Kaylee swung slowly in her hammock listening to Serenity’s humming engines. She was feelin’ real unhappy and lonely right now. Simon and she were finished, broken up. She had really thought that after Miranda they would be happy together. Simon had said he loved her, tried to save her, made sacrifices. Even with the continuing sadness of losing Book and Wash and the horrible memories from the fight at Miranda Kaylee had thought that they had a chance. Kaylee had expected great sex with lots of lovin’ mixed in, some companionship too, maybe a relationship like Zoë and Wash, a sort of team. She’d dreamed of it bein’ permanent.

Oh the first night had been wonderful all those pent up feelins being released. And it had been a comfort too, to be together after so much horror and death. But it turned out that their ideas about bein’ together was different. For Kaylee sex and love should be passionate, sometimes fun, sometimes noisy, sex was for enjoyin’. Simon didn’t really see it like that he worried if they made too much noise, weren’t too adventurous, was often tense. Passion was missin’ too, sometimes it felt like Simon was just doin’ his duty. He weren’t enjoyin’ it and neither was she, got so that she was hardly sleepin’ worryin’ about it. Worryin’ was no good, Simon’s attitude made her unhappy so she decided to end their relationship and that made her unhappy. ‘Specially when Simon had given her no argument, had seemed relieved.

Kaylee felt unhappier still when she thought that no-one, not one of the crew had noticed. It had been two days now, and no-one had noticed! Of course Zoë was grief stricken, missing Wash so much. Mal and Inara were still dancin’ round each other, Simon was avoidin’ her, River was River and Jayne…was standing at the engine room door. “Jayne, what ya doin’ there?” she asked startled “Came to see if ya alright” he answered She stood up quickly “I’m fine. Why do you ask?” now weren’t that contrary she thought He was confused “Thought you and Simon weren’t together no more. Ain’t ya?” “No we ain’t” Kaylee finally admitted it. “Well then Kaylee” Jayne growled at her impatiently “came to see if ya alright?” “No, no, I ain’t” she answered and astounded them both by flinging herself at his chest and sobbing. She cried for herself and the death of her dreams. For Wash and Book, all their friends on Haven and Whitefall and the people on Miranda. And all the while she was crying Jayne just held her. He didn’t say “there, there” or “things’ll work out” or any of those annoying things ya don’t want to here. He just wrapped his big arms round her, smoothing her hair till she had her cry. When she’d cried herself into a soggy mess Jayne handed her one of the rags she used to clean the engine and waited for her to mop up. He grabbed her by the hand and towed her down to her bunk “Need sleep” he stated. She nodded “thanks Jayne” He shrugged and waited for her to climb down the ladder “Sleep” he ordered Kaylee fell onto the bed and curled up tight and for the first time in weeks slept the whole night through.