"I'm going to the special Hell."

"I do the job, and then I get paid. Go run your little world."

Camellia easily held his gaze, never quite admitting that he’d always had a pull on her since they’d met. It was easy enough to get swept up into Mal’s charms, that sometimes the redhead wondered where joking ended and the sincerity potentially began. His gruffness was luring enough, his charms tended to ere on the side of dangerous where she was concerned.

Even Cam hadn’t realized the length of the gaze she and Mal had gotten caught up in until he abruptly ended it, the woman clearing her throat with a soft laugh. “I’m looking forward to seeing them. I’ve been itching to ask both of them some questions since the last time I saw them.”

She nodded at her exit, flashing a smirk at him then the crew as she went to settle into her cabin. “I’ll see ya later,”

It felt like home. Which was more than she could say for some of the other places she’d lived or stayed at since the last time she’d shacked up with the Serenity crew. She put her things where they normal sat, feeling a sense of calmness wash over her at the familiarity that came with the normalcy.

The crew was a main part of that, the Captain adding something else that Camellia could never quite put her finger on. While the crew brought her a collected sense of comfort, Mal included, he also could cause her pulse to jump for reasons beyond her.

She joined the rest of the crew in welcoming Inara and the Shepherd when she heard the shuttle making it's return, eager to see her friend.

Unable to avoid overhearing the conversation, Mal felt permitted to comment. "Exactly. Business is what keeps us flyin' and fed. Speaking of which, supper's on the table in 15. Good to have you back, Inara; Shepherd."

Shepherd Book flashed a warm, welcoming smile upon greeting Camellia with a friendly hug. "I'm so blessed to see you again, Camellia. You always brighten our days when you're here."

"Indeed she does," Mal agreed before dipping back into the galley with the others.

Later, the entire crew, along with Camellia, were seated at the galley's table, which featured a plentiful spread of home-cooked food. After Shepherd Book offered his mealtime prayer and everyone had eaten enough to take the edge of their hunger, Mal found a moment amidst the suppertime chatter to address everyone.

"First and foremost, thanks again to Kaylee, Wash, and Zoe for fillin' our bellies with the best food in the 'Verse."

After a short round of cheers and applause, Mal continued.

"Figured now's as good a time as any to share the details on our newest job. Ain't no exaggeration when I tell you it's a big one. Seems an Alliance research station was left abandoned after its crew took off in one hell of a hurry. According to Badger's contacts, the Alliance is hightailin' it to the station to get its goods…but we have a chance to get there before they do."

Jayne, who had still been eating earnestly, finally sat back and paid close attention. The others also seemed increasingly intrigued.

"Trick of it is, Badger's people don't know how far out the Alliance is. Could be a week, could be days…could be hours, so the clock's tickin'."

"A score that big's bound to be eyeballed by scavs," Jayne interjected. "Could get dicey. Sounds like my kinda party."

"Exactly, so we'll need to light fires under our backsides and haul out everything not nailed down. Gonna need every pair of hands on this one, so it's fortuitous that you're here to accompany us, Camellia." Mal turned his attention to their guest, a smile once again tugging at his lips. "Of course, you'll get a cut of the earnings once we report to Badger."

Mal then scanned the room with his eyes and asked, "If you have questions, now's the time."

Simon jumped in first. "Any word on why the station was abandoned? Doesn't seem like the Alliance would just drop everything and leave a valuable asset like that behind without a good reason."

"None at all, doctor, and that matter gives me cause for concern, but the stakes are too high. We gotta take our shot. If things ain't safe, we'll abort, but only if there's no way for us to work safely."

"And Badger's fine if we just leave without any booty?" Kaylee asked.

"Frankly, I don't much care if he ain't. I'm not puttin' us in harm's way unless that way has a safe detour."

"Where's the station?" Wash inquired.

"Zhu Que system, about 30 clicks out from Heinlein," Zoe replied.

"Oof," Wash replied, shaking his head. "Pretty damned close to the Alliance Tohoku cruiser's orbital flight path. We better hope they don't just happen to be comin' our way."

