Mal sat in the cafeteria by himself. This late everybody lay asleep, or at least, he figured they did. He let thoughts run through his mind over a glass of ale.

"Alcohol isn't good for you."

"Jeez!" Mal jumped as he heard River's voice come from behind. He shook his head, taking a gulp of what he had just been warned against.

"Yeah well a man needs it with you on this boat."

River stepped over next to him and bent her lithe figure down close to his face.

"Can I help you?" He asked, annoyed.

River took the glass of ale from his hand and took a gulp herself.

"Thought I heard you say it was bad."

"I said it's bad for you, not that it tastes bad."

River smiled, setting the glass back down and laying down on her stomach on the table.

"Never pegged you as a drinker."

"Never pegged you as a captain." River shot back, no emotion in her voice. Mal cringed and kept himself from reaching for his gun. He finished his ale and stood.

"I think I'm gonna go try to get some more sleep now."

"You won't." River said, rolling over on her back and staring at the ceiling.

Mal kept walking towards the hallway without responding to her last comment.

"You won't be able to stop thinking about Inara until tomorrow when you try to talk to her and she yells at you again."

Mal finally stopped, turning around and pointing his finger at the little psycho.

"You stay outta my mind, you hear me? I don't need no psycho-therapy, 'specially not from you."

Mal continued to walk down the hallway. River lay on the table, smiling.

"It's going to hurt."

Down the hallway, she heard Mal trip, followed by a thud.

"You didn't see, or hear that!" Mal yelled from where he had fallen.

River just kept smiling.