Another short chapter, my apologies!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or anything here.

CHAPTER 3

The crew of the Impala poured out of the ship and into the active dock. All around them were bustling people of all shapes, sizes, and status. Vendors for all manner of things were shouting out deals and promises of having the best whatevers this side of the 'verse. It was loud, it was dirty, and it was crowded. Dean turned to his crew and hashed out his orders. He didn't want to stay here any longer than he had to.

"Listen up! Sam and Meg are with me. Gabriel, I want you to fuel her up, go shopping for any ship parts that Chuck needs and maybe pick up some food, cheap food! No funky raw fish crap like you got last time. Chuck! You are going to get us some passengers. Don't let them bully you to anything less than 12 pieces. Anna…do whatever. But everyone meet back here in 2 hours!"

As everyone started to move off to their designated missions, Trickster jokingly poked Dean and said, "Take care of your brother, Dean-o." It was said with a small amount of seriousness that caught Dean off guard. Dean watched him leave and shook his head. He would never figure that guy out.

Anna moved over to Chuck quietly suggesting that they try to get passengers together. Chuck blushed and started to ramble about the latest chapter in his book where the captain of the ship meets a stranger that would change his life.

Moving methodically through the crowds, Sheppard Bobby Singer tries to find the perfect ship. From all sides of him he hears deals of passage. One particularly bold crewman walks right up to him.

"Hey there grandpa! You look like you're in the market for travel! You're in luck! The Caddy here is the safest and fasted ship in the 'verse. She'll get you where you need to be in half the time! But don't worry. She is gentle too if your old heart is a little on the frail side!"

"Listen son, you need to work on your spiel. First, I ain't old enough to be a grandpa. Second, I bet that junker of yours falls apart more often than soap opera relationships. And last, I wouldn't call any part of me frail unless you want me to test it out on you. I'll find my own transport, thank you very much. Enjoy your stay here on Persephone." The not so old Sheppard walked around the stunned man and was about to continue on his way when one ship to his left caught his eye.

She was a beauty. One of the old ships that were built to last if it was cared for right. Just don't make 'em like they used to, he thought. He looked down to the ramp where he saw a extravagantly dressed woman and a grease monkey standing by a sign stating that the ship was accepting passengers for a trip to Boros. Yeah, Bobby could live with that.

"I'm going with you guys," he states as he walks up and tosses his bag at the stunned man dressed in overalls who can only stutter out, "Don…don't you want to know the price? Sp…specs?"

"Nope. I'm fine. I've got cash and something else that might be of interest to y'all. Now where am I bunking?" Anna smirks and nods for Chuck to show the man where he's staying.

Dean, Sam and Meg stand in a dusty room that could use better walls seeing as rays of sunlight stream through each and every crack…or bullet hole. A fancy man in a bowler hat stands behind a desk inspecting a fancy and very old fashioned colt gun. He seems pleased with it and hands it back to one of his lackeys with a nod. Then he turns to Dean.

"So you finally came," Crowley points out in a cultured voice.

"Well I've been told I have excellent endurance time," says Dean trying to lighten a very heavy mood that fills the room.

"Hmm, that wit. I've missed it, truly. But I'm not really sure why you even bothered to show up here today. My sources tell me of a Firefly ship spotted around the stolen cargo. Cargo, as I have also been informed, has every bloody morsel of it marked by the Garrison! Gorramnit, I'm not interested in your muck-ups. I don't want those goods."

"That's not fair! You are the one who sent us after it!" Sam growled at Crowley. Crowley only smirked and responded, "crime and politics sweetheart. The situation is always fluid."

Meg chose that moment to cut in. "Only fluid I see here is where I turn you to a big pile of mush if we don't get our pay!"

"Sam, Meg!" Both of them quieted, if not reluctantly when Dean called them back. "I know as well as anyone that you have plenty of connections that will take these goods for full price. So I'm thinking there is something you're not telling us. What's the matter? Don't you like me? I've been told I'm very charming and have lots of personality."

