We all need help to feel fine... [ Semi-Closed to Billy, open to others in a separate thread ]

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Kaylee doesn’t want to be here anymore. Her eyes had been closed for the majority of Big Zero’s Punishment, her face buried into Kang’s side and shielded by his wing, but the screams were harder to block out. They rang out in her head as Kang had walked her back to Serenity, helped her make it to the infirmary, just in time for her to hurl up her last meal into the nearest sink. He stayed until she had her cup of tea and had assured him for what must have been the hundredth time that it was okay, he could go back and do what he needed to.

After the hundred-and-first reassurance, Kang finally leaves, and Kaylee finds herself alone with her ship. Where Wash and Jayne are, she doesn’t know, but she’s somewhat happy that they aren’t here at the moment. They’ve seen her through worse before, but she would rather sit quietly and think things over than have to talk about anything right now.

She’s not sure how to feel about Stacy at this point, a feeling that has slowly grown from the sound of screams still playing through her head. That she’s been lending a hand for all this time to help fix a ship that was capable of something so awful... Stacy might as well be a Reaver ship at this rate.

Serenity’s engine room has been a place of comfort since Kaylee joined the crew, and she holds her cup of tea close as she starts the engine up. The ship shudders to life, and the low hum alone is enough to calm her. She curls up in her hammock, closing her eyes and concentrating on the sounds of Serenity.

Comments

[morphitudinous]

Kaylee.

Billy had seen Kang take care of her, felt his heart twist painfully, wished he could have comforted her too. Between all the people rushing to circle him, though, it had taken him a few hours to get away.

Finally, he managed to escape to Serenity. He carried a few small snacks that Renne had generated, hoping she was well enough to eat.

Where would she be---ah, the engine room. Of course. Billy crept there as carefully as he could, poking his head in the door. Was she asleep?

If she was, Billy would just leave the food and a note on one of the surfaces next to her hammock. He moves in as quietly as he can to do just that.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Worked up as she was, it hadn't taken long at all for Kaylee to slip into a light sleep, with the warmth and steady thrum of the engine to help her along. She was a light sleeper, and it didn't take much to wake her normally. Billy's footsteps in the hallway were enough to pull her back to semi-consciousness.

Enough that the screaming swarmed back into her ears and the images came flooding back. She started, half expecting a tentacle to be slithering through the door, and whatever was left of her cup of tea splashed across the floor as she knocked the mug aside.

It was Billy, she realized after a moment. Just Billy. Ignoring the mess on the floor as it dripped down to the panels underneath, she leaned far enough to grasp the Ranger's arm and tug him to the hammock in an obvious demand for him to curl up with her.

[morphitudinous]

No wonder she's startled. After all they'd been through today? He would be too. Billy crouched, throwing out his hands in defense. "Kaylee, it's me, Billy. Don't worry, I was only bringing you---"

But this wasn't a time for explanations, he noted as she tugged on his arm. No, what they needed now was comfort, and he knew why.

With a half-smile, he set the mug and snacks back on the counter before joining Kaylee in the hammock. After a quick test that it could handle their weight, he laid beside her and set a hand on her arm. "I'd ask if you're feeling better, but I don't think anyone is."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Kaylee already knew the hammock would be fine for both of them, but she let Billy test it as he needed. Once he was settled she curled up close against his side.

"Think you'd be the one to ask first," she replied, reaching up to push some of his hair back. "Bet you've had to repeat yourself on more'n once today, though, so I'll let it slide if you will."

[morphitudinous]

Billy was satisfied after a few seconds of testing, curling one of his arms around her protectively. That was all right, right?

"I have, but I'll explain if you want me to. I just...felt sick. It was the most disproportionate act of retribution I've ever seen."

He was definitely not looking forward to the nightmares tonight.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Better than all right. This was nice, and would hopefully do both of them some good.

"Can't imagine there was anybody who didn't feel a bit nauseous over it." Kaylee doubted she was the only one who had ended up losing lunch over it.

[morphitudinous]

"I can," Billy admitted, curling close. "In other environments like this one, more extreme methods of torture have been devised. That might only be the first Punishment."

He shuddered. "A broken nose doesn't warrant public torture. Neither do 15 of them. The only intent, then, was to terrify us," he muttered, glancing at the walls. Stacy probably didn't appreciate him saying this.

