"Hehehe."

-Thud-

"Mmm."

Mal rolled his eyes as he walked past the engine room where Kaylee and no doubt Glenn were. He went through the kitchen were Jayne was alone with Vera and down towards his bunk.

"Enough talk, Husband."

"Work, work, work…all the time…"

Mal shook his head as the door to the bridge slammed shut. He didn't want to think about what his pilot was doing with his first mate. The same went for his mechanic and junior mercenary. Jayne had sort of taken Glenn under his large and armed arm.

He sat down on his bed and started to take off his boots. He got a strange feeling in his gut. He sometimes got it when he was alone at night. It felt like something was missing or something didn't belong or maybe even a combination of the two.

Inara left over two years ago. He had heard from her once and that was it. They kept in touch with Shepherd, but he recently died from an epidemic on Haven that claimed half of the innocent people there. Even so, he felt like something else was bothering him…like someone else was missing.

****

Ariel, around that same time…

"Tam! Wave!" Madam Krau barked.

"Yes, Madam Krau."

River left the stage and went around back into her dressing room. She hit the button and-

"Simon!"

"Hi mei mei! Is it a bad time?"

"Not at all. You saved me from rehearsal."

"I'm glad that I could help. I wanted to let you know that I'll be dropping in tomorrow night."

"Great! Thank you so much for coming."

"Please, you're my sister. I'll always come see you dance."

"I love you Simon."

"I love you too. See you soon."

"Bye."

"Bye."

She cut the wave and went back out onto the stage.

"That was Simon, he's coming tomorrow night."

"That's great! I'm glad he can come out and see you," Brandon smiled.

"Tam, McNeil! Less fraternizing, more dancing!"

They waited until they were no longer facing her to roll their eyes.

****

The next night.

"Does my makeup look alright? I think the lipstick is too red," River asked Brandon before they got ready to take the stage.

"You look beautiful, as always. That amber necklace really brings out your eyes."

She smiled and they took the stage. Simon was out in the audience watching.

"Are you sure this suit ain't too tight?" Jayne whispered as they moved to their seats in the back.

"Shut up and watch the show Jayne. Look for security and for the dancer wearing the necklace. We'll have to find their dressing room," Mal replied.

They sat down just as the lights dimmed and the dancers took the stage. One girl in particular caught Mal's eye. She was no doubt the female lead.

She had brunette hair, either black or brown he couldn't tell with the lighting, and fair skin. She was petite, agile. She had dark eyes. He could tell from their seats even though they were pretty far away. He could also tell that she was quite attractive. There was something about her that looked oddly familiar. And gorram, she could dance.

"That one has the necklace, Sir."

Zoe pointed to the same girl he had been watching intently through most of the show and yet he hadn't even noticed until she pointed it out. He nodded and figured it was because he was watching her face instead.

Jayne fell asleep. Zoe kept nudging him to wake him up. They waited until the end of the show to get up and try to sneak backstage. Luckily there wasn't much security and what security there was, Jayne took care of.

River went backstage with everyone else after the roar of applause had ended. Brandon picked her up and spun around in celebration like he did after every show. They kissed just briefly before Madam Krau interrupted the moment.

"Enough of that! Get out of costume and out of my life for the night. Go!"

River hugged him quickly and then rushed off to her tiny dressing room. She took the necklace off and put it in a special briefcase. She got all of the makeup off and into her normal clothes when the door flew open.

A man stood at the front with a taller man behind him to his left and a tall woman to his right. They didn't look like fans.

"Can I help you?" River asked timidly. Her voice sounded so familiar.

"We're lookin' for somethin'. A necklace. If you wouldn't mind handin' that to us and we'll be on our merry," the man in the front said. His voice sounded so familiar. Come to think of it, he looked familiar.

"I think not," she said evenly.

"Well in that case-"

The other door to the room that had been locked earlier was busted down and five men with guns stormed in. Mal instinctively reached out and grabbed the dancer, pushing her behind him as Jayne had time to draw one of his concealed weapons. The gunmen grabbed the case. A gunfight began. Mal picked the dancer up. She resisted.

"What do you think you're doing?" she cried as she thrashed about.

"Savin' your gorram life! Zoe, Jayne, MOVE!"

They darted out through the backstage. Zoe pulled the fire alarm and they ran.

Simon had just gone backstage after proving that he was indeed Dr. Simon Tam, River's older brother, when he saw the three people running by with River fighting like crazy. He darted after her.

"RIVER!"

"SIMON?"

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"

"I HAVE NO HYPOTHESIS AT THIS TIME!"

