Zoe looked back at the girl, who was not exactly clean. She looked like she’d been left outside to tend for herself for weeks.

“No.” said Jayne with a upset glare. “Did someone say girl?” said Wash who chimed in from the cockpit comm.

“No.” Jayne said again, angrier then before.

“We’ll drop her on Ta Chi Station, she can be taken to an orphanage from there.” Mal said with a concerned glare at the short girl. Shepard Book watched quietly from his vantage point smiling slightly as he thought about what Mal had done.

“No.” Jayne said with a concerned glare. “Captain we can’t be taken on anymore charity cases.”

“What are you aboard for again?” Mal asked as he looked over to see the girl hiding behind a crate. The incident on Ariel still fresh in his mind, Jayne backed down faster then usual. River and Kaylee entered together, with River guiding Kaylee as if she was going to see a new pet.

“I’m smart, is why, and cap, I don’t think this is a smart idea. We already got one to many lil’ girls run around fiddlin’ with stuff as it is.” Jayne said with a shake of his head, he walked off, not wishing to debate it any further.

“Hi sweet thing what’s your name.” Said Kaylee in a baby like manner. The little girl smiled at her but still remained refused to move. She took the girl by the hand and let her out. “Come on now, it’ll be alright.” Kaylee said as River and approached her from behind.

“Infantile banter is not effective with this subject.” River said bending over and looking intently between the crate and Kaylee at the new guest. “I feel sick.” River said shortly and backed away towards the stairs.

“She was virtually tied up like a dog back there, I couldn’t just leave her. When our 'friends' showed up, they tossed the money and started shooting, this one grabbed the money and hightailed it. ” Mal said as the Doctor entered wondering what the commotion was about. He had just finished a rather exhaustive inventory of supplies and hear Jayne’s outburst.

“Was she mistreated?” He said surmising the captain had a mind to help the little vagrant girl out. Zoe` turned to the doctor, “Looks like she was tied up,” she said with a raise of her eyebrow.

“You have a name little one?” Kaylee said with a slight coo. The little girl was silent, but yet seemed to want to say something.

“Kaylee keep an eye on her, and Doc...” Mal said looking for the Doc.

“I know, check her.” Simon said already looking for any signs of illness.

“You turnin’ into your sister?” Mal said with some confusion as he turned to walk towards the galley. “Alright, Kaylee…” Simon said uneasily, unsure how to get Kaylee to relent the girl to his care without being blunt.

“That’s alright pretty, come on I’ll take you into the doctor , and you can bunk with me till we get you settled k’?” Kaylee said as she led the little girl.

Shepard intercepted Mal before he got where he was going. “I think it was a proper act of mercy, worthy of a Shepard.” Book said with a smile the size of Mal’s frown. “Wasn’t mercy, just decency,” Mal said with a stern face.

“There is a difference,” Book said with a gentle smile.

“Not where I’m concerned,” Mal said turning his back quickly. He didn’t want another sermon from Book, not now anyhow.

“You aren’t afraid of doing good for others Mal even if its’ hazardous, its become a pattern of yours.” Shepard Book said with a kindly tone. “Your beginning to show that you are a charitable fellow when the need arises.”

“Yeah, I’m getting worried about that.” Mal said as he left Shepard alone. ------------------------------ “Ok, open wide…” Simon said as he tried to get the little girl to open her mouth. The child wasn’t having any of it however. “I promise it won’t hurt.” The infirmary was cold and barren compared to the warm hold of the ship, something that River who watched from a distance knew all to well. The little girl squirmed.

“Hold on Simon, she don’t like being prodded.” Kaylee said as he held the little girls hand.

“It’s alright little one, what’s your name.” Kaylee asked again.

“Ma…Mary” said the little girl the first word she had spoken.

River moved closer, leaning in just enough so she could see.

“Ok Mary, Simon just needs to make sure your ok. Please?”

Mary finally opened her mouth. Simon approached and began taking readings. "You know this isn’t safe."

“What? Pickin’ up thems that need help?”

