............................................. Next Morning at breakfast .............................................

Mal didn't show up at breakfast and the gathered crew was starting to worry,

"Why is the captain blaming himself? It's not like its his fault or anything..." said a sleepy Kaylee already wrapped up in Simon's arms

"Well Kaylee bird, the captain feels very protective towards us that's why he blames himself for everything. But Inara's got his heart..."

Suddenly the small alarm in Simon's pocket started beeping and vibrating.

"Oh NO!!"

"What's happening Simon?" asked Kaylee while the others rushed with them .

"Inara's fighting for life again.."and he disappeared in the infirmary. ............................................. Mal's bunk .............................................

Mal was sitting at the edge of his bed, with a white gold braclet with dimonds in his palm. If only his mother could be here to give him an advice...she already did that but altough he was very independent, when it came to women he felt like a five-year-old.But he has to do it... at least for his heart's sake, besides Inara has the right to know what are his true feelings for her. ............................................. Galley .............................................

He knew he was late for breakfast, but he also knew that by this time the crew should still be eating infact there were plates in front of the usual chairs with food in them.

"Well" he sighed, he knew it was time he grabbed some bacon and headed to the infirmary. It was there when he found the crew.

Kaylee was crying and River had teary eyes, Jayne was Strangely silent looking at his feet like Zoe.

"Wha-"

"Playing with death.... playing with fire...Burned..." answered a now weeping River, he looked pleadingly at Zoe

"Internal bleeding, sir"

But this time he couldn't take no more and he slid down the wall while his world faded away. .............................................

When he woke, he was welcomed by many smiles including his favourite Kaylee-ish-grin

"'Nara?" his voice was still hoarse

"Sleeping beauty woke just before you, sir"

"May I see her now? Doc said we'll be welcoming her today an-"

"It's ok captain, you may go"

Mal was ready to give Simon a lecture on permissions on Serenity until he felt his mother's bracelet in his hand "it's now or never said a voice in his mind". Zoe was smiling since he woke up, she knew what that bracelet meant and for Mal's sake she really hoped Inara woudn't reject him. ............................................. Infirmary .............................................

Mal limped in the infirmary, he was still a bit dizzy. He was shocked by the scene before him, Inara laying there with a wide bandage round her ribs and waist, a gash at the side of her temple and a long cut along her cheek both covered with stitches, he also could tell that her arm was still limp and she was feverish because her eyes shone like the sun and she was shivering.

"Hi there sleeping beauty"

"Good morning" she said with a tired smile.

"Good afternoon you must say..." he grinned

She was astounded by the tenderness in his eyes, she could drown in that ocean. But one minute-

"What?! How long have I been here?" She tried to get up but cried out at the sudden pain.

"Easy there" He caught her soulders and for a moment their eyes locked. Then he layed her down again.

"When I was out there were children crying... people screaming... I wanted to know what happened...but the shots were getting nearer and I don't remember anything..."

Now she was crying like a little girl who got lost at a fair. Mal took her in his arms like when he found her the first time and settled her on his lap, he cuddled her while she cried in the curve of his neck.

She didn't only cry for her previous day's experience, she cried for everything... her life, her love for him, all the times he'd hurt her, her job, her family...all she wanted in this world now was him holding her for the rest of her life but then, she didn't to illude herself with something she couldn't get and that created great sorrow.

"ssshhh darlin'... you're safe now... it's gonna be ok..."

"No it won't... it won't... you were right... I don't know anything about love, I just fog things up and I don't deserve you or serenity or her crew... I'm just a wh-"

"Don't you dare sayin' that again 'Nara...I said that because you hurt me 24 hours a day and because I'm jealous! I'm not respectable like you are and you go better than me with my own crew...look at Kaylee or Simon, they adore you! Zoe respects you...Damn! even Jayne likes you in his own way!! but better forget the Jayne-part.."

"Mal...I really don't know what to say-"

"Say you'll stay with me...gorram it!! when you left you almost killed me and this time I won't endure it again 'Nara ... I just need you to live... I can't remember ever saying this to anybody else but I'm saying it to you because I'm being truthsome.I need to be with you 'Nara I know we're not the perfect pair and prolly will keep bickering 'cause with you I can get as imbecille as the doc near Kaylee but we can work somethin' out...But anyway you decide I want you to have this..."

He took out his mother's bracelet and slipped it into her delicate palm. She look at it and beamed but Shortly handed it back.

"No, Mal this must've costed-"

"Not much really...mom gave it to me before the war...told me to give it to the woman I love..."

Her eyes started to well again but this time for a different reason although Mal was already kicking himself.

"Mal you must keep it... it has family value... it's priceless-"

"Like you are...please let me grant my mother's last wish"

His voice was thick with emotion and their faces were centimeters away, he knew that this will bring concequences but this time he couldn't think of anything, her jasmine fragrance was making his head swim. At first they just stared at eachother's eyes unsure, until Mal closed his eyes and gave her the most sweet, gentle kiss she ever had. It was then when Inara kissed him back and fell asleep with her head on his shoulder. He layed her back on the table and left the bracelet beside her head, at that he headed to the galley. ............................................. Galley .............................................

The crew were waiting for him anxiously, especially Zoe. Kaylee was tucking in a bowl of berries, Jayne was polishing Vera, River was drawing and Simon was sorting the medications in order while Zoe was cooking.

"Hey Capn'!! How did it go?" Chirped Kaylee

Everyone looked up at him and that made him feel a mighty uncomfortable.

"Well...over all...brilliant..." He was referring to her accepting him but the idea of him making her hurt so much still felt like a good punch in the gut.

"Did you kiss?!" Kaylee was wide-eyed now

"Well...yeah" Ok...now it's becoming embarrassing and his ears were turning red.

Zoe made a sign of a bracelet and when he gave her a thumbs-up, she gave him that knowing smile.

"About time you stopped being a ruttin' coward" muttered Jayne who received a glare from Kaylee and a hit from River who earned a "thank you" wink from Zoe.

"Nah...it's still not that smooth"

"Give a chance to get yourself used to the situation...you and Inara surely deserve it." said a blushed Simon and Mal could hardly believe that the good doc could be even a counsellor in this type of things.

"Uh- thanks doc"

"Congratulations Sir!"

"I told ya Zoe it's not 100% yet"

"But it will be SHINY capn'!!!!" and she ran to give him a kiss on the cheek.

Everyone laughed at Mal's expression.