Catching Fireflies (Doctor who)

The First Meal and Prayers

Kaylee was now bringing in supplies to cook dinner. The Doctor thought that he could be of some help so he followed her into the kitchen. Being the curious nman he was,, he looked around for the engine room he has been dieing to see. When he gave up on finding it he headed back into the kitchen. He waslked seeing Kaylee open the box Book gave to her and a strawberry at her lips. She made such a fae, almost provocitive.

The Doctor coughed and she turned around and screamed.

"Doctor, I-I didn't see you there and I-" The Doctor put his hands up.

"Quite all right. I didn't mean to frighten you either." The Doctor said. Kaylee put the strawberry back into the box and started to pull out the things she needed to cook dinner with. The Doctor aided her. "Why don't I help you." He said smiling.

"I think Book has already volunteered." Kaylee said.

"Then I'll help you until Book gets here." They both laughed and kaylee nodded her head in agreement.

"So why're you here? Headed off to Boros I mean." Kaylee asked.

"Well, I had to leave some important things and people behind. I'm hoping I could find some sort of adventure while I'm away from them." The Doctor said.

"But why Serenity?"

"Don't you remember?" The Doctor asked thinking it was obvious. "It's a great ship. It called to me." Kaylee smiled and looked at her feet.

"Do you still wanna see the engine room." She asked.

"Oh I would." He said with such excitement. This made her giggle.

"Maybe sometime after Whitefall I guess we could venture down there. Take a look 'round." She was blushing now. Just then Simon walked in noticing everything going on. He looked around like he just walked into a wall and stumbled out running into Book. Book looked at him and then proceeded into the kitchen.

"Looks like my work here is done." The Doctor said. He smiled at Book. "It's all yours."

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At dinner everyone was feasting. There were fresh fruits and vegetables along with the usual protein.

"This is incredible." Zoe said to Book.

"Not much. Had a garden at the ally. Thought that I should bring what I could." He said.

"It's very kind of you to share with all of us." Simon said.

"Well it wont last." Book said. "The thing is the spices, a man can live on packaged food from here to judgement day if he's got enough rosemary.." Book looked at Mal. "Captain, you mind if I say grace?"

"Only if you say it out loud." Mal said coldly.

Book set hes utensils down and bowed his head. Jayne saw this and did the same, followed by Kaylee and everyone else. Except Mal. After a few seconds it was another eating frenzy.

"So does it happen a lot?" Simon asked. "Government commandeering your ship. Telling where to go."

"That's what governments are for. Get in a mans way." Mal said.

"Well it's good if the supplies are needed." A man said at the end of the table.

"We're just happy to be doin' good works." Jayne said, mouth full.

"I hear a lot of the boarder moons are in bad shape. Plagues, famines." The man said.

"Well" Zoe started. "Some if that's exaggerated and some of it ain't. All those moons, just like the central planets, they're as close to Earth that was as we can make it. Gravity, atmosphere an such. But-"

"Once their terraformed." Mal cut in." They'll dump settlers on there with nothin' but blankets and hatchets. Maybe a herd. Some of 'em make it. Some of 'em." He trailed off.

"Then it's good we're helping them." The Doctor said.

"You're a doctor right?" Simon asked.

"Of some sort yeh." The Doctor said. "And you?"

"Oh yes. I was a trauma surgeon on Osiris in capital city."

"Long way from here." Mal said.

"You're both so young." Kaylee said to them. "To be doctors."

"Not really." The Doctor said now rubbing his face. "Just good moisturiser."

"Well you're pretty young to be a ships mechanic." Simon said.

"Machines just got workings and they talk to me." Kaylee said quite shy not the attention was on her.

"That's a rare gift." Book said.

"Well not like being a doctor." She said. "Helping fix people, that's important."

Jayne bumped into the conversation. "Little Kaylee just wishes you was a gynecologist." He was the only one laughing. Kaylee turned red ear to ear.

"Jayne." Mal said. "You'll keep a civil tongue in that mouth or I'll sew it shut. Is there an understanding between us?"

"You don't pay me to talk pretty." Jayne snarked. "Just because Kaylee gets lubed up over some big city-"

"Walk away from this table." Mal said. "Right now." It was silent for a while. Jayne the got up and refilled his plate leaving the dining area.

"What do you pay him for?" Simon asked.

"What?" Mal asked.

"I was just wondering what his job is. On the ship."

"Public relations." Mal said now munching on a tomato.