Drops of Jupiter - Chapters 1 - 3
Title: Drops of Jupiter, Chapters 1-3
Author: Dani sirius_starr
Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Eventually all Serenity crew will be either present or mentioned
Rating: PG13 for some frightening scenes
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Firefly is not mine, it belongs to Joss Whedon.
Beta: Jules saturnine_tears
Summary: When Mal somewhat grudgingly decides to give the crew a week off and Simon takes Kaylee to a surprise location, something happens that affects the crew's immediate lives and maybe forever...
Notes: I don't know why, but for some reason I just never posted this fic anywhere, including my own journal! So instead of flooding comms with 6 posts, I'm going to post the 6 written chapters in two posts! I hope you enjoy it and PLEASE comment and tell me what/if you liked about it! Thanks a ton! ^^
*****************
Chapter 1
Now She's Back in the Atmosphere
Chapter's word count: 711
Summary: Mal gives the crew some pleasing news; Simon and Kaylee make plans.
"Can I get all crew to the kitchen area please!"
The captain's voice reverberated around the ship, into every room and area. Inara, who had been sleeping after a particularly long engagement with a client, was jolted awake. She groaned and turned over, annoyed at Mal for buzzing her shuttle when he wanted crew. Suddenly his voice sounded again.
"Inara, you as well."
Inara groaned again and sighed, then heaved herself out of bed. In the cargo bay, Book helped Jayne finish his set on the bench press, and then they headed up the stairs together. Kaylee, Simon, and River made the short walk from the passenger dorms and Zoe and Wash wandered down from the bridge. Inara arrived last, draped
in a silk dressing gown and trying not to yawn, cursing Mal inwardly.
Mal stood up from where he was sitting at the table and began to address them.
"I know you all are wonderin' why I called you... Well, seein' as we've got no cargo, and no job as of this moment, we're going to be havin' a bit of a vacation." He paused as they all cheered, waiting somewhat impatiently for them to stop. Finally they did and he continued as though there'd been no interruption. "We're landing planetside on Verbena in--" he glanced at Wash.
"Two hours."
"--two hours." Mal continued. "We'll have a week to stay on the planet, enjoy the sites, eat in the restaurants, yadda yadda." he sounded as though he thought it a crime to be doing such when they could be out in the black, but he didn't comment on it directly. Over to the side, Inara looked pleased with herself, and the rest of the crew cottoned on to the notion that it was Inara to be thanked for Mal giving them a week off.
"So we can do whatever we want?" asked Kaylee, smiling. Mal nodded curtly.
"But I expect some duties still to be done. Kaylee, you still need to check the engine daily, and everyone else needs to make sure the ship is still clean and taken care of." Everyone nodded and Mal surveryed them all for a while. "Alright, that's all. Have fun."
Everyone cheered and scattered, Simon and Kaylee heading back to the lounge area of the passenger dorms as River stayed in the kitchen to make something to eat. Kaylee flopped down on the couch, beaming.
"A week off, this is so shiny..." she said happily, watching Simon sit down beside her. He too was smiling, but he looked somewhat nervous. "Somethin' wrong, doctor?" she asked in concern. He shook his head, and looked at her.
"I was just... wondering... if you'd like to.. do something with me.. on Verbena..." he asked awkwardly. He watched her nervously, expecting a no, but he was heartened as a radiant smile crossed her face.
"'Course I want to! What are we gonna do?" she asked excitedly. She'd never been to a core planet for more than a day or so before, and she had no idea what kind of interesting things there were to see, but she suspected there were lots. Simon smiled happily.
"I've got some things planned, you'll just have to see." he said, trying to sound mysterious. Kaylee laughed and threw a cushion at him. He caught it and grinned at her, pleased with her reaction. He smiled softly as she stood up, preparing to go back to the engine room. "So later then, tonight? We can start there, and then tomorrow... well, you'll see. But is tonight good?" he asked. She beamed at him and nodded, then turned around and headed out of the room. Simon watched her go, and then got up and already started packing a bag. A blanket, a thermos of hot cocoa, and, his surprise for her, a small box of strawberries he'd picked up several days before and had kept in a special container that kept them ripe and fresh. His stomach lurched with excitement a little while later when he felt the familar jolt of the ship that meant they'd landed. He lay back on his bed and stared at the ceiling, waiting for time to pass so he could begin his first outting with the beautiful mechanic.
********************
Chapter 2
Acts like Summer and Walks like Rain
Chapter's word count: 1923
Summary: Inara and Kaylee have a chat while Inara helps Kaylee get ready for the evening, while Simon has a strange (what else is new?) conversation with his sister as he broods about Kaylee.
Kaylee stood outside the door to Inara's shuttle and knocked, playing with her fingers absent mindedly. A moment later Inara appeared and opened the door for her, the Companion draped in silky red robes and looking beautiful as always.
"Hey 'Nara." said Kaylee affectionately, smiling at her. Inara returned the smile and stepped back to let Kaylee into the room, closing the door behind her.
"Hello Kaylee," Inara replied warmly as Kaylee slipped by her. Kaylee's eyes wandered around the room, drinking in the lavish decor. Even though she'd been in Inara's shuttle a million times, the rich drapery, exquisite furniture and expensive everything never ceased to amaze the mechanic. Kaylee watched her graceful friend cross from the doorway to the couch and sit down, fiddling with a kettle on her small table. "Would you like some tea?" Kaylee nodded and Inara pulled out Kaylee's favourite berry herbal tea and put some of the leaves in a cup as Kaylee sat herself down beside Inara.
"I love your shuttle." Kaylee sighed as she leaned back against the soft throw cushions, her eyes still wandering the walls. Inara smiled as she added just-boiled water to Kaylee's cup and her own, knowing how much Kaylee admired her lifestyle. They both knew she wasn't suited to it, but it didn't stop Kaylee from being in awe and sometimes jealous of Inara.
"So, what are you planning for this break of ours?" asked Inara conversationally, daintily sipping her tea so she wouldn't burn her lips or tongue. As usual, Kaylee took a sip too fast and burned her tongue. Inara quickly poured her a glass of water from an ornate glass pitcher and Kaylee drank thankfully. She smiled sheepishly as she put down the glass and returned to the conversation at hand.
"Well... " she relished in a slight pause, in which Inara looked at her curiously. "Simon asked me to spend some time with him." She watched Inara's expression quickly change from curiosity to looking pleased.
