Disclaimer: Still do not own Firefly. Shucks. Author's Note: My apologies that this chapter is SO long in coming. I have no idea where this story is going but it's fun to do nonetheless. Please review! Enjoy.

"Kaylee!" came a hissed whisper from somewhere in the cargo bay.

Kaylee stopped mid-stroll and glanced up and all around, wondering where the voice was coming from.

"Kaylee!"

"Jayne?" Kaylee looked around again. She couldn't tell exactly where he was, but his voice seemed to be coming from near the crates that contained their latest cargo. "Jayne, where are you?"

"Not so loud!" he hissed. He popped up from behind one of the crates and beckoned her over before ducking out of sight again.

Kaylee wandered over, wondering what he was doing. She casually leaned over the crate, resting her weight on her elbows to get a good look at him. "Whatcha doin', Jayne?"

"Hidin'," came the partly muffled answer. The mercenary was sitting with his back against the crate and his head pillowed on his arms.

"Who ya hidin' from?" she asked conversationally.

"Mal."

"Why?" Kaylee knew perfectly well the reason, especially after the way the captain had stormed out of Inara's shuttle. Still, it was plain funny to see tough ol' Jayne this way.

"Don't rightly know," he mumbled. He braved a glance up at the mechanic. "But he's got this, this look in his eye. And I saw him cleanin' his gun all purposeful-like."

Kaylee almost laughed, he sounded so plaintive. "So what's the problem?"

"He keeps mutterin' somethin' 'bout me and it don't sound good."

"Kaylee!" the captain's sharp bark came from the catwalk. Kaylee whirled around as Jayne hit the floor. "Why aren't you in the engine room doin' that thing I pay you for?"

Kaylee smiled happily. "Serenity's runnin' just fine, Cap'n; she don't need work. And I like it down here."

"But the engine room is.safer. From those.people, you know, who might.gorramn it, Kaylee, find somethin' to fix!" Mal finally yelled and stormed off.

Kaylee gazed up in the direction the captain had stomped, wide-eyed. He was getting frustrated, the way he did when he didn't quite know what to do. She had a sinking feeling that this plan of hers might not have been the best idea.

"Uh.Jayne?" Kaylee whispered out of the corner of her mouth. "You might wanna lay low for awhile."

"But I ain't done nothin'," came the pitiful whine from the floor as Kaylee scurried away, intent on escaping the captain's wrath.