Crowley gives Dean a pitying look. "You were in the war, right? With your brother and Daddy? You were all legends. Now you're a captain of a ship! But deep down I think you're still a soldier. Still fighting the good fight, honor, bravery, and all of that soppy bullocks. But now you're in a den of thieves. And you still have that righteous attitude about you thinking your better than us. Well, I'll tell you boy. Here, I'm king. And you are just a pawn that I can move about my board to collect the other pieces to my end game. And all my pawns look just alike to me. I have no use for you at this moment. So go."

Dean stands completely still for a moment. Sam and Meg shift uncomfortably behind him. Suddenly Dean's face breaks into a big grin and says, "Maybe I'm not a king like you. With your…fancy hat, but I do fair business. Not because of some moral duty. I just find that there are less people waiting for my back to turn with a knife in their hand that way. I'll just be on my way, with my cargo and find someone who still has his balls enough to still work around the Garrison." With that Dean and his crew left the room. Crowley watched them leave with an unreadable expression.

"Why the hell didn't we shank that piece of slime with his fancy fountain pen?"

Meg had been voicing her displeasure over the whole meeting the entire walk back to the ship. Dean just focused on getting back to his ship. Sam also chose to ignore her and instead chose to send worried glances Dean's way every few seconds. Sam didn't know what Dean was going to do, and that always worried him.

"We would have lost that fight. He'll get what coming to him eventually. We'll have to sell the goods ourselves." Dean said in a tight voice.

"Just sell them on Boros. We can find a buyer there easy," suggested Sam.

"No, Boros is too big. Garrison soldiers are crawling all over that place. They will be looking for us there."

Sam looked panicked, "You don't think Crowley would sell us out to them!?"

Dean answered quickly, "If he hasn't already."

Meg snorted from behind, "Getting to be that a girl can't do an honest day's crime anymore."

Dean continued, "I say we just hit up one of the border planets and sell it to some sorry sods out there. I'm thinking we call up Ruby."

"No Dean. No. Are you out of your mind?! She shot you! And then threw you across the room! We can't trust her!" Sam shouts panicked.

"Un-wedge your thong, Samantha. I trust her like a baby pack of croats. We'll be cautious. But I want to get rid of this cargo before the Garrison catches us with it. We could lose the ship." As Dean says this, they are approaching the ship. They see Anna and Chuck welcoming in some new passengers. He focuses on the tall, dark skinned man being greeted by Chuck. Dean hears him introducing himself as Uriel. Dean pays him little mind after that. "We need this money if we are going to keep my baby in the air. We need fuel, we need parts, and we need food. Let's just get this done and hope for no more bumps or surprises."

Dean walks closer to the ship with a determined air about him and decided that he might as well greet his passengers. Anything to distract him from his thoughts. He sees Chuck now helping a posh looking guy move some ridiculously large boxes onto the ship. Dean smirks thinking that perhaps they caught themselves a rich fish in this puddle of a planet and perhaps there was a way to milk some more cash out of him on the 3 day trip to Boros.

As Chuck starts to move a shiny metallic box onto the dolly, the posh guy snaps at him, "Please be careful with that!" Chuck turns slightly and sees Dean approaching and quickly introduces the passenger.

"Hey Dean, this is Balthazar. Balthazar, this is Dean Winchester, our captain."

"Captain Winchester," Balthazar nods in his direction. And Dean inwardly groans at hearing another cultured voice today to only remind him of the day's less than prosperous start.

"Pleasure, Balthazar…." Dean waits for him to finish his name, but eventually gives up when he figures that's all he's going to get. Great, another guy Dean will never be able to figure out. So Dean nods back and turns to Chuck.

"This all we got?"

"Umm, well, Balthazar, a scary guy called Uriel. Oh! And a Preacher, Sheppard Bobby Singer."

"Fine. Lock it up, Sam!" And as soon as Chuck and Dean get into the ship with the last of the luggage, Sam pushes the red lock button to the side of the ramp. Closing up the ship as the hum of the engine is heard starting up the ship. Soon she lifts into the sky with a content purr that only those really looking for it can hear. And a soft rumble beneath their feet that only those who knew her best would feel.