River bulled her way past Mal and Zoe, who both had their guns trained right 'twixt the strangers eyes. She went to Simon and knelt opposite Kaylee, who was stroking his hair lovingly.

River looked into Simons face, and he seemed to be in less pain then when he'd first been hit. She put her right hand on his side. He gasped when she pressed lightly down on the swollen flesh. Although she was worried, she allowed herself a small smile of relief. Nothing was life threatening here.

Kaylee seemed to remember that it was her father that Mal was ready to shoot. "Hey, thats my Pa', y'know!" That seemed to catch Mal off guard, as they had all been expecting someone less...huge. He looked quizacally at Kaylee, then River. River nodded, then went and stood before the man. She stared long and hard at his face before going back to Mal. Inara was standing next to him, she having fell behind in her heeled shoes.

River said to Mal, "He's okay."

Mal said, "Which one?" River laughed at that.

"Both of them."

Mal put up his gun, followed by Zoe, and then Jayne. "You better be right, lil' albatross." He turned to Kaylees dad, and said, "Now, I think that y've got a lil' storytellin' to do. I'm Malcolm Reynalds." He pointed at Zoe. "Thats Zoe Washburne, an' thats Jayne Cobb," pointing to Jayne. He motined to Inara. "Inara Serra." She bowed. "You know Kaylee, that one there is River, and the one you jus' punched out is Simon Tam."

"George Frye, at y'service. Follow me, think I owe y'all a beer an' a explanation." He trundeled off, through the door toward a house a few hundred yards away.

Mal turned to them all. "Okay, Kaylee an' River, help Simon back to Serenity. Rest of ya, come with me."

Simon spoke up. "No, no, I think that I oughta hear this."

And Kaylee said, "Its my family, here!"

Mal hung his head tiredly. "Fine, fine, lets all follow Mr. Frye tah wha'ever this is. I get the feelin' that Simon's offended some one again."

***

A few minut