Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I don't own Firefly or Serenity, I don't own my house, I don't own my car, I don't own my pants. Where…are my pants? Where…is my car…? Oh shit..not again…SAFFRON!

Warning: Sexual Content…I repeat graphic Sexual Content. There will be scenes and they will probably be graphic. Lemons and Limes are my kind of fruit, and if you ain't cool with that turn around now. Now on a different note, there is a little splash of torture, and a little dash of action, lot of blood, and a little gore zested on top for garnish. Read at your own risk

The XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX denotes a time change or scene shift. I usually use stars, but they don't show up on this site. Odd don't you think?

Body And Soul

By: Koken

Kaylee didn't mean to run into the room, her feet just moved on their own. She'd been hiding with Inara behind the southern door leading to the engine room, listening carefully and hoping that everything would be alright. She had prepared herself for the Captain to say all sorts of mean and nasty things to poor Wash. She did not account for this doubt to come from the former pilot. The young girl opened her mouth to say something, but it didn't come out, nothing came out. She couldn't form any words, she just shook her head no and looked down at the blonde.

Jayne dared to look in from the other door as he heard the footsteps enter the room. Jayne never hated the clone more than the moment he broke little Kaylee's heart. She looked like she had been physically punched in the chest, her shoulders hunched forward, her brow knit together and her mouth hung open. She was out of breathe. Wash couldn't look at her, yet knew she had stumbled into the room. "Sorry Kaylee. I lied. I'm just a clone, everything I told you was a lie."

The girl took a few steps back. Her eyes sad. She let a tear fall down her face. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment: She ran.

Silence filled the room until both Inara's strong womanly voice, and River's gentle childlike voice chimed together. "That's a lie." Although the companion had swung through the door using it for support, passing Kaylee on her way out, River uncoiled from her hiding place inside the room. She stepped down, flowing like water as she hit the ground, her frame graceful but strong and her eyes harsh.

River looked at the companion, allowing the well spoken lady to continue. "You just don't want to be here anymore. You don't want to cause this much pain. You wanna break Kaylee heart before the Captain breaks it by throwing you off."

"No." Wash said firmly, keeping his voice at a strange tone. "I want to leave. I don't wanna stay on this boat no more."

"Hurts to Much." River said, taking over with her echoing, haunted voice. "Zoe loves the dead man, but your alive. You should be dead. But your alive. She can't love you alive. So you'll die."

Jayne blinked and looked more confused then a monkey trying to use a computer, he was no longer concentrating on staying hidden. No one said a thing, including Wash.

"You can prove it, but your done fighting. Tortured, Killed. You died, but you never got rest. You think your supposed to be resting now. You wanna kill yourself and get it over with. You wanna put it back the way it's supposed to be." River's voice made the space feel smaller, made the room want to collapse in on itself as she climbed onto the table in front of him. "But your wrong."

Inara walked toward slowly, using the wall then the counter for support, she reached Wash and put a hand on his shoulder. This made Mal uncomfortable. He felt the pang of jealousy, the coursing urge to want that same affection. Did he have to die and be cloned for Inara to touch him so tenderly? He would do it.

"Stop letting the torture do the talking. You wanna stay, you gotta fight. You want Zoe back, you gotta fight. You want your friends back, you gotta fight." Came the crazy girls slow voice. "Think like Wash again." River whispered, her knees bending up and folding into her chest. "Prove yourself."

Wash looked around the room. He could see Jayne through the door, and he could see Simon, not even attempting to hide, standing dead center in the hallway, staring into the room. Everyone had clustered to the town central to see the freak show.

"I'm quite the attraction." Wash said with a chuckle.

"Yeah. Could say that." Mal said leaning back. "Jayne, Simon, you commin' in or stayin' out? Don't be lingering, it's creepy."

Jayne made a gruff noise and turned away, he wasn't one for drama, and something else was pulling at him anyways. He turned and heard Simon walk in behind him, the mercenary left the drama and made his way down the stairs looking for Kaylee. He turned in the small hallway, allowing the tall dark haired first mate enough room to pass him by.

The Captain still looked just at Wash, Simon pulled up a seat at the table, next to Mal, while Inara stayed close to the pilot. The blonde didn't speak for a long time, a hallow silence coursing through the room. He couldn't say nothing with the Captain looking at him like that, but Inara was looking at him the same way. He remembered what it was like, to see Kaylee round the corner, to hear Inara's voice when he woke up. He remembered how they trusted him, how they saved him, in more ways than one, and now he planed on just killing himself anyway. He didn't want to betray their trust like that, didn't want to break the mechanic's heart, but no matter how he loved his friends, one person meant more to him then all of them combined. He would do anything to make her happy, including disappear. If that is what it took.

That very person let her feet fall heavily as she stepped into the room, she walked behind Mal. She was strong willed, she stood with her feet planted and her arms crossed. She was protecting her heart from anything that Wash could throw at it. He still didn't say anything.

River turned and looked at Zoe, her dark eyes flickering as her mind dug into the dark woman's private corners. "Answer Yes, or Answer No. Do you want the truth." Her voice was something of a song.

