After going out of Inara's room, Mal 'waved' Serenity and the crew was there in an instant.

"How is she Mal?" asked Wash.

"Not good." he sighed bitterly "One wrong wire and she'll-well..."

"What does she have sir?" Zoe was clearly using her stern-mask to keep in control.

"Can't Simon and the docs do anything for her?" asked a weeping Kaylee.

"Simon told me she was bleeding internally because she has organs trying to burst out from the muscles which keep them in place. She can do a surgery and has 98% chance of getting good as new with it. But..." he took a deep breath "She's refusing.’Till now."

"Why is she refusing? River said something about refusal before she slept-" asked the shepherd.

"An' what do ya mean 'till now?" jumped in Jayne.

"'parently, her ma had the same thing when she was a kid and the docs were just as optimist but she still died. Not even the guild is making things better, when she refused the operation; they took her license and won't give it back to her again."

There was an uncomfortable silence for a while the crew ducked their heads to let it all sink in.

"But well... she ain't sure yet so... I'll hail as soon as I can."

"Good luck, Mal." They all murmured as the notion of whether they'll accept their feeling filled their heads. But then again, they were as stubborn as Serenity's hull.

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

That night was pondering on that day which will change his life. Make him soar or crush him down. Happy or sad – and it was all in the graceful hands of the woman he loved and who made him believe again. Believe in her.

He entered her room, blood running cold. She woke up from her nap and smiled that smile which made him want to scream to the whole 'verse that he loved her.

"So. Have you um...decided?"

"Yes...I'll give you another chance." She grinned and rested her forehead against his as they let out a breath from the revelation. Then he looked into her eyes lovingly.

"Thanks 'Nara. I swear…you won't regret it." "I know."

"How in the 9 gorramn hells, did I get so lucky?"

"I think I'm the one who is lucky. We just have to remember this next time we bicker." They both chuckled at that.

Then he kissed her sweetly but it was turning to something more when Simon and his friend entered. Mal and Inara cringed and the doctors smiled.

"I take it you made your final decision, right?"

"Yes, I'll have the surgery."

"Good." Grinned Simon this was the first time for him in a Hernia – case not to mention that he was going to save a friend without touching bullets.

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

Comment if you want the next!