Chapter 2

'Well they was an interesting set of folks' Mal remarked, moving his chair to one side as he made space for River to sit between him and Simon. Across the table Zoe was watching the stairs, a frown playing on her face.

'You troubled Zoe?'

'No sir.' Came the reply although the frown remained. Interesting didn't really cover what she thought of the group. She was curious to the nature of the relationships she had seen there. Clearly Spike and Buffy were together, but there was some hint at intimacy between the brunette, Faith and the blonde man also. But more than her curiousity about their relations, Zoe couldn't help but feel that they had experienced something significant, she just couldn't figure what it was.

Dragging her eyes away from the stairs Zoecaught River staring at her. The young girl smiled quietly before mouthing yes. She's been reading me. Zoe thought. Although not surprised, she was always discomforted when she knew the girl had been in her thoughts. A little unsettled when she realised how much the girl really did hear from those on the crew. Zoe was a private person by nature, not used to sharing confidences or wanting them shared with her and with the death of her husband, Wash, she was even less inclined to reveal her inner thoughts. Maybe that was what made the last 40mins so unusual. Not only had the man Spike been able to draw her out of herself a little. Make her laugh like none since Wash, but she couldn't understand how quickly her and the rest of the crew had become enthralled by the man, his companions and the interplay between them.

The appearance of a fresh drink in front of her broke her out of thoughts.

'…got the part so everything should be shiny once I get it in.' Kaylee finished.

'Good, cos I want to be off planet at 0900 tomorrow. We need to get back to Persephone pick up inara in 3 days and I mean 0900 to leave, you aint on board you get left - dong ma?' Mal looked pointedly at Jayne, before he continued 'Would be good to have cargo for the way back, you hear of any jobs Zoe?'

'Not yet sir, but reckon our best bet is heading over to the docks in half an hour. See what comes our way.'

'passengers.' River interjected

'Well wont that be dandy.' Came the response

It was dark by the time the Serenity crew made their way out of the bar even though it was only half eight. A few small candles lights flickered outside the various buildings along the main street. Outside the general store two men stumbled along the pathway only narrowly avoiding hitting the group as the bar door swung closed behind them. The town was a small one but fairly prosperous. The general store was flanked by a hotel, a bakers and a little further on stood the bank and postal office. In between the parade were some huts and shacks mainly touting spare parts and mechanics, a mining companies recruitment center and a couple of night time snack vendors.

'Captain, given the hour, I will walk Kaylee and River back to the ship.' Simon spoke. His arm coming up around Kaylee's waist whilst reaching to clasp River's hand. 'Come mei-mei. You are tired.'

'Night then' Mal replied as the waist-coated Doctor led his mechanic and pilot right down the road towards his ship.

Mal, Zoe and Jayne walked straight through the town, past the shops and stores, toward the woods that lay before them in the direction of the dockyard. At this time of night it would be populated by those last stragglers who had arrived on other transport vessels only to need lifting back off again in the morning. Town this size though wouldn't have many ships visiting but River had seemed to think they would be in luck so the three went on.

If the sounds they had heard had been gunfire, the three may have turned back, but instead, in the clearing that formed the docks beyondthe stretch of trees and shrubs to their left, came the unmistakable sound of fists on flesh. A look passed between the three as they rounded a bend to see the barren plot of the docking station busy with people fighting. A group of approximately 20 men were facing off against adversaries who remained hidden from the crew. Mal could see that several of the men at the front were already in the middle of throwing punches and being slammed around. Whoever was fighting was clearly holding their own - at least for the time being. Could be that those fighting were ones who would be needing a flight out and if they could pay, Serenity could carry them.

Moving closer to the action Mal stopped as the crowd parted and a man came flying out through the air, landing in a crumpled heap where Mal had been standing not seconds before.

'Wuh de ma' Jayne voiced asthrough the gap in the crowd left by the flying man revealed the fighters. In front of him, currently being tackled from behind by one man as he punched another was Spike, the blonde from the bar. Jayne watched impressedas Spike's punch landed and sent the man flying to the ground, then easily leapt up to avoid the tackle, back flipping over the second man's head to land behind himand deliver a powerful kick to his back. The sound of bonescracking was heard throughout the group.

'Blondie!' Only when she shouted did Jayne see the brunette girl from the bar over to the right of the group, and god damn if she wasn't fighting as well. Her punches seemed as powerful as her male companions as she propelled an assailant over her shoulder to land heavily on the ground followed by a punishing foot to the stomach driving the wind out of him completely. Without pausing to consider the damage she had inflicted Faith ran towards Spike, using momentum from stamping on the crouched back of a man Spike had just dispatched, to leap into the air before landing in Spikes waiting arms. No sooner had he caught her, Spike began to spin, as he do so, Faith kicked out her feet, catching at least 4 of their combatants in the throat with the heels of her shoes.

