Disclaimer: I don't own Firefly, nor could I ever claim to own anything Joss Whedon has produced. He's far too good for me, or anyone else.

Author's Note: This takes place directly after "Objects in Space", the final episode of Firefly, and continues from there. Hope you enjoy!

Serenity in the Sky

Chapter One: Early Night

"You are a little genius, aren't ya?" Mal sad, giving River a smirk that was both stern and impressed. "Your brother mentioned somethin' of the sort when we picked you up on Persephone; but there is a small somethin' he didn't tell us all that much about." Without beating around the bush, he asked, "Are you psychic, River?"

She looked at him from where she sat, on a sturdy pile of boxes in the cargo bay. "Psychic?"

Mal approached her fiercely and put both his hands on her shoulders. "Yes, psychic. Do you read minds? Can you sense things that are happening in places you're not in?"

"Mind. Mine." She glared at Mal. "Mine to know."

"Maybe you don't understand well enough yet – I am your captain. You need to tell me what you can do." Mal's frustration was becoming evident with each word he said; but with it being he and River alone in the cargo bay, he knew she wouldn't give away too much.

"What do I do?" she said in a volume barely above a whisper. "I do. I am. I feel. I live."

Mal sighed and headed for the kitchen. "I guess we're gonna have to pick this up in the morning."

"You've got a long night ahead of you," said Kaylee. She leaned over Simon in the infirmary bed. "The pain meds you just took won't last all night and we can't afford to use up too many..."

"We have to make it last; I understand."

Kaylee held his hand tightly and smiled down at him. "I'll be here all night if you need me."

"I'm just glad he didn't hurt you," confessed Simon. "When Early told me he had you captive, I was so scared..."

"It's over now," she interjected. "We're both gonna live. Let's just be grateful for that."

"Even after a trial like tonight, you keep your head up," Simon said. "You're so wonderful, Kaylee – wonderful and positive." Kaylee just smiled meekly in response, so he kept talking. "I bet you weren't even frightened when you saw Early on the ship. How do you do it?"

"Just 'cause I'm happy don't mean I don't get scared or mad, Simon," explained Kaylee, a hint of aggravation in her voice. "Bad things happen, just gotta find the good that come out of it."

The pain meds had taken their affect, and Simon's eyelids grew too heavy for him to handle. "I'm tired... drifting off..."

"I'll be here when you wake up." Kaylee squeezed his hand one last time before Simon fell into a deep sleep.

"Thank you, Shepherd," said Inara gratefully as Book put a warm cloth to her bruised lip.

"You did the same for me – long ago, do you remember?"

"I do. I didn't exactly expect you to be returning the favour," Inara admitted, avoiding eye contact with Book.

He put the cloth on the table in her shuttle and gazed into her eyes as though searching for something. "When we got onto this ship, none of us expected to be living like this."

"I knew what I was getting into, Shepherd."

"No you didn't." His comment finally brought her eyes to meet his. "You knew what Captain Reynolds did, and he informed you about what life would be like here, but no description, regardless of how detailed, would be decent enough to depict how hard and truly dangerous it would be for everyone on board." Inara's pouted lips curved into a smile. "You're a tough woman, Inara, but no one is tough enough to deal with the physical and emotional stress of being on Serenity day after day."

"I suppose you're right," Inara said softly before Book put the cloth back to her lip. Just then, there was a knock at the shuttle door. "Who is it?" she shouted.

"We know it can't be the Captain," Book added to her amusement.

"It's Kaylee," the knocker responded as she opened the door. "Hiya both! Shepherd, I have to talk to Inara for a minute. Simon's out, do you mind...?"

"I'll keep watch over him while you're gone." Book offered her a nod of understanding as he left the shuttle.

"What happened?" Inara asked once the door snapped shut behind him. "I heard Early attacked you too, are you alright?"

Kaylee sat on the bed carefully as to not rub any engine grease from her coveralls onto Inara's silk sheets. "How do you do it, Inara? How do you be so gorgeous all the time?"

Inara furrowed her brow. "I – I'm not really sure what you mean, Kaylee."

"You're always lookin' pretty, bein' in front of boys and such. Aren't you afraid one of 'em is gonna take advantage of you one time?"

Immediately sensing this wasn't about her, Inara gasped. "Kaylee, did Early... did he take advantage of you?" When the tears began to fall gently down Kaylee's cheeks, Inara ran over to the bed and wrapped her friend in her arms. "It'll be okay, he's a filthy man who will do anything for money... He's probably dead by now."

"He didn't do it, Inara, but he threatened me." Kaylee sighed and sat upright, her legs crossed in front of her on the bed. "It was scary. He just tied me up. I felt so small... Ain't you scared someone will do that to you?"

"Kaylee," said Inara in a very sensitive manner. "I fear that every time I step off this ship. Even my clients could decide to betray my trust. You have to remain the strong girl you are and no one will dream of trying anything that would hurt you."

"Strong like Zoe?"

"Yes, but you are also strong in your own way. Never forget that, mei-mei."

Suddenly, there was the sound of static interference and Wash's voice came over the speaker. "Mal, I need you on the bridge – now please." Inara and Kaylee sat in silence for a moment until the static resumed. This time, Mal spoke. "Everyone – everyone to the bridge as fast as your feet can go. We have a situation."