Their passenger arrived a little later. He wore a very expensive suit and was about five feet tall. He carried only a briefcase while a man behind him carried a huge suitcase. He went up to Mal and shook his hand.

"Hello Captain."

Mal nodded and told Jayne to take the bags to the guest room. Jayne grumbled but did as he was told.

"Colorful staff Captain."

"Maybe, but they know their jobs."

"No need to defend them Captain. This is exactly what I wanted."

"Let me introduce the rest."

Mal led him to the galley where the crew gathered to be told their part in these new jobs. He introduced everyone to the man who introduced himself as William Danforth the third. He didn't notice Jayne's scoff at his name. Mal dismissed the crew watched as William went up to Jia who had stayed in the galley to cook dinner.

"I don't suppose you would be able to make anything I would request."

Jia looked up, "I can make anything we have the ingredients for."

"So no salmon I suspect."

Jia chuckled, "Not exactly."

"Oh well, no matter. What are you making?"

"Potato soup with ham."

"And what exactly is that?"

Jia looked at him and realized he wasn't kidding. "Just sit down Mr. Danforth and I will show you in about a half an hour."

He sat down at the table and sat as straight as Jia had ever seen anyone sit. "I await your teaching Ms. Mason."

"Good memory, I'm just Jia though."

"Then you must call me William."

"Deal."

They conversed about many subjects over the next hour while she cooked and William ate. Mal sat and watched with limited interest. Finally he had to ask the questions on his mind.

"So why you going to Mirasol in a transport ship?"

"I wanted to see what it was like to travel like everyone else. I don't usually get this freedom. I just retired from my job as a bookkeeper."

"Used to luxury liners and the like?"

"Yes, but they never impressed me. Too much pomp and circumstance. I like honesty." He gestured around him. "This is honesty. Real people. I love it."

Jia smiled, "Never heard it put that way."

"I like to put things as succinctly as I can Ms. Jia."

Mal directed his attention back to him, "And particular reason you retired?"

"If you want to know if I'm a wanted man Captain the answer is no."

Mal put his hands up, "I ain't never said..."

"I understand your confusion, but I am a simple businessman with simple wants and needs. Right now I want to retire on Mirasol and I want to get there as low profile as I can. If I went there on a luxury liner, everyone would know I was coming and staying. I just want to be left alone."

"I can understand that. Sounds reasonable."

He got up, "If you will excuse me Captain, I am tired from my trip so far. I believe I will return to my room at this time."

He left with a slight bow to Jia. Mal looked at his cook.

"If you wanted to alienate him Captain I believe you have accomplished your goal."

"You gotta admit there is somethin different about his little tale there."

"Not any more than anyone else we've encountered."

"And those 'encounters' always end up in someone bein' shot, and that ain't gonna be me this time."

"You would rather it be one of us?"

Mal shrugged, "Maybe Jayne."

Jia laughed, "You would not like him to get shot."

"You can't prove that."

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The next two days on the trip to Mirasol were very uneventful. Mr. Danforth stayed to himself after his encounter with Mal. The shipment had turned out to be one crate of protein. Mal had decided to go ahead with the plan as is even though the shipment was much smaller than anticipated. Zoe and Mal were in the cargo bay arguing over who would be going in the shuttle.

"Sir, I can make this drop just as easily as you can."

"You are on leave remember? You ain't going anywhere. Spend some time with Wash's friends."

Zoe groaned, "Have you ever met them sir?"

"Once."

"Then you know they are..."

"Total idiots, but, they are fun. And your husbands friends."

"Please don't change the subject sir. We were discussing who would go in the shuttle."

"And I said it will be me and whoever else wants to go."

"We don't know what kind of place you are landing in. Captain, it's not safe. At least take Jayne."

"I've tried over the past two days to keep Jayne and Mr. Pompous away from each other. I am not going to purposely put them in the same shuttle."

"Then take Jia with you if you won't let me come along."

"I don't see a good reason to. The guy may be useless, but he is harmless."

"You don't know that for sure sir."

"You don't think I can protect myself?"

"I know you can, sir. I just want someone else there."

"Give me one good reason."

Zoe sighed, "I want to get paid sir. The last conversation you had with our passenger he went into his room and never came out. She can act as a buffer between you two."

"You mean keep me from saying anything stupid?"

"Take that however you want it sir."

"Fine, I will take the cook along with me. It's only two days ride there and back I don't see the big deal."

"That's two days one way. Four days total sir."

"Thank you for the math lesson."

"Sir, I..."

"Forget it, I'll take her with me if it will shut you up."

"Thank you sir."

"You owe me one. Make sure no one gets killed while I'm gone and we are square."

"No problem, sir."

Mal walked off to prepare for the trip. If the shipment didn't need to be at it's destination in two days, he wouldn't even consider this side trip. But he wanted to get rid of his passenger. Despite what he said, the man did make Mal uneasy. He wasn't going to trust this guy with anyone else, but he had promised to take Jia. After all, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad plan.

