Simon’s got the grease off himself, but he wears his shirt open at the neck. Has a new respect now for the big man’s strength; took all his to hold that cutter, let alone wield it for hours. Picks up a jar, looks at it without really seeing it. Sighs, and puts it down again.

“What you frettin’ over?” Kaylee peers round the door at him. At the sight of her bright smile, not even Simon can stay glum. He manages a smile back.

“What am I usually fretting over?”

Kaylee’s smile wavers a fraction, and she gets a determined look in her eye.

“Heard you yelling at River some. Guess it was about Tyler.”

“It was.”

“Why?”

“I...” Simon pauses. “She’s my sister. I don’t want her being...”

“Pawed about by some lout from the Rim? ‘Cos that ain‘t fair. Tyler‘s a sweetheart.”

Simon winces.

“I was going to say hurt.”

Kaylee scoffs.

“All she’s done is kiss the boy, Simon. She’s growing up.”

“I guess...that’s just harder to accept than anything else. She needed me for so long, and now...”

“She’s always going to need her big brother to love her.” Kaylee winds her arms round his neck. “Just...she needs other folk to love her too.”

“So I suppose I need to go and borrow a shotgun from Jayne, then?”

“Tyler won’t hurt her none.”

“He said as much.” Simon begins to smile, as he remembers. “Came and apologised for kissing her without asking.”

“Hah.” Kaylee squeaks indignantly. “Don’t reckon a body needs anyone’s permission to go kissing folks.”

“Really?” Simon grins. “Well, then, Miss Frye...”

0000

Since there isn’t a thing you can keep from River, Mal is not surprised to find her hunched in the pilot’s chair, and Not Talking to him.

“We got no space on this boat for anything ain’t useful. You ain’t keepin’ him, River.”

“Not a puppy.” Sticks her lower lip out. “Could be useful.”

“As what?”

“Kept Inara around for you.” She didn’t mean to say that. Mal’s expression darkens, and she feels the rage