The medical supplies job was a welcome diversion from Mal's thoughts over the next few days. Inara respected his wishes for time to think and didn't bother him about any of what they had talked about in her shuttle during this time. And he knew she, like everyone else on his boat was thrilled to be seeing Monty again.

By some miracle, Monty had managed to be spared in the bloodbath that the Operative had rained down on the crew's contacts during his hunt for River. They had accepted him as gone since his home had been destroyed like all the others and mourned Monty and his crew along with everyone else they'd lost. It wasn't until six or so months later that Monty, to everyone's surprise had contacted Mal about work. It was like seeing a man back from the dead. The day before the destruction, Monty had been called away off planet with some work, grabbed a small crew and left in the quiet of night without informing anyone. It had been his saving grace. But he had returned home a few days later to bear witness to a massacre.

"It was the likes of nothing I'd seen since the war. Women, children, they didn't care none about who they killed." He'd recalled over shots of whiskey one night. Mal had shuddered, remembering Haven and it's similarities.

"I'll never be able to forgive myself for the terror I brought down on you and yours." Mal had said sadly.

"Aw Hell Mal," Monty had exclaimed. "It ain't your fault. Alliance will always meddle in a man's life one way or another, we always knew that. We fought a gorram war over it, didn't we? They brought this on us. And for what you did, exposin' what they did to that planet, Miranda, I see why they went to lengths to keep that secret. And besides, it's finally got people talkin' again about unification. They're startin' to realize that Alliance are keepin' em down out here on the Rim, that they don't care none about us out here, and we don't owe em a damn thing."

It was true. There was talk, a lot of of talk these days on the cortex, examining the value of Alliance control. There was outrage and horror with what had happened on Miranda, fear it could happen again, not to mention questions of what could be happening right now that citizens weren't aware of. Ironically, the attacks that the operative had made on Mal's contacts hadn't gone unnoticed either. Those attacks had occurred nearly simultaneously on five separate outer worlds, killing hundreds of folk. The Alliance had dismissed these as terrorist attacks by Reavers. The core bought this propaganda, always believing the rim to be uncivilized, unclean. But out here, there were no shortage of conspiracy theories, trying to make sense of so many civilians dead. No one, not even Reavers, especially not Reavers could coordinate attacks such as these, folks reasoned. At worst they pointed fingers at the Alliance themselves as responsible, at best, they used it as yet another example of how a core government could not adequately protect and provide for the border and rim planets. The unrest wasn't as bad as it had been in Mal's youth before the war, but sometimes it gave him pause to wonder where it was all headed.

In the meantime, it was good to still have friends like Monty out there. Monty had helped Serenity's crew get back on their feet after losing a lot of their prospects with Miranda. He introduced them to new contacts, and always referred people to Mal when they had a special job in mind, often ones that bent the rules for what was strictly legal.

The current one on Salisbury, also not strictly legal, went by without a hitch. Monty, not having the crew or tools necessary for theft, needed Mal's crew to secure the goods. After that, they'd rendezvous on Regina to deliver, distribute and split the profit. It wasn't nearly as daring as the heist on Ariel had been, the medical supplies had been stored in an old warehouse outside of Salisbury's largest city, awaiting shipment to all the planetside hospitals and clinics. Mal and Zoe came up with a plan for them and Jayne to get in and out, Simon had helped them decipher what to take from there of value. It was a perfect crime, and they knew Salisbury wouldn't suffer any. It was a planet that had largely supported unification and there was a strong political presence. They'd receive new supplies quickly.

"Feels good to do some quality crime again, stealin' from the rich and all," Mal said cheerfully as the mule sailed back on board Serenity only two hours after they left, cargo intact.

"it'll feel even better to get paid! Don't much care where it comes from." Jayne replied, closing up behind them. "Haven't had a job like this in months!" Simon, Kaylee, Inara and River were there to greet them.

"I'm so excited to see Monty!" Exclaimed Kaylee. "How long we got down there you think?"

"Couple a days for sure," Mal replied. "As long as it takes to get this stuff to all the dealers. Monty's got at least four deliveries lined up for tomorrow. We'll hang around for that, help out a little." He searched for his pilot, who was standing on the stair watching them start to unload the mule. "Get us into atmo and plot a course to Regina, Little one," He called up to River. She smiled and turned to head to the bridge. He turned then to Zoe.

"Send a wave over, tell em we'll be a few hours at most, Jayne and I'll get this stuff secured." Zoe inclined her head and started off.

"Job well done." Mal commented before Zoe walked away. Felt that familiar satisfaction of everything gone to plan.

"Couldn't agree more, Sir."

The next few days were pleasant. Hard work during the day mixed with the reunion of good friends over campfire at night.

"Whatcha got planned after this?" Monty asked the night before they were about to part. They sat around the fire companionably, sharing some of Monty's Bourbon. It was a peaceful night, someone was playing a guitar somewhere, the melody mixing with the pops and cracks of the burning wood.

"Eh, lay low for a while, I expect," Mal mused. "We gotta see about getting our resident Companion closer to the core for some work at some point too."

"Work, huh?" Monty proceeded cautiously. "Jayne tells me you've taken up with her. I had it in mind she wouldn't be after that kind of work no more."

Mail sighed heavily.

"You and me both," He replied honestly. It was a relief to talk to someone off his boat about this. "She's wantin' to take clients again she says. Misses it. Says that it's a form of therapy and she misses help people work out... whatever it is that needs workin' out I reckon. I guess when you train for something your whole life, it's hard to take the Companioning out of the woman."

