"What do'ya mean ya don't like dogs?" Kaylee asked completely bewildered.
"I just-- I had kind of a bad experience with one growing up that's all." Simon sat on the floor across from her watching her play with the puppy in her lap.
"So you won't even give'em a chance? One bad experience and you're done for life? That's dismal."
"Well, no, I suppose-- "
"Good." Kaylee stood and walked the two steps across her room to him and plunked Lil' Captain in his lap.
"Oh, Kaylee, I don't think-- " Simon stammered raising his hands above his head out of the way of the dog's mouth.
"Don't be a 'fraidy cat, he won't bite." She rolled her eyes.
"I'm not afraid. Just . . . cautious." Slowly he lowered his hands carefully resting one on the puppy's back. When Lil' Captain just continued to lie there Simon hesitantly scratched his back.
"See." Kaylee gushed, "He likes you! You two are so shuai together. Oh, where'd I put my capture?" She rummaged around searching intently. Depositing the dog on the floor Simon stood quietly and captured Kaylee's hands in his own.
"Bao bei, I appreciate your need to fix things you think are broken but some things just take time." He blushed and glanced away from her intent gaze. "And I admit that some things have taken much longer than they should have." Simon looked back and met her gaze. "Like this." Leaning in he captured her mouth with his only to be interrupted by Lil' Captain's loud barking.
"Hey! What's goin' on down there?" Mal called down from the hall.
"Lots, Cap'n, lots." Kaylee replied, but the spell was already broken.
"Alright, just remember we need everyone bright eyed and bushy tailed when we make landfall tonight so don't go and do anything too exhausting." With that he went on the rest of his way to the cockpit to check in with Wash.
"Well, yes, I had better, uh, go recheck our medical supplies and check on River." Simon took a step back from her and nearly tripped on Lil' Captain. Falling backwards he grabbed onto Kaylee only resulting in pulling her with him onto the bed.
"I had hoped we'd end up here after all." Kaylee giggled as Simon apologized profusely and disentangled himself from her. "Ah well, maybe next time." Still smiling she followed Simon up the ladder, Lil' Captain tucked under her arm, then headed to the mess to get the dog a treat for a job well done. Things were shaping out to be mighty interesting with a puppy on board.
Later . . .
"Wash, how we doin'?"
"Just shiny, Big Cap'n." Wash replied with complete sincerity.
"Wash." Mal raised his voice in warning.
"I mean no disrespect, 'sir', but we do have to have some way of making it clear who we're talking to," pause, "or about."
"Behave yourself, husband." Zoe entered the bridge almost silently and came to stand behind the pilot's chair, one hand resting on Wash's shoulder. He patted her hand reassuringly.
"You know me, hun, always with the behaving." He pushed a few buttons and checked the data. "We're right on schedule, Cap'n, be landing on Harvest around 20'hundred hours give'er'take."
"Good. Lemme know if that should change." He turned and left before he said something he might regret later.
"Right'o."
Wanting some alone time to think up a plan Mal headed down the hall to his bunk and nearly ran headlong into Inara. He looked at her sullenly still not over how she'd made a fool of him.
"Mal, I--" she hesitated, unwilling to look at him.
"What, 'Nara? What?" Mal asked suddenly fed up with everything. With the charades and the pretense, he stepped forward and grasped her shoulders trying to get her to meet his eyes. "I'm sick of all this run-around. What do you want, Inara?"
She backed out his grasp only to find her back pressed against the bulkhead. He stepped forward blocking any means of escape and invading her personal space. He repeated his question. "What do you want, Inara?"
"I- I want . . ."
"You." The ethereal whisper came not from Inara but from around the corner. River seemed to almost materialize into being. She cocked her head to one side as though listening and her eyes lost focus for a moment. A secret smile bloomed across her face and her eyes fixed on them again. "She wants you. And you want her." With that she disappeared again as silently as she had come.
Inara's mouth hung open in silent denial. Mal stood just as speechless, rooted to the spot, eyes blinking slowly in disbelief. He shifted his gaze back to Inara hesitantly. "Well I, uh, that was . . ." Mal cleared his throat. "Bracing."
"Yes, I-- I don't know what to say." Inara tucked her hair back behind her ears blushing brightly.
Mal scrutinized her expression closely. "She's never wrong, ya know."
"I know." The silence between them lengthened becoming oppressive.
"We should probably talk--"
"Cap'n!" Wash called from the cockpit. "We're being hailed."
"Maybe later then." Mal turned hurriedly away.
"Yes, later." Inara turned just as quickly and headed in the opposite direction, glad of the distraction and hopeful that later would be a long time coming.