Title: We're going for a ride (5?)

Series: Creature of Extraordinary Grace

Author: Romanceguru

Disclaimer: Joss is boss, I am but a lowly subservient.

Rating: Pg-13

Summary: Our love triangle arrives on Persephone for a job.

Pairings: Mal/River/ Jayne/River

Notes: Post BDM 1yr+

Indebted always to my beta elsibet34 !

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The job went by without a hitch. That should have been the first sign something was about to go to the wayside. Coin and goods exchanged hands with out the haggling or the uncomfortable awkwardness that comes immediately before a double-cross. Weapons remained holstered and the Doc even got to keep his infirmary free of blood spatter.

Clandestine dealings almost never went smoothly. Perhaps that was just karma's way of retaining balance in the 'verse.

It was later that week during the drop on Persephone that River pulled Mal aside before entering Badgers den and spoke apprehensively. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to her, eyes wide and frightened. "Lets go back. Covetous eyes and a devious mind await."

"You know I love it when ya speak all cryptic like, but I'm gonna need that in captain dummy speak, lil' one."

"He'll want more. There is deceit." River whispered solemnly.

Mal smirked just a little and pressed further. "Always is. Got any specifics?"

River closed her eyes and tried to still her mind, dividing and separating the meshing of emotions and the consciousness of the souls surrounding her. Lightly touching on one, ten and a hundred until she found her destination but the details of Badger's intentions were veiled.

Mal watched in fascination as River seemed to leave the present, her body swaying slightly as whatever psyche left behind tried to balance her delicate form. A gentle breeze blew strands of angel soft hair across her face like dozens of ribbons, swirling and twisting to their own music.

She took his breath away and his heart struggled against the lack of oxygen. The normally sturdy captain wavered before he remembered the simple body function for life and sucked in a gallop of air.

Ai ya! He had to reclaim his professional detachment. He couldn't deal with a snake like Badger if he was busy being distracted by a little whisper of a girl.

Just then, River's eyes fluttered open, looking directly into Mal's, and then shamefully away. Her feelings of failure were evident as she spoke to the earth. "There's nothing. I'm sorry."

Mal took River's hand. "You really gotta to stop apologizing', lil' one. You're doin' the best with what's given. It's all any of us can do." He brought his hand up to her face and tucked those wild strands of hair behind her ear. "Just be vigilant. Don't want any undue violence. Too many alliance feds about." He squeezed her hand for reassurance and let go.

River could sense Zoë and Jayne in the distance making their way toward them. Hurriedly, she vied for the man's attention once again. "Mal."

The captain turned back from scouting the crowd for trouble and noticed the little albatross was agitated about something. "Somthin' come to you?"

"No. I just wanted…in case something happens." River gave up trying to verbalize her feelings and hastily flung her arms around the stunned captain's neck. Pressing her self fervently against him, she kissed him long and hard. When she pulled back, she cupped his face and looked at him unwaveringly. "I love you."

Mal felt the warmth of his blood flow to parts he had thought were long since dead. He smiled and returned her kiss uninhibitedly, moving his mouth deep and sensually against her soft lips.

To her it felt like heaven and she longed for it to remain that way as he pulled her close. Except, she could feel Hades approaching and she still hadn't decided if she wanted to burn with fire or float on air, so she pulled away just as Jayne and Zoë rounded the corner.

Jayne looked at her suspiciously but said nothing. In fact he had been respectfully keeping his distance. Waiting and watching. She could sense his tension and frustration growing in the days past like a time bomb ready for detonation.

Together they all entered the dank corridor into the shanty, filing in dutifully. As Jayne walked behind River he couldn't tear his eyes from her form, the fabric of her dress clinging tight and driving him mad with every step. She didn't walk; she glided on air. He found himself noticing these little peculiars more and more as of late.

Feeling the heat on her back, River turned and looked over her shoulder at the hulking merc and her inquisitive orbs bore into his. She felt a blush stain her cheeks as his wayward thoughts freely affronted her. Jayne just gave her his devious smile and she turned away before it could have further effect.

