Disclaim, disclaim, disclaim, all kneel before Joss' glory that is Firefly.

A/N:So I gave up on the whole holding out for a longer chapter. I'm just way too eager to share it with you guys. I know what's going to happen and I'm killing myself with the suspense, so I thought I'd torture you guys too. *Smile* Love me...

Chapter 3

Simon’s face was confused and alarmed. “Kaylee? River, why is Kaylee scared?”

River was looking off into space, not being able to keep her eyes on one thing for long. “Doesn’t taste good …got the wrong one and doesn’t even know it…and now it’s ripped…” River looked into Simon’s eyes. “…she’s sad.”

Simon’s mind raced and did all manner of flip flops in the small span of mere seconds. He was aware that his sister sometimes knew things that she couldn’t, but even the idea of Kaylee hurt…well. That hit him in the scary place.

Simon gathered himself together and shook her shoulders lightly, “River. Mei mei, you have to tell me where she is. Where is Kaylee.”

“Cold and dark…cold and dark…can’t see from all the blood.”

Simon’s heart sunk into the pit of his stomach. He quickly moved River off of the infirmary bed and guided her to the bridge, where Wash and Zoe were talking. At Simon’s face they both stopped and stood.

“I think Kaylee might be in trouble.”

Wash grabbed the com and clicked it on. “Captain.”

*********

Mal nodded at the salesman and walked over to Inara and Book. “He said he saw a girl in here bout an hour back, matched my description, but she was only in the store for about five minutes.” His voice held that serious tone that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention.

“Did he happen to see which way she went?” This came from Book, who even when worried held that no nonsense tone.

Inara’s eyes were wide with fear, but she tried to verbalize her self-consolation. “Maybe she’s back on the ship.”

Just then Mal heard his com click on and Wash’s voice say, “Captain.”

“Yeah, Wash.” Mal clenched his jaw tightly.

Wa