Chapter 9: Freezing Furnace

Inara sat on her bed with Kaylee’s head resting on her lap. She gently stroked Kaylee’s hair as the distraught mechanic relayed the details of last night.

“…and then he said he didn’t think we could be together” She sobbed “Why did he say that Inara? Why?”

“Shh, mei mei” Said Inara soothingly “I’m sure he didn’t mean it. He probably just panicked about abandoning River but I’m sure once he comes to his senses he’ll realise that he can be with you and take care of River without neglecting either of you.”

“But that’s just it, Inara” Said Kaylee “That’s what he was supposed to have realised before he kissed me. I always hoped that was the reason that we weren’t together and that one day he would see that I don’t intend to replace River in his life. Then he would hold me in his arms, kiss me, and everything would be alright. That kiss was supposed to make him realise that he could have me and that I wouldn’t get in the way of what he was trying to do. It wasn’t supposed to be the other way around! Oh, Inara!”

Inara didn’t know what to say. She wanted to tell Kaylee that she was wrong and that everything would be alright between her and Simon but she couldn’t. As much as she hated to admit it, she agreed with Kaylee and a far as she was aware the rest of the crew did as well. They had all been waiting for the day when Simon would finally realise that he should be with Kaylee and then after that everything would just work itself out. Nobody had been prepared for this, least of all Kaylee.

Kaylee continued sobbing into Inara’s skirt but after a while the crying exhausted her and she drifted off the sleep. Inara thought she would take this opportunity to talk to Simon and so she gently laid Kaylee’s head upon her pillow and tiptoed out of the shuttle. She found Simon in the infirmary as she expected and gently tapped on the door to alert him of her presence. His head snapped around when he heard the noise but then his shoulders dropped when he saw who it was. Inara could t