Jayne spat on one of his knifes and wiped it away. Cleaning his weapons was one of the few things he took seriously. It was also one of the only things he would do with someone else. As long as they didn't touch his toys he was fine with it.

"What do ya think?" Jayne asked as he laid the knife down.

"Honestly, Jayne?" Zoë asked with a rag and gun in hand. "Don't get your hopes up."

"Why not?"

"Do you really think Keira would be seen with the likes of you?"

"It could happen," Jayne stated in obvious denial.

Zoë gave Jayne a skeptical look. The femme fetal wiped the pistol as clean as she could get it before she set it back on the table and grabbed another gun of hers. The table was barely big enough for both of their weapons. They all kind of blended in with each other since there was so many of them. But both of the crew members were so anal about their weapons that neither of them grabbed the others equipment.

"Jayne, get serious," Zoë said.

"Hey, she's a damn whore. If I got money to pay her with then she'd take me," Jayne said.

"Word of advise: calling her a whore is not the best way to get her. You know they don't like that."

"Oh, sorry, companion," Jayne said, sarcasm dripping from his words.

"Jayne, she's already shot you down."

"So? It's like it never happened before."

"She's high-class stuff, Jayne. She won't go for it."

Jayne cast a cold glare at Zoë. He wasn't the most respectable of men and Keira wouldn't be caught dead on his arm, but he didn't want to admit that to himself. He was even willing to pay her and she wasn't biting. Granted, he had no money to speak of but he had a serious infatuation with Keira.

"Don't give me that look, Jayne. She made it abundantly clear that you don't have a chance with her," Zoë said. "No one does except Inara."

"I'd pay to see that," Jayne said, eyes glowing.

"Of course you would."

"Like you wouldn't?"

"Not much into girl-on-girl action myself. I'm sure the Captain would be willing to join you though."

"That's 'cause he's love-sick for Inara."

"He's not love-sick. Mal doesn't get love-sick. He just cares for her is all," Zoë stated.

"Love-sick," Jayne said again.

Mal walking into the dining room just in time to hear Jayne's last words.

"Who's love-sick?" Mal asked.

"Jayne's love-sick for Keira," Zoë said only half lying.

She didn't like lying to mal but she knew that if he heard they were talking about his feelings for Inara that he would be upset, to say the least. So, she had no other option but to lie to him. She didn't know about Jayne, but Zoë didn't want to be on Mal's bad side.

"Tell me something I don't know," Mal said.

"I'm not love-sick. Wanting to ni ta someone is not the same as being love-sick," Jayne said.

"If you say so," Zoë said with a small shake of her head.

Keira walked into the dining room with the intention of getting a drink. She had made herself at home on the ship. She wasn't timid or anything but she wasn't intrusive either. Everyone was welcoming enough for her to feel comfortable but she was still aware that first impressions could easily be changed.

"Well, speak of the devil," Mal said upon seeing Keira.

"I take it I was the topic of conversation, then," Keira said with a small smile.

"You could say that."

"Well, forgive me if I'm interrupting your talk about me. I find it difficult to go anywhere on this ship without hearing someone talk about me."

"You're new is all. We talked about Inara at first too."

"Do companions interest you, Captain?"

"Not all of them," Mal said with a shrug.

No one but Zoë seemed to notice it but Jayne hadn't taken his eyes off Keira since she entered the room. He wasn't in love with her(Jayne didn't fall in love) but he definitely desired her. Keira denying him the chance to slake his lust just made her all the more temping to Jayne.

"Hopefully, everyone's interest will die down soon," Keira said as she poured herself a cup of tea. "Everyone seems to be talking about me. Whether it's my being a companion, my relationship with Inara or my relationship with Simon. It's all about me."

"You should be use to being the center of attention," Jayne said. "Pretty as you are."

It was only after Jayne spoke that Keira even acknowledged him. She gave him a small nod and a smile as if to say, 'thank you.' Her mere acknowledgment made Jayne come close to blushing. Keira noticed it but brushed it off. As a companion, she was aware of her effect on men and she learned not to dwell on the matter.

"Awe," Mal said with a grin. "Ain't that cute?"

Jayne glared at Mal for his comment and had to force himself not to full out blush. He went back to cleaning his weapons and did his best to ignore the presence of everyone else in the room.