"Well, its about time." she said, smiling at the excitement that was very apparent in Kaylee's eyes. Kaylee bit her bottom lip slightly to keep in a small squeal of anticipation, and knew that Inara knew she was close to bursting with combined nervousness and excitement. "Where is he taking you?"
"He wouldn't tell me..." Kaylee told her, feeling slightly disgruntled. She really wanted to know where they were going; the suspense was killing her. But she supposed that was the very reason Simon was keeping it a secret; so she could spend the hours between now and then wondering.
"When?" Inara asked, taking another sip of her tea. "Tomorrow?"
"In two hours!" exclaimed Kaylee excitedly, nearly slopping her tea. Inara raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Really!" Inara had to work hard to keep from laughing at the ecstatic look on Kaylee's face. "Well... Suppose I help you get ready?" she offered warmly, knowing Kaylee would jump at the chance. Sure enough, Kaylee's eyes were twinkling with awe.
"That would be so shiny.." she said in an almost covetous tone. Inara laughed softly, set down her cup and crossed over to the small closet, hidden by a large panel of cloth. She gently pushed the cloth aside and thumbed through the clothing in the dresser, pausing at a dark green shen-i, a tunic and skirt with gold embroidery and small silken flowers. She pulled it out and looked at it, and then turned to Kaylee, who looked at it in disbelief. Inara smiled softly and held it out to her.
"I think this will fit you." Inara told her, smiling at the amazed look in Kaylee's face.
"Me? In that? Oh, Inara..." Kaylee got up from where she was sitting and went over to Inara, and gingerly touched the silk of the outfit. "Its so beautiful... do you think... he'll..." she trailed off, looking at Inara hopefully, and feeling heartened when she nodded.
"He'll go crazy for you. Well, he already is crazy for you... but maybe after seeing you wearing this, he'll be able to untie the knots from his tongue." she told her with a soft laugh, as Kaylee still stared at the garment. "Come on, let's get you ready." Kaylee went to have a shower while Inara prepared Kaylee's outfit, finding a matching sash for the shen-i and golden chain with the Chinese symbol for Serenity emblazoned in gold on a small black disc hanging from it.
Kaylee came back 10 minutes later, her hair wet and eyes shining. Inara helped her put the shen-i on and admired it. It fit her perfectly, hugging all the right places closely while hanging loose in others. Kaylee was amazed at the feeling of the silk on her skin; it was so soft and cool, unlike the warm overalls she normally wore. It was a lot looser in some places than she was used to and likewise it was tighter in many places, specifically across the chest and her hips, mostly her whole torso. Inara found her some black sandals with gold trim and she slipped her feet into them, wiggling her toes. Inara sat her down on the bed and then knelt behind her, gently combing the tangles out of her hair as it dried.
"So..." Kaylee began as Inara took care of Kaylee's hair, constantly sending shivers down her spine. "How'd you do it?"
"How'd I do what?" Inara asked, resting her hand on the back of Kaylee's head as she fought to get a tangle out.
"Convince the Cap'n to give us the time off." Kaylee said, with no doubt that it was Inara. A tiny smile crooked Inara's lips and she continued fixing Kaylee's hair.
"What makes you think it was me?" she asked in a slightly playful tone, knowing that Kaylee knew full well.
" 'Cause of the way he looked at you earlier. 'Cause he's never given us this much time of b'fore." Kaylee explained calmly. Inara laughed softly.
"I suppose it was because I told him that if he didn't give his crew some time off that there would be a mutiny. As well as telling him in no uncertain terms that he was becoming--" she paused here, searching for the right word. "Something of a tyrant. I think it didn't sit too well with him." she commented lightly, smiling as Kaylee laughed.
"No, can't imagine it would... but there's more, ain't there?" asked Kaylee, unable to stop from being curious. Inara shook her head with a smile. Kaylee usually knew when Inara was hiding something.
"Yes, I suppose there is." she said with a small laugh. "And no, I'm not going to tell you." She added, as Kaylee opened her mouth. Kaylee frowned for a moment and then shrugged, dropping the subject as Inara continued with her hair. Once her hair was down and brushed perfectly, Inara reached around in front of her and fastened the necklace behind her neck. Kaylee shivered as the cold metallic disc of the pendant settled on her warm skin and she looked up at Inara as the woman moved to stand in front of her.
"Kaylee, you look amazing." Inara told her, looking at her approvingly. The dark green set off her eyes, and the gold blended well with her hair. Inara had to admit with a hint of pride that the Serenity necklace was a very nice finishing touch, considering how much love Kaylee had for her ship. Inara held out her hand to pull Kaylee into a standing position, and Kaylee took it, let her pull her up. She finally walked over to the mirror and looked into it, staring at herself in shock. She saw a very pretty young woman, adorned in rich, silken clothing, and wearing a gold necklace.
"Wow..." she breathed, hardly daring to believe it was even her. Inara stood beside her and looked in the mirror with her, smiling at their reflections.
"You're going to have an amazing time." Inara told her confidently, squeezing Kaylee's hand.
*****
Simon sighed as he lay on his bed with the door open, staring up at the ceiling. He wished that time would pass quicker so he could get this anxiety over with, get rid of this terrible feeling of dread that he was going to screw things up somehow. He checked and rechecked his bag many times; he still had the blanket, the strawberries, the thermos of hot chocolate. He wanted this to be perfect for her. After a long time he got up and got changed. He put on black pants, a white shirt, not tucked in, as she seemed to like it, a black vest, and he draped a black jacket over a chair, waiting for the last minute to pick it up. From there he lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling again.
"You shouldn't be so nervous." a small, matter-of-fact voice drifted into the room, and Simon looked to see River standing in the doorway, watching him.
"I'm not." he answered, sitting up and trying to look confident in that answer. River rolled her eyes and strolled into the room, barefoot as usual.
"You shouldn't lie, either," she calmly scolded him, not looking upset in the slightest. He sighed and looked at her as she looked quietly at him, wondering what exactly she wanted. "I want you to have a good time." she said, as though answering his thoughts.
"I'm sure I will, I mean, I'll be with Kaylee... I just.." Simon stopped, not really wanting to talk with his kid sister about this kind of thing.
"You're afraid to say the wrong thing." River filled in gently. Simon nodded, and River put a hand on his knee, a reassuring weight. "She'll like you anyway, even if you mess up. She always does." Simon gave her a "that-didn’t-help" look, which made her smile.
"Are you going to be alright on your own?" Simon asked, changing the subject. River knew he was just trying to avoid talking about it and let him for now.
