Disclaimers: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own all characters. I make no profit, but feedback is a wonderful form of payment.

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Simon watched Kaylee work from the engine room doorway. He had been standing there for a few minutes, just observing her. She wasn't humming like she normally did, and he knew that it wasn't because she was intensely absorbed in her work. She hadn't been her cheerful, bubbly self for the past week. Not since Jubal Early paid the crew a visit that one night. His hand gently massaged his leg where Early had shot him on that visit.

"Are you just gonna stand there all day?" Kaylee inquired. She knew the doctor was watching her. She had seen his shadow in the doorway when he first arrived but had continued to work, waiting to see if he would speak first.

Even though the engine purred loudly, Simon was surprised when Kaylee broke the silence around them. He stammered for a moment, which had become his norm around her, before he answered, "Maybe." He tried to sound jovial and was rewarded with a flicker of a smile. "I'm just out on my daily walk."

"How's the leg comin'?" she sympathetically asked, grabbing a rag and wiping some of the oil and dirt streaks from her hands and face.

"It's healing nicely. Zoë did a wonderful job removing that bullet." He stepped into the room, watching her smear a grease smudge on her cheek. "Here. Let me," he offered, removing the rag from her hand. He dabbed at the spot but noticed the black circles under her eyes. Creasing his eyebrow, he asked, "How are you doing?"

"Jus' dandy," Kaylee lied, trying to sound chipper. She closed her eyes as he gently rubbed her cheek, but the memory of Early, appearing in front of her that one night, suddenly flashed through her mind. She stepped away quickly, pressing her back against a support beam.

Simon watched her carefully, his heart breaking as he saw fear creep into her warm and trusting eyes. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I ain't tol' no one," Kaylee muttered.