Title: Coming Together (5 of 10) Rating: pg-13 to be safe Fandom: Firefly Pairing: Jayne/Kaylee, so Mal/Inara Word Count: 2475 Summary: BDHs and a big damn misunderstanding Warning: Sequel to story 'Pulled Apart'. Characters and places do not belong to me.

Authors note: Thanks to squish_67 for betaing. She rocks so, so much. If you want to read Pulled Apart or the previous chapters in this story, check out my journal, they're all there.

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41. Stain

Jayne stood in the doorway of the engine room and watched Kaylee sleep. She must have been up all night working out the kinks of Serenity’s engine. She must have been so exhausted she hadn’t even tried to make it back to her bunk. Jayne slowly approached her, not wanting to wake her. He stood close to her, his fingers grabbing the hem of her shirt and pulling it up a little.

Her wound was healing alright, though she kept putting strain on it, making the healing process in general go that much slower. Jayne’s fingers trailed across the stitches on her side, then he slowly pulled her shirt back down. Leaning down, Jayne lifted Kaylee into his arms. She stirred some, her eyes opening to look up at him. He shushed her before she could say anything. Jayne started out the door towards the guest quarters but Kaylee spoke up.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" she asked sleepily. Jayne paused, then nodded. He changed directions and headed for his own bunk. He set her down when he got there, steadying her sleepy form with one arm while he opened the hatch with the other. Jayne helped her down then climbed down himself, closing the door behind him.

Jayne helped Kaylee to his bed, laying her down. Her eyes shut immediately as Jayne took a seat on the bed next to her. He stared at her for a long moment. Didn’t think he’d get her out of his brain or his heart anytime soon. She was like a stain, permanently part of him no matter how much scrubbing he’d do. Only Jayne didn’t want to scrub Kaylee out of his life.

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42. Bound

Inara’s mind was working as quickly as she could make it. The man had approached her, gun pointed at her head, and tied her hands up. She didn’t cry or say anything, just tried to assess the situation. Anya knew she was out here, someone would come looking for her. "People will know I’m gone. If it’s a randsom you’re after, I can pay you whatever it is you want."

"I don’t want your money," the man replied gruffly.

"Then what do you want?" Inara asked, her fingers tingling from the lack of blood flow the rope around her wrists was creating.

"I want an eye for an eye," the man said angrily.

"What are you talking about?" Inara asked, exasperated.

"Your sister killed my brother and I intend to let her watch you die," the man said.

"My sister?" Inara asked, confused.

"The name ‘Kaylee’ ring any bells?" the man asked.

"Kaylee? Kaylee wouldn’t kill anyone!" Inara exclaimed.

"Shot my brother dead. Now you’re coming with me and we’re gonna wait for that rescue party of yours to come. And when they get here, they get to watch me put a bullet in your brain," the man said.

"What’s your name?" Inara asked, eyeing him nervously.

"Mark." The man grabbed her roughly, looked around, and pulled her back off in the direction he had come.

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43. Strain

Mal swallowed, trying to keep his anger in check. He wanted to scream or yell in frustration, but the way Kaylee was looking at him, like he had the answers to the universe, he knew he had to keep his emotions in check. "Kaylee, listen to me. I need you to stop crying."

"But he’s got ‘Nara!" she exclaimed. Mal turned and looked at the screen again. He knew he couldn’t play the wave over again. Watching the hundan holding Inara with a gun pointed at her head, it made Mal sick to his stomach. He played the message over in his head again, feeling his heart ache.

"I know, Kaylee. I need you to calm down though," Mal said, placing a hand on her shoulders. "You’re getting yourself worked up over this and there ain’t nothing that cryin’ can do t’save Inara."

"It’s cause of me, Cap’n. ‘Cause o’me, ‘cause o’what I did!" Kaylee sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand.

"What’s all the ruckus in here?" Jayne asked, poking his head in, seeing the captain trying to calm a hysterical Kaylee down. "Kaylee."

Mal gave Jayne a relieved look and gently turned Kaylee towards Jayne. The girl practically jumped into the mercenary’s arms. Jayne gave Mal an inquisitive look and Mal just shook his head and mouthed, ‘later.’ Jayne nodded and lead Kaylee out of the room leaving Mal to his thoughts. Mal wanted to throw something across the room, but instead he sat down and tried to think of his next move.