"Yes. Always things to see." she commented, looking around his room, even though there was really nothing to see that Simon could think of.
"The Shepherd is going to be the whole time, if you need anything, just--"
"--ask him, I know." she interrupted, seeming bored with his brotherly chatter. His eyes widened at her next comment. "The berries are rotting."
"What?!" exclaimed Simon, diving into the bag and pulling out the box that contained the strawberries he was going to give to Kaylee. He lifted the lid, half expecting to see shriveled, blackened rinds, but saw the strawberries still perfectly ripe and plump. His pounding heart slowed to normal and he looked at his sister, who was giggling.
"Got him." she said airily, spinning in place. "He always believes her." Simon shook his head and put the box back into his bag.
"You're a brat, you know that?" he said affectionately, poking her in the stomach. She nodded and turned to leave. In the doorway she suddenly stopped. "Is something wrong, meimei?" asked Simon, watching her pose go from relaxed to stiffened in a few seconds flat. She turned on the spot and looked at him, seeming almost nervous.
"Be careful, Simon." she said. And then she turned and simply left, leaving Simon staring after her, wondering what on earth that was about. He sighed as he lay back down, now adding River's warning to his list of worries for that evening.
******************
Chapter 3
Into the Night
Chapter's word count: 2432
Summary: While a somewhat tongue-tied Simon leads Kaylee to a mysterious destination, a frightened River makes Inara nervous.
A muscle in Simon's cheek twitched nervously as he waited for Kaylee in the cargo bay, pacing back and forth. He was wearing his black suit and vest, with his untucked white shirt, and feeling like he was going to burst from anxiety. He carried a black leather bag that held a blanket, a thermos of hot chocolate and a small box of strawberries; a surprise for Kaylee. Finally he decided if he walked back and forth any more, his shaky legs would give out on him. So he sat on the metal stairs, waiting.
Kaylee was being lead down the corridor to the cargo bay by Inara, suddenly full of nerves and terrified. Inara was trying to soothe her, but it wasn't working; Kaylee was so nervous about how Simon would think of her in this outfit, this beautiful shen-i borrowed from Inara.
"Meimei, relax. You two are going to have a wonderful time." Inara reassured her again, squeezing Kaylee's shoulders. Kaylee shot her a terrified glance as they reached the door to the cargo bay and she stopped short. Inara turned Kaylee to look at her. "Come on, Kaylee. Head up, back straight, be confident. You’re gorgeous, and he'll love it. Really." Kaylee took a deep breath, trying to let Inara's words rush over her. Inara smiled, gave Kaylee a light, reassuring kiss on the top of her head, and urged her forward. Swallowing thickly, she stepped onto the catwalk above the cargo bay and began to descend the stairs, trying not to trip over her ankle length skirt.
Simon heard soft footsteps echoing on the metal stairs behind him and his breathing increased rapidly. This was it. He stood and turned around, a greeting forming on his lips, but froze when he saw her. Saw her slim form enveloped in dark green satin, trimmed with gold. He gaped at her, gaped at how the gold from the outfit and necklace she was wearing set off colours in her hair, making it dance and shimmer. When she finally looked up to meet his eyes, he could see the green reflected there, making her eyes seem deeper and more beautiful than he'd ever dreamed. His eyes never left her for a second as she descended the stairs; he was doubtful that he even blinked once. When she was finally standing in front of him, looking bashful, he fought to find his voice.
"Wo de ma..." he breathed, eyes wide as he took in the sight of her before him. He'd always thought she was the most beautiful young woman in the world, and this image of her just blew his mind. Kaylee smiled, her cheeks reddening.
"That a good "wo de ma?" she asked somewhat timidly, looking up at him through her long eyelashes. Simon nodded fervrently, his eyes still drinking in her features. Her blush deepened, and she was sure that for one second she heard a faint giggle, from where she had left Inara. She looked up at the door on the catwalk and saw the hem of the Companion's robes disappear. A smile curled her lips as she turned back to Simon; she knew she was in for an "I told you so" from Inara later. She looked expectantly at Simon, waiting for him to say something. Eventually the doctor got control over his vocal chords again and looked down at her, gently touching her cheek with his hand.
"You are such a pia liang de xiao jie..." he said softly, making her smile again. He was staring again and she tucked her hair behind her ears, a nervous movement.
"So... where're we goin'?" she asked curiously, eyeing Simon's bag. Simon seemed to snap himself out of it and smiled.
"You'll see. You all ready?" he asked her. She nodded and he smiled, holding out his hand for her to take. She grinned at him and took his hand, and they
opened the doors and headed out into the night. He lead her in silence for a while, the only sound in the night around them was the echoing sounds of their footsteps. They walked over grass through a long field where Serenity had landed, and then on a trail in through a thicket of trees. Simon was watching Kaylee's face as they walked, waiting for her to acknowledge a change in her surroundings. Kaylee suddenly noticed a dim, eerie blue light filtering through the trees and frowned, her brow furrowing in concentration. Simon smiled at her confused face, holding in a laugh as she looked around to find a culprit of the light.
"Do you see that?" Kaylee asked after a moment, glancing up at Simon. The doctor momentarily toyed with the idea of denying it to confuse her further, but decided to be nice.
"Yes." he answered, squeezing her hand.
"What is it?!"
"You'll see." he laughed softly as she let out a quiet noise of frustration. Simon knew that seeing this as a surprise would be much better than if he told her, though. A few minutes later, they could see a break in the trees up ahead. "Close your eyes." Simon told her. Kaylee obeyed easily, though when she walked forward she was nervous, trying not to trip over objects she couldn't see. Simon lead her out of the trees and across a small stretch of glass, and onto a wooden platform. Kaylee frowned in puzzlement as her feet clunked on the wooden boards, wondering where on earth they were. Simon put down the bag and stood beside and a bit behind her, wrapping an arm around her from behind and letting his hand rest on her stomach. "Open them." he whispered into her ear. Her eyes flew open, and her jaw fell open as well almost immediately as she gasped. There stretching before them was a vast lake, glowing light blue in the dark night. The light flickered as the water rippled, and Kaylee stared, transfixed.
