Author's Note: As requested, a sequel to "Aptitude for Flying". I hope everyone enjoys this story as much as the first. Thanks for all the sweet reviews.
Discliamers: Joss Whedon own all of Firefly and Serenity.
"Ouch! Hey, doc, be careful," Captain Malcolm Reynolds barked.
Dr. Simon Tam continued stitching the large gash on Mal's upper arm. "I told you not to move."
"Oh, before I forget. We got a job."
"That's good." He glanced at Mal's face. "Isn't that good?"
"It's plenty good. The job is on Osiris."
Simon froze only a moment. "Okay."
"I know you and your sister have been away from home for a long while. I just thought if you wanted to drop in for tea or whatever you high class folks do, we'll be there for a couple of days."
"Do you need me off the ship or something?"
Mal chuckled. "No, doc. I just thought since we were dockin' in your home town that I would give you the option. You should know River has expressed an interest."
"I imagine she would. And who wouldn't want to go see the parents that were so willing to let you rot in a government facility where they would cut into your head time and time again. Not to mention the brainwashing and conditioning to turn you into a gorram weapon."
"Or it's possible you're still harborin' some resentment and would prefer to stay on the ship."
"Unfortunately I don't think I could convince River to stay. My big brother pull over her seemed to end as soon as she started piloting Serenity."
"It's only natural she'd want to get out from under your shadow. She's twenty now, has a job, has a family, even friends. She's come a long way from the girl you smuggled on my ship."
Simon dressed the wound he had finished stitching and gave the Captain a shot.
"How's the patient, doc?" Inara Serra sauntered into the infirmary.
Mal looked over at her. "I don't think I'll ever get used to you bein' in coveralls and muck."
"The muck costs extra," Inara replied. "It's been over two years and you still expect me to walk out in my gowns."
Simon smirked. "You're all set, Captain."
"Thanks, doc."
"Mal!" Everyone's gaze turned to the floor. Standing between Inara and Simon was a toddler standing with her arms out. She bounced, stretching her arms as far as she could toward the Captain, making her reddish brown curls spring around her round, bright face. "Mal!" she said again.
Mal slid off the table, bent down and scooped the kid into his arms. "Hey there, little miss Lily." She grabbed onto his suspenders and seemed content just to be in his arms. "Did you escape from Kaylee again?"
Lily ignored the Captain.
Inara watched Mal interact with the small creature in his arms. She had never seen him be so gentle with anything as he was with Zoe's daughter.
"Lily!" Kaylee's voice carried through the ship.
"You know how she worries when you run out on her," Mal scolded the child.
Lily looked unconcerned.
"Come on, you little monster." Mal carried her toward Kaylee's bellow.
Inara watched Mal leave before she turned to the doctor. "I heard about Osiris," she said.
Simon gathered up the waste from dressing Mal's wound. "I appreciate that you've been my council a lot lately, but I really don't want to talk about it."
Inara sighed. "Trust me, I understand wanting to leave your past behind you, but River can't do that yet. And you can't forget about Kaylee."
Simon sighed. "Why would Kaylee want to meet my parents?"
Inara rolled her eyes. "One thing I give you men on the ship, you're all incredibly clueless."
"Report, Albatross," Mal said as he stepped onto the bridge.
"We'll be landing in ten hours," River Tam spun in the chair to face her Captain.
"Good work. Are you still plannin' on leavin' the ship?"
"He doesn't want to come, Captain," River explained.
Mal leaned against the helm and crossed his arms over his chest. "I just don't like the idea of you going alone."
"No body likes the idea of me doin' anything but sittin' around this gorram ship all the time," River snapped. "Little Lily has more free reign than I do." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not a gorram doll with no brains."
Mal sighed, "You're right. You're of age and the Alliance hasn't been on us since Miranda. As the Captain I say you can go. But at least do your brother the kindness of tellin' him before you go."
River nodded.
"Mal!"
The Captain started when the two in half year old yelled his name. The little girl was standing with her arms up.
