Title: Coming Together (6 of 10) Rating: pg-13 to be safe Fandom: Firefly Pairing: Jayne/Kaylee, some Mal/Inara Word Count: 2707 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.

51. Christmas

Simon turned and watched Kaylee run out of the room after Jayne. He hadn’t known the mercenary was there. Swallowing thickly, the doctor turned and headed for the doorway. He could see Kaylee and Jayne just down the hall. She had his arm and was talking quickly, but he just waved her off and dropped down into his bunk, slamming the hatch closed. When the mechanic looked over at Simon, he froze.

"Kaylee…" he started.

"I ain’t talkin’ t’you right now," she said, opening her own bunk and dropping down. Simon sighed and leaned against the door frame. What had he been thinking? He hadn’t come in there to kiss her, that was for sure. He’d just looked at her and those sweet pouting lips of hers had called to him. He couldn’t hold it back anymore. If Jayne hadn’t come around the corner right at that moment, Kaylee would have probably laughed it off and they would have been fine.

Maybe it was meant to be like this though. He hadn’t planned to hurt Kayle or come between her and Jayne, but maybe he should be thankful for the gift. It wasn’t Christmas, but he’d accept any kind of gift he could concerning Kaylee. He had turned her away once, thinking it had been the right thing to do. Seeing her with Jayne seemed to snap something insides of her. Maybe it was the old saying, ‘you want what you can’t have,’ Simon didn’t know. All he did know what that his feelings for Kaylee weren’t being put off any longer. He had to take every opportunity coming to him because this would be an uphill battle

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52. Halloween

"Come on Kaylee, you’re supposed to be having fun. How often to you get to see a Halloween celebration of this size?" Inara asked, pulling Kaylee out of the fog she had been in for the last few minutes.

"I think I’m thirsty," she said. Kaylee looked around at the crowds of people, dressed up and dancing in a huge festival. If things hadn’t been so off between her and Jayne lately, she thought she might have enjoyed this sort of thing.

"Here, let’s go get a drink," the companion offered.

"Inara, you’re bein’ real sweet and all, but I think you should find the Cap’n and go have fun with him, I need t’be alone for awhile." Kaylee dug her hands in her pockets and looked around at all the happy faces again. She paused on Inara’s face and could see the companion contemplating what to do.

"I’m a big girl, ‘Nara," she said.

"Promise to come find me later?" Inara asked. Kaylee nodded and smiled at her. The companion gave her a hug before she hurried to catch up with Mal. Kaylee turned and started walking through the large fair. She noticed a pub, the only one she’d seen so far, and decided to go in. Bars reminded her of Jayne and at that moment she would take any sort of Jayne contact she could. Her eyes looked around the small pub, trying to see if the mercenary was there. She didn’t see him and her spirits slumped a little.

Kaylee took a seat at the bar and gave the bartender a half smile. "You look down," he said.

"Naw, I’m fine," she waved him off.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked.

Kaylee thought about ordering the biggest mug of ale she could, but thought better of it after a moment. Captain would probably get made at her if she got herself sloshed, especially all by her lonesome. "Water for now," was all she said.

"How ‘bout a drink on the house?" he offered. Kaylee didn’t have time to answer before he poured her a drink. She felt guilty turning away a free drink and took a timid sip of it. Tasted like a weird blend of…juice. Sweet and tangy.

"This some kinda juice?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Family recipe, you like?" he asked.

"Very much," she smiled. "Ain’t had juice in a long while."

"For a pretty lady like you, you can have as much as you want—on the house." The bartender smiled at her and she smiled back, taking another big drink sip from her mug.

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53. Scent

Jayne had grown sick and tired of moonbrain rambling on about equations and math not adding up. River had been following him around since they landed, spouting off some of the strangest stuff Jayne’d ever heard. Most of the words she used he had no idea what they meant. Didn’t like it much when someone made him feel stupid and he was already in a foul enough mood as it was.

Seeing Kaylee and Simon in a lip lock like that had really cut him deep. He always knew little Kaylee’s first choice was the Doc, but he had thought…Well it didn’t really matter what he thought. Girl had made her choice, he would just have to live with it. Kaylee had tried talking to him, but he just couldn’t handle it right now. Couldn’t handle her guilty explanation about how the Doc finally came around and how happy she was and how sorry she was he had to find out that way. He just couldn’t deal with it. So if she had to be upset for a couple days because he wasn’t talking to her, then tough.