"S'amazing..." she said in awe, her hands resting lightly on the guard rail in front of her, barely noticing Simon's arm around her in her amazement. They were about twenty feet above the lake, a rocky ledge sloped down to the lake below. The platform had obviously been set up for observation, and Kaylee could see by the glow of the lake, a small area off to the right where picnics could be held. After a long moment of staring at the water together, Simon lead her to the picnic area, opened his bag and spread out the blanket. Kaylee still hadn't taken her eyes off the water, was transfixed entirely by it. Simon laughed softly as he tugged at her hand and she didn't move. He scooped her up, prompting a small yelp from her as he held her below the knees and around the back and sat down, placing her on the ground beside him.
"Do you want some hot cocoa?" he asked her.
"Yes!" she nodded enthusiastically. Suddenly she remembered how much manners meant to him, she added, "Please." Simon smiled and poured her a cup, watching the steam rise in the luke-warm night air. Kaylee took the cup and curled her fingers around the hot ceramic, staring at the water once more. "How's it get like that?" she asked. "All glow-y?" Simon poured himself a cup while he answered.
"Its a bacteria in the water that glows. Its not a harmful one, but, as you obviously can see, a beautiful one." he replied. They sipped their drinks in silence for a moment, before Simon put his down. He wrapped his arms around her stomach and pulled her carefully onto his lap, slowly so he didn’t spill her hot chocolate and scald them both. She gave a small, happy laugh that made his heart flutter, and leaned back against him comfortably, his chin resting on her shoulder. After she'd finished most of her hot chocolate she put it aside and swiveled in his lap so she was facing sideways and looking at him.
" Thanks for bringing me here, Simon." she said quietly, her eyes shimmering in the glow of the lake. Simon smiled and brushed some hair out of her face.
"I knew you would love it." he told her softly. She smiled and leaned her forehead against his, shivering slightly as the silken material of her clothes slid over her skin when she moved. Simon pulled her closer, his arms wrapped around her middle. "You look so beautiful tonight, Kaylee." he said sincerely, rubbing her side with his thumbs as he held her. She was glad it was dark because she blushed again.
"Inara gave me this to wear... its so beautiful, and this necklace, and the sandals..." she sighed wistfully. "And tomorrow its back to the same ol' boring Kaylee." Simon shook his head.
"You're never boring, Kaylee. You're beautiful, and cheerful, and... and just.. you." he emphasized the last word positively, adoration lacing his tone. She looked at him quietly, not sure what to say. Simon watched the way her lips moved as she fought to speak, and his heart was fighting against his mind to kiss her.
Do it, Simon.
He pulled her a tiny bit closer.
No, its too soon.
He loosened his grip on her a tiny bit.
Do it!
He swallowed thickly and just as she was stringing words together to deny that she was anything special, he took a leap of faith and leaned in, taking her lips in his. He felt her inhale sharply in surprise, but was heartened when she didn't pull away. Contrary to that, after a moment she gently rested a hand on his neck and kissed him back. Kaylee's heart was pounding so hard she was sure it was about to break right out of her ribcage. Her whole body was tingling, and the hand she rested on Simon's neck very gently traced absent-minded circles on his skin, making him shiver pleasantly. After a long while Simon slowly pulled away far enough so that their lips weren't touching, but their foreheads were pressed together, noses bumping each other. They could taste each other's shaky breath on their lips, and they didn't speak. After a long moment they came together naturally, as if by a silent agreement, and gently Simon lay Kaylee down on the blanket and kissed her passionately, yet still managed to keep it gentle.
*****
River wandered around Inara's shuttle, looking at all the decorations. Unlike Kaylee, she'd only been in there a few times, but she liked to look at all of the decor. It reminded her of home, which gave her mixed feelings. So after a while she curled up on Inara's bed, watching the Companion wander around a newsletter on the cortex.
"Water... overflows..." murmured River, seconds before Inara's screen changed to an article entitled "Flood devastates large neighborhood on Londinium". Inara blinked in surprise, glanced at River and then back at the article, which she skimmed, deemed as boring and closed. She sighed and turned away from the screen, looking at River collapsed on her bed.
"I hope the Shepherd feels better soon." said Inara conversationally, referring to the fact that Book was sick, which was why Inara was watching River. River shrugged.
"He will. Soon. Even now, he doesn't feel bad. Doesn't want to watch her. Thinks she's troubled. She is." River said quietly into Inara's silk sheets. The Companion got up and sat down beside her, gently stroking her hair.
"I'm sure that’s not what he thinks. He worries about you." River looked up at her.
"So do you." she said, almost accusingly. Inara was saved answering as River suddenly gasped, sitting straight upright.
"What is it!?" Inara asked, alarmed by the look on River's face. River held up a hand to silence her, the young girl looking like she was being hit with a migraine; her face was scrunched into a pained look.
"Water..." River whispered, looking scared.
*****
Simon lay down beside Kaylee several long, deep kisses later, and looked up at the night sky, watching the odd shooting star flickering by high above them. They were contentedly silent, both extremely pleased by what had just transpired. They lay there a long time, not speaking, not thinking, just feeling each other's body as they pressed near each other and looked up at the seemingly endless space above them. Simon suddenly felt Kaylee shiver, a movement which she'd tried to hold in.
"Come on, you're cold." he said softly, sitting up. She sat up reluctantly, looking at him. "Its alright, its getting late anyway. Besides, we have tomorrow." he said with a smile. She smiled back and nodded, and watched as Simon put the thermos and their cups back into his bag. Simon felt the small box as he put the cups away and pulled it out, looking at Kaylee with a smile. "Here, this is for you." he told her, holding out the box for her to take. She took it with a curious gleam in her eyes, and opened the lid. A delighted look came over her face and let out an adorable happy noise, which made Simon want to hug her. Kaylee's eyes feasted on the ripe, plump strawberries, and Simon expected her to take one and eat it then. But she surprised him by closing the box and kissing him thankfully. After she pulled away, she smiled and tucked the box back into his bag.
"I'll save 'em for the mornin'." she told him, already eagerly awaiting breakfast time. He nodded with a grin and helped her stand up, and then folded up the blanket as she straightened her outfit. "Can we look one more time before we go?" she asked him. He nodded and she ran over to the platform as he finished gathering their stuff. He smiled at her enthusiasm and bent to put the folded blanket in the bag. Kaylee leaned heavily against the guard rail as she saw a fish splash, and made a noise of delight. Unfortunately, that small squeal of excitement was of a loudish sort, and neither of them heard the cracking noise of the guardrail that she was leaning on.
*****
Inara was desperately trying to calm River, stroking the girl's hair and holding her tightly, and just as the Companion thought that she was calming down, River suddenly screamed, two syllables only, in a tone of panic that froze Inara's blood.
"KAY-LEE!!!"
