At the sound of four knocks, Inara turned from her computer screen to see Mal peeking around her curtains. “Mind if I come in?” he wondered. Inara peered at him curiously. “Since when did you give up barging in here unannounced?” Mal strolled purposefully into the room. “I didn’t,” he decided. His gaze drifted over her shoulder. “Any luck?” he inquired, referring to her clientele requests. “To be honest,” Inara replied, coming to her feet, “I’m having difficulties with over-booking.” It was a bluff, and she was fairly certain Mal knew it was a bluff, but she didn’t feel like passing up the opportunity. Mal mocked surprise. “What, on Beaumont?” “Is there something I can help you with?” Mal helped himself to a seat on the pretty couch. “Yeah, well, I...” He paused, staring at the floor. “I was, ah... I wonder if I might use your... That is...” “What?” Inara urged. “Hwoon dahn...” Mal muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes. “Can’t believe I’m about to ask this... I wonder if I could get yer advice- on...” Inara took her own seat. “Mal, what is it?” “*Captain,*” the intercom spoke in Kaylee’s voice, “*Got a Wave from Monte. He says it’s a matter of life an’ death.*” Mal looked at Inara, surprised, then stood and moved to the intercom. “I’m on my way,” he spoke. He turned back to the Companion. “This can wait,” he told her. “Ya can come along, if ya want.” Inara considered, then accepted the offer. She followed Mal to the cockpit, where Kaylee was sitting in the pilot seat. She laughed at something Monte told her, then, hearing Mal clear his throat, she said, “Well, here’s the captain. It was good talkin’ to ya again, Monte.” “Same to you, Little Sweet,” Monte told her in farewell. Kaylee moved from the seat so Mal could sit. “Mal!” Monte grinned through his beard. Apparently, the last time Mal had seen Monte, he didn’t have the beard, which came as quite a shock to Zoe. Inara didn’t think it odd at all. She didn’t like beards one bit. “Good to see ya again, Monte,” Mal told the frazzle-haired older man. “What’s this about?” Monte quickly became as serious as Mal. “I had a little visit. Thought you should hear about it." *************************************************************************

The beautiful, red-haired bird sitting in the prison cell on the other side of the bars stood when Dante appeared. “Who are you?” she inquired. Saying nothing, Dante gestured toward the door, and the well-bribed guard unlocked and opened it. Dante stepped into the cell, towering over the girl with his size. The guard closed the door behind him and disappeared. “You want Malcolm Reynolds.” The girl frowned curiously at Dante. “Yes,” she admitted tentatively. “I want someone who is *with* Malcolm Reynolds,” Dante continued. “I can get ya out of here, but yeh would work with me. You help me find Serenity, yeh can have Reynolds, his crew, his ship... Whatever yeh want. But I get the man called Gabriel.” Red peered at the merc with bright, green eyes. Then, a smile played across her lips. “Maybe that’s not the only thing I’ll end up wanting,” she crooned suggestively, stepping forward. “You might get more out of this bargain than you’re offering.” She drew a finger slowly up his chest, stopping at his collar bones. Dante grinned at her. “Lass, my idea of a good time would be to pull yer intestines out while yer still alive an’ play around with ‘em. Yeh don’t wanna try an’ get that involved with me.” Her face twitching not in the slightest at the shock of his admission, the girl stepped back. “Fair enough,” she admitted. “So we’ll keep this professional.” She extended her hand. “My name is Emily.” Dante shook his head, still grinning. “Seein’ as the information passed to me named yeh as Bridget, an’ I didn’t think that was yer name, I don’t see Emily bein’ such, either.” He did not shake the hand. Emily-Bridget shrugged nonchalantly. “Aren’t you going to tell me your name?” “Dante’s good enough fer anybody,” Dante informed her. “So we got a deal, or what?” Emily narrowed her eyes. “We have a deal,” she assured him. “So can I get out of here, or what?” “Aye,” Dante answered, “but yeh can start, first thing, when we get back to my ship. I need information on every member of that crew. I also don’t know Firefly’s, so yeh need to give me a layout. Anythin’ else that can help, I need that, too.” “Deal,” Emily agreed. “Let’s get to it.” *************************************************************************

