All disclaimers apply

Ch. 5- Main Course

Mal was returning from the restroom after having a powerful need to wash the fry grease from dinner off his hands. As he was passing the bar area, a hand reached out to touch his arm non-threatening like, but Mal whirled all the same. A man of medium height stepped towards him, palms up, offering his right hand to shake.

"Name's David Janek, Captain Reynolds." Man seemed polite enough, but how he knew Mal's name needed to be explained right quick in Mal's estimation.

"I'm sure you're wondering who I am. You were recommended, and described, to me by another cargo transport Captain, a Captain 'Monty'." David smiled, trying to get Mal to relax. Man seemed a mite jumpy for someone Monty had described as a 'simple cargo transporter'.

Mal relaxed a little. "Well, now, got me a schedule to keep, but don't see as we can't talk a little 'bout what your needs might be." He offered him his hand, then moved to sit across from the man at the small round bar table he was standing next to. He wanted to screen the potential customer first before introducing the crew. He knew Zoe would have seen him by now and be keeping at least one eye on him.

&&&&&&&

Back at their pushed together tables, Kaylee noticed Mal was talking to someone she didn't recognize.

"Looks like the Cap'n got hisself a new friend," she commented.

Jayne looked over. "Maybe some decent work that pays."

"Our job today paid okay," Kaylee answered.

Jayne snorted at the same time Zoe did. "Jus enough to keep goin' ain't 'well' l'il Kaylee." The waitress came up just then to drop off their checks; she had already started one for Jayne and River so she had a separate one for the rest of the group. As everyone reached into their pockets to divide up the bill, Jayne swiped his and River's check off table as she went to reach for it. She looked at him questioningly, but he ignored her as he handed over to the waitress both the check and enough cash to cover it and the tip. The waitress smiled and moved off.

River stared at him dumbfounded. When Simon paid for her she knew it was because he still felt like he had to take care of her completely; but just now, when Jayne grabbed the bill, it felt different. He had bought her dinner, and now he was trying to not meet her eyes and act all nonchalant about it. No one else noticed except Zoe. She smiled to herself and vowed to keep her silence unless Mal started noticing and decided to butt in.

River wiggled her index finger. Jayne continued to not make full eye contact with her, but jerked his right fingers an inch as he answered Wash's comment, don't worry about it. River smiled her thank you. Jayne realized he had no idea what Wash had just said, what with the bright light coming from across the table and blinding his peripheral vision.

He couldn't help but smile; which was fortunate as everyone started laughing at Wash's joke, so it was appropriate. He was fighting himself against not looking at River just then. He felt like if he did, he would give himself away. He had less and less control lately against smiling back when the girl smiled at him.

Mal returned to their table. "Well, people, looks like we've been fortunate enough to line up back to back jobs here." He plopped down into his chair with a Captainy air of self satisfaction.

"What's that, Sir," Zoe asked.

"Computer components. Going out to Bristol Moon. Seems the locals there are ready to upgrade a bit. This guy Janek, he sells a couple steps behind the latest and greatest so's Rimmers can get better then they got, and he can find buyers who can afford his goods." Mal seemed to almost admire the man's commercial savvy.

"Sounds like a good deal for both sides," Simon commented as they all pushed back from the tables to leave.

As they exited out into the cool night air, Mal turned to Jayne.

"Well, we're shoving off tomorrow late morning after I pick up our payment for tonight and our newest client delivers his cargo to the ship, so that should be enough time, Jayne, for…"

"Sir!" Zoe interjected. "Jayne and I will be sure to secure the cargo in the a.m. before you get back so we can take off early." Mal looked confused. Kaylee had caught on by this time, and sliding her crooked arm through her Captain's she began to gaily chatter about what she would do with her portion of the pay, and wonder what the new client's like, and what exactly were the components they were going to be transporting, and …

Jayne had stopped in his tracks when it looked like the Captain was about to put his foot in Jayne's mouth again. He was grateful for his crewmates' interruption, especially surprised at Zoe. Then again, she knew what it was like to work around the Captain when it came to developing crew friendships. Wash even looked back at him and jerked his head, get out of here while you can.

Jayne looked to River. Her facial expression was smooth and unreadable, which only meant one thing. She was pissed. He looked back toward the crew, all of them in front of him and for the moment not looking back- he took a chance. He wrapped one arm around River's shoulders and steered her due right. Around a street corner and away from Mal's big mouth.

Jayne actually had had no intention of going anywhere but back to the ship. But Mal just had to spout off his big, fat mouth didn't he? Now River was mad, and while he was still just going back to the ship he now had to take the long way around. Well, he didn't have to, but he didn't want Mal to start ribbing him on why he wasn't going out.