Other thread \o/

[icanhashat.livejournal.com]

Jayne was uncomfortable.

After the encounter with Steve and the time spent healing and being monitored for infection seeing whoever that girl was ripped apart and put back together did not sit well with the hardened mercenary.

It wasn't the torture that bothered him, it was the sudden realization that the ship itself could do that to them and there wouldn't be a thing they could do about it.

So he did what he always did in situations where he needed to remind himself he was still alive, he worked out.

Grunting and sweating down in the cargo bay Jayne was on his workout bench lifting a heavy weight pushing it off his chest, having long since lost track of the number of times he'd done it.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

The visit from Billy had helped her significantly, and Kaylee hoped it had helped Billy a bit too. It had been enough to get her up and moving again, and after cleaning up the mess of tea on the engine room floor she headed back down to the cargo bay.

She wasn't sure if she had expected Jayne to be back just yet or not, and she silently hoped Billy had been able to leave without too much trouble from the mercenary.

"Jayne?" she asked timidly, not wanting to startle him from his concentration. "How ya doin'?"

[icanhashat.livejournal.com]

Jayne grunted as he was brought back to Earth by Kaylee's voice. He put the weight back on the bench and sat up using a towel to mop his brow, "Didn't hear ya come in. You been back long?"

Apparently he'd been unaware of her even being on board...though logic would have told him the engine running meant she was around. He must have been too absorbed in his own thoughts...which for Jayne was rare.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"For a while, yeah." Which meant that he hadn't encountered Billy. Probably for the best, that.

There was an awkward pause as Kaylee sorted out what to say. Jayne wasn't exactly the first person she would normally come running to for something like this.

"...how're you doin'?"

[icanhashat.livejournal.com]

Jayne blinked as he tried to sort out the difference between what she said and what she meant. Womenfolk loved to ask simple sounding questions that were actually supposed to be really complex.

Jayne however was a simple creature. "Fine." He responded dropping his sodden towel at his feet, "You wanna do a set? I'll spot ya." It was weird to offer it to Kaylee but none of his usual work out buddies like the Sheperd were about so maybe she'd be interested...he'd have to get smaller weights though.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

She wasn't sure what she had expected from asking. It was Jayne, after all. He wasn't going to suddenly open his heart up and talk to her about something.

With an awkward blink at the workbench, Kaylee shook her head. "No, it's. Alright. Wouldn't mind sittin' in with you, though." It was more or less an offer to spot him, not that she thought he needed it.

Other other thread. :)

[bonnypiperlad]

Jamie had gotten a glimpse of Kaylee as she left with Kang. Numb from what he had seen, it had taken a bit for the realization to sink in that she was there and she had seen the punishment too. Once it had, he took off after them, but they were too far ahead of him to figure out where they had gotten to.

It had taken him a bit of wandering before he figured out that she was likely on Serenity, and it wasn't too much longer after that that he found himself standing outside the ship. He had told her he wasn't going to come there to visit to avoid any conflict with Jayne, but it was Kaylee, and he wasn't about to let that stop him from making sure she was okay...well, as okay as anyone was right about now.

Entering the cargo bay, he stopped just inside, then brought his hands up and cupped them around his mouth to call out and see if she was aboard. "Kaylee? Are ye about?"

Aww heck yeah 8)

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Luckily for Jamie, Jayne's nowhere to be found at the moment. Kaylee herself has settled a bit, and has gone to the next best thing to curling up in her hammock: working on repairs for Serenity.

Jamie's yell is almost missed over the sound of the engine, but she somehow manages to catch the tail end between rotations. Frowning and unsure she really wants anymore company today, the mechanic pulls herself away, dropping her wrench into the small tool box nearby, and wipes her hands on her pant legs. Hopefully whoever's visiting won't mind her grease-streaked face too much.

She heads down the back staircase, and peeks into the cargo bay from next to the infirmary. Just Jamie, that's okay then. She gives an awkward wave as she steps out into the doorway. "Yeah, 'M here."

