I was watching one of my all-time favourite westerns, Rio Bravo, when the plot bunnies attacked.

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Kaylee was supposed to be with Simon and River shoppin’, but when she’d paused to look at some pretties she’d lost them. Simon had probably chased after River and not given Kaylee a second thought. That made her mad and made her see reason.

She had been chasin’ a dream, somethin’ not real. That Simon could just leave her in the middle of the street and not even come back, showed he wasn’t that concerned with her. So she weren’t goin’ to be concerned with him no more.

So here she was wanderin’ along on her way back to Serenity when she spotted Jayne.

What was he doin’ in this part of town? He was supposed to be goin’ whorin’, not enterin’ a picture house. Maybe she’d just follow him and see what he was up to.

The picture house was an old one, paint fadin’, walls crumblin’. All the posters on the outside walls advertised cowboy movies from Earth-that-was.

Seein’ the picture house and the posters bought back a host of happy memories. Her Pa had loved the ‘shoot-em-ups’ as he called them. Whenever one was showin’, which weren’t that often given where they lived, he’d be there lined up, buyin’ a ticket. He always bought her a ticket too, sayin’ she was his movie watchin’ buddy. Kaylee had loved doin’ things with her Pa.

She stepped into the foyer blinkin’ her eyes to adjust to the light and was aware of eyes starin’ at her. There were three or four men standin’ there and one of ‘em was Jayne.

“Kaylee” he cast a swift glance behind her. “What are ya doin’ here? Ain’t ya supposed to be shoppin’ with the Doc?”

“That sorta fell through.” Kaylee looked at the floor avoidin’ Jayne’s amused eyes. He probably guessed she’d followed him in here, “thought I might watch a movie.”

“Well ya’d best sit with me then” Jayne glared at the other men in the room “these guys ain’t safe to be around.”

Kaylee smiled at them all when they made protestin’ noises