Mal was the Captain here, he was supposed to be the one being convinced, not Zoe, he knew this was important to her, but there was a reason he didn't want her here. Relationship on the ship made things very complicated. "River, that's enough, Wash is the one suppose' be talkin' here."

Wash looked down at the table. He couldn't see Zoe when he said this. "My name is Hoban Washborn, I fell in love and married Zoe Alleyne, I was born 2486, planet so thick with people, can't see the stars. Entered flight school at 17, second in my class, although it wasn't exactly a fair assessment considering Mr. Universe never really flew a day in his life, just programmed the auto-pilot to do it for him. Took this job, could've done something better. Something easier, shuttling people cross the core for a lot more money, and a lot less trouble…but I wanted to be 'round Zoe. 2513, married her, told her that I would love her, and honor her, in sickness and in health, till I get us both killed." He leaned his head to one side playing his fingers over the wood surface. "Don't ever remember everything but I remember when I asked you out and you said yes."

"I never said yes." Zoe snaped, catching him in a lie.

"Didn't say no, that was close enough for me." Wash retorted quickly. He looked up at her, deep into her eyes for the first time and gave a slow smile. Then he said it. Word for word. "Come on, I go out there and risk my life for you and all I get is a cold look." They both knew what came next, and Mal vaguely remembered the conversation going through his cargo bay. Wash took a moment to regroup and continued. "No thanks, no nothing. Come on! Gimmie a kiss for my troubles at least."

The man nodded and cleared his throat, he looked at Mal and smiled in the moment. "She just gave me the strangest look."

"Alright, I'll settle for a date first." Wash continued the reenactment, pretending to give have cold demeanor. He smiled up at Zoe, despite her cold look staring at him. "I mean, at least I can treat you to a nice dinner planet-side before we get all hot and heavy, no no, I insist."

There was a long silence, both Zoe and Wash knew it was Zoe's line, he wanted her to say it and she couldn't bring herself to. River spoke for her, her voice a firm imitation of the first mate, "You better shave that rat off your face."

"Wait…that…wasn't a no then?" Wash said with a smile looked down at the table. He closed his eyes. "Got tortured by Niksa, no way I could have gotten through that without you Mal…okay…you want more?" Wash asked a little tired, he wasn't expecting to say so many…personal things.

Before he could continue, Mal interrupted him. "Okay, can you tell me what the last thing you said before you died."

"I'm a leaf on the wind." Wash responded, without hesitation, without a flicker of deception, only an overwhelming sadness bubbling up inside his belly. He wanted to close his eyes, to block out the cold look Zoe was giving him. He just remembered her voice, calling out to him as he slipped away. It hurt, more than the memory of the physical pain.

"Okay. I believe you." Mal said firmly. "But before I choose, what do you want? You wanna stay or you wanna go?"

Wash let his eyes flicker to Zoe, he saw her turn and walk away. Her feet moving at their normal pace, but it still felt like she was running. "I'd like to stay sir, but I know that ain't my choice entirely."

"That's right it's mine. You gotta make good with my mechanic, and don't be pulling those kinds of lies no more." Mal stood up, and let out a breath. "Then you gotta make sure my first mate ain't gonna kill ya."

"You gonna let me stay?" Wash asked, wanting a straight answer, he didn't want to hang, the unknown, the dark, it itched under his skin now.

"Ain't decided for how long. You can take a guest bunk." Mal answered, and Wash knew that was all he was going to get, wasn't even worth trying to push the Captain. When the pilot looked around him, he noticed a sight he hadn't counted on. Smiles. Inara, River and Simon all seemed happy that he was back. They believed him, they didn't care he was a clone.

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Jayne wasn't good at making people feel better, but at least Kaylee wasn't crying, she just seemed angry, frustrated or something of the sort. She sat there on the catwalk of the cargo bay staring at Serenity. Jayne took a few steps toward her, she didn't look up at him, so he took the rest of the distance in a few strides and planted his large body with a plop next to her. He wasn't sure why he was here, wasn't sure what he was doing. He liked Kaylee well enough, but she seemed to have made it perfectly clear it was just one night, just one time, just one weakness. He couldn't get the thoughts out of his head. How she tasted, the way she sounded, the way she looked wiggling under him as he took her, made her his, in a very very physical way. He was good at that, takin' girls into his bed and making an impact, but he's never tried to make it happen a second time, not the same woman. He loved the feel of a woman, this woman. Never before had he bothered to deal with feelings. Kaylee was different, he honestly didn't know what was wrong, or why, or what caused it, but he was starting to pay attention. He wanted to say the right thing, although he rarely did. She was her, Simon had told her so that morning in front of her bunk, he had been listening at the bottom of the ladder.

"What's got your panties in a twist now?" Jayne asked, assuming that anything else just wouldn't sound like him.

Kaylee shook her head with a cocked smile. "You know Jayne, just doesn't make no sense. I know that's Wash. I know that's our Wash, and I don't want him goin'. He's been through a lot you know. Just want him stayin' here where we can keep him safe."

"You like him huh?" Jayne asked, his voice unable to mask a small amount of accusation, jealousy bubbling up to the surface. "You gonna duke it out with Zoe for him?"

