Jo wasn't sure how long she'd slept but didn't think it was long…when she woke she found Mal had finally drifted off beside her. She ran a hand through his hair and watched as the corners of his mouth turned up in a grin as he rolled over. She found herself smiling, with everything she had been through over the last nine years she never would have imagined herself where she was now. She bent and kissed Mal's temple as she rose from their bed and heard him mumble as he shifted again before settling back into sleep. She dressed before she made her way out of their bunk and up to the bridge.

Mal woke up alone and searched the room with bleary eyes and finally crawling off the bed threw on pants and a shirt before making his way out of the bunk. He heard voices from the bridge Jo's and River's by the sound of it and they where talking…no it was closer to yelling. Fast footfalls crossed from one side of the room to the other. He caught a snatch of a question and caught a word that sounded like, "Recording?" He shook his head and moved quickly up the steps and into the room. Jo was now standing directly behind River as they both watched transfixed by whatever they where seeing on River's view screen.

"What in hell is going on?" He asked. He found himself getting angry as both girls shushed him, Jo actually waving a hand at him and telling him to pipe down. His scowl deepened as he moved to stand behind her. "What the…" The question died on his lips as he heard first Autumn's light voice then another deeper one that sent chills down his spine. "Niska…" He breathed the name as he tuned in to the conversation that was taking place from one of his shuttles.

"You expect me to believe you deliver what you say? You stole from me nyen ching-duh, I no longer trust you, you prove to me what you have and maybe then we talk life and death, hmm?" Niska said angrily.

"You don't understand…surely you can tell where this wave is coming from, you must be able to tell I am where I say I am. I can deliver you both Malcolm Reynolds and Jordona Macleod. All I want is my freedom…please, you have to listen to me."

Mal felt his hands tighten into fists. "Ching-wah TSAO duh liou mahng!"

Niska chuckled, "You were always so persuasive when you wanted something…you want freedom? And what you think this freedom should cost…hmm? And why you think I should offer you anything but a swift death after you steal from me?"

Mal heard the long silence from Autumns side and shook his head, "If he doesn't kill her I will." He snapped angrily, his scowl deepening as Jo and River shushed him again.

Niska was chuckling, "What's the matter sweetness, are you scared? I would be…Your death may be more satisfactory then both Mr. Reynolds or Ms. Macleods. I tell you what though, I'm feeling generous, you bring me disks and the others on that ship and I will consider letting you go."

Mal thought he heard Autumn swallow and shook his head, 'Stupid little girl…she believes him.' He thought quietly.

"What if I told you that Jordona Macleod is now Jordona Reynolds?" Autumn asked him quietly.

Mal snaked an arm around Jo's waist, pulling her toward him in a reflex move, cursing vehemently under his breath his anger growing as he continued to listen. He felt Jo shudder as she listened to Niska's reply.

"I know this already, you offer me nothing new."

"He knows…" Jo whispered.

"Fine…we're headed to Shinon, we should dock in a few hours…I'll contact you then." Autumn told him.

They watched Niska nod and smile, "I'll be waiting." With that he clicked off and his image faded leaving the bridge silent.

River finally said, "I have the whole thing recorded."

"Make me a copy." Mal told her turning away and taking a seat in the co-pilots chair. He heard Jo suck in a deep breath as she started to pace the small space between the two chairs. "Tell me what you're thinking." He said.

"I want to hurt her as much as he does but we can use this to our advantage." She told him. She watched him nod and said the one name she knew they where both thinking. "Zoe?"

Mal nodded again and stood up, she watched as he hit a few intercom switches. "Zoe…you awake?"

"Sir?" Jo heard the sleepy voice respond.

"Come to the bridge."

"Be there in a minute."

Jo watched him switch off the intercom and retake his seat.

"Do you want me to leave?" River asked him quietly.

"No…not necessary." He told her with a shake of his head.

Jo reached out and placed a hand on Rivers shoulder. "Thank you for your help with that."

"Your welcome."

They were all silently contemplating their own thoughts when Zoe entered the bridge. She looked first from Mal to Jo then to River. Mal glanced at River and said, "Show her." River nodded and brought up the replay of the recorded wave. When it was done Zoe was silent as she continued to stare at the now empty screen. "Hway-HUN duh PUO-foo !" She snapped angrily.

"Best description of her yet." Jo replied.

"Now what?" Zoe asked looking to Mal.

"We can use this…we set an ambush and take him out of the equation."

"What if he's already beaten us to that?" Zoe asked quietly. "I mean he knows you two are married…it wasn't like that was publicized anywhere, and now he knows where we'll be and when."

"He's been searching for her, someone picked up a trail that led them to Inara and that led them to us…it was only a matter of time before he found all of it out." Jo said quietly moving to stand next to Mal.

"We should show this to Inara." Zoe said quietly…"She deserves to know."

Jo stayed silent but watched Mal's face as he considered it He had a hand on her lower back and was rubbing his thumb in semicircles as he pondered what to do. She shivered and he glanced at her. "Sorry…you tend to have that effect." He smiled at her and then sighed, "I want her to see this. Zoe, you and Jayne go keep an eye on Autumn…I don't want her anywhere near us when we show Inara what we got."

Zoe nodded and left. A moment later Jayne could be heard complaining about missing sleep. The footfalls moved down the corridor and disappeared. "Let's go…and let me do the talking." Mal said standing.

Jo stayed where she was as Mal moved toward the door, he noticed that she wasn't following him and turned to face her. She sighed quietly and watched him a moment. "I don't know that you're gonna want me to come Mal. I'm more then a little upset with Autumn and I may not have the coolest head for this."

"You want me to handle this on my own and come get you after we're done?"

She considered this for a minute then nodded, "Do you mind?"

He moved back toward her and placing his hands on her shoulders pulled her toward him, "Nope…" With that he leaned down and brushed his lips across hers gently. "Love you." He whispered against her ear. She smiled as he moved away and disappeared through the door.

Jo sat back down in the co-pilots seat and stared out the window in silence. A moment later River said, "People are strange, they want to do what's right...on the inside, but most of the time it comes out wrong and they hurt each other without even knowing it. Then you have people like him…" she said motioning toward the vid screen, Jo knew she was talking about Niska. "He's a monster and he knows it, he likes it…and she…she's just scared and wants to run…far and fast." River looked at Jo then, "Nara's not bad like him…she just made a mistake is all." Jo smiled at her and nodded, "I know and the strange part is, I'm like Autumn, I want far and fast whenever I hear his voice…so what does that make me?" She said watching River. River stared at her a minute then said, "Normal."