Note:If I mess up any names, its cause I don't know 'em. Its Joss's 'verse, I just have fun with it. Enjoy!!! Simon panted heavily into the dusty floor, wincing every time he breathed. His rib stump poked him in his chest with each breath. He feared that he might have internal breathing. With a feeling that was usually reserved for when you break atmo at full burn, Simon was picked up by Kaylee's dad, who then slammed him into a barn wall. Simon felt more than heard the ominous cracking that meant that he had broken another rib. Kaylee's father held him by the throat with one hand, pulling back his right hand for another punch. "Damn you, if you've done a thing to my daughter, I'll kill you!" Simon had both hands on the mans paw, alternately gasping for air and struggling to push the hand off his throat. Kaylee rushed over and started beating on his arm, which was hard to do, as her father was at least seven foot tall. The huge bear of a man looked down at his daughter. "But, Kaylee, this is Simon Tam! The murderer of Lilac! The butcher of freighter crews. He and his gang have been killing the folk and stealing their valables! Look at Lilac, he even got in the vault of the security force!" He showed no signs of letting Simons neck go. Kaylee said desperately, "no, that weren't him! That was Reavers! I should know, I was there, and he was with me. Not in that way," she said at his alarmed look at her. "An' the vault, that was Mal an' Zoe! Weren't no fiance o' mine 'at stole money from dead folks!" Simon's gasp reminded him that he was still choking him. He let Simon slide from his grasp. He hung his hands at his sides, as if to make sure that they wouldn't stray towards Simons neck again. Kaylee moved toward Simon, who was in obvious pain. "You done broke some'a his ribs," she said angerly. Her pa cast around, looking for any subject that would not go in the direction that this one was heading. "So whats this about him bein' yer fiancee?" *** River was practically skipping along the road, astride Zoe, who was going at a more sedate pace. It was good to finally be on a planet that wouldn't disgorge any traps or dangers. That was why she skipped. They were only a quarter mile to the shuttle, which they could see clearly now. Serenity was a ways back, at the docking area. She was with Zoe in front, and behind them came Mal and Inara, who were casting warm looks at eachother. Jayne brought up the rear. He carried his usual compliment of three guns, while Zoe and Mal carried only their pistols. Jayne started complaining about the fact that "there ain't gonna be no good booze or ruttin for miles 'round here." Mal assuaged him in one aspect of that in that the Fryes brewed some of the best beer this side of the planet. That brought Jaynes feet up astep. River felt the familiar push of emotions indicating sex from Simon and Kaylee, coming from the barn down the road. Already? she thought increduously. So early. She started to put up her regular barriers when she stopped. Something was very, very wrong. She wasn't detecting pleasure. It was pain, coming from Simon. She felt Kaylees distress. Then she felt him. There was a man in the room, and he was angry. Zoe said, "River, whats wrong. Why've you stopped?" River hadn't know she had stopped. "Simons in trouble." They sped off toward the barn. *** Kaylee and her dad were having a shouting match. "How did he come to this?!?!" If Kaylee had wanted to say something, she couldn't. At that moment, Mal, Zoe, and Jayne burst in through the door. They immediately set their guns on Kaylees dad. "This is awkward," said Kaylee.