Kaylee’s thoughts were runnin’ round her head like an out of control engine.

Early had scared her, scared her so much that for the first time in her life she wasn’t interested in sex. Him attackin’ her in the engine room had made her nervous bein’ there, her work on Serenity was sufferin’. She felt so bad ‘bout that.

Today she was determined to go to the engine room and conquer her fear. Serenity needed her. Absently she picked up the box of parts she knew neither the Captain nor Jayne would let her carry.

Simon hadn’t been talkin’ much with her since she’d told everyone ‘bout River. Their more off than on relationship seemed to be finished. But now Simon, with his incredible bad timin’, had picked this mornin’ to start flirtin’ with her again.

Why now? She had waited so long for the doctor to notice her, think it appropriate to be with her. And when he hadn’t, she had started to move on. Gradually in the back of her mind she’d started thinkin’ on Jayne, getting’ him interested in her.

She weren’t sure what to do ‘bout anythin’. What she really wanted to do was talk over her problems with Inara.

But ‘Nara was gone. She’d left and weren’t goin’ to come back. It had taken Kaylee a while to realise that. In the few weeks that Inara had been gone, they’d spoken twice on waves and it was clear that her friend never expected to return.

Captain was moody as hell since ‘Nara left. Shepherd had gone off visitin’ some Abbey, just seemed like everythin’ was changin’ too fast.

Her arms full of box and her head full of jumbled thoughts Kaylee’s foot got caught on the metal edge of the step and she took a tumble down the steps ending up flat on her back in the cargo bay.

***********************

“How is she Doc?” asked the captain.

Coming running at the sound of Wash’s voice, the sight of Kaylee lying unmoving in the cargo bay surrounded by engine parts had scared the hell out of him. The mechanic was vital to the runnin’ of the ship and special to them all.

“Although she hit her head, Kayl