Inara waited patiently in her shuttle. Before long, she heard the knock she was waiting for. She told the person on the other side of the door to come in. Kaylee strolled in with her usual pleasant demeanor. Inara took a deep breath and met her in the middle of the room. After Kaylee gave her a hug, she asked Inara what was wrong.

Inara hid her guilt and looked her in the eye while she placed her hands on her shoulders.
"Mei mei. I need to tell you this and you're not going to be happy with me. But I had you come here because someone has requested to speak with you and. He requested to Mal for it to be here with me present. I ask that you please just listen to what he has to tell you."

Kaylee looked at her confused. Inara looked over to one of her red silk tapestries that hung to Kaylee's right. When Kaylee looked at it, Jim Prichard stepped out from behind the tapestry. Kaylee's eyes grew wide and she pulled away from Inara. Inara looked down when Kaylee's face illustrated the betrayal she felt. She glared at Jim with mixed emotions.

He stood still and planted his heels into the floor when she lunged forward and decked him. He looked back at her and took a breath. At the same time, he looked at Inara and inconspicuously wagged his index finger. Inara folded her hands and remained in place. He looked back at Kaylee right as she decked him again. He wiped the blood off his lip before she grabbed his vest and started shaking him.

"How dare you show your face on Serenity? How dare you set foot on this shuttle? After what you did? After you took our son and left me?" she screamed before shoving him back.

While she stared at him in anger, he gently removed her hands from his vest and took a step back.

"We'll talk 'bout that in a bit. Right now I need to tell ya..." he began but was cut off.

"We'll talk 'bout it now! Nǐ duì yīgè. Zi de érzi!" she screamed at him. "You came here fer what? Why? Did ya finally grow a pair? Coward!"

Jim continued staring at her waiting to speak but still listening to her.

"Don't act like you don't 'member. You had to send Bester to come tell me that we was over and that you was takin' Noah, with you 'cause you felt that I was in no condition to continue raising our child! Húndàn!" she shouted some more and shoved him.

"Can I speak now?" he asked.

Kaylee was breathing hard with tears streaming down her face. Jim heaved a heavy sigh.

"Since you insist on talkin' 'bout that, you should know that both Bester and your ma told me that you wished to have nothin' further to do with me and that 'cause you knew he was more than likely gonna pass away, you decided that Noah was officially my problem from then on.

She looked at him taken aback. Even Inara's eyes widened. Both women knew by the look in his eyes that he was telling the truth. He straitened up his vest and cracked his neck before continuing.

"Even though they told me that, I didn't leave right away. Fer two weeks after that, I went to all of our meetin' spots every day and waited fer you. When you never turned up at any of them, I left with our son at the beginning of the third week."

Kaylee hesitated a moment and then a confused look took over her face. "You never listened to a gorram thing my ma had to say and you always hated Bester. What the hell made you listen to them all of a sudden ?"

"Because your bestest friend Catalina, confirmed their story. She showed at our favorite meetin' spot at the Weeping Willow where Noah was conceived. She told me it was very much true and that I needed to take Noah and just go. Didn't seem there was much other choice after that," Jim answered with a hint of anger in his voice.

The sting of betrayal became further prominent and she almost began to hyperventilate.

Jim continued, "That's right. The one person you trusted most in your life. The one what promised to never lie to or 'bout you."

Inara decided to speak up. "Jim. This is not what you are here for. Please? Tell her now before I allow her to leave and send you away."

He nodded. Kaylee looked at her and then back at him. She then asked the question that he was about to answer.

"You're hear 'bout Noah aren't you? What's happened to 'im? What's happened with my son?" she asked with her voice cracking.

Inara looked away and Jim looked down.

"That's why I been looking for you," he began.

Kaylee looked at him as her skin turned white. "Noah is on Yensid," he continued."His ailments from bein' born premature have gotten worse and the doctors ain't able to do nothin' more. I felt it was important that you heard 'bout this from me. I took up bounty huntin' and looked for ya 'cause Noah ain't got long left to live. If you want to, I will take you with me to see him. But if you don't wanna come with me, I'll make sure you have the navigation so that you to get there to see him."
Kaylee fell to her knees. Inara knelt next to her with her hands on her shoulders to comfort her. Kaylee was wailing and berating her mother, her best friend and Bester.
"Wèishéme wǒ xiāngxìn tāmen? Wǒ xīwàng húndàn sǐ wèi tā de fèiyòng wǒ."

