Mal stared slack jawed down at the toddler in front of him. The kid stared belligerently back, the fuzzy knitted cap falling down over blue eyes.

The rest of the crew stood tensely, waiting for the Captain to say something.

"Think he can still carry Vera?"

Kaylee kneeled behind Jayne and pulling the little boy protectively to her chest, "Oh, Cap'n, you can't be serious. He's just a lil' thing."

"He's still Jayne."

"Sir..."

Mal turned to Simon, "You got any idea how this happened?"

"This is...I..." The doctor ran a hand through his hair, baffled. "There is no precedent..."

"Well, do ya or don't ya. Haven't got all day," he growled.

"No."

"How long has he been like this?"

Simon didn't respond and no one else offered an answer. He shot a look to Zoe who avoided his eyes. He shifted his weight and pinned Kaylee under his gaze. The girl deliberately adjusted the knitted hat on Jayne's head. "Kaylee."

"Well, we don't know 'xactly," she finally offered reluctantly.

The toddler grinned, chubby cheeks bunching up to form dimples, "Kay."

"That's right, sweetie. Kaylee," She traced the curve of his cheek with her finger.

"Kaylee. I ain't asking."

She sighed, raising guilty eyes to Mal, "Been two days."

"Two days?!" His voice echoed off the walls of the cargo bay. "Two days!" His eyes flew wildly to each of his crew members in disbelief, settling finally on Zoe, who had the good sense to look chastened. "Two days and none o' ya thought to--!"

Was that a whimper?

Reluctantly, Mal drew his eyes back to Jayne. "Oh god."

Jayne’s chin trembled and big fat tears clung to his lashes, threatening to spill down his cheeks. He burrowed in closer to Kaylee and whimpered again.

"Don't you dare--!"

One tear leaked down his unscarred cheek and he let out a wail to rival anything Mal had ever heard in his life. He looked wildly to Simon, "Make it stop!"

"Me?!" He shook his head, taking a step back, "I--I don't--"

"You do now!"

Kaylee cuddled Jayne as best she coul