Jayne stared into the infirmary window, his nose pressed against the glass and a confused expression upon his face. "Where did she go?"

"Simon moved her into one of the passenger dorms a little earlier," Zoe answered him, her voice strained from pulling one of Rawley's heavy crates out of it's hiding place. "Are you going to help me with these?"

Frowning slightly, Jayne walked to the side of the cargo bay where the first mate was waiting for him, arms folded across her chest. "I don't see why we're doing this," he said as they lifted the first sizable piece of cargo and began to carry it towards Serenity's main entrance.

"River seems to think we'll be on Acorus tomorrow, but I don't know how she managed to make a trip that should of taken the better part of a week take only four days." Zoe shook her head in disbelief. "The Captain thinks it would be better to have everything ready to go before we land." They set the crate down, breathing heavily. "He wants to unload, get the other half of our payment, and get off that rock as quickly as possible... just in case."

The tall man shook his head sharply as they went for the next piece. "That ain't what I meant. I don't understand why we're letting that woman stay on the ship. Didn't Mal learn nothing from River and Simon?" They picked up the next crate and began moving it. "All he ever gets is trouble, trying to help someone. And she can't even pay," he sulked.

Zoe frowned at him. "Well she was part of the cargo, originally. And we're getting paid to transport that."

"Yeah, but she ain't getting off with it," he snapped. "She'll latch on to this boat, just like Simon and River did, and never wanna get off." He let go of his end quickly, causing Zoe to drop Rawley's goods roughly.

She gave him a withering glance. "I don't remember you being so concerned about payment when we were helping those girls at the Heart of Gold."

The mercenary raised his eyebrows, a lascivious smile on his face. "Oh I got paid plenty of times for that bit of helpin'... just not in anything that spends."

She shook her head in disgust as they went back for the third crate.

"And besides," Jayne began as they lifted together, "I doubt this Josephine is gonna sex me at all. Not that I'd want her too, mind, covered in scars like that ain't so attractive." He stopped walking suddenly, making Zoe stumble with the box. "Pretty-ish sort of face though..." he looked thoughtful, as if he were considering it.

Zoe shifted abruptly, giving Jayne most of the crate's weight to hold, and pushed the sharp edge firmly into his stomach.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?" Zoe stared at him, a murderous look in her eyes, until he got the hint and kept walking backwards. He moved the last two in silence, not speaking for fear of inciting Zoe's wrath.

Jayne dropped heavily onto the last crate, his forehead beaded with sweat, as Zoe placed the cover back over the secret cavity in the ship's wall. He turned to look at her, and odd expression on his face. "Hey, why do you suppose her face is still pretty anyway? I mean if he didn't have a problem cutting up the rest of her..."

She regarded him uncomfortably for a moment before answering. "Mal said Jo told him she was Rawley's actual wife, in society I mean." She spoke softly. "I'm guessing he hasn't cause there's no easy way to hide that. The way she is now, well you can't see any scars when she's dressed. People would start to talk if your wife kept showing up with fresh bruises and cuts on her face," she said, her voice filled with revulsion.

"So," Jayne continued, "you think he shows that kinda restraint with his other eight wives?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. But if I had to guess I'd say no. Josephine said they never left his estate, so there would be no reason for that shi kuai fei hua qi gou to hold back."

Jayne stared at her a long moment before standing up. "That's... Well that's..." he put his hand out to Zoe, looking for the right words to describe what he was feeling.

She nodded at him. "It is indeed." He looked at her a moment longer before nodding and turning to head for his bunk. As she watched the mercenary walk away, Zoe smiled softly. She had the sneaking suspicion that despite his protestations about payment and troubles, Jayne would be more than willing to help Josephine and the others should the need arise.

Josephine stuck her head out of the passenger corridor slowly, looking in every direction for one of Serenity's crew. The hour was late and everyone should have been in bed, but she still didn't want to wander into anyone and get chastised for ignoring Simon's orders to stay in her room and rest. She had been roused from a fitful sleep by a deep pain in her stomach, and was shocked to realize how little she had eaten in the last few days. Feeling a twinge of guilt but satisfied that she was alone she made her way quietly up the metal stairs which led to, she could only assume, a kitchen of some sort. She moved slowly, one hand gripping the hand rail, determined not to overexert herself. Jo new that if the Doctor found her worse off in the morning than she was when he left her, that he would be angry, and she didn't want him angry at her. She had come to respect Simon very much during her short time in his care and was exceedingly grateful for all he had done for her.