"Mei mei, I'm so sorry. Trust that he will get what he deserves one day. Karma will strike him," Inara said calmly.

Jim stepped closer to her and lifted her head by her chin. He could see the anger, pain and other rage of emotions in her eyes. Which brought tears to his. He went down to his knees so that she could look him in the eye. She tried her best to keep her gaze on him.

"I gave that sumbitch what he deserved. I bumped into Bester at a tavern on our home world. I got friendly with him. Once he had a few too many drinks in him, he admitted everythin' he done to help your ma split us up. From when the ideawas conjured up all the to how he got Catlina to do him the favor cause she was sleepin' with him. He laughed the entire time he told me 'bout it. That was 'til he figgered out who he was talkin' to. Then he decided to fight me. It started with our fists. Then he pulled a knife and I was left with no choice. I shot him in the throat fer it. Everyone there did nothin' but watch him suffer the whole five minutes it took for him to die. I Dumped his body over the south side of Saturn Hill."

Kaylee caught her breath. "He deserved worse. At least he dead. Wǒ xīwàng shēnghuó jiùhuǒ zhě zài dìyù lǐ ránshāo. There anythin' else you came here for?"

"No Kaylee, there ain't. I came here to tell you that Noah is dyin' and to give you the choice of how to go see 'im. What happens next is up to you. From here, I'll be takin' my leave," he answered and turned around.

"Wait! Don't leave without me. I'm gonna go with you. I ain't waitin' to see him. I'm comin' with you," she insisted.

He helped her stand up to her feet and nodded. "Go pack up then. We leave after I talk to Cap'n Reynolds and tell him what's going on."

She hugged him tightly and repeatedly thanked and apologized to him. When she left Inara's pod to go to her bunk, Jim sighed again and flopped down onto Inara's love seat. He ran his fingers through his long hair a couple of times before resting his head in them. Inara sat next to him and rubbed his back comfortingly. He took the time to compose himself before looking at her.

He opened his mouth a couple of times but did not speak. For that moment, he was at a loss for words. He knew the situation was going to be tense. He did not expect to feel as horribly as he did though. What would happen after they leave, he was not sure.

"Are you alright Jim?" she asked.

"Yea. I'm fine. It's her I'm more worried 'bout," he answered.
She then took a deep breath before asking her next question. "You did not tell her the truth about your encounter with that man. Why? At least tell me, what really happened. Please?"

Jim winced. "That's right. You're a Companion," he exhaled, looked her in the eye and continued, "When I said he got drunk up and admitted what he'd done, that was true. It is also true that we got into a fist fight. What really happened, was that I knocked him out after two punches. Everyone else backed off after I announced to them I'm a bounty hunter. I lied and told them that he was wanted and being arrested. Then I drugged him before I left the planet with him. When he came to, he begged, pleaded, cried, apologized and, confessed once more. I made sure to record it when his second confession. Then I hogtied and dumped him on a moon in Reaver territory. I saw the Reavers coming at him just before I broke the atmo on that planet. At that time, I felt he deserved what I did. Now a days, I ain't none too proud of it. Ive hated myself fer it since after I'd done it."

Inara pressed her fingers against her lips and looked away. He shook his head.

"I gotta get ready to go. Just need to let Cap'n Reynolds know what's goin' on first."
He got up and left Inara's shuttle without another word or glance. She was at a loss for words and kept her fingers pressed against her mouth. She then grew a concerned when she saw River stop and stare at him after he exited. Then River strolled in his direction. After the doors closed and she knew she was alone, she knew it was safe to grieve. She wept for Kaylee's and the story she was just witness to.

* Translations*
Nǐ duì yīgè. Zi de érzi- You son of a bitch

Húndàn- Asshole

Wèishéme wǒ xiāngxìn tāmen? Wǒ xīwàng húndàn sǐ wèi tā de fèiyòng wǒ- Why did I believe them? I hope that bastard dies for what he's cost me

Mei mei- Little Sister

Wǒ xīwàng shēnghuó jiùhuǒ zhě zài dìyù lǐ ránshāo- I hope that life wrecker burns in hell