Mal gave Jayne his best innocent look before he turned back to Keira and said, "Speaking of your relationship with the doctor, what is your relationship with the doctor?"

"We were once best friends. We grew up together on Osiris," Keira answered. "That's it. Why is everyone so interested?"

"Because it's Simon," Mal answered as if it said everything.

Keira ignored Mal's final words. She didn't understand why everyone was so shocked by Simon being friends with a companion. Keira hadn't always been a companion and Simon hadn't always been a doctor. True, they weren't the most likely pair around anymore but things were different before. They were different before.

"Out of curiosity, who has the best chance of getting you in bed?" Zoë asked and shocked everyone by doing so.

"I thought I had already made it clear that I will not be servicing the crew," Keira replied.

"You did," Mal said while giving Zoë a questioning look.

"Still, what's the answer?" Jayne asked eagerly.

"Inara," Keira said without hesitation. "She's not really under the Captain's employ so it's not as if she's part of the crew and I've been with her before."

"Really?" Mal asked.

"We did train together, Captain. Companions learn best by experience."

"Told ya," Zoë said while looking back to Jayne.

"Strange you're so open about stuff such as that," Mal observed.

"I'm a companion. Being open about sex is in the job description." Keira stated with the smallest of shrugs. "Come to think of it, being open about a lot of things is in the job description."

"I'll take note of that," Mal said with a grin.

Keira gave Mal a look that was part shocked, part appalled and part interested. She had gotten to know the Captain well enough over the last two weeks to know that he had a sense of humor…sometimes. Still, she knew he didn't mean what he said. Despite how appealing the offer may have been, Keira was going to stay away from the Captain. He belonged with and wanted another companion aboard Serenity.

Simon walked into the dining room with Kaylee at his heel. They both had smiles on their faces when they entered but Kaylee's left when she spotted Keira in there. It wasn't that she was jealous of the companion, but she couldn't help but feel slightly threatened. She believed Simon when he said it was nothing to worry about but she couldn't shake those feelings.

"Don't mind us, we're just passing through," Simon said.

"Actually, I have work to do in the engine room," Kaylee said. "I gotta go."

Before anyone could protest, Kaylee walked out of the dining room and rushed into the engine room. No one followed and she appreciated it. She sat down on the ground next to the engine with her head in her hands. She wasn't actually crying but she was damn close. The only reasons tears weren't falling was because she wasn't letting them.

"Are you alright?" River asked.

Kaylee jumped, not knowing River was in there, and said, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Liar. Remember that I can tell when you're lying."

"Right. I always forget you can tell stuff like that."

"Not only that but you're a bad liar."

River took a seat next to Kaylee on the ground. After Simon, Kaylee was probably the person River was closest with. They weren't just friends, they were actually closer to sisters. Sister and friends are always there for each other when they needed it, even if they didn't want it. River knew Kaylee didn't want her there in that moment but she needed her there and that was the point.

"So, tell me what on your mind," River ordered.

"It's Keira," Kaylee said reluctantly with a sigh.

"What about her?"

"How much do you know about her relationship with Simon?"

"I know they were friends. They were best friends until she left for her training when she was 13. After that, they only saw each other every once in a while but they stayed friends."

"So, they're just friends?" Kaylee asked.

"Yeah," River replied with a nod. "Why? Don't tell mw your jealous of Keira."

"No, I'm not," Kaylee said and paused. "Okay, yeah, I am."

River pulled Kaylee into a half hug by wrapping one of her arms around the others shoulders. She knew she had to play the comforting friend role in that moment. River was always a little too blunt to be truly comforting but she always tried her best and that's what she was going to do.

"Kaylee, my brother's an idiot," River stated. "He may be smart but when it comes to human emotions, he's an idiot. He probably doesn't even realize that his spending time with Keira is effecting you."

"He doesn't," Kaylee said with a nod.

"And that means that nothing is going on. Trust me, if he were doing something that would really bother you, he would be more perceptive about it bothering you. Him and Keira are just friends. They haven't seen each other in a while and are just catching up as friends."

"And you're sure that they've never been nothing but friends?"

"No, I'm not. But I know that they're nothing more than friends now."

"How do you know?"

"Like I said, my brother's an idiot. He wouldn't be able to hide having another girl," River stated simply.

