Story: Why Not Me Chapter: 4 Summary: This one will describe Kaylee's thought process before River seeing nothing but the Kiss in Kaylee's mind. Simon walks in. Warnings: female/female pairing. Also, a bit of an alternate character type of River, not as confused, it's somewhat strange, you'll read and see what I mean. Authors Note: This story is post Miranda/Serenity and whatnot. So expect no Wash-goodness. :'( My first Firefly fiction. I'm having trouble personifying River and Kaylee both. With River, it's this graceful confusion I'm having trouble capturing, and with Kaylee, it's the language, the accent, the jargon. Help Help Help, feedback deeply needed. Hasn't been Beta'd. Don't know someone who could. Anyone volunteering? Disclaimer. Joss is Boss. Don't own characters, But I'd sure love to own all the women of the ship. __________________________________________________________________

Kaylee froze as River glanced at for barely a second before staring ahead, seeing something invisible to her. All of a sudden, she knew what this all meant to River. For a long time, she'd felt the way about Simon that she imagined River felt about her. She wondered what River was seeing, how deep into her mind she was going. Apparently, River had heard her. Images popped up in front of her. Like a projected hologram or something similar. She'd been focusing on nothing but the friendship between she and River. She knew then that River had only skimmed her current thoughts, and hadn't dug deep. Kaylee was grateful. She looked at River, focused on finding what she wished was true. She was beautiful even then, she had he bottom lip in between her teeth, biting down harder as she ran through it all, finding nothing she wanted.

As Kaylee saw a trickle of blood fall onto River's chin, the images in front of her eyes turned to those of River, of her being hurt, even in the slightest degree. She grabbed the hanker chief from her overalls. It was clean, she hadn't yet been to the engine room. She wiped the blood from River's shin and lips, then put the hankie back. River had stopped biting her lip.

Kaylee stood up off the couch and crouched in front of River. She ran her fingers slowly over Rivers lips, searching for any further blood or injury besides the small bite mark.

Her lips were soft, and as her memory recalled, sweet. Her mind went over the kiss again, a hundred times again.

~- ~ - ~ - ~ ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ River broke out of her trance, and finally felt Kaylee's fingers on lips. A puzzled look took over her features. "I thought y-"

She was cut off by the most amazing feeling, Kaylee's lips against hers. Kaylee had kissed her. It was nice. She'd seen her brother and Kaylee do it plenty, didn't understand how it could be nice to tangle your tongue with someone else's. It was decent way of transporting germs, she knew that much. As Kaylee tangled her fingers through her hair, she started to understand.

It was at this moment that Simon walked in for the second time, Zoë behind him. Simon stopped dead, and Zoë turned completely around on her heel and left without a word.

River heard Simons mind shouting a million questions and a million obscenities and broke free, standing up. Kaylee looked puzzled and turned around to see Simon, frozen in place with a look of horror on his face, like he'd been frozen stiff at the moment of seeing his greatest fear in life. His coffee mug dropped to the floor and broke into uncountable pieces.

"Like his heart..." River whispered. Kaylee nodded.

Simon finally spoke.

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"Mei Mei?" His eyes looked around, as if searching for clues that would explain so strange a site. Nothing. "What...What the..."

Kaylee's eyes gained sorrow. "It's not what you-"

Simon, growing angry, yelled out. "BEE-jway. BEE-jway!"

River spoke anyway. "Simon, there's no need for anger here."

Simon placed his hand hard against his head, frustrated. "Nee ta ma duh tyen-shia suo-yo duh run doh gai si! Nee mun doh BEE-jway!" He shook his head, almost laughing. "No need for anger ?"

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Kaylee was frustrated, frightened by Simon's yelling, she'd never heard it before.

Trying to comfort her, River grabbed her hand and squeezed lightly.

Mal walked in, looking puzzled. "What the hell's goin' on on my ship? What ever it may be, i'm gorram sure it don't 'quire all this yellin n' whatnot." He looked around the room, finding no source for the problem. He looked passed River and Kaylee, then turned back when he noticed their hands, tightly intertwined.

"Albatross, you wanna explain what's goin on ta me?"

River nodded. "Simon caught us kissing. He's angry, he still wants Kaylee. Kaylee doesn't know what she wants. I want her." River smiled softly at Kaylee.

Mal raised an eyebrow. "Uhhhh huh." He looked Simon's way. "Ain't no call for all that yellin' n' swearin n such, Doc."

Simon's eyes went wide, his heart started beating faster. "No call? My girlfriend was kissing my baby sister."

Kaylee shook her head, objecting. "Ain't ya girlfriend no more, Simon."

River spoke next. "I'm not a baby anything, either. Adult now."

Simon pleaded with his expression. "Mei Mei, ...Kaylee..."

They both shook their heads no. Unable to handle the confusion, Simon stormed angrily out of the Galley towards the infirmary.

Mal eyed them both, shaking his head slowly. "I fear you too 've hurt that man bad. I got no problems with what it is ya've got goin here. But if I lose my Doc for't, it might just become a big problem. Too many get hurt for this boat ta be without a doc, dong ma?"

Kaylee and River nodded.

Simon turned round and left the galley.

Kaylee looked at River. "Guess that make ma' d’cision harder’n it hadda be.” She released River’s hand and left the galley.

Translations:

"Nee ta ma duh tyen-shia suo-yo duh run doh gai si!”= Fuck everybody in the verse to death!

“Nee mun doh BEE-jway!" = Everyone shut the hell up!

“Dong Ma?= Understand

"BEE-jway!" = Shut up!

------ any suggestions?