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*****

Crashing Through Author: Jill Setting: After series, before movie. Inara is still on the ship. Rating: PG-13 Spoilers: probably Author’s note: I’m not exactly up to speed on all the planets in the ‘verse and I didn’t want to set this on Persephone or Whitefall, so I…um…made one up. Please forgive me if this is taboo. Disclaimer: They aren’t mine! You really think I could think up characters this good? Please… I’m just playing with them, I promise to give them back all nice and shiny.

Prologue

“Ooof.”

The sound left his lips involuntarily as a fist was slammed into his gut, stealing all his air. Wash tried to curl up protectively, but the hands holding tightly to his arms kept him upright and exposed. He struggled against their hold, but his actions lacked any real strength. He was light-headed and already sporting too many bruises in various places to put up much of a fight anymore.

The fist pulled back again and Wash closed his eyes, waiting for the blow to fall since there was nothing he could do to stop it. Then, even as he jerked from the force of it striking chest, he silently vowed never, ever to go after supplies on his own again.

*****

Captain Malcolm Reynolds of the sometimes legal, oftentimes not freighter Serenity strode purposefully toward the open cargo door of his ship and his first mate who was standing at the top of it, gazing out at the planet below. Brilliant rays of late afternoon sun poured into the hold, filling it with warm light and making the woman’s dark skin glow. She looked like an angel, if angels wore revolvers strapped to their thighs and terror-inducing scowls on their faces.

“He’s late,” Zoë said without turning around.

“That he is,” Mal answered, stopping beside her. They were silent for a while.

“He’s never late.”

“We thinkin’ of the same man?” Mal countered. “Man who made us all wait while he ran back inta town fer a new toy last week?”

“He’s never late when it’s important,” Zoë amended, her voice warning the captain that this was not a laughing matter. “He knew we had a job.”

“Zoë, Corinth is a calm enough planet, ain’t even on the Alliance’s radar, and Wash is a peaceable enough guy.”

“An’ being calm and peaceable has always kept him out of trouble before…” One eyebrow arched.

“Which,” Mal continued quickly, “is why I came down here ta tell ya iffin he ain’t back in ten more minutes, me an’ you an’ Jayne er gonna go lookin’ for him.”

Zoë nodded once, never taking her gaze from the bustling city that spread out from their ramp. “Thanks, sir.”

“Just doin’ my job. Besides, I need him ta fly this boat.”

He turned and left her there to her thoughts. Truth be told, he was worried, too. It wasn’t like Wash to be late on a job, especially when he was entrusted with the purchasing of supplies for all on board as well as parts to fix the ship. The man might annoy the heck out of him at times, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care. Wash was part of his crew, and he didn’t like thinking of his crew being in trouble. More than that, Wash was a friend, and Mal was a might protective of his friends. He just hoped this time there was a simple excuse for Wash’s lateness. Perhaps the mule got a flat tire? It was possible, but highly improbably. Not with their luck. Mal sighed and wished the ‘verse would stop playing Russian Roulette with his civilians. It was getting down-right annoying.