A.N Thank you to everyone who reviewed. You are all SUPER shiny! I'm continuing it to see where it goes. So here's the next chapter.
First the last line of the previous chapter: He would stay strong. He would protect Kaylee. He would save her if it killed him.
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Tracey ran back to his parents' home. They were overjoyed to see him, but they noticed a change. He seemed darker, as if there was a shadow on his soul. They would catch him staring off into space with a smirk on his face. And his laugh wasn't the laugh they knew, it was slightly crazy, and more than slightly maniacal. They loved Tracey, though, and so they ignored it. Inside, Tracey was planning. He would get off this cold rock, and make Kaylee pay for betraying him. He would get her for breaking his heart if it killed him. He would get that brat Simon, too, for ruining his plan. He planned every night, and readied himself to escape this place again. His parents were afraid for him and of him, but he didn't care. Life had changed him, and they had better get used to it.
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Kaylee didn't sleep well that night. She was scared of what might happen if she closed her eyes. The most she got was a very light, troubled sleep. When she got up, she ran to the engine room. She worked until lunch, trying to keep her mind off of things. When lunchtime came, she still hadn't calmed down. She kept working, tweaking this and that on Serenity's engine. The compression coil needed cleaned, the steamer needed cooled, and the catalyser needed checked again. She kept working, keeping her hands busy and her mind clear. It was about an hour after lunch when Simon found her.
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Simon went looking for Kaylee, knowing immediately where she'd be. He leaned through the doorway to the engine room, and sighed. Would Kaylee never be okay again? He shook himself, and stepped into the room. She was on the other side of the engine, grease coating her face, and a wrench in her hand. "Hey you," he said quietly. "Are you okay? You weren't at lunch, and now you aren't smiling like usual. So what can I do to help?"
She forced a smile. "I'm fine, Simon. The engine just needs some tweaks. Don't worry about it, I'm just gonna stay here and keep workin'." Kaylee replied.
He shook his head. "The engine is fine. You take good care of Serenity, Kaylee. She doesn't need any tweaking. So come eat something. Please. For me."
She smiled a bit more, and nodded. "All right. I suppose you're right. But then, you almost always are. Thanks Simon."
"For what?"
"For caring. You came looking for me, and you certainly didn't have to. So thanks." Kaylee answered. She walked past him, and out of the engine room. He followed her to the kitchen, and smiled as she grabbed a protein bar, which she proceeded to eat ravenously.
"Told you you'd be hungry," Simon teased. Kaylee slowed down, swallowed, and stuck her tongue out at him. His grin widened even further. Slowly, Kaylee's answering grin faded. "Simon, can I tell you something? I mean, ya gotta promise not to tell anybody," Kaylee asked quietly.
"Well, of course, Kaylee. Go ahead. I'll keep your secret," Simon replied.
"I'm scared. He- Tracey got away, an' he's prolly mad at me. I did kinda mess up his plan. What if he's out to get me? He got away, but what if he's comin' back? I jus' don't feel safe," Kaylee whispered. Simon noted somewhere in the back of his mind that when she was scared Kaylee's accent got much thicker. Especially since she tried to erase it completely when she was around him.
"Kaylee, he's not going to touch you. I'm here, and I'll protect you," Simon reassured her. She smiled at him, and then leapt forward to hug him. He nearly fell backwards at the force with which she struck him, but then wrapped his arms around her in return, and hugged back just as fiercely.
"Thank you, Simon. Thank you so much," Kaylee said fervently into his chest.
"You're welcome Kaylee. Anytime," Simon whispered into her hair.
A.N. Well, was it okay? Was it worth writing, or should I have left it a one shot? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know! I want my reviews? Were the characters accurate, did Tracey seem insane or just weird, and how was the accent? Tell me all this and more, with the magical review button!