Kaylee shook her head, she reached out and gave his chest a gentle push. "Not like that you goof, he's our friend, part of this crew, this family, course I like him. Not in the way I like …" She promptly let her voice trail away. Was she allowed to tell him that?

"The way you like…?" Jayne asked, suddently on fire with jealousy. She had to finish. "What…like you like who?"

Then there was silence for a long while, filling the room and weighting down the atmosphere. Kaylee didn't answer and Jayne didn't know what to stay. So the mercenary went back to what he did best. He pulled her toward himself and despite her surprise wide eyes planted his lips on hers. His mouth was soft and warm, his lips were passionate and hot, the movement of them alone made Kaylee want to melt.

The mechanic was hesitant and tense at first but she didn't have any aversion to kissing the man in front of her, she was whole and free and knew she was herself again. She was burning on the inside. Her lips moved on there own, her hands moving around his neck and she let out a muffled squeal into his mouth as he hauled her up completely onto his lap. He was strong, very strong and his stubble tickled her face as he ground his lips on her, his tongue wiggling into her mouth and invaded her. She felt like she wanted to tremble as her mind forgot about everything except him…kissing her...touching her…doing what he did last night…again…and again…and again.

Jayne loved the feeling of her smaller body in his arms. He held her firmly but gently, his lips keeping a feverish pace on hers. One hand went up to her face and stroked her delicate skin and neck, soft brown hair twisting through his fingers. He let his eyes crack open a little, peeking at her face as they locked together. He smiled into the kiss before breaking it in favor of his burning lungs. They both looked at one another, breathing fast before letting themselves slow down, and suck in deep low breathes of air.

Even after calming down for a moment, Kaylee was still nestled in Jayne's lap, and his large hands still held a tight grip on her hips. "W…what was that for?" She whispered, seemingly afraid that someone in the empty cargo hold would hear them.

"Are you thinking about Wash now? Or Simon?" Jayne asked, his voice a little husky, attempting to hide what he felt.

Kaylee opened her mouth to speak, her eyes a little hung, her body loose and relaxed. She had the most graceful smile as she looked at him. Jayne wasn't the most intelligent man, but he was willing to bet the girl in his arms was just about to say something sweet, or cute, or delightful, and he would then have the pleasure of kissing her again, maybe more.

That plan was so rudely interrupted but the sound of footsteps heading toward them. Kaylee's eyes went wide, her body tensed and she scrambled out of Jayne's arms. The strong man let her go and took a few deep breathes. He couldn't get up quite yet or the whole ship would know just what they probably would have done if not interrupted.

Wash's clear voice came into the cargo bay. "Kaylee. Can we talk?"

"Of course." Responded the smiling girl as she quickly ran up the stairs. There was tension in every pour of the cargo bay, it hung thick in the air and was so difficult to breathe. She followed Wash, running out of the room with her heart racing as she took a second to glance back at the large man she left behind. Jayne had kissed her, took her in his arms and kissed her like with the hear of a thousand suns and she had liked it…a lot.

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"No hard feelings?" Wash asked with a small smile.

"Course not." Kaylee said with a shrug. "Just…don't do that again, ain't nice to lie." They smiled, the moment was awkward, because neither were really thinking about the person next to them.

Kaylee was thinking about the heat still on her lips, she was thinking not about complicated mental issues but the pure animalistic lust that Jayne moved with. He didn't seem like a man, more like a beast. He had just grabbed her, yanked her onto him and she had liked it. She had felt his arousal and knew he liked it too. Did he just want to tumble with her? Did he want something more? Did he like her? Love her? She had been about to tell him that she liked him…but…maybe it is better Wash interrupted. She pulled herself out of the silence to look at Wash, who was a million miles away.

Wash was thinking about Zoe. Her eyes were gone, her demeanor cold. He was too afraid and unsure of what was going on inside of her to properly interpret her body language. He still loved her, with every inch of himself. He knew how she moved and could read her very well, but not at the moment. His mind kept making jumps back to the image of her holding a gun to his face. More than that, of her cold eyes as she did it, not even surprised to see him alive.

They sat in a quiet silence, the pilot afraid to face the woman he loved, and the mechanic afraid to face what she had been so long distracted from.

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The lights in Simon's guest bunk where a dim warm color that cast harsh shadows across the small space. He found himself still pouring through the papers that documented Wash's "treatment." He had more files around him. He kept medical records of all the crew after he came aboard; Wash's, Kaylee's and Inara's were spread around him.

He slowly moved the slippery photos through his fingers, passing by the autopsy documentation in favor of the man's brain scans. There were one for every case, even some old fashioned, hand drawn, maps of Wash's brain. Folding this information slowly into his mind Simon saw the lines of his thoughts and memories bare an artificial resemblance to normal human pathways. Although Simon believed the brain was a fundamental part of the human being, controlling them and making them who they are, he still wasn't sure if he was convinced this was all the same. Wash. Poor Wash. They had grieved for him, and then someone had dug him up and used him for very inhuman experiment. Excluding of course the changes that he underwent during the last few months of torture, Wash appeared to be the same as the day they found Miranda, but his brain showed something different. Simon could see the unnatural burn marks tracing through the man's head. Simon could see the tool marks the reproduced every finite detail of Wash's memory, yet they were still tool markers. Minute traces and examples of slight miscalculation. His brain was imprinted, after every death with the memories of his past life.