Jayne climbed out of his bunk, ignoring River who was standing just outside. "The equation doesn’t balance. X doesn’t equal out," she called over to him. Jayne rolled his eyes—he needed a beer. Checking to make sure he had his guns, the merc headed down the ramp into town. He had thought he would stay in, not feeling much like being part of the Halloween celebration, but River was driving him crazy.

The town wasn’t far from the docks, and he found a pub in minutes. It was the only pub in the shitty little town and it was packed full of hundans wearing costumes and stumbling around after one too many. He ignored them and went straight to the bar, ordering a mug of ale and looking around the place.

It was the smell that gave him pause. The smell of engine grease and strawberries. It was her smell. It took a moment for him to pick her out in the crowd, but there she was. Little Kaylee was sitting at the bar stool, sipping a mug of something and attempting to ignore the man next to her trying to talk with her. Wouldn’t want to make the doc jealous, Jayne thought bitterly. He turned back to his beer and tried to ignore her penetrating scent.

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54. Hearing

"I told you I don’t wanna go anywhere with you!" Kaylee’s voice wasn’t any louder than most of the bar noise, but Jayne had heard it like someone was screaming it in his ear. He turned to see Kaylee trying to push the man away, but her reactions were a little slow. She was drunk. Jayne rose from his bar stool.

Kaylee wasn’t his woman anymore, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t one of his crewmates and it didn’t mean he’d stopped loving her. If only he could stop. Crossing the bar to her, Jayne pushed himself between Kaylee and the man. "Lady said she didn’t wanna go nowhere with you," Jayne growled.

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55. Sight

Kaylee didn’t know what was wrong with this guy, but he just didn’t seem to take no for an answer. Everytime she shot him down, seemed like the bartender came by filling up her drink. Even gave her some food to munch on for free. It was right nice of him, but she was starting to feel a little sick in the stomach and just wanted to get back to her bunk and wallow. Only she didn’t like the idea of walking back to Serenity alone, not with how pushy this guy was. She still had nightmares after what happened walking back to Serenity by herself from a bar. No, she was gonna sit still until she could think of something better to do.

The man leaned in and whispered in her ear. "I know a real nice private place," he said softly, taking her arm in his hand. Kaylee pushed him off and shook her head.

"I tod you I don’t wanna go anywhere with you!" Kaylee hiccuped and covered her mouth. She looked down at her mug and paused. Something wasn’t right about this whole situation, she just didn’t know what.

A large figure stepped between her and the man and Kaylee didn’t know whether to be relieved or frightened. That was when she recognized Bessie. That was Jayne’s gun! Her eyes lifted, taking his whole body in. How she missed him.

"Lady said she didn’t wanna go nowhere with you," Jayne bellowed.

"Alright, be cool," the man said.

"Jayne?"

He looked over at her, frowning, which in turn made Kaylee frown. "Jayne can we please talk?"

"Ain’t in the mood Kaylee. Let’s get you back to the ship, Captain’s gonna be made when he sees you’re drunk," the mercenary said, taking her arm and helping her to her feet.

"I ain’t drunk. I had juice," she protested. Her vision spun around at her standing up, and she had to grip onto Jayne’s arm to keep steady.

"Tamade! Kaylee that chùsheng xai-jiao de xiang huo told you he was buyin’ you juice?" Jayne asked.

"No the bartender said it was on the house," she said, pointing towards the counter. Jayne just shook his head and took her arm to lead her out of the pub.

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56. Touch

Kaylee felt dizzy walking, it was only Jayne holding her around the shoulders that was keeping her walking in a straight line. His touch--it was the only thing that was keeping her mind in order. It’d been a week since Kaylee had felt his touch, a very long week. "Thanks Jayne," she said quietly.

"Wouldn’t want the doc getting jealous," Jayne shrugged. Kaylee stopped and looked up at him, causing Jayne to stop as well.

"You ain’t ever gonna listen t’me, are ya?!" she exclaimed. Her words slurred a little together, but she didn’t care.

"You’re drunk, Kaylee. Best you calm down and we’ll talk in the mornin’," Jayne said, trying to move them along.

"I didn’t kiss Simon! He kissed me and I didn’t want him to! But you just won’t listen t’me." She pushed him away, stumbling a little but managed to steady herself. "Go back t’the bar and get a drink."

"I ain’t gonna leave you like this, Kaylee. Look you’re drunk, lets get you back t’Serenity and sober you up," Jayne said. She could tell he was losing his patience, but gorramit so was she.

"Not until you tell me you believe me. I don’t want Simon you idjit, I want you!"

"Kaylee…"

"You believe me?" she asked.

"Gorramit girl, you’re drunk. This is the last time I’m offerin’ t’help you back t’the ship," Jayne said.