“Well,” Simon began, “did Monte go into any detail on this Dante person?” As with all briefings, Mal stood at the head of the common room’s table, arms crossed. Everyone else was seated, including Gabriel. Gabriel still had trouble standing for long periods of time, having required surgery for his ribs, or he would be standing off to the side, as usual. River was not present. “Some,” Mal answered. “Monte was smart enough not to allow Dante on his ship, so they talked strictly over the Comm. He said the man looked very large, very scarred-up, an’ he was Scottish, or mebbe Irish.” Attention was abruptly drawn from Mal as Gabriel’s head thumped against the table. “What’s the matter?” Kaylee queried, reaching over to grasp his shoulders. Gabriel sat up again. “Nothin’,” he responded. “Continue, Captain.” “Did he break any stitches?” was Simon’s first concern. “Wait,” Mal began, staring at Gabriel. “You *know* this Dante?” Gabriel rubbed at his face. “I didn’t say that.” “Boy,” Mal warned, pointing a finger, “you better tell us everything you know.” Gabriel sank into his chair. “Yeah, I knew ‘im,” he admitted after a moment. “He’s a ruttin’ psycho. I’m serious, I mean a *total,* off-his-ruttin’-rocker, honest-to-God psycho. Last time I saw him was when I was seventeen. He’d gotten out of the army, an’ I found him rapin’ some poor woman an’ cuttin’ on 'er. I attacked him, which was a bit shortsighted on my part. When I regained consciousness, she was dead.” “How did you know him?” Mal inquired. “And why didn’t he kill you, too?” Gabriel’s gaze drifted back to Mal. “That’s none of yer business, Captain.” “Everything on this boat is my business,” Mal corrected. “An’-” “Allow me my secrets,” Gabriel interrupted, locking gaze with Inara purposely. “I think I deserve that, at least.” After a tense moment of silence, Mal started over. “Okay. So this Dante was askin’ Monte all sorts of questions about me. Monte refused to help him find us, but, since Dante’s vessel had weapons, Monte offered him Saffron.” “Did Monte even *know* where Saffron was?” Inara inquired. “I thought you hadn’t talked to him since then.” Mal shook his head, at a loss. “Apparently, even with a false name, no photo, and no known whereabouts, Dante was confident he’d find her on some penal moon. Boy must have outstandin’ intel.” “You do *not* want Dante to find us,” Gabriel spoke. Mal returned his attention to the man. “Explain,” he ordered simply. Against Simon and Kaylee’s objections, Gabriel forced himself to his feet. Once standing, he made a firm eye contact with Mal and tightly set his jaw. “River is no match for Dante in a fight,” he announced. “It’s simply the fact that it would take a blow from a sledgehammer to even affect him. I could take him down, but only if I could get enough hits in.” He drew a breath. “I really ain’t a match for him, either.” “Nobody’s that tough,” Jayne argued. “No ruttin’ way.” Gabriel’s fierce gaze moved to Jayne. “I once saw him take eleven .45 rounds to the chest from a Tommy gun. Know what he did?” Jayne looked back at Gabriel without answer. “He crawled his ass to a motorcycle,” Gabriel continued, “rode fifteen miles before some gangsters put three nine millimeter rounds in his back. Took him off the bike, for sure and fer certain. He walked the rest of the way to a safehouse, where he had connections, an’ the medic there took the bullets out. I think he’s had some genetic experimentation done on ‘im since, by the government, but at the time, he was just *that* gorram tough. An’ he’s as smart as a... Well, he’s *real* ruttin’ smart. So yes,” he boasted as he redirected his gaze to Mal. “You do *not* want that monstrosity on this gorram ship.” There was a tense silence for a moment. “Okay,” Mal finally spoke, somewhat jokingly, “so if we encounter this bunger, Gabriel’s the only one fightin’ him.” “Aw, come on, Mal,” Jayne input, “yanno I could take him.” Gabriel barked a sardonic laugh. “The sledgehammer thing was an under-exaggeration,” he assured. “Ya’d have more fun punchin’ a bloody...” He paused. “...*ruttin’* truck.” He collapsed back into his seat, and Kaylee grabbed quickly at the chair, fearing it would fall backward. “Well, that’s about covers it,” Mal informed, “an’ it’s about time for chow. Oh, an’ Gab... Monte says he misses ya.” “I hit a truck once,” Jayne commented. “Broke my hand, though...” *************************************************************************

“You are going to have to up your game,” Foster informed Damian. “I’ve decided to send Dante after Davin.” Damian visibly shuddered. “If I may say so, Doctor, that was a mistake. You’ll be lucky if Dante brings him back in less than three pieces.” “You are not aware of how much control I have over Dante,” Foster claimed. “He’ll bring the boy to me alive. That is, unless, you get him first.” “We’ll get him,” Damian boasted. “My team and myself have yet to *ever* fail our mission.” “”Dante has the same reputation,” Foster countered, “And he’s just one man. My suggestion would be that you make *no* more mistakes, *whatsoever*, or you will *not* complete your mission.” “I *said,* we’ll get him,” Damian repeated. “That means we’ll get him.” The transmission ended, and Foster leaned back in his chair. “This is getting too complicated,” he told the air in his empty office. “I hate complicated.” *************************************************************************

