The Anything But Routine Day
Author - Coll
Rating - PG-13 to R, haven't decided how far I'm going to take this.
Disclaimer - None of the characters are mine, except the ones that I make up, all rights to Joss Whedon, a.k.a. - God, and I think you all know the drill.
Spoilers - Takes place after "Objects in Space." I'm also including the pilot, "Serenity."
Author's Note - Fox blows, Firefly forever! Also, FYI, I'm going to put the translations and what not at the end of the story.
Chapter 5 - 7:16 pm
There was this theory Mal had, about being cursed and what not: Every time he had the simple workings of a plan, or just had to go from point A to point B, something happened. He gorram knew it, when he said this morning that he just wanted a simple, easy going day, that it wouldn't happen.
The whole crew came rushing into the common area all at once. He hadn't ordered them in or anything, they just heard his cursin, his reaction to the ruttin sight that was before him.
They all came from every which way too. Wash, Zoe, and Kaylee came from their bunks (Kaylee gasped as well as throwin her hands over her mouth). Book came from his quarters and the young doctor followed Inara in, which Mal stopped to ponder on a second as everyone registered what was happening.
"Sir, how did-"
"Damned if I know," Mal responded to Zoe knowing what she was gonna ask and before she finished askin. "Come in here a minute ago, ready to call everyone out of their bunks, have some supper, and here's Jayne."
Mal tilted his head to the side as he surveyed Jayne's sprawled out body: Not too many serious damages, except for the large gash on his head that could be a concussion. Almost as if on cue, Simon bent down, checked Jayne's pulse and did all those other doctor, checkout things that he does when someone gets knocked unconscious.
"He gonna live, Doc?" Wash asked. "I mean, I know he already had some head trauma, what with the being an er bai wu and all, but-"
"Wash." Mal simply said, but his tone spoke levels and shut his joking pilot up completely. Zoe took it upon herself to lightly smack her husband as Simon continued to look over Jayne.
"From what I can tell," he stated as he stood and addressed them all. "He'll be knocked out for a quite a while, but I see no sign of any long term damage."
Mal nodded, "Does he need to be taken to the infirmary?"
Simon shrugged. "There's really nothing I can do for him, he just has to wake up." He answered.
For a second, not really sure what to do, everyone just stood there silently. "Um," Kaylee started off quietly and unsure. "What do we think...happened...to Jayne? How'd he get that gash?"
"Most like the big ape just hit his head while trying to reach into the cupboard," Mal answered or, rather, lied. "Those edges are sharp, they'll get to you. Wash, get me our ETA for Avalon. Kaylee, head to the engine room, go through her again see if she's still good. Zoe, gotta have a word.
"Everyone else, just sit tight. We'll be on Avalon in no time."
Mal nodded his head to the door that led to the cargo bay and Zoe followed him out of it. "Sir?" Zoe started off. "We both know that Jayne didn't hit his head."
"Yes we do," Mal agreed. "And I'm sure some of the others know that as well; but, after what happened with that baw lan jiao liu man, I don't want Kaylee thinking there's someone lurkin."
"But, that's what you think, Sir?" Zoe asked.
Mal looked back at her as they walked down the catwalk steps and nodded. "What else could have happened?"
"That story about Jayne and the cupboard," Zoe responded. "It's happened before."
***
Simon sighed and sat down at one of the empty chairs at the table. Inara had smiled and nodded to Simon and Book before heading back to her shuttle. Her words, her interpretation of his dream stuck with him. His head furrowed in thought
"It's not a good feeling, is it?" Book asked, jolting Simon away from the dream.
"Sorry." Simon responded, not really too sure about what Book had actually said to him.
The Shepard smiled at Simon before lowering himself into a chair on the other side of the table. "I was commenting on the situation," Book rephrased. "Everyone else having their orders or occupied with something else, or unconscious, and then there's us...sitting here and having to wait for Avalon."
Simon wasn't sure if Book misunderstood his quiet thinking or was leading to something else, but he did have a point. Wash was in the pilot's seat; Mal and Zoe were doing...whatever, something important most likely, and Kaylee...
Perhaps he shouldn't be thinking about Kaylee for a little while. "And feeling useless?" Simon added to the end of Book's comment.
