The Hole in the 'verse

An alternative Firefly story

Rating: R(!), for adult situations not suitable for children

Summary: AU, post-BDM fic. Kaylee went back to fetch Simon and learned a lot about the doctor she wished she hadn't. While they try to reconcile their differences, it turns out that the Hands of Blue will take what they can get.

Disclaimer: Still own jack except for my eeeeeeeeevil Hands of Blue.

Author's Notes: Okay guys, this chapter gets racy. Not detailed, but the situation coming up isn't pleasant at all. Be aware of the rating increase, okay? Without further ado, the next installment.

The Book of KAYLEE

part 4

The room is very big they brung me to. It's open 'n makes me uncomfortable. I ain't got my miracle yet; Jayne ain't showed up, nor Mal, nor 'Nara, nor nobody. I'm all alone now.

The dark one is kinda gentle with me, so it ain't so bad. Not yet, anyway, I don' think. I'm still afraid, though. I guess anyone would be, in my case. I ain't gonna let 'em know I'm afraid, not unless I can't help it. Thinkin' about Simon helps, cause even though I'm mad at him, I ain't never seen him so vengeful as he gets fer River. Maybe he really does like me.

The blond one sits me in a chair roughly so's I know who I'm dealin' with. Ain't like I'm goin' anywhere anyway. Can't stop my knees rattlin' fer nothin' 'n it's gettin' kinda bothersome. The dark one leans against the wall'n just watches me, 's though I'm 'bout ta do somethin' innerestin'.

"What now?" the Blond asks carelessly. He misses the look a death the dark one gives 'im. I think I was s'pposed ta miss it too.

"Nothing. We leave her here. We bring her back tomorrow."

"It isn't much of a threat just giving her back as is. He won't fear us."

Seems's though Blond's edgylike, even as Dark's losin' int'rest again. Mal'd be proud a me fer keepin' a cool head 'n 'valuatin' stuff like he's always doin' when things is gettin' dangerous. I can't promise it'll stay cool though, iffin they keep talkin' 'bout torturin' me like I ain't even here. Them's uncomfortin' folk.

"It's what we promised. He is agitated, which is what we want. He will comply with us in fear that one day we will bloody her up." Dark ain't lookin' up 'n payin' 'ttention none. He shoulda, though, 'cause I don't trust Blond no more. Don't trust either a them, really, 'cept Dark don't seem so inclined ta hurt me.

"And we are just going to stand guard over her until tomorrow," Blonde remarks really boredlike.

"No. We have guards to do that. I'm sure the man you killed would have done an honourable job of it." I thought Dark sounded angry, but it had ta be an accident. I ain't never heard of a Hand a Blue bickerin' before. Fact, I really only heard a them comin' like plague 'n killin' everyone in sight.

"He was impudent," Blond is arguin'. "We need to punish the girl before she gets the idea that we are weak."

There is def'nite heat exchanged between the two, 'n I def'nitely feel left out in a big way. It feels like them's still arguin' over me, but with their eyes or somethin'. I feel cold just stayin' in their presence.

"I'm going to procure some guards. Don't let her out of your sight." Dark looks 'bout as cold as I'd seen 'im since I first met 'im. I musta really missed somethin' big.

I really wanned ta comment on the ominous nature a leavin' me alone with Blond, but I didn' have the heart. Dark left, 'n Blond took over a position against the wall. He was watchin' me kinda funny, ta the point that I had ta say somethin'.

"Are ya gonna hurt me like ya said?"

He nods. "That is my plan, yes."

"But ya ain't gonna do it now."

"No, I'm not."

Mal mighta been proud—'cause I was bein' brave right then—but I sure didn't feel brave.

XXX

The girl is young, pretty, and well guarded by him. As long as he is around, I can't touch her without his knowing. If I am going to do this properly, I need to be careful so that he does not find out for a good, long while. He will find out eventually—that much is inevitable—but if I am careful, he will not realize anything in the foreseeable future. I will rely on my stealth and my wit, both of which are in good supply. Incidentally, as long as I am able to slip past him, I don't foresee a problem with the operation.

Above all, he must remain ignorant. It is by far the more agreeable course of action, considering his strong opposition to harm. If he catches me, there will be far more than hell to pay, but there are some things in life that a man cannot resist. I will hurt her, her childlike innocence, and there are many ways to hurt a person without physically injuring them. That is the objective of the game. After all, life as an instrument of the Hands of Blue is nothing but a very elaborate game of "Who is the best at being the most devious?" I am proud to count myself among the Best.

He returns eventually with his trained Alliance minions, though they all look unhappy to be in his presence. I don't think that I can blame them, and I myself am not even completely under his employ. I merely work alongside him; were I to be engaged, there would be death.

He carefully positions them to his liking and orders them not to so much as touch the girl before he starts to leave. He expects me to follow tamely, not even giving a formal order to do so. This time, he had won, as we move as two. Two Hands go in, two Hands come out. I am not allowed to abandon him, lest I embrace an unsavoury fate at the hands of more experienced and knowledgeable Hands than I. I do not dread such an encounter, though I do not tempt it either.

I spare a last look for the girl before I leave. I will have to take her tonight.