*****************
Please review! It would make me happy ^^
Author: Dani sirius_starr
Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Eventually all Serenity crew will be either present or mentioned
Rating: PG13 for some frightening scenes
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, Firefly is not mine, it belongs to Joss Whedon.
Beta: Jules saturnine_tears
Summary: When Mal somewhat grudgingly decides to give the crew a week off and Simon takes Kaylee to a surprise location, something happens that affects the crew's immediate lives and maybe forever...
Notes: I don't know why, but for some reason I just never posted this fic anywhere, including my own journal! So instead of flooding comms with 6 posts, I'm going to post the 6 written chapters in two posts! I hope you enjoy it and PLEASE comment and tell me what/if you liked about it! Thanks a ton! ^^
*****************
Chapter 1
Now She's Back in the Atmosphere
Chapter's word count: 711
Summary: Mal gives the crew some pleasing news; Simon and Kaylee make plans.
"Can I get all crew to the kitchen area please!"
The captain's voice reverberated around the ship, into every room and area. Inara, who had been sleeping after a particularly long engagement with a client, was jolted awake. She groaned and turned over, annoyed at Mal for buzzing her shuttle when he wanted crew. Suddenly his voice sounded again.
"Inara, you as well."
Inara groaned again and sighed, then heaved herself out of bed. In the cargo bay, Book helped Jayne finish his set on the bench press, and then they headed up the stairs together. Kaylee, Simon, and River made the short walk from the passenger dorms and Zoe and Wash wandered down from the bridge. Inara arrived last, draped
in a silk dressing gown and trying not to yawn, cursing Mal inwardly.
Mal stood up from where he was sitting at the table and began to address them.
"I know you all are wonderin' why I called you... Well, seein' as we've got no cargo, and no job as of this moment, we're going to be havin' a bit of a vacation." He paused as they all cheered, waiting somewhat impatiently for them to stop. Finally they did and he continued as though there'd been no interruption. "We're landing planetside on Verbena in--" he glanced at Wash.
"Two hours."
"--two hours." Mal continued. "We'll have a week to stay on the planet, enjoy the sites, eat in the restaurants, yadda yadda." he sounded as though he thought it a crime to be doing such when they could be out in the black, but he didn't comment on it directly. Over to the side, Inara looked pleased with herself, and the rest of the crew cottoned on to the notion that it was Inara to be thanked for Mal giving them a week off.
"So we can do whatever we want?" asked Kaylee, smiling. Mal nodded curtly.
"But I expect some duties still to be done. Kaylee, you still need to check the engine daily, and everyone else needs to make sure the ship is still clean and taken care of." Everyone nodded and Mal surveryed them all for a while. "Alright, that's all. Have fun."
Everyone cheered and scattered, Simon and Kaylee heading back to the lounge area of the passenger dorms as River stayed in the kitchen to make something to eat. Kaylee flopped down on the couch, beaming.
"A week off, this is so shiny..." she said happily, watching Simon sit down beside her. He too was smiling, but he looked somewhat nervous. "Somethin' wrong, doctor?" she asked in concern. He shook his head, and looked at her.
"I was just... wondering... if you'd like to.. do something with me.. on Verbena..." he asked awkwardly. He watched her nervously, expecting a no, but he was heartened as a radiant smile crossed her face.
"'Course I want to! What are we gonna do?" she asked excitedly. She'd never been to a core planet for more than a day or so before, and she had no idea what kind of interesting things there were to see, but she suspected there were lots. Simon smiled happily.
"I've got some things planned, you'll just have to see." he said, trying to sound mysterious. Kaylee laughed and threw a cushion at him. He caught it and grinned at her, pleased with her reaction. He smiled softly as she stood up, preparing to go back to the engine room. "So later then, tonight? We can start there, and then tomorrow... well, you'll see. But is tonight good?" he asked. She beamed at him and nodded, then turned around and headed out of the room. Simon watched her go, and then got up and already started packing a bag. A blanket, a thermos of hot cocoa, and, his surprise for her, a small box of strawberries he'd picked up several days before and had kept in a special container that kept them ripe and fresh. His stomach lurched with excitement a little while later when he felt the familar jolt of the ship that meant they'd landed. He lay back on his bed and stared at the ceiling, waiting for time to pass so he could begin his first outting with the beautiful mechanic.
********************
Chapter 2
Acts like Summer and Walks like Rain
Chapter's word count: 1923
Summary: Inara and Kaylee have a chat while Inara helps Kaylee get ready for the evening, while Simon has a strange (what else is new?) conversation with his sister as he broods about Kaylee.
Kaylee stood outside the door to Inara's shuttle and knocked, playing with her fingers absent mindedly. A moment later Inara appeared and opened the door for her, the Companion draped in silky red robes and looking beautiful as always.
"Hey 'Nara." said Kaylee affectionately, smiling at her. Inara returned the smile and stepped back to let Kaylee into the room, closing the door behind her.
"Hello Kaylee," Inara replied warmly as Kaylee slipped by her. Kaylee's eyes wandered around the room, drinking in the lavish decor. Even though she'd been in Inara's shuttle a million times, the rich drapery, exquisite furniture and expensive everything never ceased to amaze the mechanic. Kaylee watched her graceful friend cross from the doorway to the couch and sit down, fiddling with a kettle on her small table. "Would you like some tea?" Kaylee nodded and Inara pulled out Kaylee's favourite berry herbal tea and put some of the leaves in a cup as Kaylee sat herself down beside Inara.
"I love your shuttle." Kaylee sighed as she leaned back against the soft throw cushions, her eyes still wandering the walls. Inara smiled as she added just-boiled water to Kaylee's cup and her own, knowing how much Kaylee admired her lifestyle. They both knew she wasn't suited to it, but it didn't stop Kaylee from being in awe and sometimes jealous of Inara.
"So, what are you planning for this break of ours?" asked Inara conversationally, daintily sipping her tea so she wouldn't burn her lips or tongue. As usual, Kaylee took a sip too fast and burned her tongue. Inara quickly poured her a glass of water from an ornate glass pitcher and Kaylee drank thankfully. She smiled sheepishly as she put down the glass and returned to the conversation at hand.
"Well... " she relished in a slight pause, in which Inara looked at her curiously. "Simon asked me to spend some time with him." She watched Inara's expression quickly change from curiosity to looking pleased.