As the front wave fell, Spike dropped Faith so she was standing on his left, both feet spread, ready to move on the next man who moved.

Jayne couldn't help but smile at the expression on both the fighters faces. They were grinning from ear to ear in pure enjoyment, clearly loving every minute of this brutal entertainment.

There were now at least half the group lying moaning on the floor but still the attackers came at the duo. Three went straight for Spike, whilst two lunged towards Faith, grunting their intentions as they came plundering at her. Spike was dealing with his three, dodging punches to let them land on other men, whilst outmanouvering them all. Faith jumped and twisted out of the way of grabbing hands, quickly dispatching the first to reach her with a hard body blow. The second proved a little better at fighting engaging her sufficiently so that she didn't notice a third man creeping round her side to move to attack her exposed back, but Jayne did and he didn't hesitate. He ran into the fray just as a vicious fist to the head brought Faith's second attacker to his knees. She sensed someone coming at her from her blind side, launching straight into a powerful roundhouse she turned in time to see the large merc from the bar tip the man upside down and bang his head into the ground.

Smirking, her leg raised infront of her 'You've got some moves big guy and I should know,' slowly lowering her leg 'I got plenty of my own.'

Jayne could do nothing but grin at her, leering at the body that had so adeptly dealt with the men now groaning on the ground around her.

A howl and the sound of a bone snapping brought Jayne and Faith's attention back to Spike as he dispatched the last of his attackers. Seeing the devastation the two had caused to the rest of their party the few remaining unharmed men fled the scene, leaving friends crawling as they themselves ran.

'Well blondie,' drawled Faith 'I just can't take you anywhere.' She said picking her way past unconscious bodies, Jayne a few steps behind her.

'Hey now, that aint fair pet, you know he started it' Spike pouted in reply 'sides weren't you just saying something about a bit of rough 'n' tumble?' he teased.

'That I was.' Faith replied a little wistfully, casting her eyes back over her shoulder to Jayne who was too busy surveying the damage done by the pair to notice the enticements she was offering.

Mal however did notice. He had also noticed how his merc had been grinning insanely at the woman as she fought thinking he was simply admiring the fight. He knew Jayne was a fan of a good scrap as much as he was, but the way he had just thrown himself coming to Faith's aid, he wondered whether it was something more about the brunette woman which had caught Jayne's eye. Clearly caught hers too though if the looks she was throwing Jayne's way were anything to go by.

'Well if it aint our old pals from Serenity. You folks alright?' enquired Spike

'Good thanks. See you've had an interesting night.' Mal replied, tipping his head in direction of the few groaning men on the floor 'old friends?'

'Could say that.' Spike smirked 'They took something precious from us and refused to give it back.'

'Imagine that'

'Yeah imagine'

'You seem to be one down… this something precious, I hope it weren't your lady' said Mal

'Nah. She is on retrieval, we were just holding back the tide so to speak. In fact we are supposed to be trying to sort out a lift, but seems we don't attract the kinda welcome which most folks would be happy with on their ship.' A slight frown crossed Spike's face.

'Could be we can help you there.' Zoe, who til now had been silent, walked forward to join the conversation, looking to Mal. 'River said we would find passengers sir, and here they are, only ones looking for an off.'

Mal could see the grin come over Jayne's face at the words and he understood it, what he didn't understand was Zoe's keenness to have them onboard. Usually she was nervous about new folks mixing with the crew, Mal wondered again at the interest she had shown in the bleached blonde man. Could it be the his first mate was fancying this stranger? As difficult as it seemed to believe, it was the only answer he could think of. Nonetheless if they had coin to fly, they would take em.

Turning back to face the two strangers he saw both Spike and Faith look up to the tree line, their expressions expectant. A few seconds later, Buffy came running out of the undergrowth, legs pumping as she glided over the ground at an astonishing pace. Slowing as she saw the Serenity crew, Buffy came to a halt besides Zoe acknowledging the other woman with a brusque nod.

'Got it.' She grinned at Spike and Faith 'poor guy didn't know what hit him.' Lifting her left hand she threw the long, thin, cloth wrapped bundle at Spike who caught it with ease. 'So we get a lift off this rock?' showing no surprise that the Serenity crew were here.

'We was just settling that. You got coin?' Mal asked

Buffy smiled, her hands searching the jacket she wore she came out with a handful of gold coins. 'This do?' Already knowing the answer the three travellers started the walk back to town and onto their new home for the next 3 days.