Cargo Bay, Serenity

The force of Jaine’s flying tackle threw both her and Simon backwards onto the floor plating with a resounding thud. Wash stood, transfixed, as she landed blow after blow on the doctor’s body. His brain suddenly kicked into gear as he watched the struggle. Jaine was hurting Simon, the only trained medic onboard. He darted forward and made a grab for her. When he failed, Zoë joined the fray. She managed to wrap her hands around her left bicep and began to drag her off the doctor. Wash crouched by the other man.

“So, I take it you know each other then?” he said, checking the doc’s injuries.

“Know each other? The gorram qiangbao houzi de ta ma de tried to kill me!” Jaine exploded.

Mal stepped between the pair. “ Yiqi shen luxi , you tried to kill her?” he said, incredulously. Wash was having trouble believing it himself.

To his credit, Simon managed to look indignant as he could while lying on the floor with a split lip. “ She tried to kill me !”

Jaine roared again and lunged for him, but Zoë held fast. Had to admire her for that, after all, Jaine was just one big ball of fire-spittin’ fury.

Wash was puzzled as hell by this last revelation and, like the captain, just wanted to know what was going on.

“I’ll take it a kindness if you,” he looked at Jaine, “would refrain from killin’ my crew and if someone would explain just what the hell is goin’ on here!”

~x~

River sat on the catwalk above the group. Watching from above. Flying. Watching Jaine. River knew she would be here and she knew they would come. She could help. She would help them and they would help her. But it wouldn’t be easy. Nothing ever was.

She sighed.

Kaylee would be home soon, bringing her smile with her. Bringing the sunshine back. Simon likes Kaylee. Kaylee likes Simon. But he’s such a boob. She told him so. Kaylee. The engine talks to her. It talks to River, too. She’ll make Simon happy. They’ll all be happy. One day. If only they'd all just grow up and tell each other...