Well, I think there are four stories left, all with multiple chapters. Thanks for sticking with me through this whole series and for the great feedback.

As always, I love the guesses everyone is making as to what is going to happen.

There will be thrilling heroics but certain things need to happen first. Those of you clammoring for revenge, it'll happen.

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

Chapter 2

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

Mal couldn’t remember ever being so shocked in his life. His knees weakened and he was dangerously close to collapse as the shock of Inara’s announcement seeped slowly into his brain.

Inara turned away from him. “Now get out of my home.”

Mal shook his head, the ability to speak returning slowly. “W – wait a minute. You don’t just drop this bomb on me and expect –“

“That’s exactly what I expect, Mal. Get out.” Her voice was as cold as he’d ever heard it.

He set his jaw. “No.”

Inara whirled on him, her eyes ablaze with furious fire. “Do you even begin to understand why I am so upset?”

Mal shrugged, trying to make light of his apology. “I was an ass.”

Inara rolled her eyes. “That is obvious to the entire crew.”

“But that isn’t the only reason?” Mal was confused. He would never understand women folk.

Inara sank to the couch, covering her face as she sobbed even harder into her hands. He couldn’t understand because she hadn’t told him.

Mal was beside her immediately, his heart tearing knowing he was the cause of her tears. “I’m sorry. I am. I was an ass. I shouldn’t have – what? Tell me?” He didn’t know what to do when a woman cried. “What can I do? Inara –“

“You need to apologize, Mal.”

Mal blinked at her. “I just did.”

Inara looked up at him, her eyes narrowed. “They will walk off this ship, Mal. And if they do, so will I.”

Mal shook his head. “Won’t let ‘em do that, ‘Nara.”

~*~

Simon held Kaylee’s hair away from her face as she hunched over the small sink in their room, loosing what little she’d eaten of her lunch. One hand soothingly rubbed circles on her ba