"Thanks, River," Kaylee said with only a touch of sarcasm.

Kaylee did appreciate River's words. She was very blunt with her explanation but she was honest. And, strange enough, she made Kaylee believe her. Simon was a genius but he wasn't smart enough to hide an affair. He was too honest to do something like that. Kaylee didn't realize it until River put into words that she was worrying for nothing. Keira and Simon were just friends and Kaylee knew that. Her mind believed River completely but her heart still had that lingering jealousy. Most of it gone was better than none of it gone.

"Thanks, River," Kaylee said again.

"You're welcome," River said almost with a matter of fact tone.

River patted Kaylee on the thigh to assure in some sense. She knew that the talk had helped Kaylee even if it was in some small measurement. She did what she could. It may not have been a lot but it was something. River was never going to be the best at being the consoler since she was so use to be the one who needed to be consoled, but she tried.

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Simon was walking through the cargo bay on his way to Keira shuttle. They didn't have anything planned but he needed help with the situation with Kaylee. He didn't know what was wrong with her but he knew there was something. He had no idea what it was about or who it was about but he knew that it was interfering with his time with her. Keira was always there for him before and he figured that she would be willing to listen to him then too. Maybe she could even help.

Simon was so distracted while walking that he walked right into Inara.

"Well, hello," Inara said with a small smile.

"I'm so sorry," Simon almost cried.

"No, it's no problem. You seem like you were deep thought anyway."

"I was."

"Anything you want to talk about?"

Inara and Simon weren't the closest on board but Inara was good at listening to people and trying to help. Part of being a well trained companion was being a good listener. They weren't just used for sex but also for comfort in anyway necessary. Inara had learned over the years to be a sort of therapist to those on board.

"It's Kaylee," Simon answered softly.

"Why don't you come to my shuttle and we can talk," Inara suggested. "I might be able to help considering how close I am with Kaylee."

Inara turned on her heel and headed back to her shuttle with Simon. She could tell he had something on his mind and that talking would help. She also wasn't lying when she said she was close with Kaylee and might be able to help. Not only were her and Kaylee close and Kaylee confided in her from time to time but Inara was an incredibly perceptive woman. She might have seen or noticed something that Simon over looked.

The pair stepped into Inara's shuttle. Inara motioned for Simon to get comfortable on the couch and he did. She walked to the far end of the room and began making tea, for she thought the coming conversation would be lasting a while. She was also hoping that tea might relax Simon. He didn't seem overly tense but Inara picked up on his tension and knew he needed some form of relaxation.

"So, tell me, what's on your mind?" Inara asked while walking back with the tray of tea in her hands.

"It's Kaylee," Simon answered again. "Ever since Keira came here, Kaylee has been different."

"How so?" Inara asked as she poured the tea.

"I don't think she likes the fact that I see Keira as much as I do. And I know she doesn't like Keira."

Simon took the offered cup of tea and took a small sip from it. The instant the hot liquid touched his tongue, he relaxed a little. Having the tea made the conversation more personal and conversational rather than demanding. He knew Inara wasn't forcing him to talk about what was on his mind but he also knew that it wasn't easy for him to talk about.

"Have you ever thought that maybe it's not Keira that she dislikes?" Inara wondered as she sipped her tea. "Keira is a very personable woman most of the time. We both know that she can have an attitude but she hasn't shown that Kaylee. She hasn't given Kaylee a reason to dislike her."

"I know," Simon blurted. "Which is why I don't understand it."

"Maybe Kaylee thinks something is happening or has happened between you and Keira."

"What makes you think that?"

"Simon, we're all thinking that you and Keira had been more than friends in the past. At least, any of us who know either of you well think that. Kaylee might think that you two have rekindled your relationship."

"But we haven't!"

"So, you're not denying that there was a relationship," Inara stated. She only slightly tricked him into revealing that. Inara wouldn't have been able to play that trick on Keira but it worked on Simon.

"Are we that obvious?" Simon asked, almost ashamed.

"No. I wasn't sure if you two were ever involved before now. But I did think that you two had been together before."

"So, you think Kaylee figured it out too and is worried."

"Maybe. But it's obvious that Kaylee's jealous."

"Jealous? Of Keira?" Simon asked with an almost humor filled voice.

