Title: Of Smuggling Jobs And Nifty Flying

Author: inkvoices

Giftee: sarahetc

Rating: PG13 (to be on the safe side)

Length: 7, 510 words

Summary: Mal has a good old fashioned smuggling job lined up, which shouldn't be anything to do with Wash, because he's fired.

Author Note: Set pre-series, after Wash has gotten rid of the moustache but before Inara has joined the crew.  You asked for Wash/Zoe or Wash/Kaylee, so I hope you don't mind that this turned into more of a pre-Wash/Zoe and Wash-Kaylee friendship (or one-sided Wash/Kaylee, if you squint).  I did my best with the techy spaceship talk.  As for your second request of Wash being recognised for having expert piloting skills and intense spaceship manoeuvres – thank you, because pilot!Wash is love :o) 

Jayne ignored the endless blackness surrounding them that was filled with only a few spots of light.  Space was just space.  The condensation that appeared on the viewing screen of his helmet every time he breathed out was annoying though, and he had an itch on his left shoulder that he wouldn't be able to get at until this little adventure in the Black was over and he could take the suit off.

"We’re missing three panels off the topside," said Zoë.

"There's some exposed wirin' as well," Mal added.

"We have five panels left in storage, down in the bay," said Kaylee, "but I don't know what size or curvature they are, so you'll have to measure the gap and compare it to what we got when you get back inside.  What colour's the wiring, Captain?"

"Red."

"Outside or inside?"

"I can't see the inside."

"Well that's good," said Kaylee cheerfully.  "Means nothin' might be broken as such, just frozen over and the like."

Jayne thought it would probably be easier if Kaylee came out and took a look at things herself, since she was most likely to know what was what, but no one would dream of letting the perky mechanic out here.  It wasn't all that dangerous, but still.  Kaylee was Kaylee and they had to keep that smile safe, and if he worried sometimes that he was going soft, well, at least he didn't go all gooey when faced with that smile like Mal did.

"Gouges, tip of the retractor dowel sliced off, three blades on the rotate spiral broken," Zoë listed.  "Can you double check, sir, and see if I missed anythin'?"

"Anythin' we can fix," said Jayne, "or we just hangin' around out here for no reason?"  He liked the comm. units built into the spacesuits a lot better than the other comm. units linked to the ship because they transmitted and received communications automatically, which was a hell of a lot better than wasting time trying to figure out what buttons to push.

"Not much we can fix, no, but we can close some of it up."  Zoë carefully detached the sealant gun that was hooked to Mal's belt and started squeezing a protective covering onto the exposed wires and anything that looked like it might fall off.  "Jayne, come and give me a hand holdin' the rim still."

"Shouldn't be much longer," said Mal.  "Then we'll stop at a fuel station, or Firly Space Station, and get this sorted proper."

"Then go get the rest of our money?" asked Jayne as he gradually moved closer.

"Then go get paid the rest of our money."

"Shiny."

"Might want to think about renting out one of those shuttles as well, sir," said Zoë, still busy with the sealant.  Jayne reached out and held one of the split engine blades so it wouldn't float away if Zoë accidentally nudged it when trying to seal the thing in place.

Mal drifted closer to watch her cover the shorn off end of the retractor dowel.  "We don't need the money if we keep gettin' jobs like we are, but a little respectability wouldn't hurt, I guess."

"Will we be stoppin' somewhere with payin' passengers and lots of lovely supplies, Captain?"  Kaylee sounded excited at the prospect and Jayne found that he couldn't blame her.

"Had enough of Core planets for now," said Mal, "but we'll see.  Somewhere where they're rich enough to have law courts and companion houses at least."

"I had a ship full of companions as passengers once, before the war broke out," said Wash.  "Now that was one of my more interesting runs."

Jayne had heard the pilot's voice in the background when Kaylee was linked to the comm. system, because he was in the engine room with her helping write down what was broken with the engine and looking for parts they might have to fix it, but this was the first time he'd spoken to the rest of them.  He was useful enough, for a little man, but Jayne still didn't like him all that much for trying to kill them all.  Although he wouldn't complain if the man wanted to talk about companions.

"The ladies were the nice, polite sort, but they never sounded insincere, and every single one of them was a knockout.  The men too.  Not that I was looking at the men.  Or the women.  Much.  You can tell me to shut up now."

Zoë obliged. 

"All this talk of expandin' Serenity's crew," said Mal.  "Don't think I've forgotten it is, in fact, already bigger than it should be.  Wash, didn't I fire you?"

"Several times, I think," said Wash cheerfully.

"So why the hell are you still on my ship?"

~*~

"He didn't sound angry when he said it though.  You think I'm safe?"

Kaylee smiled as she rethreaded the dual volume capria through the central engine coil and tightened the bolt.  "He likes you."

"Really?" said Wash sceptically as he held out a mark 58 screw. 

He was sat on the rusty floor of the engine room surrounded by boxes of small spare parts and several larger pieces of machinery left over from Kaylee's various remodellings of Serenity's inner workings.  Hopefully there'd be enough parts to go about repairing the damage to the jet engine, or at least to contribute to it so they wouldn't have to spend too much on the rest of the parts.

"Well, he thinks you're a really good pilot."

"And insane."  Even though Wash thought Mal was insane he didn’t like that Mal thought that he was insane, which was kind of insane itself.

Kaylee wiped her forehead with the back of her left hand and took the screw.  "I was thinking of what to do next when the dining area is painted.  Think that's all the ship decorated that the Captain will let me do."

"I was planning to ask you if you'd take me on as your next project."  Wash grinned.  "Was gonna ask you to make me less annoying."

"You're not!" Kaylee protested, which made him feel almost as good as Zoë's warm hand in his hair had earlier.

"Sealant applied," said Zoë over the comm. system. 

"Think we're done," said Mal and Jayne grumbled, "About time."

Wash rummaged through Kaylee's screw box looking for a 72, which was one of the parts they were going to need to fix the damage outside.  Kaylee was meant to be helping him look for parts as well, but she kept getting distracted by what the others were saying on the comm. and the alterations she spotted that could be made to improve the main engine.

"You know, Zoe watches you too," she said suddenly.

"So does Mal," Wash joked.  "He keeps coming up to the bridge at all hours, to check I'm not pulling a crazy stunt that'll cause me to crash and kill us all."

"Like flying though a laser blockade?" Kaylee said with a smile

Wash pulled one of the larger pieces of machinery onto his lap and started taking it apart.  "Or an asteroid belt."

Kaylee shuddered.  "Now that sounds scary.  I'm glad we didn't have to do that."

"What would you say," he asked cautiously, keeping his eyes on his hands as they unscrewed a valve, "if I said you already had?"

"Coming aboard," said Mal. 

"Airlock open," Zoë told them.  There was a pause and static on the comm. system before she continued with, "Airlock closed.  Regulating.  All clear."

Wash added the valve to a box of other valves, of all different sizes and shapes, and began to dismantle the carriage.

"I've been thinkin' about an inter-engine fermentation system," said Kaylee.  "For my next project.  I thought some alcohol might come in useful." 

~End~