Kaylee blushed furiously, turning red as a spotlight. She and Simon rushed about, trying to get there clothes back on. Once she had her bra and panties on, she turned to Mal a mite huffily. "Yes, cap'n, what is it?" Mal turned away, finally, as she struggled to get her pants back on. "Kaylee, much as you both like goin' at it, I need you in the engine room, right now and sooner. Someat is wrong with my ship. Remember what I said? My ship don't crash. She crashes, you crashed her." Kaylee turned toward Simon as he stumbled in his pants, trying to get them back on over his underpants, both blushing furiously. "Not to worry, cap'n. Everythin'll be shiny with Serenity, not to fret. I'll be there soon." She hastily brought her shirt on, which left her shoes and socks to find. Simon cursed as he fell flat on his face, tripping up in his pants again. "Damn, but I belive that he's spying on us. Wish it could wait. FUCK!!!" he yelled as he tripped again. "'Why', doctor, is simple," said Mal frostily. "My ship needs a mechanic to keep 'er goin'. No mechanic, no working ship, which'll leave us all with a very bad case of horrible dead, that even you can't fix." With that, Mal left, closing the hatch behind him. The two of them kept up looking for their respective clothing articles. Mal shivered at seeing his mechanic with his ships medic. Inara and Jayne were there when he came back intothe dining room proper. Jayne looked up, scowled, and said "those two been ruttin' again?" Inara just smiled into her teacup. *** Dinner that night was more subdued than usual. For one thing, Mal and Inara didn't have their usual shouting match, which bespoke of two things: first, their relationship was going well, and that Mal was still sore at Kaylee and Simon. Zoe ate in silence, brooding over all the crap that happened in her life. Kaylee was exhausted after three hours working in the engine, which she had let get a little too far gone, thanks to Simons ministrations. The problem with the engine was a burnt out catalyzer, which they thankfully had a spare of. Simon watched his lover in silence, worried about her condition, and fingering something in his pants pocket while he picked moodily at his food. Jayne was, well, Jayne, and River went at her mushy protien food with a will, muttering on about something involving Kaylee. Kaylee was first done, pushing away a half filled plate. She wearily got up and put it in the kitchen sink, as it was Jaynes turn to wash the dishes. She stumbled out into the hall. After a minute, Simon followed her. Deciding that he didn't like the look in the doctors eyes, Mal followed, intent on spoiling any amorous intentions the doc had. Simon found Kaylee outside the hall, overlooking the cargo bay on the catwalk outside the door. She turned around in surprise as Simon came out behind her. She smiled. "Simon, hi..." Simon cut her off gently. "Shhhh, wait. Theres something I have to say." Kaylee nodded silently, and waited for him to speak. Simon took a deep breath and started. "Kaylee, ever since I saw you, I've been in love with you. I saw you on Persephone, with your little sun umbrella. You looked right at me, and smiled, and it was like there was only you and me, and it was like the rest of the 'verse was just whitenoise." He took another breath, going over his speech in his mind. He had rehearsed this for well over a month, ever since Beaumond. He wouldn't mess this up, too much was at stake. He took out what was in his pocket, a little gray box with a silk ribbon. It hada hinge on one side. "For eight months, I waited. I didn't go to you then, and now I'm not so sure why. But now I am, and there is something I have to ask." He got down on one knee, and opened the little gray box, and held it up to her. Inside, nestled in soft padding, a ring with a single ruby set in it glinted in the cargo bays half-light. Kaylee gasped, and took a step back, gripping the top railing for support. "Kaylee, will you be my wife?" Kaylee was entirely lost for words. She could only breath the word "Simon...", and nod her head a little. Her eyes widened in surprise and joy. Then Mal came in, and helped in the killing of Kaylee Frye. Kaylee looked at him, and snapped out of her revivere. "Cap'n?" And then, with a loud crack, the railing that she lent on snapped. Its joints were weak, rusted by the rain water on Beaumond. Kaylee was sent tumbling over the side with a gasp. She landed shoulder first. With a sickening crunch, her shoulder broke into half a dozen pieces, and her arm snapped on impact. Simon launched himself over the railing, crying "KAYLEE!!!!!" Mal caught him by his collar, yelling something incoherent in his ear. Simon lost all sense of logic. Only getting to Kaylee mattered, if he could get to her it would be okay. Kaylees blood went down the bay, mixing with the fallen tears of Simon Tam. *** "How is she?" asked Inara worriedly. The whole crew was gathered in and around the infirmary, where Kaylee hovered between life and death. Simon wearily spoke. "She broke up her shoulder, some of the bone shards are too close to her heart, her arm is broken, and she has a pretty bad concussion. "What she means to say is, will she be alright?" said Zoe. Simons voice faltered a bit. "She'll... she'll be fine. I have what I need right here, and I believe...no, I know that I can save her. Please, leave the room, everyone, I need to operate." Everyone filed out of the crowded room, except for Simon and Mal. Simon looked at him wearily. "Please go, Mal, I can handle this." Mal spoke in a world-weary voice. "I know ye can, Doc. Ain't none better'n you for this. But all doc's need a little help." Simon smiled at him. "Then lets get to work." *** Serenity hung in deep orbit aroud Persephone, which was the closest planet to them. If it became needed, they could fly in and land at some full stocked hospital. Simon and Mal sat asleep in chairs next to Kaylee, who was stretched out on the infirmary chair. She was hooked up to instruments that monitered her vitals. They read stable. On a bloody table lay the bone shards. One was as big as a needle. Fresh blood coursed into her prostrare form. She moaned softly. Simons eyes fluttered open at that. He saw her stir, and got up to see her. She was awake. Simon softly stroked her hair. "Shhhh, baobei. You had a bad fall." He didn't worry her with details. Kaylee smiled at him. "Thank you, Simon. Oh, and I believe that I will marry you." Simon grinned and kissed her forehead softly. "Sleep now, love. I'll see you in the morning." Kaylee smiled, and drifted back off to sleep. *** Kaylee Frye died that night. Mal helped kill her, and so did Jayne. But mostly, it was Simon, who asked her to become his wife. Kaylee Frye died that night, but her spirit lives on in her succesor. Kaylee Tam.