I shook my head and tried to concentrate on the list in front of me. What was needed, what was wanted, and what was vital for the infirmary. The captain had asked for a list since we were going to be making a stop later this week.

I hoped that we could get more than what was vital for the crew to sustain itself for the next few months. It never seemed to fail that the crew would get into a few more scrapes then necessary.

"Doc?"

I glanced up from my list to see a crestfallen Jayne standing in my infirmary. I sighed and shook my head. "What did you do now?" I asked with slight annoyance, he seemed to be more careless these last few months.

"Didn't do nuthin'," he groaned in response as he hesitantly took a step forward, pausing slightly as he stared blankly at me. "It ain't nutin' but a little ache."

"An ache?" I asked, suddenly concerned as I crossed over to him.

"Think I might've pulled sumthin' when I was liftin' those gorramed crates." Jayne grumbled as he rubbed the left side of his chest and arm.

"But that was over two days ago," I stated, trying to clarify the nature of his injury.

"Still achy," he shrugged. "Reckon I must've done sumthin' if it still all achy."

"I reckon so," I smiled as I reached out and tried to feel for any damage. "Does it hurt here?" I questioned as he just shrugged in response.

"You ever write them fancy love letters?" Jayne asked suddenly and I froze, dropping my hands down to my sides.

"Er, love letters?" My words stumbling together as I repeated his statement. "I can't say that I have."

"Even for Kaylee?" He questioned as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"No," I shrugged as I crossed my arms across my chest. "I've never been real good-"

"Ain't that right, took you near long enough to get with Kaylee." He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Yes," I sighed, wondering if he had any injury at all.

"Guess, I did ok then." He muttered more to himself. "If the good doc can't write no gorramed love letter, then mine must've been shiny."

"What letter would that be?" I questioned feeling strangely out of the loop.

"Just a note," he grinned, relaxing for the first time since he stepped into the room. "Maybe I might try one of them letters too."

"Maybe," I replied as he nodded and turned to leave.

"Guess, I'll have to ask 'Nara about hers." He chuckled as he walked out of the infirmary and I stared after him. "Seein' the good doc ain't no good at it."

I sighed at his last comment. I had an odd sense of pride that Jayne was apparently writing love letters. A picture of Jameson flickered in my mind and I had no doubt that he was writing them to her- she brought out the best in him.

"Jameson," I whispered as I realized that his achy feeling was something he must not be used to, heartache. Our Jayne was growing up and writing love letters too.

Tucking away the list, I turned off the lights and headed back to my room. I rounded the corner and I was surprised to find River putting what little I had into one of my bags.

"Mei mei?" I began as she turned to me, a look of indifference on her face. "What are you doing?"

"Moving," she drawled, annoyed at my interference.

"I can see that," I replied dryly as she picked up the bag and flew past me and down the hall. "River?"

"You don't need that room," she replied as I caught up with her in Shepherd Book's old room.

A shiver ran up my spine as I stepped through the entryway. I paused and closed my eyes briefly, remembering the man as he was. No one has touched this room since he left.

"River?" I questioned once more, needing her to explain to me. "Why-"

"You don't really need a room since you share with Kaylee," she began as I gasped in response. I had not realized that she had known that I spent most nights in Kaylee's bunk instead of mine. "It's just for show, it's what proper."

"Why this room?" I asked as she started to unpack my things and arrange them.

"Shepard doesn't want to share his room with strangers," she whispered softly as she rested her hand on the bed. "And she needs your room."

"Who needs my room?"

"Jameson," She grinned.

"Jameson?" I questioned as she nodded in response, like it was the most obvious thing in the 'Verse. "Shumma?"

"Until she finds her heart, she must have somewhere to stay." She replied matter-of-factly and turned to leave.

I stared at her retreating form and then glanced around what apparently was my new room. It was strangely comforting and I really couldn't object, after all most nights I was with Kaylee.

"There you are," Kaylee grinned as she crossed over to me, wrapping her arms around me and leaning up to kiss me. "Whatcha doin' in here?" She asked, her lips barely touching mine.

"Apparently this is my new room," I explained, my lips grazing over hers, in a ghost of a kiss.

She frowned and pulled away slightly. "But, why?"

"River-" I began as she suddenly laughed in response, kissing my lips, cutting the rest of my reply off.

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her tighter against my body, deepening our kiss with a small thrust of my tongue.

"Your room already," a voice interrupted and it took me a moment to realize it was River intruding with yet another bag. Kaylee and I reluctantly pulled away as we watched River unpack the smaller bag.

"Need help?" Kaylee offered as she squeezed my hand.

"Didn't have much to move-" she whispered as she turned to me, a small smile on her face. "My brother gave up most of his things. I didn't have the chance to choose."

I froze slightly at her haunting words, not knowing how to respond to her statement. She was right, but I would have done it again in an instant.

"Oh," Kaylee gasped as she glanced at my things and than turned to me.

"All done," River smiled as she suddenly grabbed Kaylee's hand. "Now you can help me with her room."

"Her room?" Kaylee questioned in confusion.

"Yes," River grinned. "You painted Serenity's walls before, now you must paint some more."

"Paint?" Kaylee repeated, amusement laced in her voice.

"It's a surprise." River laughed as she pulled on Kaylee's arm and we both followed her back to my old room.

"For who?" Kaylee asked once more and I sighed.

"River has some notion in her head that Jameson is going to be staying with us." I explained as Kaylee's eye's widened.

"Oh," she gasped. "I didn't think she'd be coming with us."

"Neither does the Captain," River giggled as she opened a small can of paint. "He doesn't need to know, he'll break her heart."

"Jameson's?" Kaylee questioned looking at Simon in confusion.

"Heart's already broken." River explained as she sighed softly and leaned over and touched the cool metal. "Serenity has her heart set on it, not only a doctor can mend hearts."

"And Jayne? Does he know?" I inquired as she shook her head no. "Doesn't he deserve to know?"

"Oh, he knows- he just doesn't know it's real yet." She smiled. "It's his dream."

"Jayne and Jameson together again," Kaylee sighed. "Ain't it sweet? Thought she'd come with us the last time."

"Time doesn't matter," River smiled as she lifted up a paint brush and started painting on the walls. Kaylee eagerly grabbed a brush and helped her paint on what used to be a bare wall. "Time is not applicable. The heart does not measure in days."

Jameson was coming back to Serenity, it was an idea I never thought possible- it will change everything for the better and perhaps it will give Jayne a chance to heal.

"Yes," River agreed as she looked up at me her eyes twinkling before returning back to her work. "But, it's still going to hurt."

The end