[bonnypiperlad]

He's not too surprised to see her covered in grease, considering everything. Jamie can understand the need to lose yourself in something - anything - to least take your mind off of something horrible. He's strongly tempted to just go over and give her a hug, though, grease and all. He holds off for the moment, instead shuffling one foot and looking a bit awkward as well.

"Aye. Look, I know I said I'd not come to visit on the ship, but..." He trails off for a moment. He doesn't want to blurt out that he saw her at the Obs Deck, but at the same time he wants to figure out some way to help, if he can. "I wanted to see if ye needed anything."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Hardly expected you to keep that promise anyhow," she half-laughs, shoving her hands into her pockets as she steps out further. "But I think 'M alright, as far as needs go..." Which is a complete lie and Jamie probably knows it.

Kaylee settles back on her heels, then nods back up the staircase she just came down. "Want anythin'? Tea?" It's a backwards way of asking for company, but it's a start.

[bonnypiperlad]

If Kaylee's telling the truth on that one, Jamie'd eat his...well. He'd eat something, he's not sure just what that would be. It doesn't make any difference, not really. He's willing to follow her lead as to what she wants, if it'll help. And if it's tea she wants to offer, then that's what he'll go with.

Hooking his thumbs behind his belt for a moment, he follows her glance over towards the staircase, then turns back to her and nods. "Aye. Tea would be lovely."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

It's hard to know what to think anymore. The crew thought they were safe and sound on Stacy, and that only got them to watching one of their own (however vicious she was) being torn apart and cauterized back together like a piece of metal. Kaylee barely notices herself shudder as she tries to block out memories of the Punishment. The thought alone is making her sick again, and once that happens the screams will be back in her ears and there will be no sleep tonight.

"Tea it is, c'mon." She waits a moment for him to start moving, then stiffly hops up the staircase and to the messhall. The pot from her earlier tea is still on counter, mostly full, and she moves it to the stove before pulling down mugs and setting the tea bags. "Anythin' particular you want in it?"

...All aboard the late train?

[leafonthewind]

Unlike most of the crew, Wash had stayed well away from the observation deck. Part of it was still recovering from being clawed open by the Tyrant, but part of it was the fact that he had no desire to see "Punishment," whatever it was.

From what he'd seen on the omnicomms, it was a good thing he'd avoided it. Flashbacks to Niska was not what he wanted just after being released from Quarantine.

What he wanted was to be back home. So that's where he went.

Serenity was quiet, which was unusual for the ship and only served to remind him how small their crew was currently. His bunk was calling him, but right now he didn't really want to be reminded of who wasn't here. He turned his steps to the engine room. "Mèimei, are you in here?"

choo choo!!

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Kaylee was already back under the engine, concentrating hard on not thinking about anything but rotations and parts. Work stopped the moment she heard Wash enter the cramped room.

"Yeah, 'M here," she replied, tightening the last bolt down before sliding out. "How're you feelin'?"

[leafonthewind]

"Better than I did before," Wash said, entering the engine room. "And medical says I'm highly unlikely to turn into a gigantic green nasty like Steve did, so they've let me out of Quarantine."

Something about her was different than normal bouncy Kaylee. Subdued. "Are you all right? You didn't go to that thing did you?"

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Relieved to hear it." Kaylee gave him the best smile she could, and it only managed to falter once he asked about the Punishment.

Immediately, she grew quieter, and shrunk back away. Mal would be yelling at her right about now, she was pretty sure of that much. "Yeah...yeah I went."

What are your feelings about canon updates?

[leafonthewind]

Well, Wash wasn't the captain. There were reasons for that.

He walked into the engine room, his palm running over whatever part of the ship was closest, and when he got to Kaylee he reached out and hugged her with a hand on her hair. "You know if you stop smiling then the ship can't fly, right? I really prefer when she's mobile. Much easier to fly that way."

He needed to know what this Punishment thing was, but he'd ask someone else. Not Kaylee.

...I'm listening... :O

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Nothing in the 'verse like Wash hugs. It was easy to hug him back. The embrace was familiar and felt like home and was just what Kaylee needed right now. No sentient ships with tentacles that sliced people up and put them back together, just Serenity and her pilot and mechanic. Just like old times.

"Ship that runs on smiles, there's an idea." Kaylee managed a small smile, just for Wash and Serenity. If anyone was worth it, they were.