Author's note - the remaining lost fanfics of the Dr. Tam series will be posted over the next few days. This chapter was ready so I decided to post it for those waiting for it and who already have read the rest. Thanks.

The Dr. Tam Journals – Part 14 – Objects in Space

The dining area was silent except for the soft sounds of sorrow coming from Inara and Kaylee. “I’m sorry,” Simon said at last, as Kaylee and Inara fought to control their feelings. ‘I knew this was going to be hard, but not this hard. It’s all my fault.”

Kaylee sniffled and wiped away her tears. “Oh, I’ve done too much crying the last few days. No, Simon, it’s not your fault. It’s got to be done.”

Inara wiped her eyes also, trying to regain her composure. “It’s always the hardest when things change. Especially when people leave.”

“We’ll always be here,” said River, placing her hand over her heart.

Inara smiled. “And in here,” she said looking around the dining room. “I remember almost everything about the day you first came on board Simon. Of course, we didn’t know you had brought your sister along for the ride.”

“Neither did I,” said River and they all smiled a little at that.

“I’ll never forget,” said Kaylee. “And when you came Inara. And Jayne and Book. I’ve been here a long time.”

Simon reached out and took his wife’s hand. “Kaylee, we’ve talked on this and we’ve made a decision but that can be changed.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s time. A new life is waiting for us out there.”

He nodded and then River stood, looked at her sister-in-law and said, “Let’s go to work.”

The rest of the day River and Kaylee spent climbing all over Serenity’s hull, checking the rivets and welds, making sure all was in top shape. They clipped lifelines where they could to keep themselves from falling down and used a metal ladder to inspect the VTOL engines. Kaylee grumbled that they could do a better job in a shipyard but there was no way they could go to the Eavesdown Docks, not with Badger and who knows who else knowing Simo