"Don't seem so, otherwise we wouldn't have the window we have for getting to the station," Mal said.

Once again, he turned his focus back to Camellia. "Wouldn't mind your thoughts on the matter. Does it seem doable?"

A bark of a laugh escaped her at Kaylee’s follow up, pointing at the girl in agreement. She wasn’t wrong.

Camellia frankly adored Serenity’s crew, of all the groups she’d run with throughout the years they made her feel the most at home. Which was saying something for someone who never stayed in one place for very long.

Mal had managed to make his way to the top of her list of favorites, charming his way there easily. Whether he knew it or not.

Mal held his gaze with Camellia a bit longer after he spoke. There was always a magnetism about her that kept him enthralled. When he'd been asked earlier about her and said he'd take a mighty interest, he hadn't entirely been engaging in misdirection.

Only when he realized he was staring a bit too long did Mal blink, focus his mind on the then and there, and quickly add, "Oh, and likelihood is high we'll be pickin' up Inara and the Shepherd along our way. They had some doin's on Sihnon and took the shuttle. I'm sure they'll be mightily pleased t' see you. Til then, I'll let you get settled in your usual spot."

Mal excused himself to do...something, anything to distract himself from the sudden delightful awkwardness he felt.

"Wa sai," he muttered once out of earshot. "What the hell was that?"

"Your feelings are talking," a soft, tiny voice replied from above. "But you never listen to them."

"Wisdom from on high, little one?" Mal asked River, looking up into the corridor grating to see her laying on her stomach, peering down. "Always."

Mal simply nodded and headed to the cockpit to check on the status of Inara's shuttle.

Hours later, the shuttle finally arrived and docked with Serenity, and the crew gathered to welcome their returning friends.

Inara was the first to race to Camellia for a warm hug. "Oddly enough, I just had this feeling you'd be here when I docked. I'm so glad I was right! So...has Mal already roped you into yet another lofty scheme?"

But her presence was the exact opposite of what Mal and Jayne needed in order to deal with the gang in question that was searching for her.

She nodded at Mal's instructions, flashing subtle smirk at him as she walked past, hand making a brushing motion over his shoulder. "Go easy on them, Cap'n. They already lost their money, pride's bruised enough as it is." She joked.

Looping her arm with Kaylee's, both to blend in but also because why not? She hadn't seen her friend in far too long. Appearances helped in situations like these.

Once on Serenity she let Kaylee go, happy to get her bearings back and explore the ship. It kept her out of sight of any prying eyes, and it'd give her the chance to let Wash and Zoë know the current predicament.

Not to mention thank 'em for coming to get her, she'd be having to hide out somewhere waiting for the next shuttle out of port if not for them.

After making her rounds, she carefully made her way back to the cargo hold, staying up on the walkways so as to not draw any attention to herself. But still see if she could catch anything said by the men outside.

So far she hadn't heard any gunfire, which was always a good sign in the Serenity crew's case.

Once she saw the gang turn tail and leave, she settled herself in the cargo hold on some crates, waiting her 'heroes' return.

When Mal and Jayne came back on board, she held up her hands at the captain's words. "I know, I know. And you know I'm grateful for you keeping me safe, like always, Mal."

"And it always works!" Kaylee added triumphantly.

"Yeah, yeah."

Mal had as much of a soft spot for Camellia as he did for the rest of his "family"; perhaps, an even softer one. There was just something about her that charmed him helplessly, even on the occasions she led them head-first into trouble.

He made his way to the ship's intercom. "Wash! Zoe! Spin 'er up and get us flyin'. And Zoe, get on the Cortex and see what kinda mayhem we can get paid for."

"Already on it, sir," Zoe replied as the cargo door sealed and the thrusters began to roar to life.

Mal turned back to Camellia. "Hope you don't mind stirrin' up some trouble and earnin' some pay while you're tagging along. You already have a head start on us, after all. Would enjoy hearin' the latest over our supper tonight, if you're inclined to share."

