Of Guilt, Sin and Apples - Part Four

Artemis. It was one of those little 'nothing' planets with one town, a lot of sprawling farmland and some of the strange customs that tended to evolve out on the Rim. Sparsely settled, and mostly cold – not a whole lot of reason to go there, unless you knew folk there And, of course, Mal did. Everyone had assumed that the nine day trip from Persephone had been for a job, but as it turned out over dinner, Mal claimed to be vistin' a friend.

Jayne snorted. He hadn't been sure Mal had friends, leastways, not ones outside of Serenity. In his mind, Mal had exactly one friend, and that was Zoe – and sometimes, he even wondered about them two. They didn't always seem to get along like he figured friends oughta. And she sure had made an interestin' face at the mention of this Peri Callum.

Still, not havin' a job already lined up pretty much meant he'd have plenty of time to search for new work if that's the way he meant to go. Artemis might be sparsely settled, but it was a kick-off planet for a number of other planets in the area, and there was the one large settlement there. Work to be found if a person was lookin'. Of course, he wasn't sure if he was lookin', but things were gettin' a might uncomfortable on Serenity these days.

Serenity and her crew were moored on the edge of the settlement, creatively called Artemis City. Even though it wasn't very large, Jayne had noticed the towers around it that denoted the presence of a service shield – that is, a force field that could come up to protect the perimeter of the city if it were to be threatened. Lots of towns and cities on the Rim had'em – the further out a planet was, the less terraformed it was like to be. Lots of strange and dangerous animals tended to still populate this kind of planet, not to mention the crazy weather – and thus, the service shield.

The shield made Jayne nervous. Even though it was designed to keep danger out, he'd seen that it just as often penned it in. He found the whole idea kinda nervewrackin'. Still, he'd been on more than one planet that had'em, and he figured he could deal with it for as long as it might take him to find work here if he hand to.

Jayne grimaced into a portal, looking out onto the overlit snowscape outside. He would need some tinted googles before he went out there, that was for sure.

Mal's voice broke into his revery. "You still thinkin' about movin' on?" he asked conversationally, leaning next to Jayne and squinting into the frozen world outside the glass.

Jayne glanced at him and then went back to contemplating the snow. "Thinkin' about it, I guess," he admitted. "Don't know if this is the right crew for me – I'm used to a rougher crowd than this."

"Well," Mal said, with half a smile in his voice, "if ya mean 'less civilized', I reckon you might be right." Then he turned to face Jayne. "But you know, I like to think that what we lack in roughness, we make up for with other things. You know, like – loyalty.. and kitchen privileges. You know. Stuff like that."

The taller man sighed and turned to Mal. "Yeah, and I ain't got none – loyalty, that is," he said. "Crews I come up with, it's every man for hisself, and nobody thinks nothin' of it. I just ain't used to crew bein' family. Hell, I got a family – I gotta send'em credits every time I get some. And they don't even like me much."

Mal was nodding even before he finished. "Yeah," he said, "I know what you're talkin' about. Family is a big responsibility, and you don't want none. I get it. But what you don't realize is that responsibility and privilege are two sides of the same coin." He nodded at Jayne. "You think on that some before you decide to head out for rougher parts, would ya?"

Jayne was nodding as Inara and River approached, Inara wrapped in an elaborate confection of black fur and a heavy, dark red cloak. River, by contrast, was wearing what looked like Kaylee's old too-large boots, Wash's old coat which hung to her knees, and a hat that Jayne could have sworn that he had once used to clean out from under the port engine after some sort of nasty space trash had melted there after landing.

Mal turned. "And where are you two lovely ladies headed on this fine," he glanced over his shoulder and through the portal, "blustery day?" he asked, pretending not to notice River's shabby get-up.

Inara smiled. "We're off to buy River some new clothes, since you ask," she said. "Simon has sent us with a handful of credits and instructions to get her whatever she needs now if we can just find some suitable things."

Jayne looked at Mal, who was nodding as if this was the best idea he'd ever heard.

"Shouldn't y'all take Zoe with ya?" Jayne asked. "Artemis is a kinda rough place fer two girls alone."

Inara smiled her polite smile at Jayne. "Oh, don't worry about us," she said. "We'll keep to the populated areas, and if something rude should occur, I'll take care of it."

He snorted and shook his head, looking at Mal. "It ain't a good idea, these two out there by theyselves, Mal."

Inara, meanwhile, was starting to look irritated. She turned to Mal. "Seriously, Mal, there's not going to be a problem."

