It had been three days since Kaylee had collapsed in the field. Simon had been in to town a half dozen times, talking with the local doctor, healers, mystics, anyone who might have some kind of medical knowledge. Every day he came back with another option, crazier than the last, and every day his heart sank when the latest technique didn’t work.

Somehow Mal had managed to hold off Marcus, telling the impatient smuggler that the ship was having some sort of problem and they would need to postpone the job. Simon hadn’t asked for many details and the captain hadn’t volunteered them. Truth be told, it was the farthest thing from his mind. All he could focus on was Kaylee.

He was alone with her now, in the infirmary. He had dimmed the lights for nighttime; their bluish tint always gave the room a cold air. And Kaylee didn’t belong somewhere cold. She belonged in warmth, bathed in sunshine and full of happiness. That was who Kaylee was. That was the woman Simon loved.

He had never told her that, of course. He could never bring himself to say the words. But he thought she knew anyway. She always seemed to know what he was thinking. Not in the eerily accurate way that his sister did, but in a deeper, more emotional place. It was a connection they seemed to share, the ability to listen to each other without saying a word.

And what frustrated Simon more than anything was that he couldn’t hear her now. Whatever had Kaylee under refused to give her up. He had continued to alternate stimulants and doses hoping that he might perchance stumble on the correct combination. But there was nothing – no sign that any thing he did made a world of difference. And they were running out of options. As much as Simon hated to admit it, there was nothing he could do for her anymore. Maybe if he had more equipment, better instruments … maybe if he was just a better doctor he could find some answers, but he was out of ideas.

Reaching for her hand, Simon took it in his gently and held it firm. “Kaylee, come back to me,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss her softly on the forehead. “I need you back.”

“It’s all red.”

Simon turned quickly at the sound and saw River standing in the doorway to the medbay. She had been surprisingly calm the last few days, and while Simon had never left Kaylee’s side, River had been content to sit on the bridge, studying the instruments and staying out of his way. Simon was thankful that he’d been able to focus his attention on Kaylee and that River seemed to be finding some sort of peace with herself.

“River, hi,” Simon said, still holding Kaylee’s hand, but swiveling his stool to face her. “Are you all right? Can’t you sleep?”

“I still don’t sleep,” she reminded him, entering the room and coming to stand on the other side of the unconscious mechanic. “Too quiet and dark. Like Kaylee.”

The young girl lifted her hand and held it palm down over Kaylee’s forehead for a moment. She closed her eyes and seemed to be some place else. Simon watched the scene in awe. While his sister had learned many tricks from her time with the Alliance, this one was new.

“River,” Simon questioned. He glanced down to Kaylee and could see no change in her outward appearance. Looking back to his sister, he noticed that her brow was furrowed, as if she were concentrating hard. “River, what is it?”

“It’s just red,” she told him, her eyes remaining closed. “And black.” She opened her eyes and brought a steady gaze on him. “But it’s the red you should be worried about. It’s not good.”

“The red,” Simon asked, muttering to himself. The red, what was River talking about? Simon had already checked Kaylee’s blood and found no sign of anything innocuous. There was a heightened level of white blood cells, but that was to be expected. There must be an infection somewhere, even though Simon had been unable to find it, that was causing Kaylee’s coma and those cells were doing their job to fight it. However, his sister’s portents of destruction usually panned out and this is what had Simon concerned. Chances were if River could see something dark coming, than Kaylee was in a world of danger. And that left them with only one choice.

Turning to face the vid screen in the infirmary, Simon called up an open comm channel and sent the wave, hoping the captain would find some way to forgive him.

*** Inara had been on Persephone for a little over three months. The planet and the city were exactly what she had been looking for; a steady stream of respectable clients, the opportunity to spend time with girls she had known from the academy, access to the theater and some of the ‘verse’s best museums and restaurants. It was everything she had told herself she was leaving Serenity for. And she hated it.

