Fandom: Firefly Title: Belong Author: meimei42 (Dani) 30_angsts Theme(s): 10. Messenger (~you belongs to no one) Pairing/Characters: Jayne/Kaylee Rating: PG Disclaimer/claimer (if needed): Post BDM, I do not own any of it. Summary: Simon finds out Word Count: 637

Author's Note: special thanks to Squish for betating! This is a sequeal that follows after First Time and Apple. It's possible more will come from this. So if you want it, let me know.

"Hell, Kaylee, don’t gotta cry none," Jayne said gruffly. That only seemed to make her cry that much harder. They had made love and damn good love at that. Kaylee had enjoyed herself at the time, clawing at his back and calling out his name. But when it ended, the full weight of the situation had descended upon her. She felt guilty over what had happened between the two of them, Jayne didn’t fully understand why. Her and Simon were together still, sure, but it seemed to his the doctor had made his feelings perfectly clear to Kaylee. Simon didn’t deserve her, he wasn’t worth crying over.

Jayne sighed and sat up, pulling on his boxers and shirt. Kaylee sat up as well, wiping her face and looking up at him. "Please don’t go, Jayne," she begged. He raised an eyebrow at her. Woman was perplexing, but he couldn’t deny her, he could never deny little Kaylee. He moved to lie back down and Kaylee lay next to him settling her head in the crook of his arm. She sniffed and wiped her eyes as the two lay, completely silent.

"Kaylee…" Jayne was cut off as the hatch door opened and feet came down the ladder.

"Kaylee, can we talk?" Simon reached the bottom and stopped. Kaylee scrambled to cover herself and Jayne sat up. "Wuh de ma," Simon breathed out. There was silence for a long moment, Kaylee looked shocked and scared, Simon looked beyond confused and Jayne was tense, ready to defend himself if Simon decided to grow a backbone.

It was Simon who spoke first. "What is…Kaylee?"

"Simon…I’m sorry, please let me explain," she whispered.

"Explain what? That your sleeping with this man-ape?!" Simon asked.

"Watch it little man," Jayne growled.

"This doesn’t concern you," Simon snapped.

"Seein’ as I’m the one in Kaylee’s bed, I think this does concern me," Jayne said, leaning forward menacingly.

"Jayne, please," Kaylee said quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder. Jayne relaxed some under her touch, but he continued to glare at Simon.

"What possible explanation could you have for this, Kaylee?" Simon asked. There was no anger in his voice, only hurt, and Jayne could see what effect that was having on her. Kaylee looked ready to start crying again. She didn’t say anything and Simon crossed his arms over his chest. "Because I would hate to be the messenger here, but you and I were still together. At least that was my understanding."

"I just…" her voice dropped off and she looked away.

"Why don’t you let her be," Jayne grunted out.

"Why didn’t you let her be?" Simon asked, looking at Jayne now. There wasn’t hurt in his voice when he spoke with the mercenary, just pure anger. "She didn’t belong to you!"

"Kaylee belongs to no one," Jayne growled cocking his head to the side, challenging Simon to disagree with that.

"I’m sorry, Simon," Kaylee finally said.

"I cared about you, Kaylee," Simon said. The two held each others gazes before Kaylee’s eyes finally dropped away.

"Not enough," was all she said. There was another moment of silence before Simon turned and climbed up the ladder. The hatch shut with a loud thud and then there was quiet in the room.

"Want me to go?" Jayne asked. Kaylee sniffed and shook her head. "You deserve better than him, you know," he told her softly.

"I know," she nodded. "Still care ‘bout him though. Feelings…they just don’t go ‘way like that. Never meant to hurt him." Jayne nodded and wrapped his arm around her, bringing her closer.

"This thing ‘tween the two of us…it don’t gotta be more than you want it," he told her.

"I just need some time," Kaylee whispered. Jayne just nodded, wasn’t much else a man could say to that.