Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Firefly characters or am in any way connected to the show.

Characters: Kaylee, Simon, Mal, Inara, Zoe, Wash, Jayne, River

Summary: This story takes place three months after my last series, Right and Wrong. The crew takes on a new job involving a set of twins, a pair of handcuffs, and a trunk.

The Trunk By KaySky

Chapter One

It was only nine at night, but most of the crew had retired to bed. Their bellies were full from a glorious supper. It was a celebration. Tomorrow morning they would start a new, high paying, legitimate job. The money to be made was enough to keep Serenity flying for months to come. It was a nice feeling to have that kind of money coming in.

Mal wanted to make sure everything would go along smoothly. The kitchen was stocked with food and the passenger dorms were prepared…maybe not. “Kaylee!” Mal yelled as he headed for Simon’s room.

He was never a fan of knocking. He walked right in. “Where’s Kaylee?” He asked Simon who was occupied with his notes.

“She’s not here.” He closed his journal and stood up to stretch his legs. “Did you check her room?”

“Why would I check her room?” Every night since Vincent arrived on Serenity, Kaylee has spent in Simon’s room. She started sleeping there because it was the only place that made her feel safe. Her bunk was too close to the engine room where the past intruders had found her. Later she realized it wasn’t the place, but the man that made her feel safe. She tried sleeping in her bunk again knowing Simon wasn’t too far away if she needed him. She couldn’t sleep. Not because she was still afraid, but because she felt lonely. She had grown accustomed to a warm body sleeping besides her. She started making excuses to go to his room every night. Simon didn’t mind. She didn’t seem afraid anymore, she just seemed Kaylee. Soon there was no need for excuses. It became a regular routine for the two of them. She could still be found asleep in the engine room from time to time, but generally, she would be found in Simon’s room.

“Because if she’s not here its someplace else to look.”

“I didn’t think there was a need to look any place else. She’s become rather attached to you, Doctor. So attached she hasn’t done what I asked.” Normally, the tone of Mal’s voice would have sent chills running up Simon’s spine. Not anymore. He was past all that.

“It’s done.” Kaylee said cheerfully as she walked in the room heading in route towards Simon. Upon arrival she gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Just finished, Cap’n.”

“I was just at the passenger dorms. They ain’t made up.”

“Guess while you boys were in here chattin’ I was doin’ some work.” She grinned at Mal. “The guests will be more than happy.”

“Better make sure of it. Their uncle is payin’ a lot of money to get them to Noble.”

“Why exactly is he paying you so much?” Simon really was curious, but as he stood behind Kaylee his curiosity in the job was consumed by his curiosity in what Kaylee was wearing underneath her overalls. He wrapped his arms around her waist, learning her against himself, and planted a soft kiss upon her neck. “Passenger fairs aren’t anywhere near that price.” He mumbled, clearly distracted.

Mal could do without Kaylee and Simon being all lovey-dovey. He didn’t need to be reminded of his nonexistent love life. “It’s not just the passengers. He’s having them bring something he feels needs to be protected.”

“What are they bringin’?” Kaylee had to fight her desire to moan as Simon’s lips met her neck once again.

“Didn’t say, didn’t ask.” Mal saw the look in Simon’s eyes as they gazed at Kaylee. He needed to leave before he saw Simon act on it. “Keep an eye on River tomorrow.” He said, quickly heading out the door.

As soon as Mal turned his back, Simon spun Kaylee around for a lustful kiss. She could barley finish her sentence, “Sure thing, Cap’n.” before Simon’s lips were covering hers.

They fell back into the bed laughing. “That was a learning experience.” Simon said as Kaylee curled up next to him using his chest as her pillow.

“Learning?” Kaylee’s finger was busy sketching patterns over his chest.

“Now I know all I have to do to get Mal to leave is start being sweet on you.” He ran his fingers through her thick, auburn hair.

“What now that he’s gone you’re gonna stop being all sweet on me?” She sat up giving Simon a look filled with lustful concern.

He took her question as an invitation. He pinned her down, rolling on top of her, laughing in the process. “So should I continue to be sweet on you, or did you want to be sweet on me first?”

* * * *

“Gonna wait in the cargo bay and meet the new passengers?” Kaylee was walking by her shuttle as she stepped out.

“When are they due to arrive?.”

“They’ll be here soon. Cap’n left ‘bout an hour ago.”

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to wait around.” Inara noticed Kaylee’s immense glow about her this morning. “So meimei, you seemed to have had a wonderful evening last night.”

Kaylee blushed. “‘Nara, you can tell?”

Inara sighed and let loose a tiny giggle. “Young love is so precious.”

Their morning girl talk continued as they awaited the new passenger’s arrival.

* * * *

Mal and Zoe walked up the ramp followed by Wash driving the mule. He was hauling the new passengers and their cargo.

