Beaumonde seemed different since the last time Serenity had been there, and Malcolm Reynolds sensed it acutely. The streets were still crowded, but he noticed that there were less Feds tramping over them. Many of the monitors that hung above the streets were off, and more than a few had been smashed, glass littering the ground under them.
Jayne stopped abruptly, a hand gesturing to the broken glass. "What do you suppose that's about?"
"Heard there were riots," Zoe said, stepping up next to him. "After we sent out that broad wave about Miranda."
Jo's eyes widened as she looked at Zoe and then Mal. "That was you?"
The Captain nodded but continued walking, forcing the others to quicken their pace. Jo hurried to keep up with his quick strides.
"Even I saw that, but I didn't get to see much before Rawley realized I wasn't where I was supposed to be." She was all but running to keep up with him and placed a hand on his arm. "Will you slow down?"
Realizing how quickly he'd been moving, Mal slowed his pace to a steady walk and glanced at the woman next to him, her cheeks crimson from keeping up with him.
"Thank you." She let her hand drop from his arm and looked at him out of the corner of her eye as they continued walking. "Will you tell me about Miranda?"
He shook his head, not looking at her. "Not today."
Josephine wasn't surprised at his unwillingness to speak on the subject. What she had glimpsed briefly on Rawley's monitor had been horrifying. She was however, surprised to hear the sorrow in his voice at the subject and she dearly hoped he, or one of the crew, would tell her about it some day.
"Ain't we goin' to the Maiden Head?" Jayne called from behind Mal as they passed the bar they had been to last time.
The Captain shook his head again, still looking forward. "Fanty and Mingo won't go there anymore, seem to think it ain't safe ever since..." he trailed off, and Jo thought she saw him smile slightly.
"Since River went all super woman and trashed the place," Jayne finished for him.
Mal nodded, turning his head towards Jo. He could see the wheels turning in her head, a frown upon her face. "You gonna ask about that?"
She shrugged. "You wouldn't tell me about Miranda, I assume that means you aren't going to tell me about this either, so why ask?"
"Good point," he said, still smiling a bit. "I think this is it." He pointed to a small, decrepit looking building a few feet ahead of them. The sign hanging above the door was so weathered, half of it broken off, that the name of the establishment couldn't be read.
Zoe glanced at the boarded up windows dubiously. "Don't look respectable enough for Fanty and Mingo."
"Hmmm. Maybe they've grown humble," Mal said, grinning, as he held the door open and ushered the others inside.
Jo realized at once why Mal was grinning. The inside looked nothing like she would expect, having seen the outer walls. The floor was lined in some sort of plush red fabric, that matched the chairs scattered over the room. The table tops were a handsome mahogany color and matched the bar that took up the entire left side of the room. The patrons were dressed well, giving the impression of wealth, and Serenity's crew stood out as they waited by the door. It was crowded, almost unbearably so, and the noise that reached Jo's ears was overwhelming. She was surprised they couldn't hear it from the street and Mal, reading her expression leaned in close to her ear to be heard.
"There's something in the walls. Makes it sound proof."
She nodded and followed the others to the back of the room, where two men, identical in appearance and dress, were waving casually from the only empty table.
"Fanty, Mingo." Mal glanced at each of them before shaking their hands hesitantly and Jo got the impression that he didn't really trust them.
The Captain sat first, his back to the wall, giving him a clear view of the room and door. Zoe and Jayne sat on either side of him, leaving Josephine to take a seat next to the twins. She scooted her chair over, closer to the people she came with, leaving the twins alone on their side. Mal watched her curiously as her eyes roamed over the room, looking closely at each of it's occupants. She felt Mal looking at her and let her gaze drop to the table top. A waiter came at Fanty's raised hand, and even he was dressed fashionably, the only clue to his occupation a small black apron tied around his waist. The others ordered whiskey while Jo asked for water, getting the twins attention for the first time. She shifted uncomfortably under their combined gaze, but thankfully the waiter was back with their drinks in a matter of seconds. The Captain cleared his throat, and Fanty and Mingo shifted their attentions to him, smiling broadly.
"So Mal, we haven't heard much of you these last few months," Fanty said.
"Staying out of trouble for once?" Mingo added.
The Captain sipped his drink quietly before answering. "Oh you know me, like things boring."