"Well, its about time." she said, smiling at the excitement that was very apparent in Kaylee's eyes. Kaylee bit her bottom lip slightly to keep in a small squeal of anticipation, and knew that Inara knew she was close to bursting with combined nervousness and excitement. "Where is he taking you?"
"He wouldn't tell me..." Kaylee told her, feeling slightly disgruntled. She really wanted to know where they were going; the suspense was killing her. But she supposed that was the very reason Simon was keeping it a secret; so she could spend the hours between now and then wondering.
"When?" Inara asked, taking another sip of her tea. "Tomorrow?"
"In two hours!" exclaimed Kaylee excitedly, nearly slopping her tea. Inara raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Really!" Inara had to work hard to keep from laughing at the ecstatic look on Kaylee's face. "Well... Suppose I help you get ready?" she offered warmly, knowing Kaylee would jump at the chance. Sure enough, Kaylee's eyes were twinkling with awe.
"That would be so shiny.." she said in an almost covetous tone. Inara laughed softly, set down her cup and crossed over to the small closet, hidden by a large panel of cloth. She gently pushed the cloth aside and thumbed through the clothing in the dresser, pausing at a dark green shen-i, a tunic and skirt with gold embroidery and small silken flowers. She pulled it out and looked at it, and then turned to Kaylee, who looked at it in disbelief. Inara smiled softly and held it out to her.
"I think this will fit you." Inara told her, smiling at the amazed look in Kaylee's face.
"Me? In that? Oh, Inara..." Kaylee got up from where she was sitting and went over to Inara, and gingerly touched the silk of the outfit. "Its so beautiful... do you think... he'll..." she trailed off, looking at Inara hopefully, and feeling heartened when she nodded.
"He'll go crazy for you. Well, he already is crazy for you... but maybe after seeing you wearing this, he'll be able to untie the knots from his tongue." she told her with a soft laugh, as Kaylee still stared at the garment. "Come on, let's get you ready." Kaylee went to have a shower while Inara prepared Kaylee's outfit, finding a matching sash for the shen-i and golden chain with the Chinese symbol for Serenity emblazoned in gold on a small black disc hanging from it.
Kaylee came back 10 minutes later, her hair wet and eyes shining. Inara helped her put the shen-i on and admired it. It fit her perfectly, hugging all the right places closely while hanging loose in others. Kaylee was amazed at the feeling of the silk on her skin; it was so soft and cool, unlike the warm overalls she normally wore. It was a lot looser in some places than she was used to and likewise it was tighter in many places, specifically across the chest and her hips, mostly her whole torso. Inara found her some black sandals with gold trim and she slipped her feet into them, wiggling her toes. Inara sat her down on the bed and then knelt behind her, gently combing the tangles out of her hair as it dried.
"So..." Kaylee began as Inara took care of Kaylee's hair, constantly sending shivers down her spine. "How'd you do it?"
"How'd I do what?" Inara asked, resting her hand on the back of Kaylee's head as she fought to get a tangle out.
"Convince the Cap'n to give us the time off." Kaylee said, with no doubt that it was Inara. A tiny smile crooked Inara's lips and she continued fixing Kaylee's hair.
"What makes you think it was me?" she asked in a slightly playful tone, knowing that Kaylee knew full well.
" 'Cause of the way he looked at you earlier. 'Cause he's never given us this much time of b'fore." Kaylee explained calmly. Inara laughed softly.
"I suppose it was because I told him that if he didn't give his crew some time off that there would be a mutiny. As well as telling him in no uncertain terms that he was becoming--" she paused here, searching for the right word. "Something of a tyrant. I think it didn't sit too well with him." she commented lightly, smiling as Kaylee laughed.
"No, can't imagine it would... but there's more, ain't there?" asked Kaylee, unable to stop from being curious. Inara shook her head with a smile. Kaylee usually knew when Inara was hiding something.
"Yes, I suppose there is." she said with a small laugh. "And no, I'm not going to tell you." She added, as Kaylee opened her mouth. Kaylee frowned for a moment and then shrugged, dropping the subject as Inara continued with her hair. Once her hair was down and brushed perfectly, Inara reached around in front of her and fastened the necklace behind her neck. Kaylee shivered as the cold metallic disc of the pendant settled on her warm skin and she looked up at Inara as the woman moved to stand in front of her.
"Kaylee, you look amazing." Inara told her, looking at her approvingly. The dark green set off her eyes, and the gold blended well with her hair. Inara had to admit with a hint of pride that the Serenity necklace was a very nice finishing touch, considering how much love Kaylee had for her ship. Inara held out her hand to pull Kaylee into a standing position, and Kaylee took it, let her pull her up. She finally walked over to the mirror and looked into it, staring at herself in shock. She saw a very pretty young woman, adorned in rich, silken clothing, and wearing a gold necklace.
"Wow..." she breathed, hardly daring to believe it was even her. Inara stood beside her and looked in the mirror with her, smiling at their reflections.
"You're going to have an amazing time." Inara told her confidently, squeezing Kaylee's hand.
*****
Simon sighed as he lay on his bed with the door open, staring up at the ceiling. He wished that time would pass quicker so he could get this anxiety over with, get rid of this terrible feeling of dread that he was going to screw things up somehow. He checked and rechecked his bag many times; he still had the blanket, the strawberries, the thermos of hot chocolate. He wanted this to be perfect for her. After a long time he got up and got changed. He put on black pants, a white shirt, not tucked in, as she seemed to like it, a black vest, and he draped a black jacket over a chair, waiting for the last minute to pick it up. From there he lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling again.
"You shouldn't be so nervous." a small, matter-of-fact voice drifted into the room, and Simon looked to see River standing in the doorway, watching him.
"I'm not." he answered, sitting up and trying to look confident in that answer. River rolled her eyes and strolled into the room, barefoot as usual.
"You shouldn't lie, either," she calmly scolded him, not looking upset in the slightest. He sighed and looked at her as she looked quietly at him, wondering what exactly she wanted. "I want you to have a good time." she said, as though answering his thoughts.
"I'm sure I will, I mean, I'll be with Kaylee... I just.." Simon stopped, not really wanting to talk with his kid sister about this kind of thing.
"You're afraid to say the wrong thing." River filled in gently. Simon nodded, and River put a hand on his knee, a reassuring weight. "She'll like you anyway, even if you mess up. She always does." Simon gave her a "that-didn’t-help" look, which made her smile.
"Are you going to be alright on your own?" Simon asked, changing the subject. River knew he was just trying to avoid talking about it and let him for now.
