Phase One

A/N: Third Part of Four. Enjoy!!!

PHASE ONE: Prologue

PHASE ONE: Part One

PHASE ONE: Part Two

Day Twenty Eight.

“Eat… go,” Simon insisted. Enough movement had returned to his hand that he could squeeze hers, and he did so.

“I’m fine,” she murmured, snuggling closer into him. She had barely moved from this position since finding him the night before.

“Need to food.” He frowned. That wasn’t right. “To eat.”

She shushed him softly. “I’m fine, sweetie. I don’t wanna leave ya.”

He turned his head so he could look at her, but his eyes landed on the bottle of medicine. It flashed green in the dull light.

“Kay…” he could barely get her full name out anymore. He hated that… he’d always loved the sound of her name on his lips. Almost as much as he loved the sound of his on hers.

“Yeah?” She smiled encouragingly, patiently.

He took a deep breathe. “Not…don’t….to…have to.” With a loud cry of frustration that shocked Kaylee, he lifted his head and pounded it back against the headboard.

“Simon, don’t, please, you’ll hurt yourself.”

“Not care! Hate!”

She curled her arm around him protectively. “Shh, please, Simon.”

Simon wished he could tell the incredible woman beside him just how incredible she was. He wished he could apologise for every time he’d hurt her, for every second he’d kept her waiting. He wished he could wrap his arms around her and pull her close, but he didn’t have the strength to lift them anymore.

And he wished he understood why that was. Why yesterday he’d been completely paralysed and today he wasn’t. Why his mind was as bright as ever but his tongue was his own worst enemy.

As a doctor, it made no sense.

“Simon?”

Oh, how he loved the sound of her voice.

“Kay…”

She kissed the palm of his hand. It tingled pleasantly.

“You don’t gotta talk, darlin’”

“No. Wanna.” Simon stole himself once more. “Don’t deserve... Kaylee.”

She stilled, bewilderment spreading over her face. “What?”

“Too good… don’t deserve.”

Her face was so close to his, and he wanted to lift his lips to meet hers. But he couldn’t.

“Simon…”

“I’m sorry.” He smiled ruefully. “Sentence … full.”

She smiled, but still looked concerned. “Simon, you don’t got nothin’ to be sorry for.”

“Upset. And… angry. Because me.”

“No!” She shook her head. “I’m not.”

“Were…”

Kaylee sniffed. “That don’t matter none. Not any more.”

“Why you … wait?”

“’Cos you’re special, silly,”

“No!” His head thrashed weakly from side to side. “I’m sorry….I’m sorry.”

“Shh, Simon…”

“Sorry…so sorry…”

“Simon,” she gasped, her cheeks wet. “Stop it!”

He stopped, meeting her eyes timidly.

“Wouldn’t have survived,” he told her carefully.

Slowly, almost as if she couldn’t believe what she was doing, Kaylee leaned in and pressed a gentle, lingering kiss to his dry lips.

“Simon,” she breathed against his skin, “if you don’t get through this, I won’t survive.”

Then his lips were on hers again, and she felt them warm beneath her touch. After what could have been minutes and could have been hours, he pulled away softly.

“Kaylee?”

“Yeah?”

Simon’s stomach twisted nervously. “Need…to… to say.”

“What?” she coaxed, running a finger down his jaw line.

“To tell you…love you,” he said, his face a picture of concentration as he tried to get the important words in right order. “Always …did. Will.”

She smiled, laughing in delight at his expression. “Simon Tam, did you really just say that?”

His heart began to pound. He’d been so sure she felt the same way, but… he shifted nervously. She was smiling, at least.

“Yes,” he said, unsurely.

Her smile only grew. “’Bout time,” she teased, leaning in. “Now, stop lookin’ so worried. I love you too.”

Simon let out a long breath. “Really?”

She kissed him again. “Really.”

Day Thirty

“I’m sorry about this,” Inara said lightly. “Jayne cooked today…” she trailed off, her meaning clear.

Simon smirked. “Bad when… not off food.”

Inara laughed. “Exactly. I can only imagine how horrible it tastes when even good food is disagreeing with you.” She replaced the bowl. “So, how are you feeling?”

“Okay,” Simon said, in same slow and careful tone he used all the time now. “Kaylee?”

“I sent her to sleep,” Inara said. “She’ll be back later, no doubt.”

Simon nodded, glad that someone was looking after her. “River?”

“She’s with the shepherd,” Inara assured him. “And she’s just the same. Quieter than usual, worried about you, but calm enough.”

“Good.”

“So you see,” Inara continued. “We’re looking after River and Kaylee, which leaves you free to look after yourself.” She sobered a little. “In all honesty, Simon, we have no idea what to do. I know you find it hard to speak, but you’re the only one with any medical expertise. Can’t you think of anything that will give us a clue?”

“Don’t…,” Simon said, turning away from her in frustration. As if he hadn’t been wracking his brains all this time! There wasn’t much else he could do, trapped inside…

His eyes landed on the bottle of medicine, and he frowned.

“Green,” he breathed.

Inara moved closer. “What?”

He looked at her. The medicine’s green, he wanted to yell. It’s not supposed to be green. It should be clear. Someone has tampered with my medicine!

“Green!” he said more insistently. With as much force as he could, he lashed out with his arm and knocked the bottle from his bedside table. It fell to the floor and smashed.

“Simon!” Inara gasped, shocked. “What are you…?”

Zoe appeared at the door as Inara stooped to clear the mess.

“It’s okay,” she said. “There’s a few more bottles of that stuff.” She disappeared.

“No,” Simon murmured, but knocking the bottle had taken the last of his energy.

“Shh, Simon,” Inara said, placing her hand on his. “Just sleep, okay.”

Zoe had returned, and was loading up the syringe.

“No…no…”

“S’alright, doc,” Zoe said, “here you go…”

Simon tried to jerk his arm away, but Zoe held him steady as she pushed the needle in.

“No…” he breathed, but he couldn’t even keep his eyes open anymore.

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PHASE ONE: Part Four