“No, I mean, picking up strangers on strange worlds, at least on Core worlds people get immunized and screened daily, out here in the…in the…" Simon fumbled for words.

“Wild? You can say it Simon, it’s what you mean.” Kaylee said a little insulted by the implication of what Simon was saying.

“It’s just that you can’t be too careful, there are some diseases that can kill without much warning.” Simon said looking intently at the scanners output.

---------------------------------------

“The captain is just trying to do the right thing by her is all.” Zoe said to Jayne who was sharpening a large hunting knife with a black grip.”

“Well his good deeds are cutting into our pay …how much you think it costs to keep a mouth fed…even if it is a tiny mouth.”, Wash was trying to eat while Zoe sat next to him.

“Your just jealous is all,” Kaylee said with frown as she entered. Simon had ushered her out, and so she came to pout about.

“Jealous?…Kaylee you been sniffin’ that grease again?” Jayne said as he shot Kaylee a look.

“That’s right…you are jealous.” Wash said poking Jayne in his ribs.

“And just what would I have to be jealous of?” Jayne replied as he shoved the large knife into its leather hilt.

“Family…children.” Inara said as she entered the galley. “You wish you had someone who looked up to you as a hero like she does with Mal.”

“Right, I’m jealous of some half-inbred child Mal’s got himself attached to. You’re all sniffin’ grease.” Jayne said and left retreating from Inara’s stare.

“So Nara…what’s keeping you around girl, no clients on Tai Chi?” Wash said with a smile.

“None that I like in any case, Tai Chi isn’t exactly a highlight of this region.” Inara said sounding a might disappointed.

“Well don’t worry, once this job is done I think the Captain will be headed into some less unsightly space.” Wash said happily.

“You think?” Zoe said trying to understand her husband’s sudden insights.

“Guess? Come on Zoe we been hanging around the ass end for long enough, we don’t start hanging around some reputable ports soon, we won’t be able to even land on a planet with descent food without being arrested.” Wash said with a bit of protest. He finished his plate and went to see about the dishes.

“He’s right Zoe, besides which we need a rest…all of us. Including Mal.” Inara said with a hint of concern.

“Well, I’ll talk to Mal, maybe…”

“Maybe what?” Malcom said as he entered hearing Zoe talk about him in the third person. Inara frowned and Wash buttoned up fast. “Some of us were hoping we were going to get a break, sir.” Zoe said plainly.

“Break?…ain’t got no time for breaks…not while there’s a war on.” Mal said with a distinct seriousness in his voice.

“Sir?” Zoe said wondering what he was getting at.

“You heard me, now what’s everyone doing all out of uniform. Zoe, I figure you keep better discipline than this, were a Gorram army not a damn acting troop!” Mal said looking about at the crew.

“Mal…are you alright?” Inara said as she approached him wondering just the hell was wrong with him.

“Captain your not-“ Zoe began,

“Captain??…Zoe you lost your ruttin mind? I’m a Sergeant; now get these men back in uniform and report to me at once.” Mal turned and walked away with a purpose.

“Did he just…” Jayne said as he looked at Zoe

“What the hell-“ Zoe said aloud. She ran after Mal. “Get the doc!” Zoe said to Jayne.

“Captain!!” Simon said running in from his room in a full mask and gloves just missing Zoe.

“Doc’ why the hell are you in that get up…” Wash said with a surpised look on his face.

“Where is the captain!?" Simon asked urgently.

“He just came in here acting all manner of strange,” Jayne barked.

“Oh god…alright everyone who has had contact with Mary come with me.” Simon said trying to remain calm and collected.

“What…who’s Mary?” Inara said curiously.

“The little girl…she’s got Hauptiliococous Dephiadia” Simon said with an urgency that meant something was really wrong.

“Haupt-to-who-ta-what?” Jayne said as he stood up.

"Where is the Captain!!?" Simon said again with more urgency then before.

“Briefing Private Zoe on our…mission.” Wash said as he folded his arms.

"Then it's started." Simon said with the look of fear in his eyes.