Here's part two! The full story is TECHNICALLY finished, but the ending still needs fiddled with and there might be a coupkle of scenes to add in to the next three chapters, so this is to tide you over till then. This part begins during the episode Shindig, and also references to Our Mrs Reynolds, so big DISCLAIMER; I know I do not own these characters, episodes etc. Ahem. I think that's all. PLEASE comment, it makes me happy. And when I'm happy I update. See, we're all winners....

Cup of Tea - Part Two

Simon’s watch read eleven o’ clock and he felt an odd sense of loss in the pit of his stomach. The crew were planetside, buying supplies, which meant no tea, no biscuits, no Kaylee. River was sleeping fitfully, leaving him to potter around the infirmary aimlessly. He half wished Jayne would return to wreak havoc, just so he would have something to do.

Besides River, only the shepherd was on board. Simon’s feet carried him to the area around the passenger quarters, where he found Book reading the Bible.

“Something I can do for you, son?” the shepherd asked.

Simon shook his head, feeling stupid. “No,” he said. Then he paused, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

“It’s awfully quiet, isn’t it?” he said eventually. “When the others aren’t around.”

Book nodded slowly. “The crew have quite a presence,” he agreed. “Especially Jayne. And the captain. They like to make themselves heard.”

“And Kaylee,” Simon said softly, the words tumbling out of his mouth without thought.

Book smiled. “Yes. She’s a special one.”

Simon didn’t know it, but the wistful look in his eyes was apparent to Book, who noted it with interest.

“Yes. She is.”

*

When Kaylee returned to the ship, her expression was unusually sullen. Simon sat in the galley with River, who was occupying most of his attention, but he noticed. She seemed to be avoiding the captain’s eye, and the captain in turn was occasionally shooting her guilty looks. Simon wondered what had happened.

There was a crash a