He lied to Kaylee, because Mal had told him too. He hated it when he had to lie. That wasn't what crawled under his skin however and kept him from sleeping. No. The image of Jayne on top on Kaylee. The image of the beautiful girl say his name, griping his arms and coming for him. It was Jayne, JAYNE! The monkey brained moron that couldn't put two and two together. He took advantage of her, that is what he did. She was scared and vulnerable and if Simon could have just figured out a way to tell her the answer, the truthful answer faster. No. It wasn't his fault. Kaylee. Kaylee…would never have slept with Jayne. Not the Kaylee he knew at least. Maybe she was a clone. Maybe …she was…she could be. She may be…what…what could he do to get an answer? He set down the files and rubbed his eyes with a deep long breath, a sudden thought entered his brain and he jumped from his bed.

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Mal nursed the mug of alcohol in his hands, slowly turning it over as he watched the amber liquid swirl in the glass. He wasn't one for thinking about heavy subjects or making difficult decisions. He always did what had to be done, but lately, since Miranda he'd been plagued. You can't always do something right, and do the 'right thing'.

It was easy for Mal to accept Wash. He felt regret for making the choice that lead to the sacrifice of several friends. All of them paid for the 'right thing', and they didn't at all deserve such a fate. As long as this fixed his mistake, brought Wash back from the dead without turning him into a zombie, Mal was okay with that, happy to have an excellent pilot back on his ship. Not to mention he was willing to welcome back a member of his crew, his family.

"But nothin' ever is just that simple round here." He muttered as he took a sip of his drink.

"Why is that?" Asked a cool and collected angelic voice from over his shoulders. Inara moved with the grace and ease of a bird as she descended all but silently and lowered herself next to him. She was dignified and beautiful next to him, as she always was.

"Nothin'" Mal assured her not sure that he should talk to her about anything at all.

"Is Wash still worrying your mind?" Inara asked softly, her voice had a sweetness that Mal wasn't used to. When there was only silence in response, Inara took the opportunity to slide a little closer to the Captain, she loved the feeling of his warmth radiating into her. "You know, when I saw him, the first time, Kaylee was holding onto him, he was dieing in her arms. I felt…the same loss I did when you told us he wasn't coming. I instantly knew the man, even when he didn't say a word to me. I just knew. I think, with a little time, and effort, Zoe will come around. However, you were right. It is your choice." She wasn't patronizing him, she wasn't angry or spiteful. Her words came with a smoothness and a sweetness that lulled Mal and lowered his defenses.

The man was almost startled when she lowered her head onto his shoulder. He slowly lifted up his hand and slide it up her delicate silk back. He pulled her close to him, into the warmth of his body and closed his eyes. He didn't know why he did it. Maybe her kindness, maybe the alcohol once in his mug now clouded his judgment, but he couldn't stop the display of affection. Didn't want to stop holding her so close.

Guilt raced through him. He didn't want to tell her what was really bothering him. He didn't want to tell her she might also be a clone. But the tenseness in his body gave him away. They fell into one another so easily. Inara wanted to accept it but she felt the distance in him. She sat up and looked at him in the eye.

"Your knee looks like it's doing better." He said, hand still on the small of her back.

"…Mal…" She asked a little afraid. It was the way he avoided her eyes, the way the muscle in his neck tensed. It always did that when he was hiding something from her. Because he remained silent she knew it was something large, important.

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Jayne waited in the engine room, he knew that would be the first place she would go when she was done with Wash. He leaned against the wall with the door, hidden from those outside. He waited impatiently for what seemed like an eternity, then she walked in walking toward Serenity's engine and Jayne promptly slid the door shut.

Kaylee jumped looking behind her. Jayne was there smiling at her, he looked like he was about to ask a question when the brown eyed mechanic reached out and pulled him to her. He didn't say anything, just kissed her with heat and passion, grinding himself into her. And just as quick, he pulled back and let her feet hit the ground again. He looked down at her with intense hunger, eyes that said they wanted her badly enough to roar. But he backed away.

"Hey!" She whispered. "Where are you going?"

He shook his head. "We can't do this here. . . Mal…Mal said if I touched you…again…"

"Again?" She asked blinking deeply.

"He knew…about the first time I kissed you…there was someone there…who saw us. . . it must have been him." Jane said a little out of breath.

"It wasn't him, It was me." Simon said with a bit of a jealous tone as he stood in the doorway.

"Simon?" Kaylee asked tilting her head.

"Kaylee, I need to do another test." Simon said as he turned, expecting her to follow.

"What for?" She asked, an innocence and sweetness to her, an entirely different Kaylee that enjoyed Jayne grinding against her just moments before.