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The shuttle was loaded up with supplies and Mr. Danforth's luggage. Jia had given last minute instructions to Kaylee about the food, and Mal had given last minute instructions to Zoe. They were off without much fuss. The trip was horrible for all involved. Mal wasn't speaking a whole lot to William, and William wasn't going out of his way to talk to Mal. Which left Jia in the middle. She took it upon herself to keep the peace. She didn't want to ignore either man. William was the passenger, and Mal was her boss. Jia figured she had the whole return trip to talk to Mal so she focused on entertaining William.

William was an uptight but nice man, although a bit naive about the outside world. They talked about his plans for his retirement and pretty much any subject Jia could think of. It turned out to be a very long two days.

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Upon reaching their destination, Mal couldn't get rid of William fast enough. He set him up with a ride to his new home and got his money for the trip. They took off without so much as a goodbye.

Jia wasn't happy about that, or anything else over the last two days. It was the morning of the third day when she finally spoke. It was one days journey from the drop off point and one and a half days away from the rendevous point. They were still traveling in atmo. Mal had sped to the drop off sight so they were ahead of schedule. She approached the pilots seat where he was sitting.

"Are you going to say anything to me?"

"Nope."

She turned around and walked to the back of the shuttle. Mal got up with a sigh.

"What am I supposed to say to you?"

"Maybe how you're sorry for leaving me to talk to Will the whole way here."

"So it's Will now."

"We kinda got to know each other. Didn't have much else to do."

"What was I supposed..."

Their argument was interrupted when the shuttle was rocked violently to the side. The power went out with a sizzling sound. Mal ran back to the console to see what he could do, but the ground was coming up fast.

"Hold on to something!"

The ship plummeted to the ground. When it was about to hit the ground the shuttle suddenly stopped and touched down lightly. The second it hit the ground the door was wrenched open. Four men came rushing in and grabbed Jia and a dazed Mal. They took them about a hundred feet from the shuttle and dropped them. They then ran back to the shuttle and took off.

Jia was really confused, "What was that?"

"Gorram pirating bastards. Shock the ship with an electromagnetic field and steal the damn ship."

"Thieves?"

"What else would they be? Renters?"

"Don't get prissy with me. Just because..."

It was then she noticed the gash on Mal's forehead. She rushed over to tend to him, or at least she tried to. When she tried to stand she realized one leg was longer than the other, and the shorter one looked wrong. She didn't notice the crippling pain till then. She doubled over and moaned.

Mal came over, "Don't move. Dislocated hip."

It took nearly a half hour to get her hip joint back into place. Most of that time Jia spent unconscious. When he finally got it back in place she felt about ten times better, but it still hurt like hell.

Mal looked around for a place to stay. They would need shelter, they would be there a while. He thought grimly about how lucky they were that this planets atmo processor had obviously failed or gone wrong somehow. Unlike most other rim planets, that were mostly desert, this one was mostly forest. The weather was cooler but wetter. They would probably get rained on.

He knew that hijackers used the same location over and over. They wouldn't be back for several weeks while they sold his shuttle. They also would have a temporary shelter around here somewhere. He made sure Jia was comfortable and went searching. It didn't take him long to find it, but he was surprised. It was a trashed shuttle that had obviously been there a while. It was over grown with vegetation but still usable. He slowly moved his cook to the shuttle.

When he had her situated he looked around. The shuttle was in no way sky worthy, but made and excellent shelter. Mal wasn't the only one that had ever thought so. There were blankets, food, some first aid for him and Jia. There was also one thing that Mal had to praise the hijackers for, very expensive scotch. They maybe scum, but they know what's important.

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Jia didn't know what to say. She looked around her. Mal had started a fire with some flares to keep them warm and had even made something to eat. He had taken care of her injuries and his. He had made her comfortable, all without saying a word.

"I'm sorry, Mal."

"For what?"

"If I hadn't started that argument we wouldn't have lost the shuttle. You would have been able to avoid them I know it. I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

"I do worry about it. I haven't exactly been easy to live with since I joined your crew. Questioning you and all that."

He smiled, "I've had worse. Don't worry about it. Just try and stay awake."

"Why?"

"Don't want you passing out on me again."

"Thank you for all you've done."

"No problem, drink this."

He handed her the scotch and she took it.

"Day might just be getting better."

Mal smiled, "Sure is."

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An hour later they had eaten and drank their way through the bottle. Mal was asleep. Jia watched him from across the fire. He really was a good man. She supposed she hadn't treated him so well. She thought about all that had happened between them, and thought about what she wanted to happen between them. It wouldn't be easy, but nothing ever was. She needed to find out what he wanted from her. Now that really would be hard.

He wasn't asleep, he knew she was watching him. He thought about where he was taking them, and didn't really know what the answer was. He liked her, that much was certain. She was spunky and opinionated. She was sweet and beautiful. She knew how to fight.

But then he thought about himself. All the baggage he brought with him. But the thought occurred to him, maybe it didn't have to be that way. She was a tough woman, they were both adults. It was possible to start something and stop before someone got hurt. Who says she would fall in love with him and he would break her heart? Who said it had to be that way? Mal had taken chances all his life. He was sure she was strong enough to get through whatever he could throw at her. He was sure she would recover fine if they had to end it. People had affairs all the time. Why not them?

