Mal: Chapter 1
Mal sighed as he realized the problem. They'd lost a panel. Again. He'd have to get a replacement one. If only he'd realized this ten minutes ago. Then they could've gotten the old one. Now it was just floating around in space. It'd taken awhile to get Kaylee off the doctor to go check it out. Jayne hadn't been much help either. He'd just laughed and eaten an apple. Not exactly helpful. Then he went to go polish "Vera", which he did about ten times a day.
Aside from Jayne being Jayne, Inara was also Inara. Her beautiful, elegant self. She was taking time off from her job so the crew could lay low for a while and recover from Miranda. Mal couldn't remember anyone ever doing anything like that for his ship and his crew -- ever. Sure, Wash had been a great pilot. And Kaylee was always fixing everything but . . . .
Inara had completely given up good money, not to mention good sex, to help everyone on his ship. That meant everything to him. Everything. . . .
Take me where I cannot stand.
I don't care, I'm still free . . . .