XXX

Kaylee almost visibly relaxed when the last of the Blue Hand had left. She was aware of still having guards around her and watching her, but they didn't seem nearly as dangerous as the two men that had previously been in the room. There was no choking presence about these people; they were human.

"You ain't got nothin' ta do 'round here, do ya?" she asked hopefully of one sullen guard. They all looked pretty disheartened, but this one looked the least likely to be angry with her if she asked a simple question.

"No."

"Ya sure? No…puzzles or nothin'?"

"No."

Kaylee didn't keep up the conversation long. There was clearly no point in alienating these men, in case they got nasty and took it out on her. She planned to get out of this encountre without any cuts or bruises like the dark-haired Hand had promised. Besides, if she was hurt, Simon would fly into a rage and they would never be able to escape. She vaguely wondered what Simon was doing right then, whether he was okay or not. She willed him silently to behave and wait for Serenity to find them.

Sleep came easily to her, once she realized that she truly had nothing to do. There was a cot of sorts set up in the corner and it was around the same level of comfort as her hammock in Serenity's engine room. She wondered if Wash had figured out how to fix the wire crossings that River had made. Kaylee missed Serenity, and it was thoughts of her wonderful little Firefly that helped ease her into a dreamless and restless sleep.

She didn't notice when the guards stumbled out of her cell in panic. They would later claim that they had been overcome with a severe and debilitating bout of "the willies," but Kaylee was blissful and completely unaware of the circumstances that led to their flight. She didn't notice the entrance of the man in white, either.

"Kaylee. Kaylee, wake up," he called. Kaylee groaned and curled up into a tighter ball. He tried again. "Kaylee? Kaylee, I love you, but please open your eyes? For me?"

The line was vaguely familiar, as was the voice speaking it. Kaylee allowed herself to slide an eyelid open slightly. The blurred vision didn't immediately put the form into any recognizable shape, but it looked like a person. Angular jaw, severe eyebrows, dark hair…

"Simon?" she mumbled.

"Hi." He smiled apologetically then, as though he was sorry for waking her up. "I um…I wanted to make sure you were alright after they took you and—"

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. They didn' harm me." Kaylee paused, a frown wrinkling her features slightly. "Simon…did you just say—"

He looked to be blushing, though she wasn't sure in the dim light. "I wanted to see if you'd wake up."

"So ya don' love me?" For being half asleep, she felt oddly disappointed.

"Of course I love you. I just…I thought it'd wake you up a bit faster."

"Oh…well that makes sense…"

"Are you really alright?" he asked softly. Kaylee smiled to see his face crinkle in worry.

"Yeah, Simon, I'm fine. Ya got outta them colourful clothes," she said wistfully. "I liked 'em."

"Maybe I'll put them back on later." Simon ran his fingers over her cheek, a small smile quirking his lips. Kaylee took his hand in both of hers so that she could nuzzle it. He smelled just like she remembered: slightly of rubbing alcohol and slightly of fresh soap.

"I'd like that."

"Good." Simon leaned in close, ghosting kisses down her nose.

Kaylee giggled, taking his face in her hands to stop his tickling. Simon allowed the movement, remaining still so that she could do what she liked. The doctor smiled coyly, waiting for her to make a move.

"I'm gonna kiss you now," she murmured. Kaylee did just that: she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his.

"'M glad fer that," he mumbled, letting his lips vibrate against hers. When he felt her hum in response, he parted her lips gently with his tongue.

Kaylee, for her part, let him lead the kiss. In fact, she was more than a little surprised that he had actually taken the initiative. Simon had always been too shy before, and Kaylee had always imagined that he was somewhat ignorant of it. However, she wasn't about to complain or rationalize it further. Simon did apparently know how to kiss really well.

She scooted over to let Simon climb into the cot beside her, eager to hold and touch him. Kaylee had Mal once told before that she had "not had anything twixt her nethers weren't run on batteries." Originally, she had said it to shock Mal into keeping Simon on Serenity. Now, she realized that there had actually been more to it than shock, and she really, really needed physical contact.

Simon complied with her silent requests, sliding onto the mattress without releasing his hold on her arm. He ran his free hand through her hair, easing her head towards his own for another kiss. Kaylee shivered beneath his touch as the fingers that were tangled in her tresses wandered down her neck and shoulders and back.

Ian allowed his mouth to follow his fingers' path, nipping and sucking down the strong line of her neck.

"Simon…" she breathed. Her eyes had squeezed closed, as though she had seen something unbearable, but Ian suspected it was something else entirely. He rolled them over—himself on top—to test his theory.

"Love you, Kaylee," he smiled lazily.

"Simon!"

Ian had but one thought before he accepted the spoils of his clever plan. She is going to feel mighty silly in the morning…

Chinese:

N/A

Honour Roll: bonesfirefly: Here you go! Jas-TheMaddTexan: They really are like puppies, just slightly angrier. How about pit bull puppies? Cerulean's my favorite colour. garden-crafter: Simon and Kaylee are like yin and yang personified. That's why they're so perfect for each other. And no, definitely no trusting the HoB. (Rather sounds a bit like SoB, doesn't it?)