"We need t'put down somewhere," Jayne ordered. "We ain't outrunnin' 'em and we won't survive another fight yet. We gotta set down." "Where, exactly, do you suggest?" Inara argued. River ignored them both as she continued to complete several tasks at once. That planet too far, they'd never make it running on fumes as they were already...perhaps that moon...not with the Alliance cruiser orbitting it...another turn and release their third nav sat decoy. That would give them another few moments' peace... "There's gotta be someplace 'round here," the large man grumbled. He was scared. They all were. Simon was in surgery, trying to work on two patients at once while Kaylee was frantically using every trick she knew in the engine room. Inara was supposed to be in the infirmary, but Jayne had started bleeding out again and River had called for more bandages to distract the angry Cobb from telling her how to fly. "Inara, if you've finished up there," Simon's voice wavered over the comm. "I could use some help here again." "Go," Jayne pushed at her ineffectively. Inara glared at him. "It's my leg anyway; I'll finish wrappin' it. Doc needs ya." "Don't aggravate River," Inara instructed before hurrying back to the infirmary. Jayne made a face at her back before turning his attention back to the young girl piloting Serenity. "You found a place to set down yet?" he demanded, tying a large knot in the rapidly pinking bandage. She continued to ignore him as she administered a series of moves that she knew Kaylee was cursing her for back in the engine room. Her sister-in-law could handle it, though, or she wouldn't have done it. "Here," Jayne pointed at a moon not too far out. River shook her head. "Alliance cruiser," she murmured. "Here," he pointed at another moon. River shook her head again. "Not enough fuel," she said distractedly. She blinked and listened to something Jayne would never hear. "Infirmary," she said, coming out of the daze. "They need more hands." "Ta ma de hun dan," he cursed as he half-ran and half-limped to the mess in the infirmary. River was left alone again. Her eyes flicked to the screen that was scrolling through moons within crawling distance. There, she decided finally. She made some more adjustments to the navigation, set it up and took off for the engine room. Kaylee was going to need help. *** The remainder of the day was too hectic to do much talking. River and Kaylee worked to keep the engine churning; Simon exhausted himself removing bullets and other patchwork on Mal, Zoë and Jayne; Inara did her part and then some in assisting the doctor. When they were only an hour from the small moon River had selected as shelter, Kaylee was curled up at her husband's side as they rested on the couch outside the infirmary. Inara dozed by Mal's side, holding his hand while he rested in a drug-induced sleep. Jayne sat on the floor by Zoë's bed, trying to stay awake while still succumbing to the lull of the woman's finally even breathing. River was bringing another blanket for the man before Kaylee remembered to ask where they were headed. "Oh, that's nice," the pregnant Mrs. Tam yawned when River answered. "Maybe we can see my folks, long as we're there." "I'd like to meet your parents," Simon nodded, half-asleep himself. A moment passed quietly, almost every crew member lazily aware of something hanging in the air that still needed to be addressed. Inara is watching the Captain, Simon thought casually, running through what possibly could be nagging for his attention. She will say something if I'm needed; Zoë's breathing stabilized and the wounds have been closed - she should be sleeping off the anesthetic for another hour or so; Jayne's leg will heal if he stops hopping around; Kaylee's parents are on the moon we're approaching; River is getting blankets for everyone... His eyes snapped open and he sat up suddenly, dislodging his pregnant wife - who had never brought up meeting her parents before in the five months they'd been married - unceremoniously staggered to his feet, and stared in horror at the woman he loved. "Your parents?!" Kaylee blinked at him, trying to remember how her parents had entered the conversation. Inara and Jayne glared and shushed at Simon, who was still rambling as he now paced the confines of the small hallway. River shook her head and returned to the bridge. "You've never mentioned wanting to see your parents," Simon was babbling. "If you had said something, I would have gladly gone with you before - well, perhaps not before the wedding, it was a bit haphazard, but you said you wanted it small like that - but certainly immediately afterwards, we could have taken the time to go see your family. You have at least sent them a wave, haven't you? They know about me, don't they? Do they know you're pregnant? Kaylee?" "I sent a 'wave," she answered, her voice small and tired. "I think." "You think?!" Simon wailed. He was met with another round of glaring shushes as Inara closed the door to the infirmary. He could really care less right now. Kaylee was giggling. "You honestly think I'd marry without tellin' my folks?" she laughed. She leaned back against the couch for support as she wrapped her arms around her stomach. She was only ten weeks into the pregnancy, barely showing, but Simon still found his eyes lingering on her midsection as he calmed himself. "But you've never mentioned meeting your parents," he said, moving to sit next to her again. She shrugged, the smile still playing on her face. "We live out here in the black," she explained. "Not many trips into the homeworld. 'Sides, when were we gonna get the opportunity? We been runnin' nonstop since the weddin' and all. And it ain't like Serenity can do much without her mechanic or doc. Cap'n sure can't." Simon nodded as he processed her words. Jobs had continued to be sparse and just as nefarious as they had always been...with the exception of a few fond memories in between. His medical expertise had not been put aside - rather, his fieldwork was improving. He wasn't sure the Captain or Jayne qualified as unbiased opinions on his bedside manner, though, but he was sure he was getting better at relating to people, too. He remembered how tired he was and pulled his wife into his arms so they could snuggle on the couch together. He could still see Inara when she stood, and since she wasn't waving frantically at him, he assumed a short nap couldn't possibly be a bad idea. He felt Kaylee's breathing fall into a deep and even rhythm, matched his breathing to hers and soon found himself drifting off again. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad...