Title: The Deal

Rating: pg

Fandom: Firefly

Pairing: Silee

Characters: Simon, Kaylee, Jayne, Mal

Word Count: 1258

Summary: Drunk Kaylee, Simon asks Kaylee to come with him

Warning: I don't own the characters or the 'verse am I'm not making any money off this

Authors note: Not betaed, sorry.

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They stared at each other for a long moment, their gaze refusing to break. "You’re still here," Kaylee hiccuped. Simon had been waiting on the ramp when Jayne and Kaylee returned, Kaylee completely smashed. Jayne had giving Simon a grunt and handed a drunk Kaylee off to him as he went off, mumbling something about his shoes.

"You’re drunk," Simon replied, letting out a long breath.

"Didn’t think you’d be here when I got back," Kaylee said.

"I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye." There was a quiet moment between them before Simon moved towards her, taking her arm gently. "Here, let’s get you sitting down," Simon said softly.

"I don’t want you to leave," Kaylee mumbled as Simon lead her to the galley. He sat them both on the couch and looked up at the mechanic.

"It’s for the best. I never planned to live the rest of my life on a spaceship. At least here I can help people. Give River a stable home. These people need a doctor too, and River seems to enjoy being here. The alliance has finally stopped looking for us, we can start living a normal life again."

"Livin’ on a spaceship ain’t livin’ a normal life?" she asked, her words slurring a little. Simon smiled and kissed her forehead.

"You’re very drunk."

"I’m not so think as you drunk I am," Kaylee shook her head.

"Come with me, Kaylee," Simon asked. It wasn’t the first time he’d asked her. She’d always looked forlorn whenever he did, begging him not to go. She’d never said she wouldn’t come though. He could see how the decision was tearing at her, but Simon couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Not for himself and not for River.

"But Serenity…Simon this is my home," Kaylee said. Her eyelids were drooping some as she spoke.

"It wasn’t always your home and it isn’t always going to be your home. One day you will leave. Why not now?" Simon cupped Kaylee’s cheek and turned her face to look at him.

"Now ain’t exactly the time t’be asking my mechanic if she’s ready to jump ship," a voice from the doorway startled the doctor. Simon looked up to see Mal approaching them on the couch.

"Would it be alright if we waited one more night, Cap’n? Before River and I got off ship?" the doctor asked. Mal nodded and looked over at Kaylee who was looking a little green. "Think it would be best if you got her to bed before she throws up all over my ship."

"I think so too," Simon said, standing and helping Kaylee to stand as well. She was a little wobbly on her feet and so Mal moved to help get her to Simon’s room, neither wanting to try and get Kaylee down her bunk ladder. Once they had her in bed, Mal looked over at Simon.

"I ain’t gonna ask you t’stay," the captain started. "But I want you to know you’re welcome to stay."

"Thank you, captain. I appreciate that. This is really what is best for both River and I. I think I should let you know, in the morning I will be asking Kaylee to come with me again. I love her, you know and I want to be with her." Simon waited for Mal to speak his peace, not really sure what the captain would say.

"If she decides to go with you, then I won’t make a fuss about losing the best damn mechanic I’ve ever met. If she says no though, I don’t want you pushing her into doing something she isn’t ready to do. We’re a family on this boat, and she may not be ready to leave. If she isn’t, you have to respect that."

"I would never make Kaylee do something she isn’t ready to do," Simon said. He looked down and saw the woman that he loved was already asleep. He smiled to himself, a sad sort of smile. If there was one reason to stay on the ship, Kaylee would be it.

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"How much exactly did you have to drink?" Simon asked as he placed the cold compress on Kaylee’s aching head. The morning had come too quickly. Simon had spent half the night up worrying if he was making a mistake and the other half watching Kaylee sleep, wondering if it was his last chance.

"I dunno. Jayne bought, I just kept drinking," she said quietly.

"I’ve given you something for you head. You know, River and I were already supposed to be off ship today. Serenity should already be in the black by now," Simon said.

"You stayed ‘cause of me," she said quietly, "’cause you want me to come with you."

"I do," Simon nodded.

"Serenity’s my home," Kaylee sighed. "I love her so much, she’s my girl and I don’t think there’ll ever be a ship in the ‘verse that will ever compare. You want me to leave me home."

"I love you Kaylee. I’m asking you to leave you home for a different home," Simon said.

"What would I do?" Kaylee asked.

"Shénme?" Simon’s brow drew together.

"What would I do? You’d doctor, what would I do?" she asked again.

"Whatever you wanted to Kaylee. Greenleaf is a big planet. Coleman isn’t a huge town, but there are always things that need to be fixed. Does this mean you’re considering it?" Simon looked at her hopefully.

"I guess until now I just hoped you’d change your mind. Decide not t’leave. You’re really goin’ aren’t you?" Kaylee asked.

"I think River needs this, as do I. They have a wonderful medical facility not more than an hour away. Not as good as the core, but I think I would really be able to help my sister there." Simon cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. "Please come with me bao bei."

"Guess I can’t say no to that," Kaylee whispered. There eye’s met for a moment and Simon broke out into a warm grin.

"If you aren’t happy I promise I will flag the captain down to come get you just as soon as you say the word," he reassured her.

"Doubt I could be unhappy with you there," Kaylee smiled back. Her eyes broke away from his and she looked around the infirmary, letting out a long breath. "I’ll miss my girl somethin’ fierce. I’ll miss everyone on this ship. Guess I gotta follow my heart though."

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"You just let her go," Jayne shook his head, looking away from Mal.

"I ain’t her daddy, Jayne. If she wants to go, she’ll go," the captain said. Simon, River and Kaylee were already impossible to see against the horizon. Still both men stared out like they were expecting their mechanic to come running back any minute.

"You coulda said somethin’, asked her t’stay. Who the hell is gonna keep the ship goin’ now? With you flyin’ and no mechanic, might as well shoot myself now ‘cause there ain’t no way we’re gonna be able t’land this thing right." Both men stared at the horizon again. "Doc better not mess it up."

"You weren’t good enough for her anyway, Jayne," Mal said, not looking at his mercenary.

"I know I wasn’t," Jayne sighed, turning and heading back to his bunk. Mal waited another moment longer before he too turned and headed for the bridge. He needed to find a new pilot and a new mechanic next stop. For now he needed to get the hell off this planet.

a/n: the 'I'm not so think are you drunk I am' line I totally ripped from M*A*S*H*.