Crumbles

Rated: PG

Category: Gen, Ficlet (300 words), Crew
Spoilers: Out Of Gas
Summary: Cake Doesn't Have To Be Pretty To Taste Sweet.

Note: Written in response to the LJ prompt of 'Cake' on ff_friday.

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Kaylee had taken the engine room. It was second only to the bridge in its filth, but she could separate herself from the stains and concentrate on the machines there easily enough, so she never thought to work anywhere else.

Inara was glad. The mechanic didn't need to see this, and she had her own reasons for taking this duty.

The mess was a mess, but there was no blood there.

While Jayne swabbed crimson in the cargo bay and Book meticulously scrubbed iron from the crevices of the cockpit, Inara straightened placemats and righted chairs.

River had helped briefly, but left after only a few minutes to accompany her brother in his vigil beside Mal and Zoë in the infirmary. Wash alternated between checking on the patients and catching any missed smears of red on doorframes and walls.

And so it was that Inara was alone when she found Kaylee's cake.

It was squished to nearly beyond recognition by a saucer that had impaled it, and candles protruded at odd angles, but it was still somehow sitting on its serving plate.

Inara smiled at the mess wistfully for a moment before her hand subconsciously did something it hadn't done since her childhood. Her finger scooped up a small chunk of icing and brought it to her mouth.

It was a very un-companion-like thing to do, but it broadened Inara's smile.

The cake was good.

Damn good, all things considered.

Inara took another bite, then grinned as an idea hit.

Just like Serenity and her crew, the cake was beat up, but still serviceable.

And served it was.

Two nights later, the entire crew of Serenity munched on cake crumbles in bowls.

No one cared in the slightest that it wasn't slices on plates.

Crumbles in bowls worked just fine.