Simon gently deposited the sleeping Kaylee in his bunk, ignoring the death glares he was getting from Mal. She had been as incoherent as River could be at her worst, and the only coherent words he could get out of her were Early, Simon, Gun, Bullet, Dead. That was enough, for now. He guessed that it had been a particulary potent nightmare. He hoped that she would remember it when she woke. As it was, she had cried herself to sleep. He figured that her bed was not the best place right now, so he had decided to take her to his. Why his? There were two more empty rooms now, since Book had left. He could have left her in one of those... but she still would have been alone. And, right now, she shouldn't have that. Outside his room, Mal was gesticulating in an annoyed sort of way. Simon took that as his cue to go and speak with him. Simon could tell that he wanted so badly to shout, but confined his voice to a bare whisper, so as not to disturb Kaylee while she slept peacefully. This was the worst nightmare she had had since Early... a demon of the black, he could have stolen her away from them. But he was dead now. And would stay dead forever. Weren't gonna hurt 'em no more, not ever. Mal gestured towards a side room, and Simon followed him in. Mal closed the door behind them to muffle the sound. He then turned to Simon. In a deceptively cool voice, he asked, "So, doc, you mind tellin' me why you was in Kaylee's room?" Simon looked him square in the eye. "I was helping Kaylee. If you hadn't noticed, she was having a nightmare. A bad one." Mal took a menacing step closer. "Yeah, but my room's closer to hers. So, if you was sleepin' in your bunk, how'd you get ta Kaylee 'fore me?" "I was up and about in the ship, since I couldn't sleep. Is that a crime now?" Mal looked like he desperately wanted to pop the infuriating doctor in the jaw, just on pretence of being so near to his mei-mei. As it was, he settled for talking to Simon in a voice that would have made most men flinch. Simon didn't. "No, it ain't. But what is a crime is spyin' on Kaylee. I know you two have been gettin' a mite closer'n I like, but I let it slide for Kaylee. But, I swear, doc, if you hurt her-" "You'll what? Mal, why do you think I have been so akward with Kaylee for all this time by accident? It was a plan of mine. I could tell right off that she wanted me, so I simply led her away, so as not to hurt her. Not that its done me much good..." He smiled wistfully. "Shes very presistent. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to make sure that she isn't too fightened when she wakes up. I may even be able to ferret out what had her so scared." He turned around and left the room, closing the hatch behind him, leaving a stupefied Mal gazing at the spot where he had been. So, that pretty boy doc wasn't such an ass afterall. Well, that was a surprise, to be sure! *** Kaylee sat up and looked around in alarm. She wasn't in her room, where was she- Oh, yeah. She was in Simon's room. She yawned, stretched, and prepared to go back to sleep. Suddenly, a noise. It was a slight tap, not at all much... but it had put her on edge immediately. Then, a shadow. Oh GOD, no!!! What if it was- No... it was only River. The girl stepped into the room, hands clasped behind her back, smiling a small, secretive smile. Kaylee let herself relax a bit. Only River. She smiled at the troubled girl. "Hey, River. Whats up?" River looked up, as if startled. "Oh... nothing. I've got a surprise for you. Wanna hear it?" Kaylee looked askance at the girl, but then softened her expression. "Uh, sure, okay. What is it?" River leaned in close, and whispered in Kaylee's ear, "Can't look." Six shots rang out, followed by six small crys of pain. There, scattered around the small room, was the crew. Dead. Dead Inara. Dead Jayne. Dead Zoe, Wash, Mal... dead Simon. River looked at her handy work and smiled. Still smiling, she leveled the gun at Kaylee's head. A seventh shot rang out. *** Kaylee looked at Simon, trying to see the bullet wound in his forehead. After a moment, she saw that there was none. She relaxed a little in his strong arms. He was immediately in doctor mode. "Kaylee, are you okay?" She managed a shaky smile. "Yeah, I'm good. Just a nightmare, is all." "Well, alright. But, I still think that I should give you a smoother, or-" "No, please, wait!!! I mean... please, Simon, no shots. No drugs, no pills, no nothin'. I'm good. Really," she added at his incredulous look. "Well... okay. Just for you." He turned to go somewhere. "Wait!" He turned back to her. "Simon... would... would you mind holding my hand? Just for a bit, I mean, 'til I fall asleep. I mean, if you don't wanna, I unnerstand, but-" He placed his hand to her lips, silencing her. "I will. For you, Kaylee. Anything for you." That last part was almost to himself, whispered. After a few minutes, she closed her eyes and fell into a soft sleep. *** She awoke early next morning, her night undisturbed by any of her nightmares, for which she was thankful of. But, she found herself all alone, with no one in the room. She wondered if she should wait for Simon... naw, best to find him. Weren't like she was sick or nothin'. Shesoftly stood up, and moved towards the door. Simon's bunk was the one of only two rooms on Serenity that didn't have a ladder, which, in her mind, made it downright luxurious. She opened the door, and- Collided right into Simon, slamming the tray he carried into his face. Her face was frozen in a mask of horror, and she was afraid that she might of broken his nose. Oh, God, that wouldn't have been good at all! She watched as he pulled away the tray, revealing not only his unbruised face, but a whole mess of apples, and- Six strawberries. They were nestled between several of the red and green delights, an oasis in a sea of... well, apples. She looked at him, her horror dwindling. "Oh, God, Simon... you alrigh'?" He wiggled his nose, woeked his jaw, and then rolled his head, and Kaylee heard his neck crack audibly. "No, I'm good. Now, do you want these, or should I just give them to the crew?" "Oh, um... no, no, this is shiny, Simon. Uh... mind tellin' me how the hell ya managed ta get apples and strawberries out here?" He grinned devilishly, immediately setting her knees weak. "Well, I raided the storage locker. I had most of the apples anyway, I never really ate my share, so i just kept them refrigerated for a special occasion. The strawberries... well, I had to pay jayne for those, he was the only person with any left. Cost me quite a bit, too." He sighed, but didn't look at all unhappy. He moved toward the bed. "So, you want some?" Kaylee quickly took a seat opposite him on the bed, which, she realized, was almost larger than her own. But, then, she slept in a hammock... Either way, she dug into the apples, and positively devoured the strawberries. Weren't no need for any fancy cookin' out here in the black, Nature had done her job right the first time. Soon, they were done. Simon put the waste down the shoot, and gently placed the tray on a little table. Kaylee suddenly found her eyes drooping, and snuggled back down into the bed. "Gee, Simon, this was really nice. You must really love me..." The words slipped by before she could stop them, and she had to stop herself from wincing. She waited expectantly for an answer, trying not to get her hopes too high. After a minute, he spoke up. "I... I don't really know." "Huh? Whadaya mean?" "Its just... well, what with River, and the past two years being like they were... Kaylee, I'm not sure that i even know what love is anymore. Somewhere along the way, I forgot." "Thats really sad, Simon. But..." and here, her hand intertwined in his, "maybe, I could help you remember what love realy is." He smiled. "I would like that, Kaylee. I would like that a lot." She closed her eyes, and fell asleep, leaving him holding her hand. He sighed wistfully. "Anything for you, xin gan," he whispered into the darkness.