Mal desperate was to say the least. He had to convince Inara to have the surgery at all costs and as soon as possible. The problem was that she was as stubborn as a mule - she even let the guild take her license just not to have it! In another moment he would have just admired her and think of how proud he was of loving a woman such as she was. But now he was going to loose her for good if he didn't do something about her stubbornness.

"Can I talk to her, doc?"

"Yes but we have to wait at least an hour when she wakes up. In the mean time you can think of saying something to convince her..." Simon said as he walked outside the door."

Yeah. Mal Reynolds never was an easy one with words and now - he had to use them to save the woman who stole his battered heart and soul. Maybe if he found out the reason of it all...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inara was almost invisible with all the wires that surrounded her, she wore the hospital night dress and still looked beautiful. 'Her beauty should be illegal' Mal thought as he entered the room. Still, she seemed so vulnerable - one wire stuck off and she'd die. That made Mal even more protective and in love with her.

"Morning, captain." Her voice was sleepy and weak but she was smiling. How the hell could she smile in a situation like this? And she called HIM insufferable!

"Mornin' there sleepy head. How you're feeling?"

"Good. Till now. But Mal... I can't stay here; we have to go back to Serenity! Simon and River are in danger because of me and hospital isn't exactly relaxing."

"I ain't leavin' this hospital till you have the surgery because YOU are in danger more than anyone 'Nara. Why are you refusing it?"

"If I'm going to die, I'd rather spend the last part of my life on Serenity then in a hospital."

"Inara, you have a mighty big chance of getting good as new after this."

"They said that that to mama as well before they cut her stomach open and killed her when I was only seven."

Inara's eyes were fire now and Mal flinched at how that hit him, he never expected that she suffered so much. He thought she just came out of a fairytale but evidently...he was damn wrong.

"Even if I live...there's no reason. The guild revoked my license and once it's revoked, it can never be given again."

"And what about Serenity? What about Kaylee and River?"

"Simon takes great care of River and you none the less of Kaylee. She's our meimei, maybe she'll miss me but she has great faith in you, Mal."

"Could be the drugs are making you crazy but that's insane. I don't groom and girl-talk her not to mention that you're the only one she talks about girly-heart-stuff and sure as hell I don't do that."

"Stop using Kaylee as a reason and stop being noble, it won't take you anywhere."

'Yeah Reynolds, we only have the last card to play.'

"And what about this?" He whispered as he rested his forehead against hers and looked at her with all the love he could express. Then he kissed her - long and sweet, they almost passed out.

"You can't leave me here hanging." he panted "If we get through this; I promise I won't run anymore. I'm sorry it had to get to this to tell you but I won't do it anymore...please Inara, give me another chance."

By now he was cradling her face and wiping her tears as he tried to hold back his own.

"I'll think about it, okay?" he nodded, this was an improvement.

He pecked her on the lips once more "Sleep now. You need to rest." they smiled and he turned to leave but Inara stopped him.

"Mal..." he turned around "I'll answer you tonight."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So?