

"Gorram! Wait one more second... there! You won't find anything out of order down here captain." Jayne stated, looking across his bunk into Mal's brooding eyes.

"Relax Jayne, I don't give a damn what you do, or what you keep for that matter... down here. This bunk is your space, you do with it as you wish. You know that!" Mal smiled, seeing the anger in Jaynes eyes.

"Well, you know, I don't think straight sometimes... kinda mean to shout stuff like that down at me! I could have been doin' anythin'!" Jayne tryed his best to defend himself, he so hated being made to look stupid.

"Yeh... and on that note, where the hell have you been? I've been shouting for hours! You decided just not to listen anymore? 'Cause you're not in a position to decide that..." Mal suddenly became very serious, evidentally feeling unhappy with Jayne's lack of input and general effort in the past weeks.

"Aw... come on Mal! We've been workin' non-stop for the last three weeks! Give us all a break will ya'?" Jayne returned in an exhausted manner.

"Ha! You mean me and Zoe have been working non-stop for the past three weeks! You've been busy down here with your magazines and beer!" Mal exploded overwhelmed, laughter filling his voice.

"... I'm sorry Mal... I guess I've had a lot of stuff on my mind lately... yeh'?" Jayne conceded. At least this way he'd get away scott free with Mal feeling sorry for him.

"... I guess that's understandable. But we've all gone through it Jayne, we just fought through it, never giving in. I expected the same from you... at least." Mal turned and climbed onto the first rung of the ladder. He stopped, still facing the ladder.

"We land on Beylix in less than two hours. Do me and you a favour, spend that time getting suited up and ready to make the drop. I'm gonna need some spare guns... and I'm getting tired of asking Zoe to do your job for you."

Mal continued to climb the ladder. Reaching the top, he made his way towards the engine room. A small smile emerged from the corner of his mouth, as he began to consider what could lay ahead.

'Been a while since I've been to Beylix... hope they all still remember me. We could be in for some fun.'

Hope you all liked the first chapter. I know it's not really that long, but I just wanted to try and get to grips with these characters... as I've never wrote for them before. Next chapter will see River, Simon & Kaylee... perhaps Inara as well. Oh, and Serenity will land on Beylix too :-)

Again, hope you enjoyed... and please leave a review, good or bad! I'm happy to recieve constructive critisism :-)

Seeya!