A laugh escaped her as she flashed Jayne a smile. "Well thank you Jayne, I'm happy to be flying with you lot again."

The interactions between the crew kept a fond smirk settled on her lips, she'd missed this. The familiarity of the group.

Nodding at Mal's question she gestured to a couple of crates off behind her. "One's my gear, the other's some cargo I picked up on my last job. Consider it compensation for taking me on, it should fetch a nice price with the right buyer."

The commotion didn't go completely unnoticed by Camellia...only, she did take a step closer to Mal and the crew to avoid detection by the gang. A huff escaped her.

"Two well-armed guys," Jayne corrected.

Kaylee sighed, shook her head, and left with Simon, River, and Camellia towards Serenity. "We're gonna raise a little ruckus, at least; ain't we, Mal?" Jayne asked, clearly itching for a fight. "Kaylee's right," Mal replied, shaking his head. "Bernadette's one of our best hubs for short-haul jobs. Can't afford to burn any bridges right now." Just as Mal finished his sentence, the men River had spotted earlier approached them. "Hey," one of them called out. Judging from the adornments on his duster, Mal deduced he was the leader of the small posse. "You ain't seen a woman with red hair skulkin' around here, have ya?" "If I had," Mal replied, "I'd have taken a mighty interest in 'er. So, can't say as I have."

"That jiàn nǚ rén swindled us in a card game, and she's makin' to take off with our money!" Another one of the group's men chimed in. The harsh Chinese curse seemed to get Jayne's heckles up, and he took a step forward. Mal put his hand out subtly, as if to warn Jayne to stand down. "Damn shame," Mal shrugged, signaling to Jayne to grab one of the crates while he moved to pick up the other. "Would love to have a beer n' shed a tear over the loss with ya, but we gotta be takin' our gear and movin' on."

The gang watched in silence for a few seconds before the leader called out again. "Hey! Saw your ship land not 30 minutes ago while we were lookin' for the thief. Leavin' already? What's the hurry?"

Mal watched as the gang leader took a few steps forward, pushing back his duster to reveal his pistol.

Mal set down the crate he was carrying and sighed. "Now, think this through, fellas. Got no quarrel with any of you. Me and mine just want to get what we came for and be on our way."

"Said ya would've had a mighty interest in that redhead if ya seen her. I reckon ya have!"

"That's quite the yarn you're spinnin', friend. Best tell it back at the cantina, not here. I'm quickly losin' my mood for socializing. Now, let us be on our way, or things are gonna get needlessly messy."

Several tense seconds passed, and glares of dark intent were exchanged. Mal wasn't looking for a gunfight, but come hell or high water, he'd finish one if the others were keen to start it. "Aw hell, boss, these guys don't know shit from shinola about that girl. She probably already took off!" Another of the gang, a voice of reason, gave the leader pause. After a few more tense seconds, the gang leader brought his hand away from his pistol and turned, waving his followers to follow.

And she had a tendency to hightail it out when she started to get bored.

That last one was why she was currently gunning for a way out of New Paris, preferably with people she actually liked. Hence the hypothetical flare she sent up to the Serenity.

Aside from the better company on the ship she may or may not also be running from a couple of sore losers she beat in a couple of hands at the bar. But that was besides the point.

She could use the distraction, her last few jobs having been more on the hairy and touch-and-go side. The Serenity and it’s crew had always offered something of an escape for her, so she practically counted the minutes until their arrival.

Feet kicked up on a couple of crates, she watched the skies for the all too familiar Firefly model ship, a smirk tugging onto her lips when it finally cleared the clouds.

A sight for sore eyes, truly.

Watching to see where they docked, she pushed off her perch and headed over, smirk morphing into a grin despite herself.

Especially when Kaylee seemed just as excited to see her, the redhead hugging her back with a laugh. “I’ve missed you too, stunner! ‘t’s been far too long. You’re gonna have to catch me up on everything I’ve missed.”

"Figured as much." Mal's eyes shifted back to his friend's as he asked, "Anything you need to tell me, or do we need to make for my ship with a quickness?"