It had been a week since the incident. Kaylee sat in the engine room mindlessly fiddling with her tools. The rest of the crew had welcomed her back, apologized for leaving her and all that. They were all being extra nice to her, as if to make up for leaving her on that planet. After Simon had checked her over, she hadn't been allowed in the infirmary. Jayne had been in there since they got back. Once she docked the shuttle back on Serenity's wing, she had turned to say something to him and saw him laying there, slumped against the wall. She had been sure he was dead, but when she tried to pick him up he moaned.

When she opened the door half the crew had been there asking her if she was ok and what had happened. She couldn't talk at the time, and just pointed at Jayne on the floor. Zoe and Mal carried the man to the infirmary, and Kaylee followed.

That was the first time Kaylee had seen Jayne look so peaceful. She didn't like it one bit.

She looked up when she heard someone coming. Mal's head poked through the door to the engine room a moment later.

"Kaylee. Go on to the infirmary. Someone there wants to see you." He said. A small smile touched the corners of his lips.

"Is it...I'll be right there!" Kaylee said, slowly grasping exactly who Mal was talking about.

She jumped to her feet and dropped her tools back in her tool box, then ran from the room. When she got to the door of the infirmary, Simon was standing there.

"Kaylee..." He started. He stood up straight and gave her a sad smile. "I haven't had much time to talk to you, I was wondering if I might have a word?"

Kaylee looked between Simon and the door, but smiled at the man and nodded. "Sure."

"I just...well, I wanted to say I'm sorry. If I could have helped...If there was anything I could have done I promise you I would have." Simon stammered. He was so cute when he was tryin' to be all polite and proper.

"Simon." Kaylee smiled "It's ok. I know you'll do what you can, but you need to be here for River is all. I got plenty of people t' look after me an' yur all she's got."

"I just...I wish I could have..." Simon looked down and rubbed his neck, searching for the right words.

"Really. It's ok." Kaylee hugged the doctor. "Can I go in?" She asked when she let go, pointing at the door.

"Oh, yes, of course. Uh, he's a little doped up, but he should be awake." Simon said.

Kaylee gave him one last smile and left.


Simon watched Kaylee leave, then leaned back against the wall with a sigh. He really would have gone after her if he could. If he were honest with himself, he knew he would be much too weak to fight that many reavers at once. He hadn't even been on the planet when they attacked and he was scared for his life. He rubbed his temples. Why did it have to happen like that?

"What's wrong, doc?" He looked up to see Zoe standing in the hall.

"Oh...nothing, just...Kaylee..." Simon sighed.

"Mad you weren't the one to save her?" Zoe asked knowingly.

"Not really. I just wish someone else had..."

"Wish it weren't Jayne?" She smiled, amused.

"Yeah..." Simon looked around. "He's just so...and, and Kaylee, she's..." He couldn't get the words together. He was surprised when Zoe laughed.

"Trust me, Doc, Jayne ain't no threat to you and Kaylee." She said. Simon looked at her confused. "Don't get me wrong, they have some kind of relationship, those two, but it ain't romantic. Not even close." Zoe walked off, laughing, leaving Simon standing alone, baffled.


The lights were so bright compared to the rest of the ship. Kaylee guessed they needed to be, considering what went on in there.

The chair in the center of the room was empty, but off to the right lay Jayne, covered with a white blanket. There was an IV in one arm, while the other was in a sling. His shirt was off, but almost his entire torso was bandaged. A display above him showed his vitals. From what Kaylee could tell he was doing alright.

She slowly moved closer.

"Jayne?" She said softly "You up?"

after a moment his eyes opened and he looked around.

"Hey, girl." He mumbled. His voice was more gravely than usual, like he hadn't talked in a long time and his throat was dry.

"They wouldn't let me come see yuh till now. How you feelin?" Kaylee asked, sitting on Simon's swiveling chair.

"Peachy." Jayne grumbled. "You ok?"

Kaylee was a little surprised. "Yeah, I'm alright. Didn't get hurt none at all."

"That was...uh...some good shootin' down there." Jayne flicked his gaze her way, then back to the ceiling.

"Never coulda got out of there without your help." Kaylee said, scooting the chair a little closer.

"Nope...never woulda." Jayne started to laugh, but it turned into a cough.

Once he settled back down, Kaylee asked the question that had been on her mind since they got back.

"Jayne...why'd you save me?"

"Wucha mean why'd I save you?" Jayne looked at her confused. "Said I would, didn't I?"

"Yeah..." Kaylee said with a smile. "You did. Speaking of..." She reached into the side pocket of her jumper and pulled out the shiny pistol, Sasha.

"Here. This is yours." She had been carrying that little gun around everywhere, like a security blanket. After what had happened she felt better with it, but she knew she needed to return it. Jayne looked at it for a moment, then up at Kaylee.

"Ain't mine. That's yours." He said.

Kaylee was confused. "But you said..."

"Sine when anybody listen t' what I have to say?" Jayne scoffed. "Keep it. I'll never miss it. Never use it."

Kaylee looked at the gun in her hands. The silver shone so bright and clean she could see her reflection in it. A huge smile spread across her face.

"Jayne, I...don't know what ta..."

"Jus take care of it." Jayne said. "Mal'll show yuh how t' clean it."

"This is...I don't...thank you." Kaylee leaned forward and gave him a big hug, only letting go when he groaned uncomfortably. "Oh! Sorry!"

"Go on now, go play with your new toy, xiao mei mei." Jayne said closing his eyes again.

Kaylee smiled at the name. "Rest up, Jayne." She said, patting is arm. She stood and looked at him for a moment more, then left.


It was a month before Jayne was able to leave the infirmary and walk around on his own. Simon still insisted he come in for a check up every few weeks, but he skipped them. He felt almost back to normal. He had gained the feeling back in his left arm, and wasn't having headaches anymore. He walked into the kitchen looking for a snack, but found Mal instead.

"Hey, Cap'n." He said, trying to get past him to the cupboard, but Mal moved into his way.

"Jayne." He said in his angry voice.

"Awh, hell, wha'd I do this time?" Jayne rolled his eyes, and stood back.

"I never got a chance to talk to you about what you did back on that planet." Mal said. His face was stone.

"Now, look Cap, I just. " He stopped when Mal held up a hand.

"Thank you." He said. "Jayne, for saving Kaylee. We all feel better havin' her 'round." Mal stuck out his hand. Jayne looked at it for a moment before shaking it.

"Well now, ain't this somethin'." He smirked.

Mal smiled and nodded slightly. "That's for savin' Kaylee." Mal let a fist fly and caught Jayne square on the jaw.

"That was for stealing my shuttle."


Author's note: And it's done! Leave a review and let me know what you thought. And again, if you liked the idea, but thought you could do better, please, by all means take it and write your own version. Just send me a link cuz I want to read it!