AUTHORS NOTE: So this was just a little something I wrote to save me from the endless boredom that I was facing due to doing endless hours of placement work. It was just a little quick story so I apologise in advance for the lack of length and if there are any errors! I know the idea has been done before but I've just also wanted to scribble something down. Please enjoy all the same.

SPOILERS: For the episode "Safe" and then obviously just the basic plot

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters

[You're On My Crew]

Simon looked up at his captain, fidgeting nervously as he tried to think of how to ask his question before deciding just to blurt it out. "Why did you come back for us?"

Mal looked over at the doctor, his face not showing any change of emotion as he simply replied, "you're on my crew," and even made it sound like it was the most obvious answer in the world but that didn't satisfy Simon's curiosity. He just looked at the captain, his brow wrinkled with confusion as he continued to probe for the answer.

"Yes," he said in the tone of voice that always drove Mal crazy with frustration, "but you don't even like me. Why did you come back?" Mal continued staring at the man, his face slightly faltering at the line as he didn't know what to say to it. He didn't.

He knew that he gave the doctor a hard time, it was just the way he was with most people but it seemed the doctor got it worse than anyone else on the crew. He even treated River a little bit better and she was nothing but a pain since she'd landed on his ship. Mal knew the reason for why he was such a gorram ass to Simon but he didn't want to admit it out loud to the doctor in fear of rejection.

Mal Reynolds was in love with the handsome, core bred doctor from Osiris and he didn't even know when it had started.

The guy was a nuisance to have on board what with having landed them with the alliance on their tail and what with all the messes that both he and his sister ended up in such as being kidnapped today but yet he still loved the doctor. He loved the way the guy couldn't finish a sentence with blustering and rubbing his hand awkwardly over the back of his neck as he trailed into silence. The way he sacrificed everything for his sister, the way he'd do anything to make sure that she was safe and the way he was always last in line when it came to taking care of people. The guy, despite all his downfalls such as stumbling into so much trouble, was someone Mal was proud to have on his ship. Someone Mal had found himself falling in love with.

He knew that he would never be able to answer Simon's questions with an honest answer that didn't sound stupid or downright corny so he just moved closer to the man, his hand reaching out to caress his cheek before he leant in and pressed his lips gently against the doctors. The fingers on his cheek moved to run through the soft black hair that he dreamt about as he teased the lips a little more, smiling when the doctor finally started to respond. Mal couldn't help but growl into the kiss when he felt Simon's hands wrapping around the material of his shirt as if attempting to pull him even closer.

When the kiss broke off, they were both struggling to breathe as they rested their foreheads together. Mal simply smiled before whispering, "You're on my crew." His fingers pulled the black hair that it had hold of bearing the man's throat that he kissed softly before grinning. "Why are we still talkin' about this?" And Simon had to admit that he had no idea because he now had a clear idea, his grin just as big as he reached up and pressed his lips against the captain's once more.