All characters, settings and everything else about this lovely little 'verse is the property of Joss Whedon and Fox. I'm just having my way with it while their backs are turned.

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Simon walked out of the engine room and immediately leaned back against the wall, holding his face in his hands. Thoughts and emotions were racing through his mind, wondering if he had truly done the right thing. All he for sure knew, though, is that he could not remember a time where he had been angrier at his sister. He didn’t get much time alone as just then, Mal rounded the corner and walked up hard on Simon. Simon could see that Mal had cold fire blazing in his eyes and groaned a bit to himself, in anticipation of the verbal lashing he knew was forthcoming.

“Well doctor,” Mal said with a bitter sternness to his voice, “would you care to explain to me why I just had my lovely engineer run past me, bawling her eyes out?”

Simon stood up fully and looked right into Mal’s eyes.

“I imagine someone as intelligent as you, Cap’n, knows exactly why Kaylee was crying. So if you want to hit me, feel free. I’m not going to resist.”

“I’m not going to hit you, boy. Not yet, anyway. First, I’d just like an explanation as to what exactly is going through that piece of gou shi brain of yours.”

Simon flashed a look at Mal for the insult about his brain, but took a deep breath and just shook his head.

“I don’t know Cap’n. It just seemed like the best thing to do.”

“Really? So you walking out on Kaylee was the best thing. I’d like to hear exactly what your logic is behind that, doctor. Because on my boat, anything that causes grief and tension between crew members is not the best thing.”

“What other choice did I have?”

“How about one where you suck it up and be a man about it? You know my stance on the crew fraternizing with each other like you and Kaylee have been. So if you want to blatantly disregard my wishes and start seeing a member of my crew, especially someone as sweet as Kaylee, you’d better make sure