Chap. Next-

Kaylee stepped between them and reached out to lay her hand flat against Jayne’s chest. The familiarity of that touch and Jayne’s antagonistic tone was more than Simon could bear suddenly. “No,” He said in an icy disdainful voice, “no problem.” And turned to go.

Kaylee looked as though she had been struck. “Simon, wait-” She reached out towards his retreating back.

A loud snort from Jayne, “Aw, let ‘em go, Kaylee. He’s naught but a spoiled, pansy-assed fool, anyways.” He didn’t bother to keep his voice down and Simon stiffened and paused in his retreat. In the same instant, Kaylee rounded on Jayne.

“Why do you always have to pick at him so?” She demanded, “What did he ever do to you?” Her face was pale and her jaw set. She stepped closer. She was angry at Jayne now, when just a few moments before she had been touching him. Simon turned around too and was watching. Trapped by Kaylee’s fury and the docs watching eyes, Jayne felt a moment of panic and something near to despair. It was all the docs fault, Jayne thought. Coming around, always in the way, never giving the two of them a moment alone. Simon all stiff and shiny who couldn’t make her happy even if he cared to try. Kaylee’s question rang in his head, ‘what did he ever do to you?’. Simon’s curious eyes. It all seemed familiar. ‘What did I ever do to you? –‘Civilized conversation.’ – ‘Stiff shiny ways.” – “Who don’t I deserve?’

Something wasn’t right.

Jayne’s eyes fell to Simon’s pale face.

It all clicked.

“You!” he roared. The doc’s eyes went wide with fear- and recognition. Then he ran.

Mal was crossing the common area when he saw his doctor, chased by his muscle, followed lastly by his mechanic come tearing through from the cargo bay. Kaylee was shouting something after the two men but Jayne and Simon both seemed to be conserving their breath for the running. The captain watched the chase blankly for a second. The doc was fast, Mal’d give him that but Jayne was determined and it wasn’t like there was anywhere th