A Missing Scene

A/N: When I watch Objects in Space I always ask myself, “Why did Simon change his shirt before surgery? Why is Kaylee wearing different pants?” And, “If Kaylee is so hot for Simon, why is she playing jacks in the cargo bay and joking around with River instead of haunting the infirmary?” This is my attempt at an answer. It also fits in with where the characters were headed before Blue Sun Rising .

Early hit Simon hard, much harder than Mal ever had. As he fell back he curled slightly and the metal steps bit, one-by-one, into his hips and back until his head hit with a resounding thunk. The pain was excruciating. River’s voice drifted out over the com and he willed himself not to black out as he struggled to sit up, to go after the hudan, but it was too late. The airlock clanked shut behind the bounty hunter.

Running on anger and adrenaline, Simon staggered to his feet, unsure of what to do, what he could do now. Someone was pounding on something, and there was a muffled shouting audible over the ringing in his ears. He shook his head to clear it, but the ringing got worse. The pounding got louder, metal on metal now, and he could distinguish Wash’s voice. Wash and Zoë were trapped in their bunk. Simon limped toward their door and noticed the red light next to it was on. Kaylee had explained the system to him once after she threatened to lock Jayne in his bunk.

Simon called out, “What’s the code?”

Wash’s reply was muffled by the thick metal door, “Hit 09265 and the unlock key.”

He dragged himself to the keypad. His fingers left streaks of red on the buttons. There was a loud click, then a clang, and Wash and Zoë spilled out of their door. Zoë was at his side instantly, a good field medic assessing the damage. She was easing him back toward the floor when the airlock opened and boots appeared on the ladder. Simon started to shout to Wash to get out of the way, but he saw the suit. It was one of Serenity’s own. Its wearer reached up to help another, smalle