"While we're both on the same page," Book started. "Something is telling me that your thoughts run deeper."
"How is it that everyone on this ship can sense my troubles?" Simon asked in general rather than towards Book. "Kaylee asked if I was alright, River said something earlier, Mal had a 'chat' with me, and Inara gave me advice. Am I that transparent?"
"In a way, that is how you are," the Shepard responded matter of factly. "Not so much transparent, but you're very honest about your emotions. You never hide what you're feeling, you show everyone how you feel...even if you don't know it."
"The way you describe it, it sounds like my flaw. A weakness." Simon responded.
"Or a gift?" Book tried, but it didn't float too well with Simon. His thoughts were still on the dream and what it could possibly mean. All he could think about was...
"Kaylee."
"What? I wasn't...huh?"
Book eyed Simon suspiciously. "I was talking about gifts," he told Simon. "I was saying how we all have gifts like Wash with his flying and Kaylee with machines."
"Oh," Simon said quietly as, he imagined, his face reddened. "I don't believe that my gift is showing people my emotions, whether or not I want them to."
"Well, it's not always clear, at first, why people have the gifts they do," Book said, trying to convince Simon otherwise. "But there is always a point when one realizes why they do what they do."
Simon merely nodded, not all too sure about what to say back to the profound Shepard. "Well," he began to respond to Book. "I wish, if this is my gift, its purpose would reveal itself soon."
"It will when it's ready, son," Book told him as he rose from his seat and headed out the kitchen, stopping to touch his shoulder. "You just have to let it happen. Don't force it."
The words stuck with Simon. In a situation like this, when he really needed to forget about deep thoughts and just be happy...he'd go to Kaylee. Seeing as how he wasn't really her favorite person right now, Simon had no idea what to do.
That's when it hit him.
Simon wanted so badly to just apologize and make peace with Kaylee, why didn't he just do it? Why was he debating and saying he needed to give them both time? He felt something for her, he liked her company, she was a great listener, gave good advice, they always got along...
Was the answer, this whole time, just to be honest with Kaylee?
Simon, being daring at the very moment, got to his feet and headed over to the engine room. As he got closer, however, the clarity of it all sort of left him. His legs kept telling him to turn and run and his stomach was in knots.
He was now looking down the long corridor that led to the engine room, which was normally shorter. Simon stepped through the doorway, and something flashed before his eyes.
It was the dream. The sudden image of Kaylee appearing in front of him, a wrench tucked behind her leg, ready to strike. The sounds of metal clanging together brought Simon back.
Before he knew it, he was half way down the hallway, and he really didn't want to be there. Not because of the knot in his stomach or the weakness in his knees, but because this was all getting too familiar with his dream.
Knowing that all he wanted to do was get over this and make his peace with Kaylee, make things right with them or possibly start something new, he moved quicker now. He was almost at the entrance when a hand covered his mouth and yanked him backwards.
Simon tried to say something, to form words, but they were only muffled by the palm covering his mouth. He waved his arms about, knocking the walls with his fists, trying to get attention. Then he realized he would get Kaylee's attention. She might be attacked.
He stopped immediately as the person began to drag him further away from the engine room, but Kaylee appeared at the doorway, dropping the wrench that she had tucked behind her leg.
The figure stopped pulling him, and he knew that they had seen Kaylee. Taking the opportunity, Simon struggled again. He almost had the upper hand, but his attacker sensed his next move and the next thing he felt was a tiny prick in his left bicep.
The doctor was released, but he slumped to the floor, staring up at the ceiling. In the background, he could just barely hear Kaylee's cries and whimpers but they soon faded away as everything around him was covered in darkness.
Quick Note - I realize the time that has gone by since I updated this fic, but the fact was I got tangled back into Buffy and Angel and when Fox officially cancelled Firefly, I got very upset.
I will be doing my best to update as often as I can, but I am working on the story again. Sorry to those of you who liked it and then got nothing, it was not meant to seem as a punishment.
This tends to happen to me sometimes, though. I'll start something and not finish. It's a habit I'm trying to break, so I will finish this even if it's the last thing I do. I'll finish my other unfinished stories as well (with one exception, perhaps) that is my promise!
Coll
Fox blows, Firefly Forever! Keep Flying!