The captain shifted in his boots for a second, considering. Then – "Y'all can't get no one to go with you?" he asked. "Not Zoe, nor Wash? Hell, where's Kaylee and Simon?"

She rolled her eyes. "Mal," she said, her voice softly modulated, "Zoe and Wash are leaving to spend two days at the local hotel. Simon and Kaylee are working on some project or other. I'm certain that you and Jayne have things to do as well."

Mal was starting to get into irritating her. It was one of the few things that continued to bring joy to his life, as long as she didn't get too irritated. And he could see he still had a ways to go before he was in danger of making her lose her temper.

"Well, what about the shepherd, then?" he asked, a glint in his eye.

She tossed her head, completely unaware of her amused audience. "He's busy, Mal!" she said sharply. "Stop being like this and get out of our way. We're going shopping."

Oh, it was the snappish tone that done it, even Jayne could see it when he saw that frozen look come over the captain's face. Uh oh.

Mal's head tilted to one side, throwing his eyes into deep shadow. Then, without looking, he said, "Jayne, what was you plannin' to do today?"

Jayne started shakin' his head. "Uh-uh," he said. "I'm headed down to the cantina for some- " he was gonna say 'job huntin', but the look on Inara's face stopped him. "Drinkin' and whorin'," he finished with a smirk. Realizing what he'd said, he glanced quickly at River, only to find her smiling her knowing smile as her glance skipped from one to another of them.

Then he looked back to Inara, who was rolling her eyes. "See, Mal? Jayne's busy today. So, if you don't mind" She gestured for River to follow and made as if to open the heavy bay door. Mal beat her to it.

"But I do mind," he said softly. "Jayne!"

Oh, hell

"You're goin' with 'em," he continued.

Jayne straightened up from where he was slouched against the wall. "But, Mal - " he hesitated, then finished. "This is exactly the kind of responsibility I was talkin' about earlier," he said. "This ain't my kind o' work."

The captain strode over to him, leaned in close and looked him in the eye. "Listen, Jayne," he said. "There's worse duties than being asked to hang around with two pretty girls all day. You'll be paid for the inconvenience, and we're to be here a week, so's you got plenty of time to be huntin' up another crew if that's really what you want to do. So, go – get – your – coat."

Jayne went and got his coat.

As he went, Mal turned back to Inara. "I, of course, regret that I cannot go shoppin' with you myself," he said, with a forced grin. "As it happens, I got folk to see today – but I'm sure that the three of y'all will get along just fine." He leaned in closer to Inara. "And please remember what we discussed," he told her. "I may have questions later."

She rolled her eyes again. "Yes, Mal," she said, "your wish is my command."

Mal smirked. "Now, ain't that an idea?" he drawled.

Inara only gave him a look of warning before turning away, missing his wide grin.

As Jayne escorted Inara and River out of the bay doors, Mal said, "You know - why don't we all get together later at the Anchor down on Karlew Street? I'm meetin' up with my friend there for dinner, later – if y'all come, I'll buy!" Inara just smiled and waved and led her party out into the snow.

For the most part, it weren't too bad, followin' 'em around. He kept back a bit, just enough to let 'em feel like they was alone, and to keep 'em from including him in any of their girl-clothes conversations. Once or twice, he'd seen some guy or another givin' 'em the eye, and he'd moved a bit closer. Once he gave'em the glare, they tended to move on. Luckily, it wasn't as though the streets were crowded, or nothin'.

He kept expectin' River to cause some sort of trouble – to run out in the street, like, or to start babblin' nonsense at the top of her lungs, but nothin' like that happened. He caught snatches of her conversation with Inara, and though she was nearly as incomprehensible as usual, she seemed calm. He wondered what the doc had her on, and then tried not to think about it.

When they found the small complex of stores that passed for shopping in this town, Jayne would follow them as far as the store entrance, then would stand outside, waitin' for 'em to come out. There wasn't no way he was goin' in no store for girl clothes and other fripperies – hell, just walkin' through, he was like to knock somethin' over. Still, he kept an eye on 'em from the door or the front window when he was able.

And, he had to admit, watchin' the girl buy clothes was fairly amusin'. It was hard to remember that she'd come from money. The delight she took in buying clothes reminded him of a kid in a toy store. Everything seemed to amaze her, and from what he could make out from a distance, she seemed to be pickin' out clothes based on how soft they was. Inara was findin' it pretty confoundin', he could see. Still, the two of 'em was getting' along just fine, even with the communication issue.

After the second store, River came out wearing a fuzzy, soft-looking, pink sweater with heavy black leggings. Over these, she wore a heavy grey coat with a hood. She was grinning like - well, a crazy girl.