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Mal thanked some lady of luck that he heard fast feet approaching. He looked up to see Kaylee running toward him. It was only when she got closer did he see her expression. She slammed into Mal, pushing him toward the edge of the platform she was about to try and throw him over the edge when Jayne's long legs finally caught up to her and pulled her back to him. She struggled, wiggling in his arms as she screamed.

"YOU LIAR!" She yelled. She had tears in her eyes as she calmed a little, at least she stilled and crumpled, letting Jayne support her. Simon was a few feet back on the stairs, but he immediately ran down to Mal Standing next to him, the one who ordered him to lie. Simon was passing the blame.

"YOU THINK I WOULDN'T CARE? THINK I WOULDN'T FIND OUT! I WANNA KNOW!" She screamed still uncontrollable.

Inara couldn't stand but her calming voice could reach the girl. "Kaylee…what's going on?"

With so much commotion it wasn't long before, River and Wash had made there way into the Cargo bay on different levels.

"He doesn't know!" She spat. "They don't know. They told us we weren't clones but they never knew! There was no way to tell. Now Simon wants to do another test and what if this one doesn't tell us. ARE YOU GONNA LIE AGAIN!" Kaylee was angry beyond words, she slid down. She was shaking as Jayne slid with her. Holding her as delicately as he could. He didn't want to let go.

Mal opened his mouth to defend himself, but Inara was already speaking. "Does it matter?"

"WHAT?" Kaylee asked, about to continue when Inara cut her off.

"Does it even matter. Don't you feel like yourself. Don't you feel real?" She asked.

"Yes…" Replied the brilliant mechanic.

Inara tilted her head to the side and looked at Kaylee sweetly. "Don't you believe Wash is just as real as the Wash we knew before?"

"Yes." She whispered truthfully, not even looking up at the man in the room. She didn't say it from pressure, she said it because her pure heart believed it.

"Then if you were a clone," said the woman, very sweetly and firmly, "You would be just the same, so what does it matter."

The girl finally calmed, breathing easier. "Why did he lie?"

"You would rot from the inside, thinking the insides where not yours." Said the physic girl behind her, drawing Kaylee's attention. "That is why Mal lied. That is why Simon lied. That is why Jayne lied."

Kaylee noticed, Jayne was still holding her, and she pulled away from him. She didn't realize what she was doing in front of everyone on the ship. She was too angry. "You lied to me about WHAT?"

Jayne blinked. Exactly how was he supposed to answer that in front of Mal?

Simon decided Jayne wasn't digging his own hole fast enough, maybe he needed some help. "Whatever he said to convince you to sleep with him last night."

Everyone looked at Simon. Surprise, Anger, Resentment, Hatred, Disgust, where hurled at the Doctor like daggers.

Mal looked a little angry, staring down at his mechanic and his mercenary as he coughed to gain their attention. "Excuse me?"

"She likes him" Whispered river to Wash, far from the center of the action, her words going unnoticed by most of the key players in the argument.

"Oh! STUFF it Capt'n, I like him and you got no say in the matter!" Kaylee screamed.

"You like him?" Mal asked surprised

"You like him?" Inara squeaked, disgusted.

"You like him?" Simon roared, jealously.

"You like him?" Wash asked with wide eyes. He…really had missed a lot while he was gone.

"You like..me?" Jayne asked blinking. "Really?" He smiled, what a relief it was knowing she cared, he didn't really know why. It just felt good.

They kissed for a moment. Confusion swirled around the cargo bay as everyone needed a moment to let that little gem sink in.

Finally Mal spoke. "Let the doc test you. Get you some piece of mind?"

She dipped her head and leaned her weight back against Jayne's strength. "No… It doesn't matter." Her eyes glared at the Captain. She didn't have to say a thing, he knew that she was angry, and disappointed, and to Simon she gave the same hateful glare as she stood.

"What are you testing her for?" Wash asked, still confused as to what this fight was really about.

Simon didn't even look at Wash. "To see if they are clones, they both were asleep for some time in the facility whi-"

Wash couldn't even bare to let him finish. "Impossible." He stated flatly, "It takes them a few weeks to grow an adult clone. The only reason they revived me so quickly was because I had bodies on standby. It would be months before Inara or Kaylee would have living breathing replicas. It is absolute not possible for either of them to be clones."

Inara felt her entire body lighten. Although she had so firmly believed it didn't matter, she knew somewhere in her heart the question lingered. Hung like a lure for corrosion to take hold on her soul, something like this could eat her insides from her. Kaylee felt a whole new type of freedom. All her secret fears had been quelled for the moment. She could see River making slightly icky faces and couldn't decide if it was from her impure thoughts or Jayne's.

There was a heavy silence broken by River sticking out her tongue at Simon. "BOOB!" She yelled and ran toward him, chasing him out of the bay with a threat of either bodily harm or tickling…no one ever can tell with her.

Wash stared down at Inara. His mind turning what she said. "You really believe what you said?"

Inara nodded, peering over her shoulder at him. "Your our Wash. You don't need to prove it. I'm sure that Zoe knows…maybe you should just risk it. What is the worst that could happen?"

Wash laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "She could kill me."

