Firefly and Serenity are the copyrighted property of Mutant Enemy Productions and 20th Century Studios, Inc. This fiction item is intended for entertainment purposes only. While all characters, settings, and plot elements associated with the original work are the property of the copyright holders and/or other creators as indicated, any original characters, settings, and plot elements are the property of this item's author. No compensation has been received or will be accepted, and no copyright infringement is intended or should be implied.

Back Where She Belongs

Inara was startled to see, of all people, Kaylee sitting in the dining room this late. She was still, staring into a cup of tea that had evidently gone cold. She was so still, in fact, that Inara would have thought her asleep — or at least too lost in thought to be aware of her surroundings — but then, hearing her entrance, Kaylee looked up and smiled a greeting.

Selecting a mug and tea bag from the options in the kitchen, Inara started heating up more water. "Need your tea freshened up?"

"Yeah."

Inara crossed back into the dining area, retrieving Kaylee's mug. It was still mostly full. "What is it?"

"Just the regular green tea. And, ah, I like sweetener too."

"Is that what was wrong with this mug?"

"No, I just…" Kaylee shook her head. "Nothin's wrong with it. I just didn't finish it is all."

Back in the kitchen, Inara dumped out Kaylee's cold tea before opening the appropriate cabinets, selecting canisters, and dropping tea bags into their respective mugs. The ritual was automatic, but it gave her something to look at as she thought for a few minutes.

"You're up awfully late," she finally observed.

"Yeah. Just listenin' for trouble in the engine."

"From the dining room?"

Kaylee dropped her eyes to her empty hands and didn't answer.

The kettle began to steam. Inara removed it from the burner, pouring into both mugs. Turning off the stove, she said nothing, still thoughtful, while she brought both mugs to the table and slid one over to the younger woman. They both sipped for several minutes before she decided to speak up again. "Can you really hear the engine all the way up here?"

"Oh, yeah. Can hear it all the way through her, you know what to listen for."

"But isn't it best in the engine room?"

Kaylee's lips twitched. "You ain't goin' to give that up, are you?"

"I will if you ask. But it's not like you to not be in the engine room if you're awake."

"Somethin' goes wrong with Serenity's front parts while you're in it, you won't hear it over the engine noise."

Inara was a pilot herself. "There are plenty of alarms. You'd know."

"I wouldn't know know. Serenity'll tell ya what's wrong before it goes wrong if you just pay attention."

She considered Kaylee for a moment longer before laying a hand on top of hers. Kaylee's skin was slightly cool to the touch. "Mèi mei, why don't you want to go back to the engine room?"

At that, Kaylee's head came up. "I didn't say I didn't want to go back there! It's just…easier to hear more from here, 'specially if the trouble ain't from the engine proper."

"Including someone accessing the hatch without permission?"

Kaylee looked away, which told Inara everything she needed to know.

"You never did tell us what Early did to you back there," she continued.

"Yeah, I did. He scared me. Tied me up. Made me tell them where River sleeps. But he didn't never touch me and he didn't never hurt me."

"There are ways to hurt someone that don't require them to touch you."

"Well, he didn't, okay?" The words were clearly meant to end the conversation, but Kaylee's tone was too unsteady to make them convincing.

Inara did pause for a few moments, though, before asking her next question. "Do you know what a phobia is?"

"Yeah. A fear."

"Not quite," she replied. "It's a fear that grows so irrational that it interferes with someone's ability to function. In most people, they start after something scary happens, especially if it's really scary. Then things build from there until it gets to be too much."

Kaylee peered at her. "Are you sayin' I got a phobia?"

"I'm not a psychologist. But I have to admit it looks like one."

"Well, it ain't." Kaylee's tone was a little firmer now, but still lacked finality. "I'm just bein' cautious, that's all."

"So why don't you go back to the engine room? I'll be up here for a while, so I can come get you if something starts going wrong."

Kaylee looked at her mug. Turned it around in her hands, moving the handle until it was opposite her hands. Turned it back and threaded her fingers through the same handle. "I guess I am scared. Maybe a little."

"Would you like me to come back to the engine room with you, then?"

Her face registered shock. "Inara! Engine room's no place for someone all pretty and fancy like you!"

"As long as I don't actually work on the engines, I should be okay." Inara laughed. "Do you think I've never seen an engine before?"

"Well, no, I know ya have, but…" Kaylee trailed off.

Finishing the last of her tea, Inara stood, tugging the younger woman to her feet. "Come on. The longer you avoid it, the worse it's going to get. I won't leave until you tell me it's all right."

Allowing herself to be pulled along, Kaylee muttered softly. "Ain't right to drag someone along don't belong somewhere, just 'cause I got a phobia. I should try an' do it myself 'stead of —"

"Kaylee." Inara pulled her around so they were face-to-face. "You belong in the engine room with Serenity's heart. Don't you?"

"Yeah, well, maybe, but —"

"Then we're going to get you in there and I'll stay until you can breathe easy." Inara smiled. "That way we can put things the way they were before anything happened. For real, this time."

Kaylee hesitated as they got to the threshold. "You sure you don't mind?"

"Yes, I'm sure. No, I don't mind."

She visibly braced herself, taking a deep breath, before stepping through the hatchway into the engine room. Her hands clenched, but her eyes were warm as she perused the room. "Hey, Serenity. You miss me?"

The beating engine's rhythm almost seemed to be a reply. Inara approached the main assembly, curious, and then looked at Kaylee with a smile. "This isn't like the shuttle. Perhaps you should start with an introduction?"

"Oh, well, it all starts over here with the intake manifolds —" and Kaylee was off, explaining what it was that she loved the most. Inara smothered another smile. Yes, things were definitely back where they belonged, and if she had anything to say about it, they were going to stay there.