Author - Coll
Rating - PG-13 to R, haven't decided how far I'm going to take this.
Disclaimer - None of the characters are mine, except the ones that I make up, all rights to Joss Whedon, a.k.a. - God, and I think you all know the drill.
Spoilers - Takes place after "Objects in Space." I'm also including the pilot, "Serenity."
Author's Note - Fox blows, Firefly forever! Also, FYI, I'm going to put the translations and what not at the end of the story.
Chapter 5 - 7:16 pm
There was this theory Mal had, about being cursed and what not: Every time he had the simple workings of a plan, or just had to go from point A to point B, something happened. He gorram knew it, when he said this morning that he just wanted a simple, easy going day, that it wouldn't happen.
The whole crew came rushing into the common area all at once. He hadn't ordered them in or anything, they just heard his cursin, his reaction to the ruttin sight that was before him.
They all came from every which way too. Wash, Zoe, and Kaylee came from their bunks (Kaylee gasped as well as throwin her hands over her mouth). Book came from his quarters and the young doctor followed Inara in, which Mal stopped to ponder on a second as everyone registered what was happening.
"Sir, how did-"
"Damned if I know," Mal responded to Zoe knowing what she was gonna ask and before she finished askin. "Come in here a minute ago, ready to call everyone out of their bunks, have some supper, and here's Jayne."
Mal tilted his head to the side as he surveyed Jayne's sprawled out body: Not too many serious damages, except for the large gash on his head that could be a concussion. Almost as if on cue, Simon bent down, checked Jayne's pulse and did all those other doctor, checkout things that he does when someone gets knocked unconscious.
"He gonna live, Doc?" Wash asked. "I mean, I know he already had some head trauma, what with the being an er bai wu and all, but-"
"Wash." Mal simply said, but his tone spoke levels and shut his joking pilot up completely. Zoe took it upon herself to lightly smack her husband as Simon continued to look over Jayne.
"From what I can tell," he stated as he stood and addressed them all. "He'll be knocked out for a quite a while, but I see no sign of any long term damage."
Mal nodded, "Does he need to be taken to the infirmary?"
Simon shrugged. "There's really nothing I can do for him, he just has to wake up." He answered.
For a second, not really sure what to do, everyone just stood there silently. "Um," Kaylee started off quietly and unsure. "What do we think...happened...to Jayne? How'd he get that gash?"
"Most like the big ape just hit his head while trying to reach into the cupboard," Mal answered or, rather, lied. "Those edges are sharp, they'll get to you. Wash, get me our ETA for Avalon. Kaylee, head to the engine room, go through her again see if she's still good. Zoe, gotta have a word.
"Everyone else, just sit tight. We'll be on Avalon in no time."
Mal nodded his head to the door that led to the cargo bay and Zoe followed him out of it. "Sir?" Zoe started off. "We both know that Jayne didn't hit his head."
"Yes we do," Mal agreed. "And I'm sure some of the others know that as well; but, after what happened with that baw lan jiao liu man, I don't want Kaylee thinking there's someone lurkin."
"But, that's what you think, Sir?" Zoe asked.
Mal looked back at her as they walked down the catwalk steps and nodded. "What else could have happened?"
"That story about Jayne and the cupboard," Zoe responded. "It's happened before."
***
Simon sighed and sat down at one of the empty chairs at the table. Inara had smiled and nodded to Simon and Book before heading back to her shuttle. Her words, her interpretation of his dream stuck with him. His head furrowed in thought
"It's not a good feeling, is it?" Book asked, jolting Simon away from the dream.
"Sorry." Simon responded, not really too sure about what Book had actually said to him.
The Shepard smiled at Simon before lowering himself into a chair on the other side of the table. "I was commenting on the situation," Book rephrased. "Everyone else having their orders or occupied with something else, or unconscious, and then there's us...sitting here and having to wait for Avalon."
Simon wasn't sure if Book misunderstood his quiet thinking or was leading to something else, but he did have a point. Wash was in the pilot's seat; Mal and Zoe were doing...whatever, something important most likely, and Kaylee...
Perhaps he shouldn't be thinking about Kaylee for a little while. "And feeling useless?" Simon added to the end of Book's comment.