The twins laughed together, making Mal frown. "Oh yes. Malcolm Reynolds leads a quiet life."
"Well I try to, anyway." He glanced at Josephine quickly, surprised to see her eyes wandering over the crowd again. If he didn't know any better, he'd say she was looking for something. He turned back to Fanty and Mingo, anxious to get rid of them and ask Jo what she was doing. "And if it's all the same to you, I'd like to do the deal and get back to tryin'."
They smiled again and shared a knowing look. "All right precious, calm down. Lets see what you brought us," Mingo spoke condescendingly.
Mal shook his head. "Lets see the money first."
"Very well." Fanty gestured to a man Mal hadn't seen at first, and he came over, a small satchel in his hands. He sat it down in front of the Captain and left quickly as Mal opened it. He stuck his hand in, not counting it, but rifling through some of the bills. Everything seemed to be in order, so he nodded at Zoe to place the pouch on the table. The twins opened it, eyes widening at the large diamond inside. They closed it quickly and Mingo tucked it inside his vest before turning back to Mal.
"I'm impressed, but I'm not going to ask how you came to possess the Catharsis Stone," Fanty said, eyes turning to Josephine. He regarded her a moment, before sharing another look with his brother. They both turned to look at Mal.
"She's new," Mingo nodded his head in Jo's direction. "Looks familiar though." They turned to Josephine again, who stared at the table to avoid their gaze. "Have we met?"
"Just new crew," Mal spoke quickly, taking another drink and watching the way the twins glanced at her curiously. He leaned across Zoe, getting Jo's attention. "Why don't you go get another water." He pointed to an empty stool at the bar that was still in his line of sight and she got up quickly, eyes downcast, to do as he said.
The twins watched her walk to the bar and turned back to Mal, eyebrows raised. "New crew huh?"
"Yup." Mal smiled at them briefly. "We done here?"
They grinned at his attempt to change the subject, but let it drop. "We are." They stood up quickly, Mingo patting the bulge in his vest. "Pleasure, as always." The twins disappeared through a door in the back, much to the Captain's relief. He was surprised things had gone so smoothly, and was still searching for the catch when Zoe startled him.
"We goin'?"
"Lets finish our drinks. Don't want to draw attention to ourselves by leaving right after they do." He took another sip of his drink, and glanced at the bar, thinking to call Josephine back, but what he saw stopped him in his tracks, almost causing the glass to slip from his hand.
She was perched on her bar stool, leaning towards a short, stocky man Mal had never seen, but who was now standing right next to her. Her lips were almost touching his ear as she whispered to him and Mal watched as her left hand slipped something discreetly into his pocket. The stranger took her hand briefly and nodded to her, before slipping away into the crowd. The Captain couldn't stop his mind from wondering to the many possible ways she might be setting him up, and he slammed his glass onto the table, startling Zoe and Jayne.
"Son of a bitch..." He tossed the bag of money to Zoe, ignoring her confused look, before jumping to his feet and heading to the bar. He grabbed Josephine by the arm and pulled her forcibly off the stool and into the street, paying no attention to the looks the patron's were giving him and hoping Zoe and Jayne were following.
"What the hell are you doing!" Jo struggled to free herself but his grip was like steel and he was moving so quickly she practically had to run to keep him from dragging her.
"Bi zui." He spoke softly, but she could here the anger in his voice. She glanced behind her to see Jayne and Zoe hurrying to keep up, confusion plain on their faces.
"You're hurting me." Josephine tried reasoning with him but he ignored her and the people on the streets, who were looking at him oddly.
The Captain didn't let go of her arm until they were back on Serenity, then he flung it away from him as though it were something dangerous before rounding on her. "Go crazy huh? What in the diyu were you doin'? I won't be sold out by anyone!" He backed her into a corner, nostrils flaring angrily, as Zoe and Jayne came up the ramp. Zoe hit the controls to close the door, but hovered near it, watching them closely, apprehension clouding her features.
"If you would just calm down and let me explain." Jo held her hands in front of her, unsure if Mal would try to grab her again.
He waved his hand dismissively. "Don't even try to tell me that was a chance encounter, some old friend. I'm not stupid, that had all the fixin's of being prearranged"
"No one said you were stupid Mal..."