River wasn't sure what was going on or why she had let Jayne steer her away from the crew, but she trusted him. Maybe he needed to pick up some more ammo. Or booze. Although he didn't need her for that. She looked up at him out of the corner of her eye. Surely he wouldn't take her to a whorehouse.

And he still had his arm around her. Not steering her anymore, didn't need to on the straight street they were currently on, just sort of resting on her, his hand hanging off her right shoulder. Not entirely unpleasant.

Jayne felt awkward. Okay, now that he had gotten the girl away from Mal's big, embarrassing mouth, he should take his arm off of her. Instead, he felt like grabbing her shoulder and pulling her closer. He had to figure out a way to nonchalantly lose the arm.

The street they had turned onto seemed to be some sort of boardwalk near a small river. There were families and small groups of people similar to those they had seen at the restaurant earlier, walking and talking, and stopping to shop at the various booths aligning the walkway. There were vendors selling cheap jewelry, old books, home thrown pottery, and even some sort of flavored icy concoction called 'gelato' according to the sign.

Jayne pulled his right arm from around River and pointed toward the gelato stand.

"Look, ya still hungry?" he casually asked her. Phew, rescued the arm situation.

River didn't know whether to feel relief or disappointment at the disappeared arm. "Not now," she answered, "maybe later. Ooh, look." And she stepped away to go look at one of the cheap jewelry stands.

Well, she didn't have to run away from me, Jayne thought. His thoughts kept ping-ponging back and forth between relief at their new distance, and, well, missing her against his side. She was leaning over the open display case eagerly perusing the vendor's wares. He stepped up behind her to see what had arrested her interest.

River had stepped away at the first opportunity, as she had felt relief wash over Jayne when he managed to take his arm off her shoulder. She was positive that he did, in fact, like her, but she knew he was fighting it and didn't want to push him. He was losing the fight all on his own anyways. She smiled to herself and started jewelry shopping.

There were lots of gold chains and pendants at this vendor's stand, but what really caught her eye were the cloisonné hair pieces. Tiny and colorful, the smooth inlaid stones encrusted the ends of barrettes, stickpins, hair combs, and chopsticks. River giggled, she could just imagine the crew's reaction if she showed up to dinner one night, whipped a fancy pair of chopsticks out of her hair, and began eating protein mush with them.

Then she felt Jayne step up behind her. She had thought maybe he would pass on to the next vendor who was displaying a variety of leather wares: shoulder harnesses, wrist cuffs, and holsters. But no, he was right behind her, leaning over her to see what she was looking at. She could feel the heat of his large body. She swallowed nervously in reaction to electricity she could suddenly feel bridge the two inch gap between their bodies. This was ridiculous, she thought. They'd been closer together in lookout situations before.

Jayne looked over River's shoulder to see the fancy, shiny stones adorning the various pieces. He felt her attention waver from the items to him. He experimentally leaned in a little further and arched over her shoulder, his neck practically touching the side of hers. He heard her breathe catch.

"That one looks pretty," he said, reaching over her other shoulder to point to the cloisonné end-encrusted chopsticks. He turned his head slightly so he was looking at River at her eye level. "And they're long 'nough to keep all that hair ya got in place."

She turned her head and looked directly into his eyes. And realized that what had attracted her to the chopsticks in the first place was that the largest stone on the end of each matched the blue in his eyes perfectly. Their faces an inch apart, she could feel his breathe on her lips.

"I do like them," she whispered. Jayne felt like the world around them was dropping away. He couldn't remember why he had ever thought it wasn't a good idea to think on her. He leaned in.

"So! What kind of a deal can we make today for the little lady?" the vendor barked.

Jayne wondered if he could use 'interrupted an intimate moment' as self defense in a homicide case. He sighed and stood back up, extra straight so as to at least intimidate the man.

"I'll take them fancy chopsticks ya got there," he settled for. The vendor, upon realizing just how tall Jayne could get, didn't bother haggling, just practically handed them over. Jayne stepped off to the side to get out of the way of other shoppers, River following him.

"Turn 'round," he said gruffly. She did without question. He gathered up her silky hair at the back of her head, twisted it around, and stuck the chopsticks through. He let his hands fall to his sides.

River turned back around and stared at Jayne. "Thank you," she said softly. He shuffled one foot over the ground like a schoolboy. "T'weren't nothin'," he grunted. He decided to shift gears.

"Come on, it's gettin' late, we should get back to the boat," he said trying to regain his gruff self. Which he decided was a losing battle around her. "We should bring somma that 'gelato' stuff back to Kaylee or we'll never hear the end of it." River smiled her agreement. They turned toward the dessert vendor.