Kaylee opened her eyes and groaned. The light was so blindin’ ‘n’ Serenity’s engine was poundin’ in her ears. Her head ached ‘n’ her innards were rollin’ round like marbles. Yep she’d had too much to drink last night.

On the plus side at least she’d managed to make it to her bunk. Unsteadily she sat up; somehow she’d even got herself a pillow for her arm and a blanket too.

Wished she could remember more of last night. She remembered bein’ so mad with Jayne that she’d gone out intendin’ to find a willin’ man.

When she started dancin’ she’d found plenty who were willin’, willin’ and able. Swai too, a couple of ‘em. In former times she would already have left the bar and got her needs tended to. A little sexin’ up, a little fun and no thinkin’ to worry her.

But she’d been nervous of lettin’ ‘em too close, didn’t want ‘em touchin’ her, kept thinkin’ of Early. Kaylee had thought herself over that; she really wanted to be over that.

So she’d taken a couple more drinks and danced all the harder. She loved dancin’ ‘n’ knew men were attracted to her dancin’. Sure enough more of ‘em had joined in, she had her pick. And that’s where her ‘not-thinkin’-‘bout-Jayne’ plan fell down. ‘Cause none of them were him. None of them were as big, as ornery, as clueless, as muscle-bound, and as thick as the man she wanted.

Dancin’ wasn’t fun anymore, so she went ‘n’ joined Mal at the pool table instead. They made a good team her and the Captain. Fellas usually underestimated her pool playin’ skills and the Captain took advantage of that. They always made a little extra coin. ‘Course playin’ pool with the Captain usually meant drinkin’ more than they should so that was the last bit of the night she remembered with any clarity.

The long shower she had still didn’t clear her fuzzy brain and she certainly didn’t feel like breakfast this mornin’. Even sittin’ at the table would make her sick. She’d just go up and check on the engine, maybe her memory would come back then.

When she arrived at the engine room, Kayle