"I’m comin’ for you, ‘Nara," he whispered to himself.

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44. Hard

Inara tugged at her restraints, but they didn’t have any give. She looked around the cement room and tried for the life of her to think of some way out of this. She’d been sitting for days, Mark only bringing her some water and a bowl of protein so she wouldn’t die before Mal and the others got there. The ground was hard and coarse against her body, but Inara was harder. She had to be. She didn’t cry or worry about dying. She had to worry about living, about how she was going to get out of this mess. Whatever it was that did or didn’t happen to this man’s brother, Inara didn’t care.

The door opened and she could see Mark’s silhouette stepping through the door. She held her breath and watched him as he entered. He hadn’t hurt her other than being a little rough when he pushed her in here, still, she couldn’t be sure. He approached her and took her arm, hoisting her to her feet. "It’s show time," he growled in her ear. Inara suddenly didn’t feel so hard inside.

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45. Cold

Kaylee shivered and pulled her blanket around herself tighter. She looked up at Jayne and took a deep breath. "We there?" she asked. He nodded, wishing there was more he could say.

"You remember what I told you ‘bout Ella, right?" he asked, handing her the small hand gun. Kaylee took it nervously, but nodded.

"Me and Vera will be ‘round, makin’ sure nothin’ will happen t’you. Mal and Zoe too. You just do like the Cap’n told ya and everything will be alright, dong ma?" Jayne said. When she only nodded again, he pulled her chin in his hand and pressed his lips to hers softly. "I ain’t gonna let nothin’ happen t’you."

"I know," Kaylee said, shivering again.

"You cold?"

"I’m scared," she whispered.

"You’re gonna be fine," Jayne said, pressing his forehead to hers.

"I’m scared for ‘Nara."

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46. Soft

Mark paced back and forth in front on the companion. For as hard as she tried to be, he could see just how nervous she was. Woman didn’t want to die, but worse than that, she had to be all proud and dignified like he was the one doing wrong. It was an eye for an eye, that was how the world balanced it out.

"Where are they?" he growled. Mark figured he might not make it out of this alive, but he had to right what was wronged, had to avenge Jed. Mark cast a glance at Inara and felt his resolve soften some. The woman hadn’t done anything. His anger over Jed’s death had fueled him thus far, if he had to wait any longer Mark feared he might go soft. He could just imagine what Jed would have said about that. Mark was a liar and a thief, but he wasn’t a murderer. Not yet anyway.

Footsteps approached and Mark looked up to see Kaylee approaching. She looked scared. Mark still couldn’t believe a little thing like her had been what done his brother in. Her voice was quiet when she spoke up, her arms crossed nervously over her chest.

"I’m sorry ‘bout killin’ your brother," she said. That threw Mark, he hadn’t been expecting an apology. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words didn’t form. He noticed the way the companion and Kaylee looked at each other. Even if they weren’t blood, there was no denying they were family. "Please let her go."

"Can’t do that, little girl. An eye for an eye," Mark said, though he was a little unsure himself. His anger was wavering.

"What happened to your brother….I never wanted t’kill him. I was scared, he had everyone tied up and he jumped at me. I’m sorry he got killed, but it weren’t like he was an innocent bystander." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince him.

"He was sparin’ your lives and you killed him. I shoulda just let him kill you all, least then I’d have a brother. It ain’t fair Jed’s gone and someone’s gotta pay." Mark cocked the gun and pointed it at Inara. The woman involuntarily shivered as the weapon was pressed into her temple.

"Please," Kaylee begged. "Don’t kill her. Take me instead." Kaylee raised her arms up to show she wasn’t hiding any weapons. There was a long pause, then Mark finally nodded.

"Alright…you come on over here and I’ll let her go." Kaylee took slow cautious steps towards him. When she was within arms reached, Mark pushed Inara away from him and grabbed Kaylee’s arm. Before he could so much as pull her towards him, he felt a shot rip through his chest. They must have been waiting for Inara to move away from him so he didn’t have any cover.

Mark held tightly to Kaylee’s arm, pulling her to the ground as he fell himself. She screeched trying to pull out of his grip. Mark had his knife out in a flash. The wound in his chest felt like it was on fire. He wouldn’t last much longer but maybe he had enough time to avenge Jed. He brought the knife back, ready to drive it into her stomach when four more shots hit him square in the torso. He let out one last breath and blinked twice.