Kaylee ignored him and headed for the ship on her own. She missed his touch, but if he wouldn’t even listen to her, she couldn’t keep playing this game.

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57. Satin

Inara smoothed her dress down a little and laughed when Mal tried to win her a prize by tossing rings around bottle necks. He got one ring out of three, getting her the smallest stuffed animal she’d ever seen. He proudly gave it to her and shoved his hands in his pocket. "Thank you, captain," she said smoothly.

"You’re welcome," Mal replied with a childish grin. "I’m glad you know."

"Glad of what?" she asked.

"Glad you came back."

"I’m glad I came back too," she said.

"That is an awfully brown coat there, sir," a voice behind the couple said. Mal and Inara both turned to look at the pair of men who were staring contemptuously at Mal. Inara gave the captain a worried look, but he only grinned and hooked his thumbs into his holster belt.

"Very perceptive of you fella, is there anything I can help you with?" Mal asked with a cocky grin.. Inara realized immediately that Mal was enjoying this far too much. She stepped closer to him and tugged on his shirt sleeve for a moment to remind him that she was there. It also served to remind the two men that she was there as well.

"You got a fancy lady there, pretty satin dress. How’d a browncoat like you get such a fancy woman. Must be a whore if she’s consortin’ with the likes of you," one of the men said.

"You hear that, ‘Nara? Man just called you a whore. Interesting," Mal said, turning to face the men again.

"I heard it, Mal," she replied, a little nervously. "Are you planning on defending my honor?"

"Oh, you bet I am," Mal smiled.

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58. Cotton

"Ouch!"

"Stop being a baby," Inara said, looking over at Simon as he cleaned the captain’s wound. It was just a cut over the eye and some bloody knuckles.

"Well it hurts!" Mal exclaimed. Simon sighed and took another cotton ball and dipped it in the antiseptic, trying to clean out the wound.

"It’s just a little alcohol, Captain," the doctor said patiently.

"Then it’s the gorram cotton balls that are hurtin’ me," Mal grumbled. Inara rolled her eyes once more. Footsteps echoed outside the infirmary and the first mate popped her head in.

"Sir, we’re getting ready for lockdown, Jayne and Kaylee still ain’t back," she said.

Mal groaned and slid off the bed, waving off Simon and his cotton balls. "Gorramit! Get Wash, we’ll start checkin’ the bars first!"

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59. Candle

Kaylee made it up to the ramp just as she saw Wash coming down. He smiled at her and she gave him a half hearted smile in return.

"Jayne with you?" Wash asked.

"No he ain’t and I don’t care if I ever see that qingwa cào de liúmáng ever again," she slurred. Wash gave her an odd look, then looked back up the ramp of the ship to see Simon standing there. He nodded to the doctor and headed down the ramp past Kaylee.

Kaylee looked up at Simon and groaned. "You gonna try and kiss me again?"

"No….Kaylee are you drunk?" Simon asked.

"Didn’t mean t’be, but that’s a whole ‘nother story. I ain’t in the mood tonight," she told him as she walked past.

Simon turned and fell into step with her. "I’m sorry, Kaylee."

"You’re sorry? Jayne won’t even talk t’me, won’t believe what I said," Kaylee sighed, stopping and turning to face the doctor.

"I am sorry," Simon said again. "But if Jayne isn’t going to listen to what you have to say, maybe that is something you should consider, Kaylee."

"Don’t you talk t’me ‘bout, Jayne, Simon. He may be upset right now, but at least he had the gumption t’go after what he wanted, ‘fore it was too late. Don’t talk t’me ‘bout Jayne ‘cause you don’t hold a candle t’him." She turned and used a hand against the wall to guide herself back to her bunk.

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60. Paint

"Your head still hurt, mei mei?" Inara asked, looking up from Kaylee’s feet. Kaylee was laying on her back in Inara’s bed and had a cool washcloth over her eyes. Her feet were propped up on a pillow that was in Inara’s lap. The companion had a small bottle of nail paint and was giving the mechanic a pedicure.

"Yes," came Kaylee’s tired groan.

"I shouldn’t have let you go off by yourself last night," Inara said sadly.

"I shouldn’t have taken that juice. It did taste mighty good though, ‘Nara. Haven’t had a drink that good in a long while. ‘Nara?" Kaylee pulled the washcloth off and sat up on her elbows.

"Yes?"

"Did Jayne come back last night?"

"I don’t know," Inara said softly. "Lay back and close your eyes, mei mei, let me finish painting your nails." Kaylee nodded and laid back down, placing the damp cloth over her eyes again.