Mal took in the decrepit conditions of the small room. Holes riddled the decaying structure and it smelled of rancid curd. He hated doing business with the likes of Badger but crime was as scarce as honest employ theses days.

As soon as he saw the smug little bastard's face, all the past troubles came flooding back and he swore to himself this was the last deal he undertook with the little huang shu lang.

When they entered, Zoe and Jayne quickly scouted out the number of Badger's henchmen - there were five present- and what position to take stance in order to have some advantage. River stood off to Mal's right, silently trying to get a read of the barter's intentions. Zoë was to his left, looking stoically ahead while Jayne took up guard next to the corridor leading to the back room.

Badger had his feet propped up on his cluttered desk and he was smiling as if he hadn't a care in the world. "Well, if t'ain't my favorite smuggler in t'verse, Captain Reynolds."

Mal stood with his thumbs in his belt loops, unimpressed. "Do me a favor an' let's skip past the apple-polishin', Badger. Let's just get on to business so as we can'll be on are merry way."

"No need ta get tetchy, cap'n. That t'way you treat t'hand dat puts coin in yer pockets, eh?" Bader queried with a self-induced air.

Jayne let out a noise of distain. "Yeah, it's a wonder we don't come to ya more often wit what ya making us so wealthily an' all."

"We have all of us taken plenty o' risks. You know it ain't a one way deal, Badger." Mal tried to remain calm but the little bugger was getting under his skin and making him itch.

"Right, deal." Badger stood up suddenly remembering his intent. "Now that's where we need ta have ourselves a little chat."

"I ain't interested in talkin'. Deals been made an' the job was done without any color on our part. Far as I'm concerned, all's settled on." Mal said flatly.

Badger made his way over to stand face to face with Mal. "Don't want mor'n the bounty agreed. In fact, I'm willin' ta hand over the whole ball of was, if you agree ta my trade. See, there's somethin' more o' value I've been lookin' ta get my hands on."

River gasped as dishonorable thoughts spilled over, flooding her mind.

"Serenity is not for barter nor sale. An' she's sure in the hell worth more 'an your 40 if she were." Mal scoffed.

Badger moved next to River, eying her with filthy greed.

"Not dat girl, Reynolds. This one."

Mal was half anxious and half amused at where this was headed. "Ha! You must be out of your gourd if ya think I'd agree to that."

River shivered as she eyed the squat man wearily.

"Really didn't, you see." Bader motioned for his men and they stepped forward, large guns carefully trained at his guests' heads before any of them had a chance to un-holster. Badger smiled cockily. "Dat's where my colleagues come in handy."

Anger and rage flooded her vision, and it was not her own. River stepped backwards, wanting to run from the room, because it was suddenly very cramped. She was in the box again and there was no air; needed sweet oxygen to breath, to live.

Jayne had been watching the exchange, silently clenching his teeth but his patience was short-lived. "Dumb-ass chode! You better pray I don't get liberty 'cause when I git my hands on yer scrawny hide, yer gonna be breathin' outta yer back side!"

"Jayne, let the captian handle this." Counseled Zoe, she knew once Jayne got going there was no returning and the room was too small to avoid catastrophe.

River brought her palms to her forehead in frustration. Why couldn't she shut them out and focus? They would need her, soon. The room was spinning and the situation was coming to a culmination in more ways than one.

"I ain't letting' him take her, Zoë, an' you know it." The mercenary hissed through his teeth while crossly eying the man holding a high-powered gun to his temple.

River looked at Jayne and her heart ceased it's beat.

Badger stopped leering at the girl long enough to look up at the seething merc, rather amused. "I'm sorry. Am I intrudin' on true love? Didn't know large, angry brutes like yerself had dat sort o' capacity."

Oh, god this was it.

Forgetting the immediacy of the situation, Mal looked hard at Jayne to find him eying River acutely. The manner in which he was looking at the girl was more than instinctual protectiveness. Intensity blazed behind his stone cold eyes like none he'd ever seen before. "This true, Jayne? Somethin' goin' on I don't know 'bout?"

Jayne shifted his gaze to Mal's and resolutely stated. "Yeah Mal, there is."

TBC…

Weasel - huang shu lang