Chap. 4 Part II-

Jayne was everywhere. Every time Simon turned around the big man appeared: he didn’t even have to hit the doctor- only stand his ground and Simon would knock himself over trying to move the immovable object that was Jayne. Watching it was like looking at waves pounding against a rocky shore.

Wham! Simon’s momentum bounced him off Jayne’s chest yet again and the big man retrieved the ball, passing it to Zoë who scored neatly. There was a groan of sympathy for the young doctor’s obvious pain and then a cheer for Zoë’s hoop from the deck where Inara and River watched the game.

Calling a hasty timeout, Kaylee hurried over to help Simon off the floor with one hand. The two joined Wash in a corner of the bay stacked high with crates. Wash handed an old water bottle to the doctor with a sympathetic wince when he met Simon’s eyes.

“That last one looked like it hurt.” She heard Wash tell the doctor.

Simon nodded a little wildly, “Aren’t there any fouls in this game?” He asked, sounding almost desperate.

“Well,” Kaylee told him, reluctantly, “it’s not like he’s hitting ya, exactly . . .”

“He’s just- there.” Wash finished for her, “And we’re losin’ nine to twelve. They only have to get three more hoops.” He glanced over at Mal, Zoë, and Jayne in their corner, already glowing a little with their impending victory. “I don’t suppose anybody’s got a notion as to how we might turn this thing around?”

“Get more hoops?” Kaylee suggested.

“Don’t play his game.” Advised a voice above them. Glancing up they saw Inara and River standing on the deck above them. Inara sat down with her usual grace to dangle her legs over their heads. Straightening her skirt with one hand, she gave them a small, mischievous smile. Beside her, River leaned over the railing and moved her head side to side, setting her hair to swaying as she looked down at them. “Your problem,” Inara told them, “is that you’re practically giving the ball to them every time you pass to Simon.”

“Thwack!” River agreed, sla