I dont own these characters. They belong to Joss. I dont make any profit from my stories.

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"River!" Zoe's voice suddenly crackled over the comm. "Have Simon prep the infirmary."

"Alright." said the girl from the co-pilot's chair. "Simon." she rolled her eyes, knowing her brother was in the engine room with Kaylee. "Get the infirmary ready. The captain has been shot." She clicked off the ships inner-comm. She didnt have to ask Zoe who was hurt. "Oh and Jayne's got a little cut." she added with little enthusiasm. Simon jumped through the engine room door while pulling on his sweater and then zipping his pants. He reached the infirmary only moments before Inara showed up.

"They only left two hours ago. I thought the exchange was an hour and a half by mule." she said.

"It was." Simon put bluntly. He rushed around the infirmary gathering supplies. Kaylee appeared behind Inara. The mechanic looked slightly disheveled and the companion knew exactly where Kaylee had gone after their talk. "I'm sorry you two are getting intimate time taking away. You know Mal always getting into scraps. He's probably hollering like a little baby." "They're here." said River over the comm. Almost a second later Jayne entered with Mal over his shoulders. The mercenary placed the man on the table and sat down on the counter across the room. Inara quickly moved to the captain's side. She was shocked at the blood. The bullet was in his left shoulder, very close to his heart. She stroked his hand and bent to his ear and whispered.

"Inara will you wrap that graze on Jayne's arm?" Simon asked not looking up from his patient.

"Simon!" yelled Kaylee punching his arm.

"Oh right. Zoe, will you?" he asked again correcting his insensitivity. "Sure, Doc." said the first mate moving to Jayne.

"Ow! Gorramit woman tha hurt!" Jayne yelped.

"Oh hush you big baby." Zoe said with a grin.

"Please!" yelled Simon. "I need to concentrate. Everyone please leave. Zoe if you wouldnt mind doing that outside."

She nodded. Inara kissed Mal sweetly on the lips before walking out behind the rest of the crew.

Once alone with the captain Simon set to work on the bullet hole barely above the man's heart.

~

It took two hours and about five hundered laps around the cargo hold, Inara guessed as she continued to pace. Finally Simon allowed him to come in. She was shocked even more than before at the amount of blood on Simon's outfit.

"Is-is he ok?" she asked meekly.

"He's stabilized for now but if he stays unconcious for too long he could suffer more damage. Possibly brain damage or-" Simon began.

"Ok. I get it. Thank you, Simon." She only stared at the man on the table, never looking towards Simon as he spoke.

"I'll just... give you two a while. Hit the call button if you need me. Kaylee wired it directly to our bunk. I need some rest." he turned and left Inara alone with the still body of Malcolm Reynolds. She walked cautiously over to the stool that sat near the head of the table. She wrapped her delicate hand within his. "Why do you always do this to yourself?" she asked. "You know I'd quit for you if you would have me. I'm not sure you'd do the same." tears began to sting her eyes. "I'm not sure I can handle this anymore. I love you far too much to watch you die." she collapsed in a mess of sobs, laying her head on his abdomen.

"Um, Nara?" the voice from the doorway caused her to jump. "Hey Zoe." she said wiping her tears and not bothering to fake a smile.

"How is he?" she asked.

"Stable." Inara put it as sweet as possible. After a moments silence Inara asked. "What happened, Zoe?"

"We didn't make it to Vicks. You man. Marcus was it? He ambushed us with a few men. Never saw it comin'."

"Wu de tyen ah." breathed the companion. "That bastard. How'd *this* happen?" Inara asked nodding towards Mal's still form.

"Marcus shot 'em. Just 'fore I shot Marcus." Zoe said showing no remorse but expecting an earfull from the companion.

"Thank you, Zoe." said Inara turning back to Mal. "I can never repay you for what you've done for me."

"I understand how important second chances are. It's been a while and I'm tryin' to move on. It's just- I only wish me an' Wash had gotten ours." she responded with the heavy weight of grief in her voice. "You will, Zoe. Someday you will."

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TBC- what will happen next. More I/M angst. Will Mal recover from this one? What about Kaylee's birthday?