"Yes. Always things to see." she commented, looking around his room, even though there was really nothing to see that Simon could think of.
"The Shepherd is going to be the whole time, if you need anything, just--"
"--ask him, I know." she interrupted, seeming bored with his brotherly chatter. His eyes widened at her next comment. "The berries are rotting."
"What?!" exclaimed Simon, diving into the bag and pulling out the box that contained the strawberries he was going to give to Kaylee. He lifted the lid, half expecting to see shriveled, blackened rinds, but saw the strawberries still perfectly ripe and plump. His pounding heart slowed to normal and he looked at his sister, who was giggling.
"Got him." she said airily, spinning in place. "He always believes her." Simon shook his head and put the box back into his bag.
"You're a brat, you know that?" he said affectionately, poking her in the stomach. She nodded and turned to leave. In the doorway she suddenly stopped. "Is something wrong, meimei?" asked Simon, watching her pose go from relaxed to stiffened in a few seconds flat. She turned on the spot and looked at him, seeming almost nervous.
"Be careful, Simon." she said. And then she turned and simply left, leaving Simon staring after her, wondering what on earth that was about. He sighed as he lay back down, now adding River's warning to his list of worries for that evening.
******************
Chapter 3
Into the Night
Chapter's word count: 2432
Summary: While a somewhat tongue-tied Simon leads Kaylee to a mysterious destination, a frightened River makes Inara nervous.
A muscle in Simon's cheek twitched nervously as he waited for Kaylee in the cargo bay, pacing back and forth. He was wearing his black suit and vest, with his untucked white shirt, and feeling like he was going to burst from anxiety. He carried a black leather bag that held a blanket, a thermos of hot chocolate and a small box of strawberries; a surprise for Kaylee. Finally he decided if he walked back and forth any more, his shaky legs would give out on him. So he sat on the metal stairs, waiting.
Kaylee was being lead down the corridor to the cargo bay by Inara, suddenly full of nerves and terrified. Inara was trying to soothe her, but it wasn't working; Kaylee was so nervous about how Simon would think of her in this outfit, this beautiful shen-i borrowed from Inara.
"Meimei, relax. You two are going to have a wonderful time." Inara reassured her again, squeezing Kaylee's shoulders. Kaylee shot her a terrified glance as they reached the door to the cargo bay and she stopped short. Inara turned Kaylee to look at her. "Come on, Kaylee. Head up, back straight, be confident. You’re gorgeous, and he'll love it. Really." Kaylee took a deep breath, trying to let Inara's words rush over her. Inara smiled, gave Kaylee a light, reassuring kiss on the top of her head, and urged her forward. Swallowing thickly, she stepped onto the catwalk above the cargo bay and began to descend the stairs, trying not to trip over her ankle length skirt.
Simon heard soft footsteps echoing on the metal stairs behind him and his breathing increased rapidly. This was it. He stood and turned around, a greeting forming on his lips, but froze when he saw her. Saw her slim form enveloped in dark green satin, trimmed with gold. He gaped at her, gaped at how the gold from the outfit and necklace she was wearing set off colours in her hair, making it dance and shimmer. When she finally looked up to meet his eyes, he could see the green reflected there, making her eyes seem deeper and more beautiful than he'd ever dreamed. His eyes never left her for a second as she descended the stairs; he was doubtful that he even blinked once. When she was finally standing in front of him, looking bashful, he fought to find his voice.
"Wo de ma..." he breathed, eyes wide as he took in the sight of her before him. He'd always thought she was the most beautiful young woman in the world, and this image of her just blew his mind. Kaylee smiled, her cheeks reddening.
"That a good "wo de ma?" she asked somewhat timidly, looking up at him through her long eyelashes. Simon nodded fervrently, his eyes still drinking in her features. Her blush deepened, and she was sure that for one second she heard a faint giggle, from where she had left Inara. She looked up at the door on the catwalk and saw the hem of the Companion's robes disappear. A smile curled her lips as she turned back to Simon; she knew she was in for an "I told you so" from Inara later. She looked expectantly at Simon, waiting for him to say something. Eventually the doctor got control over his vocal chords again and looked down at her, gently touching her cheek with his hand.
"You are such a pia liang de xiao jie..." he said softly, making her smile again. He was staring again and she tucked her hair behind her ears, a nervous movement.
"So... where're we goin'?" she asked curiously, eyeing Simon's bag. Simon seemed to snap himself out of it and smiled.
"You'll see. You all ready?" he asked her. She nodded and he smiled, holding out his hand for her to take. She grinned at him and took his hand, and they
opened the doors and headed out into the night. He lead her in silence for a while, the only sound in the night around them was the echoing sounds of their footsteps. They walked over grass through a long field where Serenity had landed, and then on a trail in through a thicket of trees. Simon was watching Kaylee's face as they walked, waiting for her to acknowledge a change in her surroundings. Kaylee suddenly noticed a dim, eerie blue light filtering through the trees and frowned, her brow furrowing in concentration. Simon smiled at her confused face, holding in a laugh as she looked around to find a culprit of the light.
"Do you see that?" Kaylee asked after a moment, glancing up at Simon. The doctor momentarily toyed with the idea of denying it to confuse her further, but decided to be nice.
"Yes." he answered, squeezing her hand.
"What is it?!"
"You'll see." he laughed softly as she let out a quiet noise of frustration. Simon knew that seeing this as a surprise would be much better than if he told her, though. A few minutes later, they could see a break in the trees up ahead. "Close your eyes." Simon told her. Kaylee obeyed easily, though when she walked forward she was nervous, trying not to trip over objects she couldn't see. Simon lead her out of the trees and across a small stretch of glass, and onto a wooden platform. Kaylee frowned in puzzlement as her feet clunked on the wooden boards, wondering where on earth they were. Simon put down the bag and stood beside and a bit behind her, wrapping an arm around her from behind and letting his hand rest on her stomach. "Open them." he whispered into her ear. Her eyes flew open, and her jaw fell open as well almost immediately as she gasped. There stretching before them was a vast lake, glowing light blue in the dark night. The light flickered as the water rippled, and Kaylee stared, transfixed.
"S'amazing..." she said in awe, her hands resting lightly on the guard rail in front of her, barely noticing Simon's arm around her in her amazement. They were about twenty feet above the lake, a rocky ledge sloped down to the lake below. The platform had obviously been set up for observation, and Kaylee could see by the glow of the lake, a small area off to the right where picnics could be held. After a long moment of staring at the water together, Simon lead her to the picnic area, opened his bag and spread out the blanket. Kaylee still hadn't taken her eyes off the water, was transfixed entirely by it. Simon laughed softly as he tugged at her hand and she didn't move. He scooped her up, prompting a small yelp from her as he held her below the knees and around the back and sat down, placing her on the ground beside him.
