Heart Transplant --------------------------------------- based on the world of Firefly by Joss Whedon

Kaylee worked quickly as she inspected both of the firefly catalysts before tossing the other in the pile. It slid down the stack of salvaged parts as she grabbed a few fuses as well. "Now these are hard to find, 'specially ones still workin'. Think he'll miss 'em?"

"Just stick 'em in your pocket and no one's the wiser. Besides, we're not sure Shep is gonna live much longer." Cat tossed a look back toward the shack.

"How'd you meet him anyway?" Kaylee asked, "if you don't mind me askin'?"

"I needed a pilot. He needed the money." She smiled. "He's the best there is. I've seen him drive a Excalibur class boat through an asteroid field."

"Ai ya! That's a big boat and she's got an even bigger ass." Kaylee sighed. "Well, I don't feel so worried now 'bout him taking Serenity's helm."

"Believe me, he'll take good care of her." Cat placed a hand on Kaylee's shoulder. "Got what you need?"

"You bet." "Good, let go see if 'Ski has negotiated a..." Cat was interrupted by a shot and 'Ski emerged from the shop smiling. "Liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze duh ur-tze." "My wife would never use that kind of language." 'Ski smiled at her. "What the fuck?" Cat yelled back at him. "You were suppose to agree on a price, not a damn bullet to his gorran head." "That's my baby." 'Ski was always a bit giddy after killing someone. He blamed it mostly on his past and maybe a bit on the fact he was just plain mean. "He stood on twelve thousand. I offered him a bullet in the head. He lowered it to a thousand and I realized I left all my money in my other pants. So I shot him. Easy enough and all we're out is a bullet. Come on, Babe, he was a piece of shit." "He was just gonna rob some other idiot blind." Kaylee came to 'Ski's defense, even though she wasn't quite sure why. Cat shook her head and then gave up. It was pointless being mad at 'Ski. She should have known better than to leave him with a gun. "We're wastin' daylight." "Agreed. Besides, man might not crawl into that ship with all that blood, but animals aren't as fussy. It's like a giant lollipop," 'Ski said before making sure the door stayed open for the dog. It could be heard licking the blood from his owner head. "Thanks for the mental image." Cat quipped, taking lead as she cleared her head. She let her mind wonder to the area they left Serenity. It had a body of water near it, close enough to haul water. Hopefully, while Kaylee was fixing the ship and 'Ski was getting acquainted with the controls, she could do some work on the bay. At least then, the smell wouldn't be as bad. 'Ski walked up next to her and threw an arm over her. "So what's my wife thinkin'?" "Goin' ride that horse for awhile?" "Why not? Maybe get some sex out of the deal." 'Ski winked at her as she smiled. "Good luck with that." Kaylee came up behind them as 'Ski took the bag of parts. "So what's the plan?" "You are going to fix Serenity. 'Ski is gonna make sure he still remembers how to drive, and me...I get the funnest job of all. I get to clean the bay." The two cast a look at her as they continued away from the graveyard now complete with yet another dead body. -------------------------------------------------

Cat wiped the sweat off her face as she scrubbed the steps one by one. For six straight hours, she had been at it. The catwalks were almost finished as the dirty water spread over the floor below. Thankfully, the soak would make the floor a lot easier to finish. Her long legs were smeared as well as the rest of her body. Her only source of light was a small lamp Kaylee had found in the engine room.

It was hot and sweat continued to bead on her skin. Taking her shirt in her hands, she slid it off and placed it on the clean step above her. Under it was a black tank top, its material huggin her skin as she dipped her hand again into the lukewarm water, courtesy of the high temps.

A sound above her made her look up as 'Ski descended the steps. He had changed his clothes and held a plate of food in his hands. "Kaylee's asleep in the engine room so I figured I'd bring you some food."

"Aren't you a nice husband?" Cat smiled as she reached for the plate and sat down on the same step as her shirt. 'Ski took the spot next to her as he watched her check her food for anything out of place. He wasn't insulted, it was second nature to her after all the shit they had put her through. More than once , he had comforted her after a nightmare that had her screaming for relief and even more than that, he had stopped her as she brought his gun to her head begging him to fire.

"Now you're rememberin' why you married me."

She laughed and almost choked on some strange vegetable. It tasted a bit like a cross between a carrot and maybe a sweet potato. "You cook this?"

"Guilty. I had a small hot plate I brought with. Old Shepard I stayed with taught me a thing or two." "Just a regular boy scout, aren't ya?" she teased him before taking another delicious bite. 'Ski shifted next to her before speaking again.

"He insulted you, Cat. You and the girl...he wanted me to trade a night with you and her for the parts." 'Ski sighed and then stole a bite off of Cat's plate. They had been through too mch shit for there to be secrets between them, even though his past was still pretty dark to her. "I can deal with a lot, but when you start insultin' women."

"He deserved it. I just am a bit preoccupied with all of this."

"Need your head in the game, Babe, 'specially if you plan on savin' this captain of yours." He smiled at her through his stubble covered face and then ran his hand over his black short cropped hair.

"So you think he's still alive, too."

"Doesn't matter what I think." He grabbed her empty plate and sat it on the step above them. "Come on, I'll help you get this mess cleaned up."

"Why are you doing this, 'Ski?" She asked. He had his back to her as she heard him let out a deep breath.

"Because you asked me."

"Is that it?"

"Does there have to be more?" 'Ski turned and stared at her. His already dark eyes seemed to darken in the lamp's pale glow.

"No, there doesn't." She reached to place a hand on his for a moment before grabbing for the rag she had been using. 'Ski watched her a moment before fishing into the pail of water above her for another rag and dropping down a few steps to start scrubbing. He cast a look toward Cat's ample ass before slapping it. The result sent a small scream from her mouth and a few choice words none of which were in chinese.

"Get to work, Babe." And like that, the seriousness was gone.

------------------------------------------------- Author's notes: translations for the Chinese, in case you were wondering.

Ai ya: damn

Liou coe shway duh biao-tze huh hoe-tze duh ur-tze: Stupid son of a drooling whore and a monkey