Kaylee nodded and laughed gently "You've been there, done that, don't suppose that should scare you." She said with a certain up beat twist, something only she could do to such a morbid argument.

"I guess your right…" He answered as he left the room with a slow pace.

Mal looked down as the companion touched his leg. "Could you help me to my shuttle?" She asked, politely, but sincerely. It was difficult for her to ask for assistance, physical need or not. A silence hung with an awkward presence as the shuttle door clicked shut. They were alone, but they were not comfortable. Inara was the first one to speak. "That's what you were hiding."

"Yep" Mal replied with a smile, not that it was off his chest.

"You know I already knew…" Inara replied. "I knew the moment Simon lied. I knew you told him too. I wasn't trained yesterday you know."

Another silence filled the room. It seemed, once they both agreed not to spend their time insulting one another. There wasn't anything to say. Mal had to push down comments about her training while Inara pushed down the urge to scold him in a very motherly fashion as to how lying isn't very nice at all. They just sat with one another for a long…long…long silence. "What happened to your ring?"

"I woke up before Kaylee, on a platform with what looked like a vast…nothingness below us. It was very dark. I wanted to know how deep it was and the only thing I had was the ring. So I dropped it into the hole." She said softly.

"How long did it take to hit the bottom?" Mal asked looking at her face, trying to read it.

Her features were stony and didn't give much away. "I never heard it hit." She whispered softly.

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Wash wasn't going to disappear. Wasn't going to run away, wasn't going to fall off the face of the 'verse. At least not unless she told him to. Zoe's strong frame stood in the doorway to the kitchen. Wash hesitated at the other end. He loved her, and seeing her so cold to him was difficult. He just wanted to say something to her. Had to say it, but like this, to her back was the best way to do it.

"I love you." He quickly continued talking, rambling because he didn't want her to turn around. "I can not remember a moment when I didn't love you after I had meet you" He took a few steps closer. She wasn't stopping him, hadn't shot him, and that meant she was listening. "I am exactly the person you loved. And …I'm sorry. I know it must be hard. Loosing me and getting me back in a matter of months. But…"

Zoe turned to face him, her eyes soft, her expression caring, her arms still crossed but her shoulders were weak. He almost had her.

"I still need you. I still need you to…I can't breathe without you …please…" He stepped close to her and let his lips touch hers his hand delicately moving over her cocoa colored cheekbone.

Zoe didn't cry in front of anyone. She didn't break down. She didn't let her emotions rule her judgment. In the moment his lips touched her she knew him again.

Wash's cleanly shaven face pressed against her in the same tentative way he approached her around certain subjects. His kiss was sweet and searching, but a kind of loving energy poured from him into her.

Wash's stubbly face tickled her as he kissed her rough but sure, desperate and clinging for life after Niska's torture. She felt him dig into her mouth with a need she had never felt from him before.

Wash's smooth skin touched hers, slick with sweat as he kissed her deeply. Breathless he broke away, his warm body naked over her's.

Wash's lips touched hers.

Wash's thumb brushed her lips.

Wash's lips touched her nose in a gentle display of effection.

Wash's lips smiled as he made a joke

Wash's tongue invaded her mouth and pulled her into his arms.

Wash's warmth flooded through her as his arms wraped around her. A warm spot in the cold reaches of space.

Wash's fingertips touched her as her eyes fluttered open. Her body ached from the blast, but his touch let her know she was alive.

Wash's body leaned against her's as she pulled him from the satellite where his mind would remain night after night.

Wash's touch was like fire as he made love to her, taking her in the cockpit of Serenity when no one was looking.

Wash's electricity flowed into her like an energy of life, his smile contagious his mood infectious.

Wash.

Wash's kiss ended, pulling back as his bright blue eyes searched her deep brown ones for the longest moment in existence. That instant, in a way swallowed him whole and part of him will always live there. Staring into her eyes and hearing her beautifully kiss swollen lips whisper to him. "I love you too."

This time she kissed him. She kissed him with the fevering need of a starving woman who would die without him. Had died without him.

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River sat across from Simon in the infirmary. Her eyes were closed as she listened, listened in on the feelings going through Kaylee when Jayne kissed her just so. Simon's thoughts were a little too loud however for her to properly enjoy the funny business on the other end of the ship. They sat quietly, she knew what he was thinking and he knew that she knew. He knew that she knew he knew. She knew that he kn- "Stop" Came her commanding but child like voice. "Your going to give me a headache. I liked it better when you were beating up on yourself."

Simon had to say it. "I had a good thing…didn't I?"

"Yes." River said sternly.

"I ruined it…didn't I"

"Yes."

"They all probably hate me." Simon said as he hung his head low.

"No."

That was all the assurance, or comfort Simon was going to get.

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Mal returned to Inara's shuttle, a plate of food in his hands. Dinner on his ship was together, but tonight he let it all pass. Jayne and Kaylee, they had to be somewhere doing nasty things he had no say in stopping. Why forbid it and only let them undermine his authority. No. Let them be. Wash and Zoe had disappeared and honestly, he was very glad. He knew they may not be in their bunk, right as rain, as they once were. But if the pilot was lucky he'd get to sleep in the same room. Tomorrow, he would fly Serenity again. The girl was eager to welcome him back for sure. And Simon? He felt like an ass enough that the Captain didn't need to rub it in. He left him in the company of his bughouse little sister. She insisted on whispering things in his ear to torture him. Mal believed, far more than anything the creepiest was when she stated once 'incest is best.'

