Capacity Chapter 13

Joly

Rated PG

Archive? Yes, ask first.

Summary: Quiet time before the storm.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from the Whedon-verse. Just the originals. So, please don't sue.

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It was quiet onboard Serenity.

Harken and 3 of his men were camped out in the hold, staying out of the crew's way.

Everyone else was in their own space, contemplating, or trying not to.

Kaylee stayed in the engine room, eschewing even Simon's company.

She let River in, though. Not that there was much choice in that. The girl just appeared, with out a word. She laid a hand on Kaylee's face and set herself down in the midst of the room.

Kaylee laid in her hammock,eyes open, glazed over. River stretched out on the floor next to the engine, feeling Serenity's heartbeat calm her own.

Zoe joined Wash on the bridge, curled on his lap, arms wrapped around each other. Occasionally Zoe would whisper something and her breath would hitch. Wash's hands would go to her hair, fingers entwined therein, whispering back. Then a hand to her abdomen, feeling the small swell. Her hand joined his, making slow circles, murmuring to their unborn child.

Simon, once he had Xiaofan settled, and realized Kaylee needed 'alone time', set himself to reorganizing the infirmary. He tried to lose himself in the task; cataloging items, making lists for supplies, trying to make the small room more orderly and efficient. He tried not to think about his friend and her delirium tremens not far away. He could sedate her, but it would just put more drugs in her system, defeating the purpose of the pain and the sickness she was currently going through. Simon tried not to think.

Mal sat on his bunk, trying to remember the faces of the men from Barton's camp. He tried to soothe his conscience with the fact that they had drawn first. That was then negated by the fact that it was exactly what he would have done. Inside Mal was grief that caught in his throat and clutched his heart, though his face was