Breathing heavily and clutching her back, she rested at the top of the stairs, taking this time to look over her new surroundings. Turning to her left she could hear the gentle hum of the ships engine as it rotated steadily, propelling them onward. The engine room was dark, except for a few lights that seemed to stay on through the night, and she could just make out a small hammock propped up in the corner. "This must be where Kaylee spends most of her time," she whispered to herself. Grinning suddenly, she continued, " Well, at least when she isn't with Simon." Although she hadn't seen them together much, she could see the affection plain on their faces when they were near each other, or even when one spoke of the other. Her grin faded to a small smile as she turned in the opposite direction and began walking up the corridor.

This must be where the crew sleeps, she thought as she absently traced a path across the wall with her hand as she walked. Josephine stepped lightly, taking extra care to be quiet, so as not to wake them. Her plan was almost ruined, however, when she saw the decorations and festive lights around what could only be Kaylee's bunk. Clapping a hand over her mouth to stop laughing out loud, she hurried past it and up a few more stairs to stand in the doorway of the dining area.

Like the engine room, the kitchen was dim, but she was still able to see into it. She stopped for a moment, listening for any sounds from within before entering. Content that she was alone, she made her way to the row of shelves and drawers, opening each haphazardly, searching for something edible.

"Didn't I hear Simon tell you not to be wandering around by yourself?"

She jumped immediately, dropping the protein packet she clutched in her hand, and whirling around to find the voice. Her eyes found Mal, sitting in the far corner of the room, immersed in shadows. "Wode ma." She raised a hand to her eyes, closing them tightly for a moment, before glaring in the Captain's general direction. "You should have made your presence known when I first came in. You shouldn't have let me think I was alone in here." She bent down slowly, grimacing slightly at the small pain in her back, and retrieved the lost protein she'd been about to eat. Holding the packet up so Mal could make it out in the dim light she asked, "Can I have this?" He nodded slowly and she walked cautiously towards the table, across from where he was sitting with a small jug and glass in front of him. She could faintly smell the acrid liquor that he had been drinking. "May I sit?" She bobbed her head in the direction of the chair waiting for him to answer. At his slight nod, she sat and opened the packet, doing her best to ignore the questioning glance he was giving her.

"You never answered my question."

Jo was about to take a small bite, but stopped abruptly to look up at him. "What question?"

The Captain frowned at her. "Didn't the Doctor tell you not to move about by yourself?"

She smiled softly, as though pleased with herself. "Yeah he did."

"Then why are you up here? You were supposed to get him if you needed anything, I was there when he gave you that com." His frown deepened and he shifted in his seat. "Ain't no good for Simon to keep fixing you only for you to mess all his work up the next minute."

Her smile faded quickly, until her frown matched his own. "I wasn't the one that ruined his work last time." Jo's voice was icy and Mal let his eyes drop to the cup in his hand. "And besides," she began, her voice lighter all of the sudden, "it's late and there's no use in bothering Simon just cause I'm hungry... or Kaylee for that matter." Mal's eyes widened as he met her own. He raised the cup to his lips, a question plain on his face. "Lets just say, Simon shouldn't keep that com in his pocket... especially when he's with Kaylee." The Captain coughed suddenly, putting his hand over his mouth to keep from spitting out his drink. "I thought it best not to interrupt," Jo continued, grinning at his discomfort.

They sat together in silence for a few moments while he regained his composure and she ate quietly. Stealing quick glances at the Captain when he wasn't looking, Jo saw that he looked tired and troubled some how. She desperately wanted to ask why he would sit at the table drinking, in the dark, while everyone else was sleeping, but remained silent. She was afraid she already knew the answer, and didn't want to hear him admit that he was concerned about her presence on the ship. She had her own reservations about being here, but she had tried to give them an out. The Captain had refused, but it didn't feel right somehow, taking these peoples help, when she hardly knew them. Sighing softly, she picked up another piece of the protein, picking at it gently. He probably has his own demons, keeping him awake, she pondered thoughtfully.