Inara sat on her bed, reading a book with her leg propped on a pillow. "You know Mal. I can manage on my own." She said gently setting aside the old item. Her leg was devoid of it's bandage and the bruising appeared to be dissipating. "It does feel much better."

"Shhh" He whispered, leaning forward, without another word and kissing her deeply. She didn't know if this was right, didn't know if this could ever just be this easy. She didn't want to accept it, something was wrong, felt wrong.

He felt her hesitation and leaned back on the bed, "What? Am I a bad kisser or something."

The girls warm smile spread across her face and she shook her head. She had no reason to stop. Her body was primed and missed the feeling of sex; even more with him so close to her. He obviously wanted her. I mean…it's Inara. Who wouldn't want her? But she still felt a little off balance. A little unsure.

He leaned in and kissed her. A delicate gentle motion that made her loosen up a bit. His warm wide hands began to play over her skin. He moved them to her nearly bare shoulders and rubbed slowly. He was being careful, gentle and insistent on avoiding her knee. He climbed up. "Lay on you stomach," he whispered, letting her move under him.

He climbed over her and straddled her beautiful hips. He didn't want to sit down on her, for fear she might feel something he didn't want her to know about yet. He rubbed her back slowly. A deep warm touch as he slid his fingers into her muscle, separated by a thin layer of cloth. Inara smiled a little to herself. "Usually I'm the one on top."

"Really? I thought men just paid out the nose for the right to touch you." Mal whispered in the girl's head as he gently kissed her neck.

Mal could be really …really sweet when he wanted to. He missed the feel of a woman's skin under his lips. This moment was one he had waited for. Too long. Inara had left him, left this ship and he never thought he would ever get her back. Now he had her, he had her so close that he scolded himself not to mess it up over and over again; like a mantra in his head.

Inara just relaxed. He honestly wasn't very good at this. She knew how to touch a person and he wasn't really doing it right, but he was trying. His fingers stayed on the center of her back where the bones where, she waited for a while, wishing he would move out a little bit. Waiting for him to stop grinding fingers and knuckles into her spine. He was trying so hard to be sweet, it was very nice of him. She had a sudden…very unnerving thought. She had always assumed Mal would be good in bed. Always assumed he had a lot of practice and had slept around enough to know how to touch a woman. But was this really any indication of how he touched a woman?

Inara felt a stone sink to her stomach. She was a professional. A professional at this. She had entertained clients numerous times throughout the year she was on Serenity…and Mal had only slept with a whore once, that she knew of. She felt a sudden realization that this might be going a bit fast, that was the terrible feeling. She couldn't do this. Not right now. Not with so many expectations. What if he didn't live up to the many…many dreams she had of him.

She began to lift herself, about to stop the man's wandering hands when he stopped of his own accord. She looked back at him as he slid off her. "It's alright." Mal nodded, standing.

Inara sat up as quickly as she could. "What? What's alright.?" The Captain ran his fingers through his suspenders and hung his thumbs on them leisurely.

"Inara. I'm not sleeping with you unless you want to sleep with me. Do you want money or something?" Mal asked, a bit of spite in his voice.

The companion knit her brow sitting up. She didn't care if she dropped her guard. She didn't care right now. "NO! You idiot, I knew this couldn't last you were being way too civil!"

Mal rolled his eyes and growled down at the girl. "And you were being way too tolerant! You don't have enough patience to deal with me!"

"Oh I have plenty of patience!" Inara roared as she stood, forgetting about her knee as she collapsed forward.

Mal caught her, warm arms around her. She pressed against him and could feel his arousal all of a sudden. The man had a slightly awkward blush. "Look…you want me to go…I'll go." He said pushing her back as he felt himself regret the decision to catch her. They were fighting, he should have just let her hit the floor.
Inara felt herself fall back onto the bed. "No," Inara growled. "I never said I wanted you to go Mal. You can't just put words in my mouth like that."

Mal couldn't stop himself before spiting out the words. "Well I'd like to put something else in your mouth but it's obvious you don't even want me to touch you."

"I never said that!"

"You didn't have to!"

"WHY ARE YOU YELLING AT ME!"

"I'M NOT YELLING AT YOU!"

"OH SHUT UP!" She screamed as she stood, on one leg this time and grabbed his face with her hands. She kissed him. Hot and hard and full of the pent up frustration she had carried for far too long. This felt right. His hands uncoordinated as they groped her body, his lips a mess of tongue and heat on hers. It wasn't practiced, wasn't rehearsed, it was passionate and spontaneous. Mal wasn't the kinda guy that was able to seduce women, and Inara wasn't used to Mal being so nice anyways.

Mal was tired of her being witty enough to get the upper hand verbally. He had no idea why they were yelling. He had no idea why she kissed him. He had no idea why it turned him on so much either. All he knew was her delicate hands were in his pants and she was not being gentle at all.