“How ya doin’?” Kaylee inquired, sitting next to Gabriel on the crate of laser pistols. “Mind if I sit here?” “Of course,” Gabriel growled, glancing around the cargo bay. “It’s my crate; find yer own.” Then, he glanced over and grinned at her. Kaylee giggled. “You got the weirdest way of makin’ things funny when they really ain’t.” She rubbed his shoulder briefly. “Doin’ alright?” Gabriel sighed. “I’m worried ‘bout her,” he admitted. “She’ll be fine,” Kaylee assured him. “She’s just real upset right now.” Gabriel started, turning to frown at Kaylee in confusion. “I was talkin’‘bout Zoe.” “Oh...” Kaylee fumbled. “I’m sorry, I thought-” “Yeah,” Gabriel interjected. “Trust me, I may not have all my nuts screwed tight...” He tapped the side of his head twice. “...but I *do* got a life outside River.” Kaylee nodded silently in acceptance. “I’m worried ‘bout Zoe, too. Simon says she’ll pull through, long as we find a hospital soon as we hit Beaumont.” “Beaumont ain’t exactly big,” Gabriel pointed out. “Think there’s a few actual hospitals on the whole planet, an’ I don’t know how many there’s guaranteed to have the equipment Simon needs.” “So you’ve been to Beaumont?” Kaylee ventured. Gabriel eyed her. “Doll, I been all over hell an’ back.” He faced forward again to frown at the floor. “I like talkin’ to ya, Kaylee. Yer prob’ly the nicest person I’ve ever met.” “Aw, that’s sweet,” Kaylee replied, grinning. “Thanks.” Gabriel didn’t look like he was trying to be sweet. “But I don’t wantcha thinkin’ it’s yer job to come an’ comfort me every time somesuch fey-oo occurs.” He looked at her again with full sincerity. “I can handle that on my own.” Then, he grinned. “That’s what alcohol’s for.” Kaylee busted out laughing. “It is not!” she exclaimed, slapping him on the arm. “That’s horrible!” “Nah,” Gabriel admitted, “I don’t do that kinda stuff much. Got a history of easy addiction, so I figure, keep myself clean most times.” “I do believe I recall that was *you* sittin' next to Jayne at the Mustang Pub with one of his cigars in yer mouth. And what *was* that ya was takin’ shots of? Whisky?” “Tequila,” Gabriel answered noddingly, pressing his lips together in a mock smile. “Yeah. We was both hurtin’, next day.” Kaylee started when she realized River was standing before them. Gabriel did not; he knew when she’d arrived. “River!” Kaylee exclaimed. “Haven’t seen you all day.” “She was up on the catwalks,” Gabriel informed absently. “Has been the whole while.” River simply stood there, looking at Gabriel in silence. “Right.” Kaylee slid off the crate, her gaze moving between River and Gabriel. “Well, I just remembered... I should prob’ly... Yeah, I got...” She stopped herself. “I’ll be upstairs.” Kaylee had been gone for several minutes while River and Gabriel stared at each other in silence. “Hey,” Gabriel finally spoke, breaking the silence. “Hey,” River returned. Gabriel gestured to the open spot on the crate beside him. “Ya wanna sit?” River did not move. “Yeah, me either,” Gabriel decided, groaning as he lifted himself from the crate. River moved to help him. “No, I got it,” Gabriel assured her, sliding from the crate. “Just the gorram ribs, is all.” He shook his head with a smile, a painful expression on his recently unshaven features. “Three times in under three weeks. Sometimes, I think God never meant for me to *have* ribs.” That one actually got a smile from River. “You’re not wearing your plaid pants,” she observed. “I like the black better.” “I know,” Gabriel replied. He glanced down at the cargo pants. “Thinkin’ I need some suspenders, though.” River smiled again, then stuck out her tongue. “Why, so you can look like Mal?” Gabriel frowned at her curiously. “No. So I can keep my pants up. You see,” he continued, becoming purposely animated with his hands, “belts are just so... constricting!” That actually got River to laugh. Reaching into a pocket, Gabriel withdrew his portable music cube. “Care to dance?” he inquired, sitting the device on the crate. River frowned. “Oh, no, Gabriel, you’re hurt!” “Hey, that was my excuse not to dance with ya after I fell down the mine shaft!” Gabriel exclaimed. “Ya can’t use that one.” He thumbed the buttons on the cube, and a slow guitar ballad began. “Dance with me.” “I shouldn’t-” Gabriel placed a finger to her lips. “Dance with me.” \***********************************************************************

“I warned ‘im,” Jayne growled from the lounge staircase as he peered around the corner into the hold. “Anythin’ that happens is the kid’s fault, ‘cuz I warned “im.” “Then I guess we should be glad he didn’t listen to ya,” Kaylee jabbed, watching the two superhumans dancing in a cargo hold. “I think it’s just the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.” “What is?” Mal queried, moving up the stairs behind them. “Oh, nothin’,” Kaylee told him. “Oh, it’s somethin’, all right,” Jayne corrected. “Sure ain’t nothin’ good, if ya ask me.” Mal pushed up between them. “What the hell are you two playin’-” He cut off as soon as he saw Gabriel and River dancing, then turned and went back down the stairs. “Don’t need to see, an don’t need to know...” they heard him mutter to himself. “Don’t wanna see; don’t *wanna* know...” Kaylee had never heard the song before, but she liked it. “Two kids in love, dancin’...” She glanced at Jayne. “Almost like the song was written for them.” Jayne rolled his eyes. “I’ll be in my bunk,” he growled, disgusted. As he descended the stairs, he called, “*Sleepin’!*” in clarification. Chuckling, Kaylee turned back in time to see Gabriel and River kiss long and passionately at the climax of the song. Smiling, she turned to head for the infirmary and see when Simon was heading for bed. Her day ended in a cheerful mood, considering.