He reached forward suddenly, breaking her quiet reverie, as he picked up the jug to refill his cup. She caught a glimpse of his coat thrown over the back of his chair and she thought she understood. "Did you fight in the war, with the independents?"

He met her gaze, his expression somewhat taken aback, but he smiled gently before answering. "Is it that obvious?"

Nodding her head towards the coat behind him, she said, "You don't see those much anymore."

He glanced behind him at the brown coat. "No, I guess you don't." Shifting slightly, he raised a hand to rub his tired eyes as he regarded her. "I was in the war."

"And the crew, were they in the war too?"

He shook his head slightly. "Just me and Zoe. We fought together."

"You must have been together a long time then," she spoke quietly, eyes widening as she imagined the kind of loyalty it must take to stay with someone for so long.

"We have," he stated bluntly, indicating that he wasn't going to talk about it.

Taking the hint, she moved on. "So the others, how did they come to be here?"

Mal glanced at her, suspicion plain on his face. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious, is all. You seem like such a tightly knit bunch." She crossed her arms over her stomach. "If you don't want to tell me that's fine."

He stared at her for a moment, and she could see the gears turning in his head, silently debating over whether or not she could be trusted before he began to speak. "Jayne was a mercenary, still is if truth be told. He was working for some people trying to bring us down." He paused at her startled expression. "But we convinced him it was better on our side." He smiled softly as he remembered.

"With money?"

"And his own bunk," he said defensively, but she could see that it amused him. "We picked Kaylee up not soon after." He laughed suddenly, quick and joyous. "The first time I saw her she was practically naked and pressed up against the engine room wall by Serenity's previous mechanic." His eyes sparkled at Jo's astonished look. "She was able to get her runnin' when Bester had us stranded for more than a week. I hired her on the spot and sent Bester packin'."

Josephine smiled. It sounded like something the lighthearted mechanic would do. "And Simon and River? They're brother and sister right?"

He looked at her sharply, his manner defensive again. "They are. Nothing personal, but it might be best that you don't know much about their past, for the time being at least." He shifted uncomfortably. "Lets just say we got a good medic and a pilot out of it."

Jo tilted her head to the side, regarding him curiously. "Fair enough." A peaceful quiet stretched between them and she let her eyes wonder around the table, mentally placing each of Serenity's crew in one of the seats. When she was finished, she turned back to the Captain, perplexed. There were three chairs unaccounted for, including the one she was currently using. "Why do you have so many extra chairs?" Her tone was innocent but she saw him flinch inwardly at her question.

He seemed lost suddenly, as if he didn't know why there were so many chairs either. He blinked at her a few times, taken unawares by her question, and exhaled slowly. "We used to have more... passengers and crew." Jo could see him struggling to find the right words, his face slightly pained. It seemed a sore subject and she opened her mouth, trying to tell him he didn't need to go on if it was difficult, but no sound came out. She was surprised at how curious she was, to know what could cause Mal so much grief.

He looked at her, eyes unfocused. "We used to have a shepherd travel with us."

"A shepherd, really?" She couldn't hide her amazement. This ship seemed the last place a shepherd would stay. "And where is he now?"

Heaven, Mal thought absently, if there is such a place. "He... passed away, not long ago," he answered her softly.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered.

He went on as if he hadn't heard her, voice catching slightly. "Zoe's husband was with us too. He was the pilot, before River. He died not long after the Shepherd..."

Josephine said nothing, she stared at Mal, her mouth open slightly in awe. This man has seen so much death, she thought. He must have, in the war, she was sure of that. But then his own people... She reached out to him, placing her hand over his on the table. She felt him tense under her touch, and he looked down at her hand as though he didn't know what it was. She pulled back quickly, her cheeks turning red at her sudden display of emotion. Mal's eyes lingered on the spot where her hand had just been, an odd look stretched over his features, before raising his eyes to meet her own.

They sat this way for a moment, staring at each other unsurely, before Jo looked away and cleared her throat. "That still leaves one more," she spoke quietly.

He looked at her a moment longer before continuing. "We..uh... I used to rent the shuttle to a... companion." He looked down at the oak table. "She would occasionally take her meals with us," he spoke softly, but edged with sarcasm.

Jo's eyes widened at his tone, and she knew better than to press him for more information. She wouldn't get any. A silence fell over them once again and she started to get up and say goodnight, but he stopped her. "I've answered your questions." His tone had become harsh. "Now I have a few of my own."

