If he thinks about it good and hard he can piece together the bits that make sense. The creeping steps of a tracker hunting it’s prey. The long narrow corridor that he follows her lingering smell through. The giggling whispered voices that help him to formulate his plan. He remembers everything about the conversation that may prove to twist his world up somethin’ awful. The conversation that he wasn’t even a part of.

The day itself had started near enough to normal to not warrant any special note. After this mornings daily routine of working himself to exhaustion, Shepherd Book looking on in something akin to awe, he went in search of two things. Food and lil Kaylee. He figured that with a full belly and the adrenaline that was now working its way through him he might be able to finagle a reason to follow her around, helpin’ with odd jobs and such. If he was in luck she might even give him one of her glowy-girl smiles. So with the rumble sufficiently satisfied he went in search of his other hunger. One which, despite no lack of trying of his part, might not be as easy to sate. He looked prit near everywhere there was to be on such a small boat and he had to admit that after half an hour of looking he was seriously starting to question his career choice.

Hell, his senses told him she was everywhere on this ship. He could see her everywhere. Her warmth was in the foundations. She however was nowhere to be found. So he sucked a deep breath and headed to the one place he hadn’t looked. Near one of the only places he weren’t allowed. He steeled himself against the bombardment of memories and headed towards Inara’s shuttle.

The voices he heard told him that it was strictly girl talk and despite the name, a girl Jayne was not. He sighed and relegated himself back to manual labour and everyday chores. Seein as the next job weren’t until next week and they was still sitting plumb from the last one. Everyone itching to spend their take just as soon as they hit planetside. But that was a good twelve hours from now and Jayne had learned that time moved slow when you wasn’t movin.

He was good and ready to walk away from the girly talk and go back to minding his business. But his feet became planted when he heard Inara’s soft whisper of concern.

“ What’s wrong, mei mei?”

“ It’s nothin to fret over ‘Nara. Just confused something awful.”

“ You know one of the first things they teach us at the Training house is how to solve a problem.”

“ It’s that he’s been giving me all kinds of mixed signals. He’s hot. He’s cold. One minute I think he wants me the next he’s insulting me. I can’t tell what he wants and they say women are the mystery. Well I’ll tell ya somethin’ we ain’t got nothing on him.”

“ Have you tried talking to him about it?”

“In round ‘bout ways I guess. Things have just been so good between us since we left Canton. He’s been more affectionate. He’s always finding reason to be around. Things have been progressing as quick as these things can I guess.”

“ Well I suppose that drinking together would engender comradery.”

“ Well I guess that true. I’m just not ready to go back to the way it was. I got used to it not being so vulgar all the time.”

“ What are you saying? Simon hardly seems the type to be vulgar to anyone. Especially a lady.”

“Who said anything about Simon?”

“Well we are talking about him aren’t we. You taken quite a shine to him ever since he first came on board.”

“Please ‘Nara I gave up on him the minute he called my girl luh-suh. I don’t care how pretty and fancible you are. No one insults Serenity.”

“ So you’re over Simon?”

“Don’t know who I was kidding in the first place. I weren’t never even in the same class as him.”

“ So who has you so flummoxed then?”

“Well ‘Nara who do you think?”

“ Kaylee I extend a word of warning to you. Malcolm Reynolds is not the kind of man you want to get yourself tied up in knots for.”

“Ai ya. The Cap’n ain’t even close to who’s got me all tied. Jayne Cobb’s doin a fine job of that on his own.”

“J..jj..jj anye Cobb.”

“Yes Jayne. Why not? I happen to think that we’d be right good together.”

“ Mei-mei if you really feel something for him, why haven’t you said anything?”

“‘Cause he keeps playing me like I’m untouchable.”

“ That likely because he thinks you are. Up until this minute I was sure you were still yeaning for Simon.”

“ Never even thought of that. Oh ‘Nara, what am I gonna do?”

“ Well nothing can be done today. Besides shouldn’t you be fielding birthday wishes from back home by now.”

Jayne heard the surprised gasp.

“What did you think I would have forgotten? After all the work you go through every year to make sure everyone gets a cake when their day rolls around.”

“Everyone should have a cake on their birthday. It’s the rules.”

“You never do.”

“ Mine falls in the busy season as far as heisting goes. It’s okay that no one remembers. I even forget sometimes.”

“Oh Kaylee.”

Jayne listens to the ruffle of bedding moving and knows that Inara has resorted to the one thing that will make Kaylee laugh no matter what. If he had heard right Kaylee was getting the tickling of a lifetime.

Meanwhile he was walking toward the closest cortex. He had a plan and at the very least Kaylee-girl was gonna get a cake.

If anyone on this boat deserved one it was her.

Ai ya: Damn. Luh-suh: Shitty. Mei-mei: Sister

AN: This is my first Firefly fic so it meant a lot that you guess gave your opinions. I have a few unfinished Queer as Folk fics and a OC slash one as well. So I guess you could say this is my first time writing het. If you like or if you hate please let me know. If you like it there will more. If not then I’ll leave ya’ll alone.