Chapter 6

For the next hour Serenity was a bustle of activity as they prepared to leave Beylix. Their next stop would be in Persephone to pick up parts and supplies for the operation. As soon as she was no longer needed in the engine room, Kaylee hurried to Simon's side, where she remained silently until the crew gathered for their evening meal. Seeing the two this close normally made Mal irrationally angry, but the fear in Kaylee's eyes broke Mal's heart. He decided to let them be without complaint as she anxiously held on to Simon's arm as if he would be lost to her forever the moment she let go. It wasn't until Kaylee broke the silence at the dinner table, that Mal realized the entire crew had likely said nary a word in the past six hours.

"Ya know Simon, it's okay to be scared," Kaylee said nervously, "I am."

"Good." Simon said absently before he seemed to realize how that sounded. His eyes suddenly went wide in panic as he began to stumble over his words in his usual manner around Kaylee. "I-I mean no! Not good for-I mean unless-It's okay to-"

Some things will never change Mal thought with a small smile.

Kaylee giggled, squeezed Simon's hand and soothed, "Shhhh. Take a deep breath… good… Now try again."

Simon regulated his breathing, placed an arm around her shoulders. He pulled her close and resumed speaking, "It's… it's good that it's okay to be scared because I…I'm terrified."

Kaylee buried her face into Simon's chest and began crying. She said between muffled sobs, "I finally got ya to notice me and-and… I'm just so afraid I'm gonna lose you."

Kaylee's tears tugged at Mal's heart strings and he tried his best to assure her, "Don't worry lil' Kaylee, Inara's goin' with him and we'll all be standin' by. 'Sides, you think I'm gonna throw away the only doctor in the 'verse that'll work on my boat for the peanuts I'm payin' him?"

Kaylee stifled her sobbing and said, "You're right, Cap'n, we'll just have to make sure everything works right and they'll both be just fine."

Jayne sai