Disclaimer: all things Firefly/Serenity are the property of Whedon et al. Not making any money off this, just playing with the toys.

*****

With the loss of the ship’s engine, the howling wind was causing quite a racket. Mal staggered down the steps into the fore corridor on his way to the engine room. Cutting through the kitchen, he was relieved to see Zoe in the lounge chair, strapped in good. She nodded to him to continue on. Looking down the corridor to the engine room, he could see, even with the dim emergency lighting, that it was a mess.

“Kaylee?” he called. “Talk to me, mei-mei.”

His mechanic lurched over some fallen material, her hand to her head. Blood trickled from a cut on her forehead. She eyed Mal. “I’m okay, Cap’n, but Serenity...” Mal could see her face screwing up into pain. “She’s not too good.”

Mal wrapped a comforting arm across her shoulders. “Don’t you pay no never mind to that right now. Go get yourself to the Doc to get that head looked at, dong ma?”

She nodded weakly and glanced back at the engine room. It was a complete shambles. Acrid smoke and sparks gave it a spooky glow. Tools and small parts were strewn across the floor. At least the engine looked to be intact. Mayhap be only a power line was cut or another catalyzer was needed to get it turning over again.

The pair took shakey steps down to the infirmary level, and Kaylee gasped at Simon lying on the medbed with River doing a sort of examination. The younger woman eyed them and waved them in. Kaylee stepped over the tossed medical supplies and equipment to take Simon’s hand.

“He alright?” Mal asked from the doorway.

River nodded. “Whiplash. Sleeping now.” She smiled at her friend. “Wanted to find you, but you were playing with the engine.”

The mechanic stroked Simon’s cheek and smiled at his disarrayed hair. She felt River’s finger nimbly touch her forehead. She pulled back. “Ain’t nothin’.” Her eyes went a little crossed and she wobbled on unsteady legs.

“Oh no, Kayl