Disclaimer: all things Firefly/Serenity are the property of Whedon et al. I’m not making any more off this, just playing with the toys.

A/N: for danniisupernova over at livejournal. This one's for you!

The party had been a very good one. A little fancier than the one where Mal got himself wed, but not so much as the one where Mal got himself stabbed. Still, it was nice to get off the ship and just relax. Even River and Simon were able to partake of the festivities, the doc even loosening up some to let River dance and laugh.

And how she danced. The small band excelled in folk music and River shone. Her face was glowing as she kicked and leaped her way across the wooden dance floor. Her eyes were the clearest they’d been since Miranda. For the first time in a very long while, River was content.

Simon smiled broadly at his sister then scrunched his shoulder as Kaylee breathed into his ear, knowing how sensitive her man was. She giggled and smiled as he laughed along with her. Finally, it seemed, he was letting himself feel.

When the fiddler took the stage, a roar went up. The couple turned their heads to find that the new player was a shepherd, a much younger one than either had been accustomed to. When he drew the bow across the strings, it was as though heaven itself had touched him the music was so wondrous. Kaylee latched onto Simon’s wrist, jumped up and dragged him to the dance floor to join in the others who were now crowded onto the small area. The dance itself was unfamiliar to the mechanic, but was simple enough to learn.

The whole outdoor party was loud, boisterous and the most fun the crew of Serenity had had since no one could remember. Mal, though, was being more than a little cautious, taking his drinks only from Inara and then only after checking that no laurel graced his head.

Zoe watched it all from her spot in the corner. Her drink had warmed in the evening air, but she wasn’t much interested in it. Other memories filled her, of another time when she had danced in a red dress.

Not until the very late hours of the evening did the crew take their leave. It would have been rude to leave earlier as the party was in their honour for bringing the needed foodstuffs and toys. Mal accepted the thanks with his charming smile and leant heavily on Inara to escort him up the ramp of the ship. River was still a bundle of energy and was not likely to sleep anytime soon. She continued her dance into the cargo hold with only memories of the tunes to keep rhythm. Zoe took her spot on the bridge and Jayne kept his watch at the ramp.

Deciding that the night needed a bit more music, Jayne had pulled his guitar and began playing a little tune. River slowed, found the appropriate emotion and changed her dance to match the song.

An hour later, the pilot was asleep on the cargo bay floor, Jayne’s coat as a pillow for her. The merc had lit a cigar, his last one from Haven, and let the night air fill him. Truth was, he liked times like these. The world was quiet and dark, like the times he would walk home from town as a young man discovering himself. Sometimes, when he was even younger, he and his pa would just sit out and look at the dark, listening. There wasn’t anyone there to call him dumb or tell him to look out because his body was too big and getting in the way. It had been nice, just sitting.

He inhaled the scented smoke of the cigar and held it. That’s when he heard it. Quietly exhaling, Jayne rose and turned his head a little, waiting.

There! To the right of the ship was the sound.

Quietly walking off the ramp, Jayne carefully extinguished the cigar and set it on the ramp. Removing Binky from the leather sheath, he cautiously strode around. The moonlight was strong, but shadows still abounded. Finally, after near on thirty paces, the merc let out a sigh.

“Gorramnit, girl!” he huffed. “Coulda got yerself stuck.” He re-sheathed the blade. “What in hell’re ya doin’ out here anyhow? Ain’tya got some doc boyfriend to cuddle up with?”

When Kaylee didn’t respond, Jayne frowned. He knew that this was bad because of the sniffling. The girl never cried, not even burying Wash and the Shepherd nor when that hun dun Early had gotten the jump on her. He’d always thought she was strong for that.

He crouched next to her. “What’s got you all teared up, girl?” His voice was softer now.

Kaylee was scrunched up, her knees drawn close and her arms folded atop. She rested her head on her forearms and her hair fell forward all but hiding her face.

She didn’t even acknowledge that Jayne was there.

Rising, Jayne was about to head back to his post when Kaylee’s small voice stopped him. “Play me a song?”

He turned to see her wet eyes and tear stained face struggle to find a little smile. Weren’t no way he could say no to that. “Sure, girl. Lemme get my guitar.”

The big man trudged back to the ramp and up into Serenity. The night was getting chilly and he reckoned on Kaylee needing a blanket. She didn’t seem up to heading to her bunk in the near while.

Jayne ran it over in his mind on the why-for of the girl being alone and crying her eyes out and figured that the Doc was the main cause. Always seemed to be the reason, though he’d appeared to get enough sense to recognise the girl’s infatuation. Got to hear plenty of it, that was for gorramn sure.

His brow furrowed, Jayne grabbed the blanket from his bunk and went back to the ramp only to find the Doc himself come wandering up.

“Have you seen Kaylee?”

Jayne’s eyes narrowed and he worked his jaw.

“A simple yes or no will suffice.” Still getting no response, Simon moved to leave.

“You made her cry,” Jayne said simply.

Simon’s eyes widened. “Where is she? What did she tell you?”

“Got eyes t’see what weren’t said.”

Simon was confused and his expression plainly showed it.

Jayne only shook his head with disgust, picked up his guitar and headed back out. He found Kaylee now looking at the stars and her crying done. She even ventured a tiny grin as Jayne draped the blanket around her shoulders.

“Still lookin’ fer a song?”

Kaylee nodded.

“Well, let’s see what I got.” Jayne settled himself down, sitting cross legged next to the woman. The light of the two moons, though neither being full, gave enough for Jayne to find the strings and play the chords. It was a soft tune, not sad nor happy, but appropriate enough.

The young woman resumed her gaze of the stars, her knees still drawn and now wrapped with the blanket. She could smell Jayne on it and it gave her comfort. The big mercenary and the stars would never change, never promise something only to lie about it. She wiped her eyes.

Footsteps crunching on the dirt brought Kaylee’s attention to the here. Jayne had stopped playing and now towered above Simon.

“You best get gone, boy.”

The Doctor did not comply. “Kaylee, please. Can we talk about this?” He looked past Jayne’s bulk. “I’m sorry.”

Kaylee rose, but did not go to Simon. Instead, she cupped Jayne’s elbow and he felt the heat coming from her. “Can’t talk to you now, Simon.” Her voice was stronger than she thought it would be.

Attempting to go around Jayne, Simon was pushed back by a rough hand. “She said no.”

The doctor once more tried to get to Kaylee, but found Jayne’s fist connect with his cheek. He staggered back, his hand immediately rubbing his bruised face.

“Jayne!” Kaylee’s voice admonished the merc. She wanted so much to rush to Simon, to help him, to kiss him. But she couldn’t escape the words echoing in her head, words that had forced her to flee Simon’s embrace. Words that now had her rooted next to Jayne. “You better go,” she told Simon.

Simon had righted himself, his hand still on his cheek. He looked to Kaylee, moved to speak then stopped himself. This was not the time. Lowering his eyes, he turned away, leaving Kaylee behind.

Once he was out of earshot, Jayne faced Kaylee and winced. Ai ya, but she was crying again, her little body shaking. Blubbering women weren’t something he was good at dealing with so he stood there, wishing like hell he could go beat up the doc some more. He fidgeted some then reached to hike the blanket up around the woman’s shoulders. “Hell, Kaylee. He ain’t nothin’ but a idiot. Don’t warrant all this carryin’ on.”

The saddest eyes Jayne had ever seen looked up to him. “He called me Inara.”