Number one, I don't own anything. Number two, no Chinese here, because I always thought that Chinese swearing was the hokiest thing on the show, and besides, I don't know any Chinese. So good, old, American type swearing will replace it.

Enjoy! Review! Relish!

Inara felt guilty, walking through the hospital. She felt guilty, seeing all of her friends, her comrades, strapped to beeping machines, oxygen tubes tucked into noses and down throats. She felt guiltiest when she saw River. The two of them, alone, had survived Miranda unscathed.

River, at least, had fought. River at least had been willing to die. She had faced a darkness that, to Inara's mind at least, was far worse than death. And what had she done? She'd hid behind a pile of boxes and then pointed out that the lift wasn't working. Hardly earning her keep.

She pressed her hand against the window into the infirmary, took a deep breath. She had to prepare herself to walk among those beds. Had to every day. Just then the door slid open, and River skipped out.

"Hello," River said, her eyes downcast. Inara nodded at her. Before she could say anything, River glanced up again, a mischevious look in her eyes. "They're awake now," she said. "I like it better when they're sleeping. Not as loud."

Inara laughed a little, and glanced in again. Sure enough, Jayne was pushing himself up, pulling the sensors off his arms in irritation. It had been the same for the past three days. Yesterday the nurses had ignored him, and waited until he fell asleep again to replace the little probes.

"They're all awake?" Inara asked. She instantly wished she hadn't, as River began to tremble.

"Not Simon," River said. "Simon doesn't ever wake up. Simon won't ever wake up."

"Don't say that," Inara said, her tone gentle. "Simon will be fine. He's receiving the very best medical attention."

"No, he's not," River said, a near-snarl on her delicate face. "He's not, because Simon is the best. He wasn't just top 3%. He was top. No one better. No one better. Better doctor, better brother, no, no, no."

"Shh, shh," Inara placed a calming hand on the girl's shoulder. But, as fast the mood had come upon her, River seemed to shrug it off. She smiled up at Inara. "Mal's awake," she said chipperly, and began skipping down the hallway. Inara sighed. She was beginning to agree with River. It was much easier to visit the infirmary when everyone was asleep.

Unfortunately, Jayne had noticed her, and was eagerly waving at her from his bed. He leaned over to the sleeping forms on either side of him and pushed at their shoulders. Inara sighed and entered the infirmary.

Kaylee was in the first bed, unfortunately next to Jayne, and being pushed into wakefulness. Inara smiled as the girls' nose wrinkled, and she batted ineffectualy at Jayne's hands. The darts that had been shot into the mechanic's neck had been poisoned, but the Alliance had the antidote. Inara had the sneaking suspicion that Kaylee was allowed to leave, but felt uncomfortable leaving the infirmary with all of her friends in it.

Jayne, of course, was itching to leave. The doctors had told him three days, and Inara doubted he would last through the entire day. He had just noticed the probes on his chest, and was occupied pulling them off, muttering something about hair, baldness, and Pekinese cats. Luckily, it kept his mind off Inara, giving her a moment to finish her examination of the infirmary.

Next to Jayne was Zoe, awake and staring at the ceiling. She was in a specially erected bed, with springform cut out along her spine, making it comfortable for her to lie on her back, despite her injury. She blinked slowly, deliberately, as if she had to remember how to do it. She hadn't spoken since the Alliance had picked them up.

Across from Zoe was the one figure that hadn't opened his eyes at all. Inara's eyes skipped over Simon's inert figure quickly. He made her feel guiltiest. Not only was he the most injured, but he was like her. He was a Healer. But he'd been willing to fight, willing to fire a gun to save the people he'd cared about. And when nobody had been willing to go through the blast door, he'd been the one to stand up, his concern for everyone else overshadowing his own danger.

Somewhere in the back of her heart she'd known what River had said. Simon was the best. Some of the healings he'd done on the ship had been near-miraculous, given his lack of supply. It just wasn't right that the medic couldn't be properly treated.

And next to Simon was. . .oh, damn it, his eyes were open. River had warned her of course, but still. Inara was less than pleased to see Mal staring at her. There was an accusation in those eyes.

"Damn nurses," Jayne growled. Inara whipped her head back to look at him. "Poking needles in places they don't belong. . .sticking me full of. . .what the hell is this even?" He roared, pulling the oxygen tube out of his nose.

"That's to help you breathe," Kaylee pointed out. "They're just tryin' to help you."

"Well. . .they should. . .help less," Jayne said. Inara smiled. Kaylee laughed. Jayne, as per usual, looked confused.

"Still here, Inara?" Mal asked from across the way. "Haven't left yet?"

"Mal, please," Kaylee pleaded. Inara didn't turned around, she just smiled gently at the mechanic.

"I won't leave as long as I am needed here," Inara said. "This is my home."

"It's my shuttle," Mal pointed out.

"And I pay rent," Inara said, turning around and glaring at the captain. "Besides, this is hardly the place to be having this argument."

"Please," Zoe said. Everyone's eyes swivelled to look at the room, amazed at hearding the first words she'd spoken in days. "At least it's normal."

"Zoe!" Kaylee burst out in excitement.

"Hey!" Jayne suddenly exclaimed. "This is great! Everyone's back to normal, we can finally leave this place!:

"Jayne," Mal said warningly.

"What?" Jayne asked. The big man had already slung his legs out of his bed, and was stretching his brawny arms high above his head.

"Not everyone is back to normal," Inara pointed out.

"Who – oh, the doc," Jayne's face fell for a moment, but then he shrugged it off. "Hell, even his sister don't think he'll be okay, and she's psychic."

Inara saw Kaylee, out of the corner of her eye, start to intensely inspect her fingernails. Poor girl, the companion thought. It was so hard to lose your first love. . .

"Jayne does have a point, though," Mal said with a sigh. "If the doc isn't ready tomorrow, we'll still be leaving."

Nobody argued. Kaylee's eyes watered up, and Inara went over to put an arm around the young woman's shoulders. Not many people recovered from a gunshot wound to the chest, even when it was treated immediately. It was a miracle that Simon was even alive. Maybe, Inara thought, this was the best they could hope for. Maybe waking up was a miracle even God couldn't handle.