Author's Note:

Thanks so much to all the people who reviewed. This is my first Firefly fic and so I was a little nervous, after all it's one of the best shows ever! Anyway thanks to Quinni (Thanks for the suggestions, I would love any tips you can give me.), BlueEyedBrigadier, qwerty, Windrider, HiddenCries77, PseudonynA1 (I hope I make it there too, if you have any ideas I would really love it.), and Lenore (Yeah I hate, "sickeningly sweet fairy tale cliche romance" and am glad that you don't see my story as such.). Glad people enjoyed the Tight Pants bit!

I wasn't sure about Inara and Zoe's interaction, I mean they never really have too much to do with each other on the show or in the movie. I almost wanted to skip it but I kind of felt that doing that would be like chickening out, so it's in here. All in all there are a lot of things in here that gave me some trouble. If anyone has any hints, tips, or suggestions for improvement I would be glad to hear them.

Disclaimer:

Well, I have a confession, I don't own Firefly. I know, you're shocked, but it's all true! I'm only borrowing them from the amazing Joss Whedon. I'm not making money off this or anything.

Chapter #2:

As Inara walked onto the ship she felt a tingle of excitement. She hadn't felt like this since the day she'd first entered the Academy. Inara wasn't sure what it was about the ship Serenity but somehow she knew that traveling with this ship was the beginning of something great.

She was dragging the last, but heaviest trunk into the ship when she saw another woman. She was tall with dark skin and dark hair. She didn't say anything by way of a greeting but she fearlessly came right up to the Companion and lifted the large trunk up.

"Let me help you," she offered even though she already was.

"Thank you," Inara answered gratefully in Chinese. The two women made their way up the slightly rusted stairs to the shuttle. Inara barely had to do anything, the other woman was strong enough to lift the trunk easily. When they got their the woman put the trunk down next to the bed.

"I'm Zoe," she stuck a hand out and Inara shook it feeling calluses that told of years of hard work, "I'm the First Mate and you're welcome to come to me about anything as long as you're not getting in the way of my job."

"I'll be sure to do that," Inara smiled making a mental note never to interrupt this fierce woman. A man came in, he was rather short with blond hair, not very intrusive looking.

"This," Zoe said stiffly, "is our pilot."

"Call me Wash," the man said shaking Inara's hand. But he glanced over at the First Mate and Inara was shocked to see something in his gaze that she had never suspected to find on this little Firefly.

"He's to teach you how to use your shuttle," Zoe said coldly, "but if he doesn't explain it proper I'll lend you the instruction pamphlet." The two glared at each other, ignoring the Companion who was staring at them.

Inara had spent too many years training herself to notice these details to ignore them now, though she knew this was none of her concern. The Pilot and the First Mate were in love, though they were in a fight now.

Just then the Captain, Malcolm Reynolds, strode into her shuttle, as bold as brass. Inara opened her mouth to scold the Captain but stopped. She doubted that occurrences like this would happen often, he was just coming by to check up on how she was getting along.

"Zoe," he said to the First Mate, "we've got trouble. You'd best come to be briefed on the situation."

"Yes sir," she answered turning and leaving, the picture of soldierly obedience.

"Is everything all right?" Inara asked Mal, worried.

"Nothing to fret over," he said quickly in an upbeat tone, "just an honest disagreement between folks that will require some creative and possibly persuasive negotiating." Inara, having had years of training, could tell that he was glossing over things and that the situation might not be as simple as he'd said but he went on before she could call his bluff. "You'd better make sure all of your things are inside just in case and you can leave your deposit on the table in the kitchen."

And on that note he left as quickly as he'd entered. Inara sighed and began to listen intently as the Pilot, Wash, went over the basics of the shuttle. At least life on Serenity promised to be exciting.

- -

Zoe scanned the information Mal was showing her. She sighed, wondering why things were never easy.

"So do we fight or stay?" she asked keeping her voice neutral. The Captain considered before answering.

