“I... I thought the hospital was home. I was really making a difference there...and embarrassingly large stacks of money, and... I could've... I would be there right now if she hadn't... If-if they had just left her alone.”

Kaylee stared down at the handsome young man asleep on the infirmary bed and brushed the hair back from his pale face, her fingers gentle. He’d been so brave last night, the way he’d stood up to Jubal Early. He'd kept his cool, found the courage to confront him, suffered a bullet in the leg as a result. But even that hadn't stopped him. He had been desperate. Desperate to save River.

She frowned, remembering how she had prompted him to say something positive about her. About them.

“I - I don’t even know if the captain would let us-”

He had almost touched her then. Almost kissed her. Would have, if the Shepherd hadn't come walking by right then. She had wanted it so bad, wanted to feel that mouth on hers, feel his hands on her. Had made no secret of wanting it ever since she saw him that first day, so handsome and aloof, looking like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. She sighed a little wistfully, for the way she had felt. Simon was a good man. Smart. Funny. Shy. Devoted. Just … she’d been fooling herself. He wasn’t ever gonna be her man. She knew that now. She leaned down and brushed her mouth against his, just so she’d know what his lips felt like. So she wouldn’t ever be tempted to wonder. Soft, a little dry. He didn’t stir, and she was glad.

Strong arms reached around her waist, pulled her back against a heavily muscled frame.

“You ‘bout done here?” Jayne growled in her ear. She leaned back, resting her head on his shoulder, turning her face up to him. Saw the possessiveness in his eyes, the hunger, and felt a delicious thrill of anticipation run up her spine.

Jayne. When he’d heard what had happened, the details, what Early had threatened to do to her, it was Jayne who had shadowed her all day. Watching. Waiting. Somehow just knowing.