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Author's Note: The following snippet was written for fic challenge #13.

Hide-and-Seek
by Tara LJC O'Shea

"...87...86...85..." River counted loudly, her hands pressed over her eyes from the centre of the cargo bay.

"River," Simon sighed dramatically. "I told you, I have work to do—"

"...78...77...76..."

"This is juvenile—"

"Kaylee's already hiding," she said, hands still over her eyes. "—55...54...53..."

"That's not fair! You're skipping ahead!"

"...37...36... You'd better hurry, Simon. 22...21..."

"That's cheating!" he called after her as he ran through the passenger dorm, scanning the area for a suitable hiding place.

"...14...13...12..." came River's sing-song voice as Simon ducked under the metal stairs leading up to the next level and tugged open the storage closet door.

"Hey!" Kaylee whispered as Simon wedged himself between her and the wall. "Find your own hiding place!"

"There aren't any other good ones—" he began, and she put a hand over his mouth.

"Shhhh! She'll find us!" she whispered, trying to peer through the crack between the door and the bulkhead. His eyes were starting to adjust to the dimness and he could make out the curve of her cheek in the gloom.

"Of course she'll find us," Simon whispered back against her fingers. "My sister is a genius who reads minds."

She started to giggle and buried her face in his shoulder to muffle the sound. Her s