Follow the Dream
Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me. No infringement intended.
Summary: After being shot, Kate wakes up far from the city of New York.
When Kate woke again, the same white walls and gray shelves surrounded her. She tried to sit up, but the pain in her shoulder kept her down. She gasped as the white fire coursed through her chest and down her arm.
A gentle hand touched her uninjured shoulder. "It's all right, Kate. You're safe."
She looked up to see a dark-skinned man with white hair and a mustache. He had a kind smile, and in his free hand, he held a Bible, with his index finger marking the passage he had been reading from. "I'm Shepherd Book."
"Hi," she answered, still looking around the small room. "I guess I'm still aboard the Serenity?"
"Yes, you are."
She brought her hands up over her eyes, ignoring the pain, but needing to feel it as well. She had hoped this was all a bad dream, something she'd wake from. "I just want to go home."
"I know it can be somewhat frightening, being away from all you know," his voice was soothing and made it easy to listen to him. "It's kind of how I felt when I first came aboard."
Kate uncovered her eyes and found the kindness reflecting in his. "Did you just appear like I did?"
He shook his head, and helped her to a sitting position on the bed. "Well, no, I actually paid my way on board. I wanted to travel, but God led me here for a reason... one that I'm still attempting to figure out."
There was a short time of silence shared between them before Book spoke again. "Perhaps you were sent here for a reason as well, and time will lead you to your answers."
"Maybe so," she answered, but there were so many things in her past that seemed to happen for no reason at all. It was hard to believe she would find any kind of answers here.
The Shepherd stood and smiled, "I see the good doctor is returning. I will be on my way, unless... you'd like for me to stay."
Kate shook her head and said, "I'll be fine, thanks."
Book walked out just before the doctor stepped inside, holding a tray. "I brought a bowl of soup for you, Kate."
He pulled a tray to the side of her bed and set the tray on top of it. "It's not much, and it's somewhat palatable."
Kate reached for the bowl of soup and the small package of crackers sitting beside it. "Thank you, Doctor -?"
"You're quite welcome," he said, "and you may call me Simon. I apologize for not properly introducing myself before..."
"No problem," she said, then took a bite of the soup. "The captain seemed pretty intent on hearing from me and no one else."
"Yeah, he can be very persistent at times. He definitely takes some getting used to." He smiled and took out a syringe, "This is another round of pain relievers. It looks like you need it."
"That would be great," she agreed, and held out her arm. She barely felt the needle as it pierced her skin. "And I do understand his viewpoint. I am a stranger, after all. I'm just confused why he took me in."
"He does things without explanation from time-to-time." Simon tossed the empty syringe into a trash bin. "Hey, if you're feeling up to having company, Kaylee wanted to stop by after she finished eating. She should be here soon."
"That's fine," she said, feeling the first tendrils of the cool medication ease away the pain in her chest. "I'd like to meet the person who found me."
There was a tap on the door and Simon turned toward the sound, "Speaking of..." he said, turning toward the door. "It's fine, come in."
A young woman wearing a jumpsuit with a teddy bear appliqued to the right leg stepped inside, smiling brightly. She seemed to be the type who was rarely found without a smile and it was as if she brought in a ray of hope with her. It was a nice change for Kate.
"Hi, Simon," she said, and smiled even wider at seeing Kate, "Hi! I'm Kaylee, welcome aboard the Serenity! I'm glad you're better... you looked pretty rough when we found you, all shot up."
She reached for her hand, and Kate shook it. She couldn't help but smile as well. "Hi Kaylee. It's nice to meet you. Thanks for helping me out."
"Oh, it wasn't a problem," Kaylee rocked back on her feet and shot a short look at Simon. "I just hoped Cap'n Tightpants didn't give you too much grief."
Kate understood what she meant, and couldn't help but laugh. "Captain Tightpants?"
"I know you're injured, and all," said Kaylee, "but you can't tell me you didn't notice!"
Kate felt her cheeks grow warm. She actually hadn't noticed, but she knew exactly what Kaylee meant. Just from looking at a different man.
Simon smiled awkwardly and stood up, "I think I'll go... over there... I've got more research I should be doing."
"See?" Kaylee joked, "It's clear on her, ain't it, Simon?"
He shook his head and looked like he was trying to bury himself in his work. "I have no idea, really." Simon gathered his notebooks and left the room.
"Can't say I'm surprised," she shrugged and smiled even wider, "He'll grow on ya, you'll just see!"
Kate just gave a weak smile, "I may have to take your word on that, Kaylee."
"You talkin' about me?" Mal entered, and Kaylee instantly swallowed most of her smile, but still kept a hint of it in her eyes.
"Just your good points, Cap'n," she said, then looked at Kate, "I guess I'll head back to the engines... I'm sure there's something that needs tending to."
He nodded and watched as she left, "You do that."
Kate looked up at Mal, still seeing the steel in his blue eyes. "You have an interesting crew, what I've met of them, anyway," she said, "they're all so... different."
"Yeah, that, they are, and they're good at their jobs." The side of his mouth quirked upward, like he might smile. "Doc says you're doin' okay..."
She shrugged, wincing a little at the dulled pain in her shoulder. "I guess I am, then. You know what you're going to do with me yet?"
He watched her for a moment, like he was trying to figure her out. "Not really. It's gonna be a while before we make another planet fall, so you're stuck here until then. Sorry about that."
"Me too," Kate answered.
He looked around, then shut the door to the room. She felt a little threatened by the action at first, but he didn't make any other moves than to turn around. "Listen, I know I came hard on you before, but you gotta understand, I can't take any chances here. I know it was me that took you in, but I still don't know anything about you."
She watched him, trying to see where this was going, but he was so closed off, it was difficult. "And you think I may be some kind of threat? You see how well I'm getting around."
"Yeah, I do see that. But, I don't know why you were shot, if you're with the Alliance, nothing, about you. I've had trouble with spies sneaking aboard in the past... They bring all manner of trouble."
"And you've decided I'm not trouble?"
He did actually smile, a little, that time. Sort of. "Not the same brand of trouble. Anyway," he shifted, looking a little uncomfortable, "Just... since you're here anyway, when the doc releases you, I'll have Kaylee fix up one of the passenger bunks for you. And maybe after that, we can talk about returning your gun."
"All right, Captain. Thanks...?" She guessed it was some form of apology she was getting from him.
"No problem," he answered, then left the room.
TBC...