Mark’s last thought was that if he hadn’t lost his resolve, hadn’t been soft like Jed always said he was, he might have made it through this.

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47. Feathers

Kaylee scrambled out of Mark’s grip as fast as she could. That wasn’t what was supposed to happen. She was breathing heavy and trying to get her head together. The mechanic felt arms wrap around her and was surprised to find it was Inara hugging her. It only took a moment of hesitation before Kaylee was squeezing her back with all her might.

Two hands suddenly pryed the two apart and Kaylee looked up to see Jayne standing there. He looked her over quickly, then at Inara. "Got blood on you, Kaylee," he swallowed thickly.

"Ain’t mine," she replied. He nodded, taking her word. More footsteps approached and Kaylee could see Mal and Zoe approaching. Inara kissed Kaylee’s cheek and nearly broke into a run towards Mal. Companions don’t run, Kaylee thought. Inara nearly leapt into Mal’s arms, her mouth firmly pressing against the captain’s.

When she pulled back, Inara whispered just barely loud enough to Kaylee to hear. "We need to talk."

"Come on girl," Jayne said. Kaylee’s knees gave out for a moment and Jayne reached down, picking her up before she could stop him.

"Jayne, I can walk," she protested.

"That’s why you nearly fell?" he asked.

"I can walk, ‘sides, you’ll get tired carrying me all the way back."

"You don’t weight hardly more than a bag o’feathers," he brushed her off as the group headed back for Serenity. Kaylee gave in and rested her head on his shoulder, letting out a deep sigh.

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48. Fly

"Kaylee!" Mal yelled. He rounded the corner to see sparks flying in his engine room and his mechanic running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

"Don’t worry, Cap’n, I got it under control," Kaylee said. He could see she was nervous. After the crash she seemed to have been doubting her capabilities. Mal knew she needed some reassuring. He stepped into the hazardous engine room and stopped Kaylee for a moment. She looked at him confused, not sure why she wasn’t working anymore.

"You’re doin’ fine, Kaylee, dong ma? That crash weren’t your fault. Just wanna make sure you know that," he told her firmly. She didn’t say anything, just nodded and Mal turned to leave. "Just keep my girl flying!" he called as he left.

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49. High

Jayne headed out of the galley shuddering a bit. He never wanted to see the captain make out with anyone, ‘specially not ‘Nara. Woman was too damn beautiful to be with the likes of Mal. Not that it mattered much to him, he had Kaylee. Speaking of his little grease monkey, he figured it was time for her to get some shut eye. Girl was working non-stop making sure Serenity’s innards were working just fine. Everything had been fine though. After Inara decided to come back, everyone’s spirits had been up. They were a family again. Well as much as a family as they could be with the doc and crazy on board. Still, he hadn’t been so easily aggravated lately, things were going good for once.

Jayne came around the corner and swung his way into the engine room and froze. Simon’s lips were on Kaylee’s. She pushed him back and looked up at Jayne in shock. Jayne just shook his head and walked off.

"Jayne!" he heard her call.

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50. Low

Kaylee smiled when Simon came into the engine room. He seemed a little nervous but she didn’t think much on it, Simon was always nervous. "Hey Doc," she said cheerfully.

"Just came to check on your stitches," he said, pointing towards her side.

"Oh! I was supposed t’come by, huh? I’m sorry, Simon," she said moving towards him. She lifted the side of her shirt so he could see his stitch work. Simon examined the wound closely, his fingers grazing her skin lightly.

"The coloring looks good," he commented, slowly lowering her shirt. He didn’t look at her for a moment before his eyes slowly traveled up her body. There was something about the way Simon moved that put Kaylee on guard.

"Simon you feelin’ alright?" she asked.

"Kaylee I…" his voice trailed off. His eyes searched hers for a moment and before she could stop him, he cupped the back of her neck and brought her lips to his. Kaylee was shocked frozen for a moment, but pulled back immediately. The first thing in her line of sight was Jayne, turning away from her.

"Jayne!" she called, running after him.

a/n: Okay, don't throw anything at me yet! You know me, I live for this drama crap. I promise fluffiness for Kaylee...eventually muhahahahah