"No," he stepped closer to her threateningly, "You're just implying it by lying to my face!"
He glared at her, only a few inches away, but she couldn't return it. He was right, she had lied to him, and Jo didn't feel like she had any moral high ground to stand on.
"Sir?" Zoe's voice cut through some of the tension and Mal turned to his first mates worried glance.
"Tell River to get us in the air." Zoe nodded and made her way hesitantly up the stairs.
Mal turned back to where Josephine was standing, but she wasn't there. She had slipped away quietly while Zoe had his attention and Mal saw her retreat down the passenger corridor.
"I don't think so," he muttered as he hurried after her. "We are not done here," he called out loudly just as she was about to slide open the door to her room.
Sighing heavily, she turned around and leaned against the closed door, crossing her arms over her chest. "Are you going to yell some more, or can I explain?"
The Captain frowned at her as he leaned against the opposite wall, mirroring her arms. "Don't know how I'm to believe it... but go ahead."
She stared at him thoughtfully for a moment. "It's kind of a long story."
"Sum it up," Mal said through clenched teeth.
This almost made her laugh but she didn't think Mal would take kindly to it, and simply nodded before beginning. "The last time I got away I was only out for a few days. I tried hiding out in a really nasty part of town, where everyone was either petty criminals or, well... hiding out from somebody like Rawley. Anyway, I met this man who claimed he used to work for Rawley and he knew all about me and the other girls."
"I'm surprised he was still alive, if what you say about Rawley is true." Mal regarded her curiously, clearly interested in what she had to say.
"So was I, believe me. But the point is he wanted to help me... if I'd agree to help him."
"You made a deal?"
She nodded, shifting against the wall. "He was in some underground organization then, I didn't ask, and he wanted me to give him inside information. You know... stuff like where people slept, how many guards, security systems, where the valuable were kept, that sort of thing."
It was Mal's turn to nod. He'd needed that sort of information for a few jobs before too. "What was he going to do for you?"
"When his people were inside, I can only assume stealing from Rawley, they would make sure to get the other girls out and to somewhere safe." She looked at the floor, her voice getting softer. "I agreed right away, I mean some of those girls had been their longer than I had... Of course I didn't have all the information he needed, but luckily," she looked back up at Mal, bitterness in her voice, "we never got a chance to plan anything cause Rawley found me out that same day. But I started looking out for the sort of things this guy would need while I was back, so that if I got out again I could give it to him."
"That was who you were meeting back there?" Mal looked as though he was believing her, despite the fact that he didn't want to.
"Yes. When I found out we were going to Beaumonde, I snuck into one of the shuttles and waved Nash. That's his name, Nash. I know I shouldn't have lied to you, I just..."
"Were you gonna go with him, to make sure the girls got out?"
She was startled by his interruption, and couldn't hide the guilty look that crept across her face. "No. I won't risk being taken by him again to save the others. I'm not that noble."
The Captain regarded her quietly for a moment, surprised by her honesty but hurt that she couldn't just tell him this in the first place. "Why didn't you just tell me about the meeting in the beginning, you don't trust me?"
"I don't trust anyone Mal, it's not personal. Besides, I didn't want to involve you or the crew any more than I had to. I thought you'd want it that way."
He looked down at his chest, speaking softly. "We're already involved." He looked back up quickly, catching her eyes with his own. "I'm already involved."
She stared at the floor, blushing slightly under his gaze. Josephine heard him step away from the wall and saw his boots appear next to hers, but she didn't look back up. She felt and saw his hand touch her chin, gently coaxing her to raise her head before resting on her cheek. Jo found herself looking back into a face that was inches from her own and her eyes widened as she let out a ragged breath.
"What are you doing?" Her cheek burned under his touch and she couldn't stop her voice from being shaky, but she was surprised to hear panic there. "Mal, I wouldn't even know where to begin..." She reached behind her, feeling for the latch on the door.
"I'm not askin' you to begin anything, I'm just..." He trailed off, just as confused of his intentions as she was.
Her hand finally connected with the latch and she opened it quickly and stepped back into the room. Mal's hand still hung in mid-air and she watched it fall to the side again before meeting his gaze.
"Don't," she whispered, almost inaudibly, and slid the door shut.