He opened his eyes to find hers still on him. She looked away when she realized he was awake. Mal got up and moved towards her. He sat down beside her. He leaned over and kissed her. She put her hand on his chest and he pulled her tighter. She moved her hands to around his neck and he moved his to her back.

His hands were moving down her back and to the edge of the shirt. Then they went underneath. When his hands touched bare skin she took a sharp intake of breath, and Mal knew she wanted him.

Mal wasn't sure how fast he should be moving, so he gently leaned her back so he was on top of her. When she didn't pull back but pressed harder to him, he moved to pull her shirt off. With that accomplished he looked into her eyes and found something he wasn't prepared for, uncertainly and embarrassment.

He blinked a few times trying to make sense of what he was seeing, but he couldn't. She had a bra on under her shirt, and from what he could see she shouldn't be embarrassed. He brought his face next to hers, and whispered in her ear.

"What's wrong?"

She stammered out her response. "I'm just nervous."

"Nothin to be nervous about. I'm not gonna hurt you or do nothin you don't want me to."

"Then maybe we should stop."

He backed off and sat up, "I'm sorry I thought..."

"No that's not it." He looked over at her. Her eyes were still dark with passion.

"What happened then?"

"I may want you to do something we aren't ready for."

Mal smiled and moved closer and pulled her into his arms. "No problem, no problem."

They sat there for a while before they laid down and went to sleep with her curled in his arms.

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The next morning Jia awoke in an enormous amount of pain. Luckily Mal had been up for a while and could give her some of the pain medication in the first aid kit. Afterwards she laid there trying to think. Her mind was clouded with pain killers, but she could still remember. She looked up to see him across the fire.

"We have to talk."

"That's usually not a good phrase."

"I think we need to discuss where we are going."

"As in location or..."

"As in you and me."

"I don't see why we have to discuss that. Just let what will happen happen."

"You ok with that?"

Mal smiled, "Yep. Fine with me."

Jia smiled back. It was then she realized he had put her shirt back on sometime during the night. That was a good thing. At that moment they heard a ship landing just outside the shuttle. Mal looked out. It was the same shuttle they had lost yesterday. Mal drew his gun. Jia sat up wondering what she should do. She couldn't stand much less fight.

The door opened and out came Serenity's own mercenary.

Mal sighed and holstered his gun. "Jayne I have never been happier to see you. Aren't you guys early?"

Zoe came out from behind Jayne, "Idiots tried to sell the shuttle on the same planet we were on. Took a hard burn and came to look for you."

"What happened to our would be thieves?"

"Wash friends said they would take care of them."

Mal grimaced, "Isn't that a little harsh?"

"Not from where I'm standing."

Jayne was done looking around, "Guess you were right Mal. Why did you run into them if you knew they were here?"

Mal winced and heard Jia get up behind him.

"You knew they were here?"

He turned, "I didn't know exactly where they were."

"If you knew that why did you leave the controls at that time?"

"You were angry and I..."

"I am always angry at you! Why would this time be different? You let me think this was my fault this whole time?"

Zoe interrupted, "Can we get back to Serenity?"

Jayne snuck past Mal and helped Jia to the shuttle. Mal tried to help but only got a glare for his trouble. He knew better than to say anything right now. Jia was beyond angry with him.

Zoe piloted while Jayne sat behind her on a crate. Mal sat to the side of the shuttle and Jia was on the other side. They sat in the shuttle in silence until Zoe broke it. "Serenity is about ten minutes away."

Now Jia wasn't going to hold back. She turned the best she could towards Mal. "I can't believe I had my leg dislocated and had to spend the night in some god forsaken forest because of you. This is all you fault you moron."

Jayne wheeled towards her, "Me? What did I have to do with it?"

Jia looked at him confused, "I meant Mal."

"Oh," He turned to Mal, "Yeah moron."

Mal pointed at him, "I will take it from her because I deserve it from her, but not you. You just sit there and eyes forward."

"I ain't..."

"Eyes forward!"

Jayne turned towards the front and Mal turned to Jia. "I didn't tell you because you were hurt. I felt bad. I made a mistake. I said it. Ya happy?"

"I know exactly why you did what you did Malcolm Reynolds!"

He got up and sat next to her, "That ain't true, and you know it."

"Maybe I do and maybe I don't. How could you?"

"Maybe I wanted you to be the bad guy just once. It made a welcome change."

"At least I say when I am wrong. You never have." She lowered her voice, "What if more had happened last night? When were you going to tell me you had dislocated my hip and blamed me, the morning after?"

Mal's defenses were up, and as always, he struck out. "Maybe you should just get back to your kitchen and do the damn job I pay you for."

He got up and moved back to his seat. Jia was stunned. She felt cheap and disgusting. She sat there for the remainder of the voyage and held back tears.

Mal sat in the corner and damned himself for ruining things with his temper yet again.

Zoe had heard the last sentence of the conversation, and spent the remainder of the voyage seething.

Jayne spent he remainder of the voyage naming a new gun he had gotten on the last planet.

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