Things you need to know:
Simon is already living on Serenity; He and Kaylee are married and have a son, Andrew. He was fired when he spoke out about River and went to live on Serenity looking for work. from there... you know. River is fifteen; has been in the academy for a years and a half. Her psychic abilities are not as pronounced but still there. Her amygdala was never stripped. She and Ben are very close.
Note: I must apologies, the first... about three chapters are going to be a little jerky and quick; I had a plotline from a certain point, so been trying to think of a way to start it. So please bear with me, it will get better. forgive the inconsitencies.
The darkness of night brought little relief to the inhabitants of the academy. It was little more than a cover, as they knew it wouldn't prevent the doctors from completing their work. River felt nausea roll around in her stomach as she lay in her overly sterile bed, attached to a mass of monitors. Even their soft glow was aggravating the headache caused by concealed drill-holes in her head. Every part of her ached despite the strong IV painkillers that flowed through a catheter threaded directly into her heart; and the backup PCA she clung to. River focused on evening out her breathing, hoping that it would ease both the pain and the fear that kept making her stomach turn. It was all so absolute and unmoving that treacherous thoughts made her think the pain wasn't going to get better. Stop it, River told herself. She hated being left alone with her thoughts, the paranoia always crept through. River gnawed at her bottom lip and focused again, this time on the fact that she wouldn't be alone soon.
Ben slid along the vents, the intricate maze not delaying him a minute. He moved with practiced stealth, barely making a sound despite the sensitive metal that encased him. He moved purposefully onward until, finally, the grate that denoted his destination came into view. Positioning himself as comfortably as possible, he sat at his vantage point and listened intently.
"….in recovery now, stats are remaining stable. The central line seems to be very effective in administering medication; she seems to have the lowest amount of pain yet for this early out of theatre."
White coated men sat easily around a table, conversing without regret. Ben gritted his teeth.
"That's good, if the success of her surgery is all you're focusing on," a harsh female voice sounded, "but I don't think you're seeing the larger picture. River's getting weaker by the day; her system just isn't able to handle this."
"What would you have us do?" a third input asked calmly.
"Withhold treatment," the female answered immediately, "Give her a break." Ben shifted slightly.
"The procedure will be more effective overall if we can continue it regularly," the first protested.
"Or it could not be successful at all. Believe me; I'm on your side. But if she's not able to adapt to it, then it's quite useless. Weakening her is not going to improve the chances."
"She seemed strong enough to me. Luckily I thought of bringing earplugs into theatre with me."
Various sounds of approval met his ears. Ben glared, wishing he could make the vent collapse on the people below.
"I think we'll go with the safe option. We have a new shipment coming in tomorrow; it's probably best if we don't have any screaming to arouse suspicion."
Laughter floated through the ceiling.
"Very well. We'll give River a twenty-four hour break; only maintenance medication is to be administered. Everyone alright with that?"
Ben didn't wait around to hear. He was probably late.
River heard the arrival, grinning but keeping her eyes shut.
"You're late," she whispered hoarsely. Finally allowing herself visibility, she saw Ben wrinkle his nose.
"Barely," he whispered playfully.
"Barely is still late," River whispered as Ben climbed onto her bed, ducking under drip chords.
"Careful with that one," River whispered pleadingly. Ben nodded, gently lifting the line that was connected to the catheter in her chest.
"Okay?"
"Yes." River smiled at him. Ben returned her smile, lying beside her. Unable to move much more, River let her head fall against his shoulder. Her hand searched for his. Ben took it, carefully avoiding the needle that stuck unnaturally out of it. He kissed the top of her head lightly.
"I'm sorry I'm late." He whispered. River marvelled at how he could make her forget her pain enough to smile.
"You're forgiven," she whispered, squeezing his hand to the best of her ability.
"Thanks." They lay together in silence for a while. River was grateful for the company, and the reassurance Ben's presence brought her. She closed her eyes again, leaning her head closer to him.
"They took you today." Ben's whisper wasn't a question.
"Yeah," River sighed, "early too. Guess they got tired of you trying to stop them." Ben laughed. They lapsed back into their comfortable silence.
"River?" she heard him whisper.
"Mmmm?"
"How are you feeling?"
River was half tempted to respond with 'how do you think', but they had long since passed that sort of flippancy.
"How do you mean?" she asked. The little of Ben's face she could see told her he was thinking.
"If we could get out of here tomorrow…" he said carefully. River's breath caught; but she held back her question.
"Do you think you'd be strong enough to run?" Ben asked.
"You have to elaborate," River told him. Ben chuckled.
"Which bit?"
"Are you saying that we could get out tomorrow?" River asked him, hardly daring to hope.
"Yes," Ben smiled at her.
"You'd better not be kidding me," River breathed.
"I'm not," Ben promised.
"How?" River's spent voice was not enough to conceal her excitement.
"I heard them talking," Ben explained, "they're not going to take you tomorrow, they doors will be open for a delivery…" he paused.
"Do you think you can do it?"
"Yes," River whispered, "what do we do?"
"You don't worry," Ben whispered, putting an arm around her shoulder carefully, "I'll come get you, then all you have to do is follow. It won't be easy," he added as a serious afterthought.
"I know," River assured him, "But it's better than here."
Ben sighed. "Anything's better than here." He squeezed her shoulders lightly. "Get some sleep; we got a lot to do tomorrow."
River's head fell back against him. The glow of the monitor's potency was stripped as the two fell asleep in each other's arms.