"That's a definite possibility. Keira is a beautiful, wonderful, extravagant woman, Simon. If there was something going on, Kaylee probably thinks that there's no way for her to contend with her."

"But nothing's happening!" Simon cried.

"I know that, you know that, and Keira knows that," Inara said as she took another drink of her tea. "But Kaylee doesn't."

Simon heaved a heavy sigh and leaned back some with his tea still in his hands. He was truly lost. He didn't know how to explain to Kaylee that she had nothing to worry about. He couldn't lie to her and tell her that nothing had happened between them just to comfort her. But, at the same time, he couldn't lie to her and say that he doesn't want anything to happen between them again.

Simon loved Keira as a friend but part of him would always have that lingering love he had for her when they were more than just friends. No one ever forgets their first real love. But he loved Kaylee too. He loved Kaylee as more than a friend and as a friend. He couldn't help but think that she was his soul mate. They were almost perfect for each other. They each had something to offer in the relationship and they both had fun with each other.

"Talk to her, Simon," Inara said as she patted Simon on the knee.

"What am I suppose to say?" Simon asked.

"I can't put the words into your mouth. All I can tell you is to be honest. Don't tell her what you think she wants to hear. Tell her the truth."

"What if the truth hurts?"

"The truth does hurt sometimes but being lied to hurts even more. And lying to yourself about something is the worst pain of all."

"What about you? Shouldn't you be looking in the mirror when you say some of this?" Simon asked, referring to Inara's feelings for Mal.

"I don't know what you mean," Inara replied, and she really didn't.

"I mean, when are you going to be completely honest with the captain?"

Inara set her cup of tea down and almost jumped off the couch. She wasn't expecting someone to ever ask about her feelings for Mal. True, she had feelings for him but she didn't want or need anyone to know that. Inara was never going to be able to talk to Mal about her feelings for him. She had been told that he had the same ones for her but that didn't matter. They couldn't be together!

"I don't have any feelings for the Captain, Simon," Inara answered but wouldn't look at him when she spoke.

"If you say so," Simon said and stood up. "But, remember what you told me. Lying to yourself is the worst pain of all."

Simon set his cup down onto the table and took another glance over at Inara. He could tell that she wanted to be left alone. He couldn't blame her either. He was probably the first person to ever throw that at her. However, he had a feeling that with Keira on board, he wouldn't be the last person to. He also knew that Keira wouldn't be as gentle as he was being.

"Thank you, Inara," Simon said sincerely. "Thank you for your help."

Inara turned around and forced a smile onto her face. She could still feel the sting of Simon's words and she didn't like it. She knew Simon hadn't meant to hurt her. He was actually trying to help her but he didn't. He only made things more complicated for her.

"You're welcome," Inara said with a small nod.

Simon left Inara's shuttle, leaving her alone with her thoughts and feelings.

Inara sat back down on the couch in a huff. She thought about her feelings for Mal and could only think of all the pain they brought her. He never intentionally hurt her. At least, she didn't think he ever did. But he did hurt her over the time. Constantly calling her a 'whore' was something that never lost it's sting. She couldn't keep the memory of seeing him walk out of Nandi's room either. If he really did care for her, he wouldn't have slept with one of her friends.

Inara sighed deeply. She shook her head and cast all thoughts of the captain out of her mind. She did care for Mal, possibly even loved him but she couldn't allow herself to. There was no way it would work. They fought constantly, bickering like children. Besides, she was a companion. Companions don't fall in love.

The emotions between Inara and Mal had brought her so much pain already. She didn't want to imagine what it would be like if they were actually together. No. She wouldn't let herself imagine that because it would never happen. It couldn't ever happen! As much as the thought caused Inara pain, she accepted it. She knew it was best.

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(A/N)- First off, thank you so much to all the reviews from: Drakbmonkmap, BlueEyedBrigadier, espergirl04, Boo26, RogueButterfly, debbieja, NazgulGirl, Ttiffanyguriel, miss jasadin, garden-crafter and twinmuse. I greatly appreciate them!

As always for this story, sorry it took so long to get this up. This story is hard for me to write, I have other stories to write, and my personal life has been killing me lately. I hope everyone at least partially enjoyed this chapter though. I'm not sure how I feel about it. You guys will get that from me a lot.

As always, please review! I enjoy the criticism, whether it's good or bad.