Jayne had to smother a grin himself. Mal was right. There was worse ways to spend a day.

After hitting all five of the clothing stores, they visited a store full of shoes, where River bought practical boots that fit, not to mention a boatload of socks and stockings. When the girls came out, Inara handed him the bag to carry along with all the other bags he had been consigned to carry, then she grinned. "I never thought I'd be saying this, Jayne,' she said, "but would you like some help?"

He looked at her, then at the grinning River. "Yep," he said. "I wouldn't say no to a little help." He handed Inara the shoes and two bags of random clothing items to River. "Y'all ready to head back to the ship?" he asked her, trying not to grin down into her happy face.

Inara smiled again, and Jayne couldn't help noticing that he'd rarely seen her so relaxed. Maybe River's company was good for her, too, he thought.

"Actually," she said, "I think River has a taste for some fresh fruit, and she seems to have ample credits, so we were thinking of stopping at that fruit bar we passed on the way into the complex and having some."

At this, River finally chimed in, looking up at him with a look of decided mischief in her eye. "You owe me my sin back again," she said.

Jayne's façade cracked, and he grinned down at her. "How you figure?" he asked, obviously understanding her.

Inara looked from one to the other, a questioning smile on her lips. They both ignored her.

The girl smiled up at him. "I gave you mine," she said.

"Oh, didja," he nearly laughed. "But I gave it to you in the first place, so how is it I owe you back?"

"I didn't have to share," she said with a giggle.

Jayne considered her convoluted thinkin' for a minute. "You're crazy, you realize that, right?"

Inara gasped. "Jayne!" she said. "That's just cruel!"

With an arch of her eyebrow, River just giggled again.

"Oh, relax, 'Nara," he said. "She don't mind, so neither should you." He glanced up the darkening street, surprised that so much time had passed. "Let's get to it if we're plannin' on eatin' out later. I reckon we'll have to go back to Serenity first so you girls can do your girl stuff before we go out."

Inara raised one eyebrow. "I'm surprised you even know about that 'girl stuff'," she said with a small smile.

Jayne huffed, not wanting to misrepresent himself as polite or concerned. "I got a sister," was all he said, but both girls continued to smile up at him until he just shook his head and gestured for them to walk on.

They ended up getting the fresh fruit to go since they all planned on eating soon. River had a notion to get enough for everyone, so several cups of mixed fresh fruits were added to the bags, and the three of them struggled to carry their load back to the ship. Jayne worried that they might be accosted, carryin' so much loot, but as it turned out, he managed to get the girls back on board without having to do more than glare at a few more men in the street.

Mal met them in the cargo bay. "Well," he said. "Looks like some shoppin' got done – did they lead you a merry chase, Jayne?"

Putting down bags on every flat surface, Jayne sighed. "Mal," he said, "I think I'd rather be fightin'."

This caused Inara to shoot him a slightly exasperated glance. "Oh, Jayne," she said. "Why don't you admit that it wasn't that bad?" She took off her cloak and shook snow off of it.

Jayne looked at River, who was digging happily through her bags. "Yeah," he admitted. "Aside from the cold and the crushing boredom, it wasn't too bad."

Mal laughed and Jayne got a grin in as Inara grimaced and River stuck her tongue out at them.

"I'll see y'all at dinner," Jayne said. "I gotta go recover for a while."

As Jayne made his escape, Mal turned to Inara. "So?"

She looked at the retreating Jayne consideringly. "Well, he definitely sees her as female," she said. "He has an affection for her, too, though he's having a hard time admitting it to himself. And she's definitely flirting with him, though she's hard to read. My professional opinion?" She looked into Mal's eyes. "Something could develop there – but it'll most likely be a long time coming if at all. I'd just let it be for now."

Mal looked at River as she was greeted by Simon and Kaylee who had come down to the bay to see if she needed any help getting her purchases into the dorms. "I just don't get it," he muttered to himself.

Inara shook her head and shrugged. "Who's to say?" she said. "But one thing is for sure, and that's that there is nothing going on right now that you wouldn't approve of. So let it go, alright Mal?"

He turned his assessing gaze on her. "What do you care?" he asked.

She looked down as she unwound the fur from around her throat. "We could all use as many friends as we can find, I suppose," she said. "Why not let them be that to one another?" She glanced back at River. "No matter how unlikely it is?"

He nodded, gazing at the smiling girl himself. "Yep," he said, "I reckon you're right."

Inara breathed a small sigh of relief. Most of what she'd said was true, after all.

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