simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

It's one of Simon's getting-home-early days. He's picked up a few things for dinner on the way home -- he will readily admit that he still isn't much of a cook, but he can handle baked chicken and green salad, and he can make a start on it before Kaylee gets in.

There's another clinic run coming up next month. He's been thinking of taking a few days of vacation sometime after that; maybe he'll bring that up tonight.

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"So if he does sell, would you keep them on? If they care to stay on?"

Pitcher goes on the table; Simon goes to retrieve the salad bowl.

"If they're any good." Forks and knives go on the table, too. "I don't know. I mean -- I liked buildin' up the shop, I like the work I'm doin', but I don't get to spend enough time here and I don't get to spend enough time with people and I want a little better balance, you know? But it's got to happen right."

"Right," he agrees. "And -- there are bound to be other good mechanics in this city who'd be happy to work for you."

One more plate comes down out of the cabinet, and the rolls come out of the oven. (Carefully; they're quite warm.)

"Right." Kaylee pulls out the butter and puts it on the table. "So. If you were me. What would you do?"

He's quiet for a moment, reaching absently to pull out her chair.

"I'd probably need to think it over a little more." Just a touch rueful. "Do you have a time limit?"

Kaylee shakes her head. "He's the one who's hurtin' and I'm holdin' the cards." Calm, as she takes a seat (brushing her hand over his briefly). "If I don't hear from him again, then no reason to fuss. If he shows up tomorrow, I tell him where to stick it. If he gives me a couple days..."

Kaylee shrugs. "Then that's why I'm thinkin' about it."

He sits down, and dishes himself some salad.

"It occurs to me that even if he isn't interested in selling, you could achieve some of the things you're talking about just by expanding your own operation a little."

"Well, yeah."

An easy grin, as she reaches for a baguette. "You're sayin' I buy out somebody else to expand my empire?"

He tilts his head; maybe. "Or just ... find and hire a few more people. Although I don't know if you'd have room."

Kaylee laughs. "You don't seem to be pickin' up on my key motivation here, handsome."

A pause, as he cuts a bite of chicken, and a sidelong smile. "Would that be the expanding-your-empire motivation?"

"It would." Kaylee is serene. "Unless you don't think I ought to be queen of all I survey?"

"I don't see why not." Grinning. "If that's what you want, you should absolutely be the queen of all you survey."

"So you're fine with me increasin' the size of my empire?"

"Oh, I think so." He holds out a hand across the corner of the table. "If you promise to be a wise and benevolent ruler."

"You forgot sexy."

Entirely deadpan: "I never forget sexy."

Kaylee delicately places her (still reddened, still rough) hand in his. "Then I guess I promise."

He presses it gently, running his thumb along the side of her palm, and then lets go.

"I was thinking today," he says after a moment, "that I'm overdue a short vacation. Maybe after the next clinic trip."

Kaylee picks up her fork again. "Yeah?"

Before she asks if she's invited, she figures she ought to ask for elaboration.

"I thought possibly we could go somewhere together," he continues, "but depending on how things are going with your empire-building, maybe I could take at least part of that time to help you out."

He reaches for the pitcher. "You know, if you think I could be useful."

"Well," reasonably, "when's the next clinic trip? Because I don't see why we couldn't delay whatever empire-buildin' will happen until after."

"It's early next month," he says, buttering a fragment of his baguette. "Five days, Constance to Newhall and back to here."

"That's not so bad," she says, sounding surprised. "And -- yeah, no harm at all in delayin' whatever might happen until after."

"Then let's do that?" He smiles.