"While we're both on the same page," Book started. "Something is telling me that your thoughts run deeper."
"How is it that everyone on this ship can sense my troubles?" Simon asked in general rather than towards Book. "Kaylee asked if I was alright, River said something earlier, Mal had a 'chat' with me, and Inara gave me advice. Am I that transparent?"
"In a way, that is how you are," the Shepard responded matter of factly. "Not so much transparent, but you're very honest about your emotions. You never hide what you're feeling, you show everyone how you feel...even if you don't know it."
"The way you describe it, it sounds like my flaw. A weakness." Simon responded.
"Or a gift?" Book tried, but it didn't float too well with Simon. His thoughts were still on the dream and what it could possibly mean. All he could think about was...
"Kaylee."
"What? I wasn't...huh?"
Book eyed Simon suspiciously. "I was talking about gifts," he told Simon. "I was saying how we all have gifts like Wash with his flying and Kaylee with machines."
"Oh," Simon said quietly as, he imagined, his face reddened. "I don't believe that my gift is showing people my emotions, whether or not I want them to."
"Well, it's not always clear, at first, why people have the gifts they do," Book said, trying to convince Simon otherwise. "But there is always a point when one realizes why they do what they do."
Simon merely nodded, not all too sure about what to say back to the profound Shepard. "Well," he began to respond to Book. "I wish, if this is my gift, its purpose would reveal itself soon."
"It will when it's ready, son," Book told him as he rose from his seat and headed out the kitchen, stopping to touch his shoulder. "You just have to let it happen. Don't force it."
The words stuck with Simon. In a situation like this, when he really needed to forget about deep thoughts and just be happy...he'd go to Kaylee. Seeing as how he wasn't really her favorite person right now, Simon had no idea what to do.
That's when it hit him.
Simon wanted so badly to just apologize and make peace with Kaylee, why didn't he just do it? Why was he debating and saying he needed to give them both time? He felt something for her, he liked her company, she was a great listener, gave good advice, they always got along...
Was the answer, this whole time, just to be honest with Kaylee?
Simon, being daring at the very moment, got to his feet and headed over to the engine room. As he got closer, however, the clarity of it all sort of left him. His legs kept telling him to turn and run and his stomach was in knots.
He was now looking down the long corridor that led to the engine room, which was normally shorter. Simon stepped through the doorway, and something flashed before his eyes.
It was the dream. The sudden image of Kaylee appearing in front of him, a wrench tucked behind her leg, ready to strike. The sounds of metal clanging together brought Simon back.
Before he knew it, he was half way down the hallway, and he really didn't want to be there. Not because of the knot in his stomach or the weakness in his knees, but because this was all getting too familiar with his dream.
Knowing that all he wanted to do was get over this and make his peace with Kaylee, make things right with them or possibly start something new, he moved quicker now. He was almost at the entrance when a hand covered his mouth and yanked him backwards.
Simon tried to say something, to form words, but they were only muffled by the palm covering his mouth. He waved his arms about, knocking the walls with his fists, trying to get attention. Then he realized he would get Kaylee's attention. She might be attacked.
He stopped immediately as the person began to drag him further away from the engine room, but Kaylee appeared at the doorway, dropping the wrench that she had tucked behind her leg.
The figure stopped pulling him, and he knew that they had seen Kaylee. Taking the opportunity, Simon struggled again. He almost had the upper hand, but his attacker sensed his next move and the next thing he felt was a tiny prick in his left bicep.
The doctor was released, but he slumped to the floor, staring up at the ceiling. In the background, he could just barely hear Kaylee's cries and whimpers but they soon faded away as everything around him was covered in darkness.
Quick Note - I realize the time that has gone by since I updated this fic, but the fact was I got tangled back into Buffy and Angel and when Fox officially cancelled Firefly, I got very upset.
I will be doing my best to update as often as I can, but I am working on the story again. Sorry to those of you who liked it and then got nothing, it was not meant to seem as a punishment.
This tends to happen to me sometimes, though. I'll start something and not finish. It's a habit I'm trying to break, so I will finish this even if it's the last thing I do. I'll finish my other unfinished stories as well (with one exception, perhaps) that is my promise!
Coll
Fox blows, Firefly Forever! Keep Flying!