Title: More Than Skin
Author: Erin
Characters: River, Simon and Jayne (Mention of Mal)
Rating: G
Summary: River tries to explain Mal to Simon.
Warning: during the BDM, post-Lilac, but pre-Beaumonde
Disclaimer: Firefly belongs to Joss. Serenity belongs to Joss. Mal belongs... yeah, it all belongs to Joss. I will give NO credit to FOX, because they are stupid and canceled the show. So there!
When indeed shall we learn that we are all related one to the other, that we are all members of one body? -Helen Keller
Simon pulled open a drawer as River stood in the corner. It was becoming easier for her to be in the little white medical bay, as long as Simon left the door open and never moved far away. She could hear her brother's thoughts – most directed toward the Captain – and frowned.
"That's not true," she said quietly. Simon looked up from the counter but didn't turn to face River. He really didn't like it when she listened to him. Jayne heaved himself up into the chair and shot a glance between Simon and River.
"If you can't say nice things," she started, stopping short at the look on her brother's face. Jayne glanced from the scalpel in Simon's hand, over to River and back down to his leg and grimaced. He needed another drink.
Simon moved over to Jayne's side and began swabbing at the blood, prepping the wound so he could repair the damage from the spike. River stepped back and forth between the door and the corner a few times then pointed to Simon.
"Captain said we're all just folk," she said sternly, stepping up to the other side of the table. Simon didn't look up to her, examining the full extent of the damage the Reavers' weapon had done to the mercenary.
"And when did he say that?" He reached for a cotton swab and dipped it into a yellow liquid. Jayne hissed as the swab neared his leg, garnering a look from Simon.
"In town." Simon made a sound of understanding, but didn't look up from Jayne's wound. A moment later, he leaned back and glared at Jayne.
"You couldn't leave the spike for five minutes?" Jayne glared back and looked away as Simon's hand moved back to the leg. River knew enough to keep silent while Simon concentrated on the medical procedure, his mind going through the proper steps as he made each motion.
He nodded toward her a moment later and she instinctively reached for a large gauze pad. Passing it over Jayne's chest, she rattled off: "When indeed shall we learn that we are all related to the other, that we are all members of the same body? Until the spirit of love for our fellow men, regardless of race, color or creed, shall fill the world-"
Simon blinked and looked up to River for a moment before taking the gauze from her. He knew the quote, but wasn't placing it.
"Captain sees equal." Jayne huffed a laugh and then rolled his eyes as Simon pressed the gauze down on his leg, causing him to curse under his breath.
Simon turned and glanced at his sister a moment before laughing. "Well, most of us may be equal. You," he leaned in and gently placed the gauze over the wound. "-my dear sister, are a singular-"
"Alliance doesn't." Simon noted that his crabby little sister was coming out to play as he wrapped a second piece of gauze over the first.
"River, I doubt the Alliance has skin color at the top of their priority list."
"I'm not talking about the pigmentation of multiple layers of epithelial tissues, Simon," River snapped back with a huff.
Jayne had started to sit up as Simon reached for a syringe loaded with antibiotics. "I think what crazy's sayin', Doc," he started as Simon pushed him back down to the chair. Jayne glanced at the needle and shuddered before continuing: "-is Purple-bellies versus Browncoats..." His breath hitched as Simon jabbed the needle into his skin.
Jayne looked up into the surprised faces of both the Tams and asked: "What?"