She raised both her eyebrows, but sat back down, gesturing for him to go ahead.

"How did you end up with Rawley?" Now it was her turn to flinch. Frankly, she didn't see how it was any of his business. But he did have a point, he had answered her questions, despite the pain it caused him. The least she could do was answer his, but she didn't have to like it.

She leaned back slowly, crossing her arms over her chest. "My parents died when I was eleven. I went to live with my Aunt Caroline, she was the only family I had left." He nodded encouragingly for her to continue. "She owned a farm on Sydney, have you been there?" Mal shook his head, surprised to see her face light up as she mentioned the moon. "It's beautiful there, very lush. Not like some of these moons on the rim. You should stop there sometime, if you're in the area."

"Maybe I will." He smiled at her enthusiasm. "I take it you liked it there?"

"I did, but not at first. My parents had just died, and I hardly knew my Aunt. It eventually became home though." Her expression grew wistful, as if she were wishing she were there now. "I used to love getting up early in the morning and help them take the cattle out to graze. And Oh..." she clapped her hands together suddenly, making Mal jump a bit, "the gardens were amazing! We grew everything you could think of."

The Captain gave her a confused look. "Why would you leave a place you obviously loved so much?"

Josephine's cheerful face turned somber before his eyes, and he instantly regretted bringing it up. "That was only the beginning. The last few years everything changed. Crops stopped growing properly, so we had less to sell. Because we had less money people were getting fired left and right, people that had been there years before I ever came." She looked down at her hands. "Eventually, we started slaughtering our own cows for food. And then when Caroline died..." she trailed off, unshed tears making her eyes moist. She remained silent for a moment and when she spoke again her voice was barely a whisper. "The investors decided to sell the property, since it wasn't making any money." She raised her head to look at Mal. "Rawley was one of them. I'd seen him before of course, he would come out to see how things were running, check on his investment you know? He always seemed so polite and he liked me, I could tell. It was just such a hard time, I was seventeen and I had no where else to go." She shook her head, clearly trying to justify herself. "I'd never taken care of my self before and I was so heartbroken... and he was actually kind to me at first." She paused suddenly, chewing her bottom lip in thought. "Well anyway, we were married within a week and we left for Persephone that same day."

Mal looked at her for a moment, concern evident on his face. "You were seventeen?" She nodded. "How old are you now?"

"I turned twenty-five right before I left."

Mal cursed under his breath. "You were with him for seven years?" He shook his head. "And seventeen... that's awful young to tie yourself down to someone, especially someone so much older than you." He had met Rawley, and he couldn't be any younger than fifty now, which meant he was in his mid-forties when he married her.

"I know, I was stupid. I just wanted some place to go, to feel safe again, I guess." She thought for a moment. "I know seventeen was young, but he's married younger since. I don't think any of his wives have been of age when he married them actually." She looked down again, voice soft. "It's easier for him to be sure that way. Sure that they've never been... touched."

The Captain's eyes widened as it dawned on him exactly what she was saying. "You mean you had never... you were...?" He couldn't form the words some how, but Josephine understood what he was asking.

She had forced the tears away and her eyes had become hostile instead. "Yes. I've been raped... I've never made love, cause you'd have to be able to feel love for that right? Hell, I've never even had sex, not really... not without being afraid." The words fell from her lips as though she had just tasted something bitter.

He regarded her quietly for a moment, trying to push back the rage that was threatening to explode through his skin. He didn't want Josephine to see that, it wasn't directed at her. Absently and without thinking he said, "Can you know the difference between the two, if you've never experienced them?"

She gave him a startled look. "I don't know. I've never thought about it." They sat there together for a short while, neither one speaking. Slowly, Josephine got to her feet. "I should get back. I don't want Simon to come check on me and find I've been out of bed."

Mal studied her a moment before leaning back in his chair, a finger casually scratching his cheek. "Yeah, you're right. Doc wouldn't be too happy."

She nodded to him and walked towards the door stiffly. The Captain watched her go quietly, still fighting the fury that threatened to creep out his very pores. He realized suddenly and with a start, that he had never been so ferociously certain of anything before: if Mal saw Bryce Rawley again, and somewhere in the pit of his stomach he knew he would have that displeasure, he wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet through the man's brain.