“This here is Serenity. She’ll get you safely to Noble.” Mal said with great pride. “Let me introduce my crew. Everybody this is Daniel and Danielle. As long as they’re on Serenity lets make them feel like home.” He introduced them to each one of the crew finishing with Jayne.

“Daniel and Danielle?” Jayne asked. “Couldn’t your parents come up with two different names?” Inara shot Jayne a looked that implied ‘manners’.

“Don’t mind Jayne,” Kaylee piped up. “He’s just sour ‘bout having a girl’s name.”

No matter how many times he heard the jokes, he still took them to heart. “I was just making conversation is all.” He replied.

“It’s okay.” Daniel responded as he hopped off the mule. “We get that a lot.” Daniel looked to be Simon’s age. He was tall, easily over six feet. His chestnut colored hair was very well maintained. It was cut very short along the sides and back, but the top left a little room for fingers to run through. He was wearing black slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a hunter green tie that brought out his eyes.

“Our parents didn’t know they were having twins...” His sister continued with the story.

“So they only had one named picked out…” Mal wondered if finishing each other’s sentences was a twin thing.

“Daniel if the baby’s a boy and Danielle if the baby’s a girl...”

“Our parents were never any good thinking on their feet.” He started unloading the mule.

Wash and Mal helped by pulling off the large trunk. To the rest of the crew’s surprise, Danielle was handcuffed to it. “And our Uncle is rather paranoid.” She said raising her arm so everyone could get a clear look at the handcuffs. “He insists my brother or I be handcuffed to this stupid trunk at all times.”

“What’s inside?” Kaylee gasped in excitement.

“Too paranoid of an Uncle to even tell us.” Daniel said.

Kaylee’s smile lessened in disappointment only to perk back up in wonder. There could be a world of secrets in that trunk.

“I’ll have Kaylee show you to the passenger dorms...” remembering the handcuffs, “I guess one at a time.” Mal turned to Wash. “Why don’t you get Serenity in the air.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” Wash found an eye patch in a thrift shop last time they were planet side. That was nearly two weeks ago and he still hadn’t grown tired of playing a pirate.

“Don’t mind my husband. He’s just a small child trapped in a grown man’s body.” Zoe headed up the stairs. “I better go with him.”

“You’ve got quite the crew Captain Reynolds.”

“You can call me Mal.”

“And just call me Dani.” Danielle was very slender. She was about 5’9” tall and had curves in all the right places. Her hair was the same color as her brothers’ and kept just long enough to keep tucked behind her ears. She was wearing a baby blue colored dress that feel several inches above her knees. Her neck was displayed by a stunning necklace lowering a sapphire charm to rest above her breasts. “I never was fond of Danielle.”

“Alright, Dani and Daniel if there is anything you two need just ask me or one of my crew.”

“Thanks, Mal. I think I might have Kaylee show me to the passenger dorms. I could use a nap.” Daniel said.

“Fine, go and nap while your baby sister is tied to a stupid trunk.”

“For the last time, I’m only three minutes older. That isn’t significant enough to make you my baby sister. Besides you’re the one that volunteered me to go to Noble. You could have at least asked.”

“Daniel, when are you going to have that operation?”

“Operation?” Like Clark Kent into Superman, Simon turned into doctor mode. “Is there something wrong?”

“Isn’t it obvious, Simon? My brother here needs to have that stick removed from his ass.”

“I’m going to take a nap. If you decide to apologize maybe I’ll decide to take over sitting with the trunk.”

“Brothers are so stupid.” Danielle said, rolling her eyes.

“I agree.” River had been quiet the whole time, but the bickering between the twins brought her to ease. It was very comforting. Memories of her childhood danced through her mind.

“Hey!” Simon yelled at River. “Big brothers are not stupid. Little sisters are bratty.”

“I’ll second that.” Daniel said.

“Stop, you all are making me home sick!” Kaylee laughed. “I got three older brothers and two older sisters… all equally bratty and stupid.”

“So that makes you the spoiled one.” River commented.

“That’s not so!” Kaylee blurted in response. “Just cause I was the baby doesn’t mean my folks treated me any differently.”

The twins, Simon, and River all looked at each other. In unison they say, “Uh huh.”

Pretending to pout, Kaylee crossed her arms and turned to Daniel. “Ready for the tour?”

So far everything was going according to plan. Mal was both surprised and thankful. He didn’t know much about the twin’s uncle, Holden Blake. When they spoke over the cortex Mal had to reassure him several times the trunk would arrive unharmed and twin attached. Mal didn’t know what was in the trunk. He didn’t want to know what was in there. All he knew was for a man to pay out this kind of money, whatever was in that trunk must be worth it.

To be continued...