“Now I only have one ground rule, never take off your pants unless I tell you to!” Simon’s face contorted into a soundless laugh as he delivered the punch line, Jayne slapped his cup down on the table after spitting out his drink.

“That just ain’t right Doc, you mean you gotta see everythin’?!” Simon nodded, swallowing hard to down a lump of protein.

“It was so embarrassing, I didn’t know whether I should be the one to tell the guy that I didn’t need to examine it or whether the nurse who was standing next to me at the time,” Jayne thumped his cup a second time and threw back his head, his laughter echoing down the corridor, “was going to start giggling!”

“Anyone care to let the ol’ Captain in on the joke?” Simon turned as Mal entered the living area; he was looking refreshed this morning and had a smile on his face on entering. Mal nodded at Darcie who was sitting withdrawn from the group, haunting the corner of the living area staring at Simon and Jayne at the table. He raised an eyebrow but continued about making himself some breakfast, or what passed for it on this ship.

“Anyone seen Kaylee this fine mornin’?”

“Present Cap’n!” Kaylee snapped a playful salute, strolling in with a broad smile on her face. “Serenity’s humming again Cap’n, all ship shape!” She sat down with a flourish, wiping her hands on her pants as she grinned at Simon. He smiled back, dropping his fork from his mouth, his gaze holding hers. She seemed transformed, as if the husk of the frightened, quieter Kaylee of recent weeks had crumbled away to reveal the old Kaylee beneath. He felt something stir from within, the feeling of butterflies he’d gotten so often in the past rose again and filled him with hope, hope for the two of them. For a moment however, the feeling vanished as his gaze momentarily faltered and met that of Darcie’s. A fear gripped him, something cold and sickening, and he dropped his fork.

“Simon?”

He looked at Kaylee again; noticing for the first time the engine grease speckled on her face, and pr