He followed them out only to be met with more gunfire. Now the gun men were after them all. Mal would have left the girl behind, but somewhere deep down he felt like he had to protect her. They climbed onto the mule with Simon in pursuit. He jumped onto a nearby hover-bike and followed the people that took River.

They got to Serenity and away from the gunmen. They had finally given up. Simon drove into the cargo bay after them.

"Who are you and why are you trying to kidnap my sister?" Simon bellowed.

"Whoa, kidnap? We just saved her life!" Mal countered.

"What was that?" Simon asked no one in particular, still shouting.

"I don't know!" Mal cried.

"Back to the who the hell are you part, WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" Simon asked while River stood beside him.

"Captain Malcolm Reynolds. And you are?"

"Dr. Simon Tam."

"Why did you take me?" the dancer asked.

"You were gettin' shot at. Have any idea as to why that is?"

"I don't have any idea whatsoever. What were you doing in my dressing room?"

"I told you. We were there for the necklace."

"Thieves, I should have guessed…" she sighed.

"What is that s'pposed to mean, little one?"

"Little one?" she snorted.

"Answer the question!"

"I don't have to! I don't have to stand here and take your shouting! Simon, let's go."

Mal hit the button to close the ramp. "I think not. Now, where's the necklace?"

"I'm not going to tell you!" she shouted.

"Yeah, you are!"

"Really? Who are you to tell me what I will and will not do? You don't know anything about me!"

"You don't know me either but I saved your life back there and you owe me!"

"I owe you? That is laughable!"

"You do! I could of let you die back there more than once! Hell, I could of used you as a shield!"

"That doesn't mean that I owe you anything!"

"Your life!"

"Well I'm not telling you anything about the necklace."

She moved towards the station and he held down the button.

"You obviously don't know me. I know over one hundred different ways to open that ramp with ease. We are leaving whether you want us to or not."

"You're at my mercy here, darlin'."

"You need the information I possess, so you won't kill me. And if you kill him, I'll kill you. Cut your losses and let us leave without incident. It would be the best conclusion for all of us."

"Well you're a pretentious little thing!"

"I believe the term is 'genius,' now lower the ramp."

"I will not! I don't answer to you! You can't boss me around!"

"Watch me!"

"You're a self-important spoiled rich brat!"

"You're a hundan!"

"Take that back!"

"Make me!"

By this time the entire crew had gathered around to hear their argument.

"Tell me where the gorram necklace is!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"NO!"

"River-" Simon began.

"Stay out of this Simon!"

"Yeah!" Mal agreed. They were both enjoying the argument way too much to let it end so quickly.

"Don't talk to my brother like that!"

"I just agreed with you!"

"So?"

"You're the one that said it!"

"But he's my brother! I can talk to him like that!"

"Oh that makes PERFECT sense!"

"DON'T PATRONIZE ME!"

"DON'T SHOUT AT ME!"

"I CAN SHOUT ALL I WANT!"

"NO YOU CAN'T!"

"YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"

"I CAN! THIS IS MY BOAT AND AS LONG AS YOU'RE ON IT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME!"

"I WANT OFF OF YOUR GORRAM BOAT!"

"NOT UNTIL YOU TALK!"

"FINE! I'LL TALK IF IT WILL SHUT YOU THE HELL UP AND ALLOW US TO LEAVE!"

"OKAY!"

"OKAY!"

Silence.

"Well…?" he asked.

"It was in a case."

"Small, square, brownish?" Jayne asked.

"Yes."

"Gorramit Mal! The other guys took it!"

"Took it?" Mal asked.

"Yeah!"

"Why did they keep shootin' at her then after they got it?" he asked.

No one answered.

"Can we leave now?" River asked.

"No."

"WHAT? WHY NOT?"

"BECAUSE WE NEED THE NECKLACE AND THEY'RE AFTER YOU!"

"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?"

"WE'LL USE YOU AS BAIT!"

"WHAT?"
"STOP THE SHOUTING!" Wash finally exploded. "I have a headache!"

"Look, they won't stop 'till they get you…" Mal lowered his voice.

"Comforting. How would you know?" she shot back.

"I have a feelin'…"

"I don't trust feelings, Captain. I trust logic. If they were petty thieves like you, they have what they came for."

"That might be it, but maybe not. We need you to get to them and get our necklace."

"And why would I help you?"

"We'll keep you from gettin' killed."

"I'll take my chances. Now can we go?"

Mal wanted to say no for some reason, but he didn't have any real cause to keep her there. He nodded and lowered the ramp. Simon and the dancer, River, Mal thought Simon had called her, left.

"If they come after you, we'll be here!" Mal called after her. She ignored him and they continued on their way.