"How does she do that?" Mal scooped her up without another thought.
"Sir, I believe that belongs to me." Zoe stepped onto the bridge.
"Mama!" The little girl became a rocket of energy when she heard Zoe. Mal put her down immediately.
"The goods?" Mal watched Lily waddle over to her mother.
"Locked away for safe keeping, sir," Zoe reported as she lifted her daughter into her arms.
"Good work. In ten hours time we'll be landing on Osiris and takin' off with a big fat pay day. We can replace those whatchit whosits Kaylee's always on my case about."
"Sounds good, sir. Now if you don't mind, I think I'm going to put the little down."
Mal nodded and Zoe took her leave.
Kaylee Frye came running up the hall. "Oh good, she found you," she said out of breath.
"She keeps you on your toes doesn't she?" Zoe chortled.
"Hide seek, Kay-ee," Lily cried.
"She's a quick one," Kaylee replied stroking the little girl's cheek. "She looks more like Wash every day."
Zoe felt a knot well up in her stomach. "She does."
"I think I'm going to go find the handsome doctor."
"Last I saw he was talkin' with Inara in the infirmary." Zoe opened the door to her bunk. Lily latched onto her mother's neck and wrapped her legs around her sides and held on as Zoe climbed down the ladder with both hands.
Kaylee slowed her approach to the infirmary when she heard Inara's voice.
"When are you going to tell her?"
"I don't know if I can," Simon replied.
"She deserves to know how you feel."
"She has to know by now. I've been tryin' to make it clear."
"Simon, I can't help but feel like there's something you're keepin' from me."
Kaylee didn't want to hear anymore. She walked away toward the engine room.
"You should really have someone spot you," River said as she walked by Jayne who was lifting weights.
"If I wanted your opinion I'd ask. Be rest assured I ain't never gonna want your opinion," Jayne snarled.
"Don't take your frustrations out on me," River snapped.
"Gorramit, girl, I told you to stay out of my head."
"Your dirty thoughts fill the ship."
Jayne slammed the bench press bar back into its place and sat up. "You wanna go, little girl?" he challenged.
River just laughed. "Even you know better."
Jayne stood. "Ruttin' girl thinks she knows everything," he muttered.
"Ruttin' girl knows most things." River tied her hair into a pony tail. She had cut her long raven locks nearly a year ago to her shoulders. She was tired of looking like a doll.
"You are…"
"Makin' you angry. You want to hit me. Problematic since you'll never be able to touch me." She smirked.
Jayne grunted. "I could if I really wanted," he argued.
"Try," River was now dancing across the cargo bay; her black dress flowing around her.
"Thanks for the advice, I…" Simon trailed off when he walked into the cargo bay. "What the hell?" Jayne had just taken a swing at River.
"Hey!" Simon yelled.
Inara followed with a concerned look.
Jayne was caught off guard just as River swung back at him. Her fist collided with Jayne's jaw and he hit the ground. He cursed in Chinese as he got back to his feet.
"What the ruttin' hell is going on?" Simon was at River's side.
"Sparring," River replied.
Simon looked dumbfounded. "Sparring?"
Jayne growled, "I don't know why you worry so much, doc. She took down fifty Reavers by herself. No one could touch her." He headed toward his bunk.
Inara excused herself and left the siblings to talk.
"I wish you would stop thinkin' of me as some thing damaged. I'm whole now. Even learning to block the voices better."
Simon sighed. "Forgive me if I worry. I'm your big brother, it's my job."
"Your job is doctor and my job is pilot. I'm not your responsibility anymore. Take care of Kaylee. I need room to grow."
"You're right. Do whatever you want. I won't interfere anymore. Go see mom and dad, spar with Jayne and I'll stay out of your life." Simon stalked away.
Kaylee sat in her hammock and stared at the orange ceiling of Serenity's engine room. The roaring whisper of her engine slowly rocked her to sleep. She wondered how long it would take Simon to notice that she hadn't come to bed. He seemed to grow more distant everyday and less aware that she existed.