Sure, Persephone was lovely enough, but she was lonely, and truth be told, a little bored. She missed her family on board the firefly. She even missed her shuttle. She missed Kaylee and River and Simon, Zoe, even Jayne in an odd way and of course … Well, she didn’t know what she felt about Mal. There were some moments of her day, when the sun would shine, or the stars would sparkle or the moon would rise that his face would come floating to her, spinning through her mind. His smile could bring a grin to her face in a flash – and the thought of him could bring pain to her heart just as quickly.

She had left Serenity to escape him. She had never admitted that to anyone. The time had come when she realized if she didn’t leave, she’d never be able to. She’d continue staying on the ship, with him, hoping that one day they could set aside their pride and find happiness with one another. But she knew it wouldn’t happen, Mal wouldn’t let it. And so she had left first, before her feelings for him completely paralyzed her.

But now, after months away, her feelings were still as fresh as the last time they had spoken. It hadn’t gone particularly well of course, but then again, it never did.

“It’s time for me to go, Mal,” she had told him, packing one of her last crates. They were in her shuttle, Mal standing awkwardly by the door as Inara moved with her usual grace to finish her work. “You know it is.”

“And how is that again,” Mal questioned, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible.

Turning a knowing gaze on him, she said, “It just is. My rent runs out in a few days and I’ve been able to find a very economical apartment on Persephone. It’s really perfect for my work.” And away from you, she said to herself, careful not to hold his gaze too long. If she did, she was sure he’d spot the tears she couldn’t shake.

She crossed the room again, walking past him. He stepped into her path and took her by the shoulders. “Inara,” he said, hoping to get her attention. “Inara, look at me.”

She reluctantly raised her eyes and saw a pain there she wasn’t used to. “I’ve lost so much already,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. No doubt his mind was still on the deaths of both Wash and Book, good friends who had been taken suddenly and unfairly, leaving Mal even more adrift than usual. “I don’t want to lose you too.”

Reaching up, she placed a hand on his cheek. He didn’t flinch at the touch, but instead leaned into it. Taking her hand, he kissed her palm and held it in his own. It was the most intimate they had ever been with each other and the contact brought unbidden tears to Inara’s eyes. Pulling away quickly, she turned her back to him. She couldn’t keep doing this. It was ridiculous. He said he didn’t want to lose her, but if she stayed they’d just go back to trading barbs and meaningful glances. She couldn’t continue to live her life this way.

“You say that, Mal, but it’s not what you want.” She tried to keep the sobs from her voice. “You love this ship and the people on it, but that doesn’t mean you feel anything different for me.” Pausing for a moment, she took a deep breath and tried to pull herself together. Quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks, she turned back to him and said, “Captain, it’s time for you to go. I have to finish packing. I will come and say goodbye once everything is settled."

She could still see the hurt in his eyes. That had been the hardest thing for Inara to ignore. But despite all his grand gestures and statements with double meanings, he had never asked her to stay. He had never made any promise that things would be different. In short, he had never given Inara any reason to believe that what she felt was returned. Unless she counted all the times he had saved her life, protected her honor or in Mal’s own way, professed his love. Mal was a man of action and so his actions spoke louder than words. But Inara needed the words.

The ping of an incoming wave drew her from her thoughts. Wiping away fresh tears, she settled herself in front of the console and took a deep breath. Turning it on, she was more than surprised by the face she found staring back at her.

“Simon?” The young doctor looked haggard, as though he and sleep had stopped agreeing. “This is a surprise. How are you?”

Simon glanced behind him once, as if checking to make sure no one was listening and when he turned back to the screen Inara caught the flicker of fear in his eyes. A sudden, horrible thought seized her heart, but she tried to remain calm. “Hi Inara, I’m sorry to trouble you, but I need your help,” Simon paused, unsure of how to go on. Finally, he simply said, “It’s Kaylee.”

***

“River, I need you to get the ship into the air, and follow the coordinates Inara gave us,” Simon instructed, leading his sister out of the medbay. “Can you do that for me?”

“Sure, but we really need to ask the captain,” she told him, holding her ground. “It is his ship.”

