So, I wrote the first section meaning for it to just be a one shot, but...I have decided to add to it. Hopefully, you guys like it. Fluffiness ensues...

Also, profuse thank yous for your reviews! They make me happy: )

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They're starting to figure it out. They have to be. Maybe she was just getting paranoid, but it sure seemed as if they were giving her funny looks sometimes.

Take Zoe for instance. They were all sitting, casual as you please, round the table. There was a mighty fine meal spread out before 'em – well, ok, it wasn't quite what ya might call 'fine' but it was decent...well, so it was the same ol' protein bricks that they usually had. And they were sittin round, routine as ever. Then 'Nara said something quietly to the Cap'n and he laughed – not just a light, careless titter but one of his hearty deep chuckles that he reserves for the precious moments that warrant them.

Zoe flitted a glance over Kaylee's way, and she wouldn't have even noticed if'n she hadn't been so bent on avoiding the scene of merriment 'tween the two in front of her. But, she did see it, saw Zoe's normally guarded eyes hold what appeared to be – nah, couldn't be – but if she didn't know better she'd say it was a sympathetic look of pity. Like she knew exactly why she all of the sudden felt stifled. Like she knew why the room suddenly seemed to be shrinking rapidly. Like she knew.

Or Jayne. He seemed to be making more comments around her than per his usual obnoxious self. Even his leering and sneering was somewhat increased – though, that's just his way. He always try to act so tough all of the time; like nothing could ever hurt him. Physical or – shudder – emotional pain could never get the best of the 'heroic Jayne'. But she knew better. She had seen him when he thought no one was looking; had seen him lost in his own haunted thoughts.

Even Jayne was giving her strange looks at times. The strangest of these was about a week ago, when they were in one of their patented scrapes. Cap'n came on the bridge, everything was in a tizzy, orders were flyin 'round the fray like paper airplanes soarin. So, she ran to the engine, helped her purr, got them out in speedy time. When everything was calmed down Cap'n walked over, slung an arm around her – causing a painful rapiding of her heart – and then he smiled down at her and said... "Good job, little Kaylee." Little; like she was still a tweener or something. Her face fell at the words, but Mal hadn't even noticed. He walked away with a lighter step, but Jayne remained. He looked at her solemnly and just shook his head slowly. It all happened in a minute and he was gone. Later she wondered if she had imagined the brief acknowledgment.

River definitely picked it up. Of course, she always senses things miles ahead of anyone else. She was constantly watching everyone. Always staring out, keeping a lookout for all and any matters of interest.

River had walked into the engine room, sitting quietly. She watched her soothing the beat up engine. "You should do some of that murmuring to him..." she said, breaking the silence. Kaylee whipped her head around to look at the source of interruption. River quirked up her lips, a certain knowing covering her face. "He would like to hear your thoughts...can't think he's right," she tilted her head, assessing the dirty cheeked mechanic. "He wants what you want." She gracefully lifted herself back up and padded with bare feet, walking out, but first yelling over her shoulder, "if crickets wait too long they freeze."

A click jolted her from her internal musings and her eyes expanded about five times when she glanced at the doorway.

"AH! Uh – WOW! Ain't this embarrassin?" Mal said haltingly with widening eyes. He quickly squeezed them shut. "Gorram! Sorry! Didn't know ya were in here, doin – I mean, takin a..." He gestured about wildly, his face scrunched up with the force of trying to weld his eyes closed as tightly as possible.

"It's a'right, Cap'n. I know ya didn't mean nothin..." Kaylee couldn't help but giggle at his mortified expression. He was blushing so profusely that his skin was beginning to resemble the color of those damn sexy suspenders. She sank a little lower in the bath attempting to hide a bit more underneath her frothy blanket of bubbles.

"Didn't know ya was in here soakin..." he continued stuttering.

"It's fine, really. Everythin's shiny," Kaylee laughed.

"Yeah, shiny. Sure. Fine..." he mumbled.

She gawked at him expectantly, he was still standing there. His face was beginning to take on a pained expression and he looked as though he were about to burst.

"Cap'n? Anythin else I can help ya with?" she couldn't help it if a tinge of her want coloured her tone.

He paled. "Ah, no – 'course not. I'm just gonna – ya know – just gonna go –" he stumbled in his blind attempt to step out, slamming the door behind him.

She grinned broadly to herself, sliding further into the comfort of the water lapping at her. Fushia pinkened her face as she let out a small delighted squeal at the effect she had on him.

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Review – that would be very shiny : )