"Do you want some hot cocoa?" he asked her.
"Yes!" she nodded enthusiastically. Suddenly she remembered how much manners meant to him, she added, "Please." Simon smiled and poured her a cup, watching the steam rise in the luke-warm night air. Kaylee took the cup and curled her fingers around the hot ceramic, staring at the water once more. "How's it get like that?" she asked. "All glow-y?" Simon poured himself a cup while he answered.
"Its a bacteria in the water that glows. Its not a harmful one, but, as you obviously can see, a beautiful one." he replied. They sipped their drinks in silence for a moment, before Simon put his down. He wrapped his arms around her stomach and pulled her carefully onto his lap, slowly so he didn’t spill her hot chocolate and scald them both. She gave a small, happy laugh that made his heart flutter, and leaned back against him comfortably, his chin resting on her shoulder. After she'd finished most of her hot chocolate she put it aside and swiveled in his lap so she was facing sideways and looking at him.
" Thanks for bringing me here, Simon." she said quietly, her eyes shimmering in the glow of the lake. Simon smiled and brushed some hair out of her face.
"I knew you would love it." he told her softly. She smiled and leaned her forehead against his, shivering slightly as the silken material of her clothes slid over her skin when she moved. Simon pulled her closer, his arms wrapped around her middle. "You look so beautiful tonight, Kaylee." he said sincerely, rubbing her side with his thumbs as he held her. She was glad it was dark because she blushed again.
"Inara gave me this to wear... its so beautiful, and this necklace, and the sandals..." she sighed wistfully. "And tomorrow its back to the same ol' boring Kaylee." Simon shook his head.
"You're never boring, Kaylee. You're beautiful, and cheerful, and... and just.. you." he emphasized the last word positively, adoration lacing his tone. She looked at him quietly, not sure what to say. Simon watched the way her lips moved as she fought to speak, and his heart was fighting against his mind to kiss her.
Do it, Simon.
He pulled her a tiny bit closer.
No, its too soon.
He loosened his grip on her a tiny bit.
Do it!
He swallowed thickly and just as she was stringing words together to deny that she was anything special, he took a leap of faith and leaned in, taking her lips in his. He felt her inhale sharply in surprise, but was heartened when she didn't pull away. Contrary to that, after a moment she gently rested a hand on his neck and kissed him back. Kaylee's heart was pounding so hard she was sure it was about to break right out of her ribcage. Her whole body was tingling, and the hand she rested on Simon's neck very gently traced absent-minded circles on his skin, making him shiver pleasantly. After a long while Simon slowly pulled away far enough so that their lips weren't touching, but their foreheads were pressed together, noses bumping each other. They could taste each other's shaky breath on their lips, and they didn't speak. After a long moment they came together naturally, as if by a silent agreement, and gently Simon lay Kaylee down on the blanket and kissed her passionately, yet still managed to keep it gentle.
*****
River wandered around Inara's shuttle, looking at all the decorations. Unlike Kaylee, she'd only been in there a few times, but she liked to look at all of the decor. It reminded her of home, which gave her mixed feelings. So after a while she curled up on Inara's bed, watching the Companion wander around a newsletter on the cortex.
"Water... overflows..." murmured River, seconds before Inara's screen changed to an article entitled "Flood devastates large neighborhood on Londinium". Inara blinked in surprise, glanced at River and then back at the article, which she skimmed, deemed as boring and closed. She sighed and turned away from the screen, looking at River collapsed on her bed.
"I hope the Shepherd feels better soon." said Inara conversationally, referring to the fact that Book was sick, which was why Inara was watching River. River shrugged.
"He will. Soon. Even now, he doesn't feel bad. Doesn't want to watch her. Thinks she's troubled. She is." River said quietly into Inara's silk sheets. The Companion got up and sat down beside her, gently stroking her hair.
"I'm sure that’s not what he thinks. He worries about you." River looked up at her.
"So do you." she said, almost accusingly. Inara was saved answering as River suddenly gasped, sitting straight upright.
"What is it!?" Inara asked, alarmed by the look on River's face. River held up a hand to silence her, the young girl looking like she was being hit with a migraine; her face was scrunched into a pained look.
"Water..." River whispered, looking scared.
*****
Simon lay down beside Kaylee several long, deep kisses later, and looked up at the night sky, watching the odd shooting star flickering by high above them. They were contentedly silent, both extremely pleased by what had just transpired. They lay there a long time, not speaking, not thinking, just feeling each other's body as they pressed near each other and looked up at the seemingly endless space above them. Simon suddenly felt Kaylee shiver, a movement which she'd tried to hold in.
"Come on, you're cold." he said softly, sitting up. She sat up reluctantly, looking at him. "Its alright, its getting late anyway. Besides, we have tomorrow." he said with a smile. She smiled back and nodded, and watched as Simon put the thermos and their cups back into his bag. Simon felt the small box as he put the cups away and pulled it out, looking at Kaylee with a smile. "Here, this is for you." he told her, holding out the box for her to take. She took it with a curious gleam in her eyes, and opened the lid. A delighted look came over her face and let out an adorable happy noise, which made Simon want to hug her. Kaylee's eyes feasted on the ripe, plump strawberries, and Simon expected her to take one and eat it then. But she surprised him by closing the box and kissing him thankfully. After she pulled away, she smiled and tucked the box back into his bag.
"I'll save 'em for the mornin'." she told him, already eagerly awaiting breakfast time. He nodded with a grin and helped her stand up, and then folded up the blanket as she straightened her outfit. "Can we look one more time before we go?" she asked him. He nodded and she ran over to the platform as he finished gathering their stuff. He smiled at her enthusiasm and bent to put the folded blanket in the bag. Kaylee leaned heavily against the guard rail as she saw a fish splash, and made a noise of delight. Unfortunately, that small squeal of excitement was of a loudish sort, and neither of them heard the cracking noise of the guardrail that she was leaning on.
*****
Inara was desperately trying to calm River, stroking the girl's hair and holding her tightly, and just as the Companion thought that she was calming down, River suddenly screamed, two syllables only, in a tone of panic that froze Inara's blood.
"KAY-LEE!!!"
*****************
Please review! It would make me happy ^^