Inara was sitting with Kaylee across the fire and Mal gazed at them. He hadn't been avoiding her exactly. During the day, they were cordial, even warm with each other. He had even found himself giving her affectionate shoulder rubs and held her hand once or twice during the last few days. But he hadn't been to her shuttle since the night they had spoken. He felt her absence with a pang every night as he crawled into his bunk alone and wondered if she felt the same. He knew the next few days things between them would get sorted and he wasn't looking forward to it.

"Well she's a fine woman, ain't no one can deny that," Monty said contemplatively. "and hell Mal, I respect a woman's work of any kind. But let me tell you, it'd take a bigger man than me to watch my own woman do work like that." WIth this, Monty drained his cup and poured himself and Mal another Bourbon. Mal nodded.

"That's the problem," He replied. "Don't want to lose her, but can't keep her like this. I also don't want to lose her off my boat. Whatever she is to me, she's family too. Been through a lot with us."

Mal sipped his drink and turned away from Inara. As he looked around, his gaze fell to River, talking with some boys her own age who were on Monty's crew. He felt that familiar annoyance, especially with one of the boys hovered around her, clearly infatuated. There always seemed to be at least one boy looking to River every time they landed somewhere new. She did have a way of standing out. Mal didn't know how Simon could abide it all, but he seemed to tolerate it, said it was a "healthy part of normal development." Mal didn't know if he would be so cool headed about his own sister if he'd had one, but he supposed it was better than the doctor breathing down River's neck about every boy she talked to.

He watched as River said something that made everyone laugh. She had that bemused look in her face that showed she didn't know why what she said was funny. It was good to see her all normal, being able to carry on a conversation with strangers, he figured, trying to be fair. And she didn't seem to be paying any boy special mind, not even the one who looked like he was hanging onto every word, hoping for a little more.

"That's quite a girl ya got there too, Captain Reynolds," Monty commented, watching him watch River. Monty knew a little about River's part in Miranda, although Mal had been cagey about all the details. He knew Mal kept her close on most of the more serious jobs, and had even seen River fight once. Seeing a one hundred pound girl take out six grown men had convinced Monty there was a hell of a lot more to her than met the eye. "I'd hold onto her, seems she'll bring you a lot of good fortune."

"You're not wrong about that one." He sighed. "She's been our luck in many a situation. Not sure when I managed to get so many complicated women on my boat. Two of which could kill me in my sleep, one of those probably using only her brain to get the job done." Referring to Zoe and River.

"Ha!" Monty laughed and clapped Mal on the back. "The world's full of complicated women, Mal. I got my lady crew and the wives and daughters of my men crew to contend with. Makes a man mighty tired, dealing with all that drama. you're lucky you only got four on board. And you got the best kind of woman, all four of em. I 'spect they'd all follow you into hell and back, if you asked."

Mal drained his cup for the third time that night and held it out for a fourth. Wasn't that the truth.

xxxx

The next morning was full of activity. After breakfast, as everyone else helped strip down camp, both bleary eyed Captains prepared their respective ships to haul off Regina.

Once the work was done, the two crews stood around their ships, goodbyes and well wishes being exchanged. Kaylee gave Monty a hug and quick kiss and Monty blushed, embarrassed. He shook Simon and Jayne's hands. Then he turned to Zoe.

"Always a pleasure Zoe, you take care of your old grumpy Captain for me," Monty winked at Zoe who grinned in return.

"Someone's gotta keep a sound mind and the ship in one piece." She replied jokingly.

"Good to see you Mal, and good doin' business." Monty and Mal shook hands and embraced. "I hope it's sooner and not later next time."

Suddenly, Mal heard a gasp. There was a flurry of activity behind him. He barely had time to turn around before Mal found himself disarmed of the gun in his holster. River whirled, pointing Mal's gun towards Monty's crew.

"Just what in the hell-" Monty started, but was stopped by the sound of a gun going off.

It wasn't what they expected. It wasn't River who had acted. Instead, it was River who had been shot. She crumpled to the ground beside Mal, the unfired gun still in her hand. Kaylee screamed.

Before Mal had time to process this horror, another gun went off. The bullet met it's fate in the chest of one of Monty's crew, just a boy, maybe eighteen. The boy fell to the ground. If not dead now, he would be in a minute or two, Mal knew. But he was the one who had shot River, the weapon still clutched in his dying hand, mirroring the one that had fallen from River's hands. It was the same boy, he realized dimly, who he had noticed hovering over River the night before, with what he had thought was infatuation and lust.

It was too much to process. River was down beside him, her soft whimper paining him in a way that was almost too much to bear. He pushed his concern for her out of his mind for the time being and took in the surroundings. No one had moved since the two victims had fallen. Who had fired the second shot? No one on Monty's crew. He glanced at his own people. Zoe and Jayne had reacted immediately, aiming their rifles at Monty and his crew, some of which had aimed their guns at them but neither side had fired. Monty was as shocked as he was. They looked at each other, unsure what to do next. It was a tense moment.

"I'm so sorry, Captain Reynolds," A voice broke the silence. "I only wish I had made it here a little faster." The cultured, accented voice made Mal shudder. He knew who it belonged to before he turned to face the man.

There, standing with the weapon that'd killed the man who shot River, was the Operative.