Inara felt like he was trying to swallow her whole, her tongue and lips were almost numb after such a hard kiss. She broke away panting for air and pushed his pants off of him. She didn't want him??? How dare he say such a thing. She was determined now to show him exactly how she felt. She felt his bare hands on her back and her dress around her ankles. The man was kissing her breasts and Inara's breathe was caught in her throat. His tongue wiggles around the nub and hardened her while he lifted her, pulling her legs around his waist.

She couldn't help letting out a moan as they fell to the floor on a pile of soft pillows. He broke away for a moment and finished striping himself. He was panting a little as he looked down at her. Now he realized for the first time, she was really naked. Naked, except for a pair of red lace panties, her dark eyes looking up at him with lust. He still wasn't used to seeing her short hair curling around her face, but that wasn't about to distract him.

Her eyes had a predatory look as they raked over his muscular form. He had scars and marks of all kinds and he was paler than her perfect honey skin. He descended over her and kissed her slowly. Inara didn't want to slow down. She had sex many times but the passion he spilled into her was not like sleeping with another man. She wanted him back. She had a desperate need for him. She wanted him. Badly. Her body was wet and her muscles were tight. She didn't notice her knee anymore. She didn't care. She kissed him hotly, flipping him onto his back on the pillows and arching as his erection pressed against her panties.

Mal was shocked at the fact she couldn't contain herself. She moved without planed control, she rubbed herself against him and she made soft sounds he wasn't sure she knew she was making. He squeezed her breasts and touched her anywhere he could. He planted kisses along her sweet body. She even tasted like honey, something flowery. She was so hot, he couldn't hold his breath in when her body brushed against him. The lace of her panties where wet.

Mal let his hands travel down to her center, pushing his fingertips under the elastic band of her red cloth and dipped his fingers into her wetness. He loved that reaction. She arched and let out a scream over him, he took the opportunity to flip her back onto her back and slide his fingers in and out of her. She was so wet, so wet he was turned on even more. He felt like he might explode. It took a few moments of her incoherent moaning to understand she was saying his name.

The Captain smiled wide at that thought. His name. On her lips. Damn she was hot. Stretched out on silk, moaning and wiggling, he couldn't take it for long. He almost ripped her panties off her, pulling them down and tossing them aside. He climbed over her and looked down into her hot brown eyes.

Burning blue eyes looked at her for permission. Her eyes went wide a little. "You strip me…finger me till I'm a sliver away from coming and you ask permission NOW?!" She asked, unable to help herself.

Malcolm Reynolds had to smile. A wide victorious smiled. He was finally the one who had won. He pushed himself inside her and gasps suddenly; God that felt so good. She was tight and wet and hot and willing. Her body clenched him and he felt like he might at as well come right there. He was wrong to think he had control. She always had control.

It took a moment for them to catch their breath, they began to move at a frantic pace that neither would yield for the other. The Captain pulled her hands above her head and kissed her hard. He forced away coherent thought, also pushing her ability to control her own reactions. He pumped himself into her, hard, fast, and hot. He couldn't believe he hadn't lost it a long time ago. But he didn't want to finish first. He wanted to make her come, and he wanted to feel her crumple into a puddle of goo underneath him.

Unfortunately Inara was ready to finish and he wasn't hitting quite the right spot. She grabbed his wrists with her own and flipped him onto his back without missing a beat, she rocked on his hard body penetrating her, fast and in a circular motion. He didn't really care about being on top anymore. She was so beautiful straddled over him. Stretched out with her perfect shimmering flesh in the candle light. Her breasts bouncing and her hand touching herself as she rocked onto of him.

"Inara!" He moaned as he couldn't help himself. He came. A blinding bright orgasm that made every muscle tighten, he even had Goosebumps racing down his sweaty flesh. He let his eyes close only half way, the clear blue orbs staring up at the woman as she herself fell into ecstasy. She even moaned his name as she let her head fall back and shuddered. Her thighs shook and her wetness made his body twitch.

She fell onto him, her light and delicate form still a shuddering quivering mass of nerves and breathe. They lay there. Intertwined for the longest time. His arms around her and her head on his chest.

Inara could not believe she doubted the man's ability.

Mal would pay every penny he owned to do that again.

The dark haired woman looked at Mal's deep blue eyes, staring for several long moments, letting time pass. Finally she broke the silence with a delicate whisper in his ear. "Do you think…we'll..?" His head turned to her, looking at her, he knew what she was going to ask.

Inara stared at the handsome Captain as he hesitated. He took a breath, his answer slipping across his lips with a sweetness and honesty that made him resort to an unsteady quiver. It wasn't natural to see Mal naked in such a way. "I don't know" He said in something almost quiet.

She wanted to smile wide with victory, but she just let her face take a very honest look. "Good answer."

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The End.

Reviews…please…I am a puppy begging for scraps at a table…good, bad, ugly, I can take it…just not silence. Please…not silence. …okay…

I guess I'll go conduct my orchestra of crickets

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"Hey Mal?"

"Yeah?"

"My knee hurts."