Kaylee was in trouble. Her entire world was thrown off it’s axis in a matter of moments.

There were certain truths in her life that she didn’t question.

Like underneath all the crazy, River was still just a little girl. No matter how terrified he was, Simon’s hands never shook in surgery. Inara was as wise as she was beautiful, except when it came to herself. Jayne would always say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Wash would always be a little boy at heart. Zoe was the voice of reason and the Captain loved Serenity above all else.

Living with eight other people in such close quarters, you couldn’t help but learn about them. Usually, more than you ever wanted to. Kaylee figured she knew her crewmates inside and out. Nothing could surprise her.

She wasn’t sure how it started, or at what point she decided sleeping with Jayne was a good idea. But one moment she was bemoaning the fact that there wasn’t a single man on Serenity interested in her, and the next Jayne had her pressed up against the counter in the galley. The last coherent thought she had was that he was a liar.

Jayne did so like kissing on the mouth.

Too many people passed by the crew quarters on their way to and from the bridge, and so they hadn’t been safe in either of their bunks, sneaking into shuttle two instead. Sex with Jayne had been just like she expected, hard and fast and sloppy. But that wasn’t his fault any more than it was hers. Been a long time for the both of them. There were kisses and bruises and teeth marks. High, keening cries and gravely murmurs of encouragement punctuated by low, quiet groans.

It was over in moments, and she bonelessly sank against his sweaty chest, closing her eyes to savor the fading heat of pent up release.

A minute passed. Then two.

She didn’t think the hard, metal floor could be all that comfortable, even for a man used to roughing it. Another minute. She became more conscious of the position they were in: him lying flat on his back with her smaller body resting on his. The strong, steady beat of his heart echoed beneath her ear, and she swallowed, aware his hands--his nice, big hands-- were still curled possessively around her hips.

It took another minute for her to find her voice. “Jayne?”

Grunt.

“You, um, comfortable?”

His eyes were closed, but his fingers tightened on her hips.

“You ain’t cold?” She tried again.

Another grunt.

“’Cause I can get up if you want.“ She put her hands on his chest, her fingers curling in the dark strands of hair covering his chest, and started to sit up.

Cracking an eye open, he stared up at her for a long moment and for the first time, she found herself wondering what he was thinking. Slowly, he slid his palm along her spine, pressing her firmly back against the warmth of his chest.

Melting against him, she nestled her cheek against his collarbone. Kaylee was most definitely in trouble.

Jayne liked to cuddle.