"Kaylee? What are you still doin' up?" Mal stood in the doorway.
She sighed, "Nothin'. Just sittin'."
"You okay?"
"Shiny, Cap'n. Just wish…" she trailed off.
"Just wish what?" He leaned in the doorway.
"Just wish complications weren't so complicated, is all."
"Don't I know it. Anything you wanna talk about?"
"No, but thanks." She managed a weak smile.
"You know where to find me if you change your mind."
Kaylee watched him leave, no doubt to crawl in bed with Inara. She wondered if she should stop being stubborn and go find Simon.
"We're about to start our descent to Osiris, Captain." River said passing through the kitchen to the bridge.
"River, try and make it a smooth ride."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Mal!" Zoe walked in with Lily trailing behind her. She went to the Captain who plopped her on his lap.
Zoe shook her head and smiled. "Never thought I'd see you take to a child like you do with Lily, sir."
"Me neither, but how could anyone say no to this face?" He looked down at the child in his arms who was playing with his chop sticks.
"It's easy when she's goin' for your grenades," Jayne replied.
Serenity started to shake as she started her descent toward Osiris.
Simon made his way to the engine room. Kaylee was leaning over the beating heart of the ship staring.
"Everything okay?" Simon asked stepping inside.
"Shiny." Her tone was sharp.
"You never came to bed last night."
"Surprised you noticed," she muttered.
Simon sighed, "I thought you would be…but then I fell asleep. Look, I didn't come in here to fight. We're landing on Osiris. I'm going to see my parents, I was wondering if you wanted to come too."
Kaylee turned her attention to him for the first time since he walked in. "I thought you didn't want to go."
"I don't."
"Then why are you going?"
"A lot of reasons. But I don't think I can do this without you."
Kaylee stepped back from the engine. "You really want me there."
Simon nodded. "Of course I want you there. You're my girlfriend and I love you and as mad as I am at them, I still want you to meet them."
Kaylee smiled. "Okay, I'll come." Her face fell. Her hand went to her hair. "Oh, god. I have to go clean up!" She hurried out of the engine room toward their bunk.
"Sir, we have a problem." Zoe strutted into the cargo bay.
"What?" Mal rested his thumbs in his belt.
"Kaylee and Simon are going with River. There's no one to baby-sit."
Mal looked over at Lily who was crawling over Kaylee and Simon. "You have to come on this deal. We only got it because Rafe likes you."
"On account of I've never shot him."
Mal looked offended, "What? He was going to shoot me first."
Zoe rolled her eyes. "What about Inara?"
"She's visiting an old friend."
"Well I can watch her."
Zoe and Mal turned very slowly to look over at Jayne.
"You can watch who?" Mal asked.
"Lily," He replied as he stuck his gun in his holster. "She likes me okay."
Zoe looked from Lily to Jayne. "You'd really be okay with this?"
"I can take care of a child for a couple of hours. I was the third oldest of twelve," Jayne barked. He stalked over to Simon and Kaylee. "Here, give me 'er." He held out his hands for her.
Lily turned around and smiled at the sight of him. "Jay!" she said excitedly crawling into his arms. "Hat!" She pulled off the hat that his mother had made him. It was her newest design and it was blue. Lily pulled it over her head and it covered most of her face. She was giggling underneath. Jayne smirked.
Zoe and Mal looked extremely amused. "All right, sir, I guess we have a plan B."
"Hat!" cried Lily again.
"Shuttle two is leaving in T minus two minutes," River said from the platform above.
Kaylee and Simon headed up.
"Hey, doc, try and stay out of trouble," the Captain ordered.
Simon waved without turning around as he continued into the shuttle. He had a sense of dread in his stomach. He reached for Kaylee's hand and she squeezed him back.
"There your parents, Simon, it's going to be okay."
Simon smiled. He wished he could believe that.
To Be Continued...