She knew, from years of working with him, that his taking time before answering meant that they were going to run. If he had been deciding to fight he would already have told her and be off getting extra rounds before she could blink. Finally he answered.

"As much as I'd love to stay and show these," he lapsed into Chinese, "no good space shit," he switched back as abruptly as he'd switched in, "that they can't just sidle up and take that which don't belong to them it'll be better for us to get to Whitefall at the soonest so we can get paid."

"Very good sir," Zoe approved of the plan. It was smarter and safer then fighting. Certainly Zoe would rather face the people who were on their way now with the intention to steal from them, it was in her nature to come at problems head on, but it was an unnecessary risk.

"So can you go and get Wash and tell him that we have to be leaving now?" Zoe wanted nothing more then to refuse, not wanting to see Wash if she could avoid it, but at the same time she didn't want Mal prying as to why she wouldn't deal with the Pilot.

"Meet you on the bridge," she answered.

- -

"What are you and the First Mate fighting about?" Inara asked Wash as he finished showing her the controls. The man turned pink.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he stuttered. He was a terrible liar.

"I'm just quite good at picking up on these things," Inara explained, "I've spent years learning how to read people"

"It's difficult to explain," he began but just then Zoe came back in.

"Time to run," she said briskly, "we've got trouble coming." Wash and Inara followed her to the bridge.

"Speed up," they heard Mal yelling as they got closer, "those Ruttin' vultures are almost on us!" Wash broke into a run and threw himself into the pilot's seat. He flicked a few switches and then took off.

The scope showed that they were being chased by two ships, both were fast in atmo but probably couldn't keep up with Serenity once they were in space. Wash told the Captain this as he began to head off planet.

"Probably?" Mal spluttered but Zoe put a restraining hand on his arm.

"Let the man do his job," she scolded lightly. Wash looked back and sent her a small grin before focusing once more on their pursuers.

Zoe watched in awe as Wash maneuvered Serenity in a sort of dance to avoid fire from the two ships. Guns were easy to Zoe, she'd always been especially gifted with weapons. But the controls for a ship were something that she'd never had the knack for, that and small talk.

I wonder if normal people who see me, or Mal fight feel like this, she thought as she watched Wash's hands move at lightning speed over the controls.

The fifteen minutes it took for Wash to take them off-world felt more like fifteen seconds to Zoe. Wash was able to avoid their attackers and then once in space he had been able to leave them behind.

"Good work," Mal congratulated the pilot clapping him on the back, "go and get yourself a drink of water. I'll take the helm for a few minutes." Wash thanked Mal, grateful to have a chance to stretch his legs. He didn't notice that Zoe had followed him until she spoke once they were in the kitchen.

"I love you," she told him. The dreaded words were easier to say then she'd imagined they would be. The next thing either of them knew they were kissing. "My room?" Zoe asked between kisses.

"Oh no," Wash spoke pleadingly, "remember last time?"

"Your room then," Zoe said and the two of them practically ran to Wash's room.

Meanwhile on the Bridge Mal was cursing steadily in Chinese at something blinking on the screen. Inara peered over his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"They have a friend," he answered, "and that friend is coming to pay a call on us." He stood up and ran to the kitchen only to find it empty. "Where could he have gotten to?" Mal wondered aloud. He dashed to the crew's quarters still followed by Inara. On reaching Wash's room he saw that the door was locked. He quickly unlocked the door, (it was one of the little perks to being the Captain of the ship,) and went to open the door.

"Captain Reynolds," Inara grabbed the man's arm, "before you go in there there's something you should know." Mal easily pulled out of the woman's grasp.

"I already know," Mal assured Inara.

"You do?"

"Yeah," Mal answered rolling his eyes, "Wash is gay." And with that he opened the door and went down into Wash's room. Inara rolled her own eyes, shaking her head at the Captain's denseness.

Author's Note (Again):

Okay so I don't have a clear grasp on exactly Mal should react. I mean I have some ideas but I would appreciate any suggestions or ideas anyone has. Please let me know what you think! Hope you liked the chapter.