“That’s right.” Mal came from around the corner carrying a cup of steaming caf and looking downright terrible. Apparently, like Simon, he and sleep had become enemies as of late. “My ship. So where do you want to go, my good doctor?”

Simon considered the best way to break the news. He was fairly certain Mal would be furious that he had contacted Inara, but Simon had run out of options. Kaylee’s condition, coupled with River’s cryptic warning and his inability to find any kind of cure was leaving him little to no patience and no alternatives.

Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Simon cast his gaze to the floor and said quickly, “I waved Inara for help. We need to go to Persephone.”

The coffee Mal had sipped ended up splattered on the deck at his feet. “You what? Where? {Of all the inside out pigs in the universe, I’ve got to be stuck with this one.}” Mal threw down his cup, not caring about the sound it created or the mess.

Pacing away from the doctor, he could barely contain his fury. Coming back to seethe in the young man’s face, he said, “I don’t even know where to start. Should we start with the fact that although I have given this entire crew express instructions to not bother Inara, you did it anyway? Or should I mention that traveling to Persephone, the very heart of Alliance territory is probably not the smartest move? Or maybe the fact that you sent a wave without my authorization or encryption codes making it easy for the Alliance to trace? Any of these things ringing a bell?”

Mal’s voice had risen in volume and despite the late hour, Jayne and Zoe had heard the commotion and stumbled into the room.

Rubbing sleep from his eyes, Jayne stretched and said, “What in the ruttin’ ‘verse is so important, you got a yell?”

“Shut it Jayne, or I will shut it for you,” the captain bellowed, not even bothering to glance in the man’s direction.

“{I don’t need this horse dung. I’m going back to bed.}” With that Jayne turned on his heel and left as quickly as he’d come.

Looking between the doctor and the captain, Zoe was content to sit on the steps to the crew quarters and watch.

“Look, captain, I realize that calling Inara was not the smartest thing to do,” Simon started to explain, but Mal wouldn’t let him get any farther.

“Not the smartest thing to do,” Mal repeated, incredulous. “I should think not! Give it up for the top three percent.”

“I didn’t have any other choice,” Simon told him, barreling ahead despite the captain’s muttered comments. “We need help. I need help.”

“There are always options,” Mal told him, spinning around to face him. “You are the doctor. Figure them out.”

“I don’t know what to do.” Simon had never yelled, not on board the ship. Sure, when he had silenced River those months ago, he had raised his voice, but he had never spoken above much more than normal since he had been on Serenity. But the situation warranted it.

Everyone had quieted at his sudden outburst. Looking to them each in turn, Simon swallowed hard, and said to Mal, “There is nothing else I can do for her here. The longer she stays unconscious the worse her chances for recovery are. I need help, and more importantly, Kaylee needs help.” When the captain did not argue, Simon continued. “Inara promised we’d be safe. She’s directing us to an Academy-sponsored facility in the mountains outside of New Athens. She’s going to meet us there with an old doctor friend of hers. I did my best to ensure our safety.”

Simon waited for Mal to lose it again. But the captain had managed to rein in his anger and although his eyes still belied his rage, his demeanor had come under control. Glancing to River he said, “Get the ship in the air and follow the coordinates, like your brother said. I’ll be up in a while.”

With a quick glance between the two men, River headed for the bridge. Zoe followed.

Mal waited for a full minute, making sure everyone was out of earshot. Simon waited with him wondering if he was in for another reprimand. Finally, Mal said, “If you ever go behind my back again, you and your sister will be off my boat.”

And before Simon could even respond, Mal scooped up his discarded cup and stalked out of the common room.

***

“Does that dandy really think he can cross me,” Marcus looked between his two guards, a fire burning in his eyes. They had just reported that the transport ship they had contracted to take their cargo had blasted off Hera a little over an hour ago. Without so much as a word.

“He will be sorry,” Marcus vowed, swiveling in his chair to call in a favor. “There’s no where in this ‘verse he can hide from me.”