CHAPTER THREE
Please remember, the author claims no rights whatsoever to Firefly, and receives no specie in return for his grueling labor. Completely okay not to sue him. Thanks.
Jayne showed up at the clinic right on time. He frowned as he noted there were still people in the waiting room. Walking in, Jayne was both relieved and disappointed not to find River behind the desk again.
"Good afternoon, Mister Cobb," the receptionist smiled. "The Doctor will be out shortly. He asked that you wait here for him, if you don't mind."
"Okay," Jayne nodded. "I figured he would still be busy," he said, nodding at the crowded waiting room.
"Family," she smiled again. "The doctor is stitching up a young man's arm."
"Ah," Jayne nodded his understanding. That explained the worried looks. He walked over to an empty seat, and made himself comfortable. As he sat, he could overhear talk in the waiting room.
"It's wonderful to have a good doctor so close by," an older woman was saying, her arm around a younger woman's shoulders. By the way she was crying, Jayne assumed this was the boy's mother.
"I know," she didn't quite sob.
"Don't you worry, now," the older woman soothed. "Young Tam is a fine doctor, and a good man. And that wife of his is the most precious thing in the world, I'm telling you!" Jayne smiled at that. Kaylee was contagious that way.
"They're expecting their first child you know," the woman continued. "So young Tam knows how you feel, and how important it is that Joseph be treated well. There's nothing to worry over, dear. Boys will be boys, and they're always into something."
"I should have been watching him closer!" the mother didn't quite wail. Jayne shifted slightly, a little uncomfortable.
"None of that, now," the older woman chided. "He knew not to be near the shop without his daddy along, and now he'll have a good reminder of why that is. Like as not, it won't ever happen again."
Especially if you tan his hide so he can't sit for about three days, Jayne thought to himself.
"But it's my fault for not keeping an eye on him!" the mother shook her head. "I was so busy with the canning, and I turned my head for just a minute. . . ."
She was interrupted by Simon coming into the waiting room, followed by a boy Jayne guessed to be ten years old.
"Here we are, practically good as new," Simon smiled. "Mrs. Hodge, Joseph had a pretty good little cut there, but nothing boys his age haven't endured since time began, I assure you. Now, he's got eleven stitches in that arm, and I've covered them with a bandage for today, but starting tomorrow he shouldn't need it. He needs these anti-biotics twice a day for seven days," he handed over a bottle of pills, "and this cream will help for the itching as it starts to heal," he handed over a small tube.
"Joseph and I have had a good discussion about the dangers of machinery, and I think it's safe to say that he won't be playing near the shed in the foreseeable future. Will you Joseph?"
"No, sir!" Joseph shook his head resolutely.
"Now, come back in eight days, and we'll take out those stitches. Feel free to come back sooner if the area swells or shows more redness than you think normal."
"Thank you so much, Doctor Tam," the older woman smiled.
"Thank you, doctor," the mother smiled too, albeit more weakly.
"You're quite welcome," Simon smiled again. "Now, please be safe going home."
Jayne watched as the numerous family members filed out of the office, a slow smirk spreading across his face. Simon saw it.
"What?"
"What'd you do to that kid?" Jayne chuckled. "He looked like he'd seen a ghost."
"Oh, that," Simon waved it off. "I keep photos of the more serious agricultural injuries, and I allowed him to browse though them while I stitched up his arm. I think I can safely say that the next time Joseph goes anywhere near his family's equipment again, he'll have to be drug there. Probably by a horse," he added with a slightly sadistic smile.
"That's mean, Simon," Jayne informed him, following his brother-in-law toward the office. Simon changed from his 'doctor' clothes into street clothes.
"It is not," he said sternly, throwing on his jacket. "It's educational. These kids grow up around these machines, and they have no fear of them, and no respect for the damage they can do. I've treated some horrible injuries in here, Jayne," Simon's voice grew softer. "Anything I can do to prevent them is worth doing."
Jayne thought about that. Simon was rarely in the thick of the fight, and because of that, everyone, at some point or another, had come to think of him as soft. Jayne knew he wasn't, of course, now. But hearing him talk like this made Jayne realize just what Simon must go through as a doctor on an agrarian moon.
And agri-injuries were, by nature, horrible.
"That sounds like a good plan, Simon," Jayne told him. "I hadn't thought about it that way. I hope it works."
"So do I," Simon sighed. "All right, let's get this over with," he said, looking at Jayne.
"We ain't going to an inquisition, Simon," Jayne chuckled.
"Aren't we?"
FF
Inara opened the door before they could knock, smiling beautifully at them.
"Jayne, Simon, it's so nice to see you," she told them. "Please, come in."
"Good to see you too, Inara," Simon smiled in return, stepping inside.
"'Nara," Jayne nodded. "You're looking good. Gettin' more rest nowdays, mebbe?"
"Yes," Inara nodded. "And I sleep better, now that a certain ship captain isn't wearing a badge, anymore," she added.
"I'm sure," Jayne smiled.
"Well, look what the cat drug up!" Mal's voice boomed from the kitchen, where he stood leaning on his cane. "You two are a sight for sore eyes, and that's the only time I may say that to either o' you!"
"Good to see you up and about, Mal," Jayne called back.
"How are you, Mal?" Simon managed to smile. "You look much better."
"I feel better, too," Mal assured him. "Still get tired too quick, but the physical therapy is helpin'. C'mon in! Make yerselves at home."
The two steeled themselves, and did just that.
FF
"I really appreciate you two comin' by," Mal said seriously as they finished desert, and sat back in their chairs. "It's good to see the two of you. How are things goin'? Any news or hap'nins I might o' missed out on, being all laid up?"
"Not really," Simon shook his head. "Things are actually pretty good for a change, other than River. And she's doing much better physically. Her mobility is restored, and with the stitches out she's all over the place."
"Hey, that's good to hear," Mal smiled a little weakly. "Ship runnin' okay, Jayne?" Mal asked, and could have kicked himself the second after.
"Well as can be," Jayne merely nodded. "We're staying busy, too. Business is really pickin' up. Carryin' passengers more often, too. Not reg'lar, at least I'm not, but I'd say more often'n not."
"Y'know, I wanted to talk to you about that," Mal leaned forward. "Reckon a small little liner, maybe twenty passenger, would make any money, running a shuttle service from here to Astra?"
"I don't know," Jayne considered for a minute. "There's a shuttle service over in Mount Talmidge, but I hear it's pretty pricey. I'd be willin' to bet that a good service at reasonable costs might do well. We only get locals for the most part, y'know. I mean we sometimes pick up folk headed for Argo over on Astra, too, but that ain't too often."
"It's just somethin' I been considerin'," Mal shrugged. "I'm lookin' for a way to make a livin', once I get all healed up." Simon glanced at Inara, who maintained a strict control over her features.
"Any idea how long that might be?" Simon asked. He wasn't Mal's physician, not in this case, and wasn't involved with the treatment.
"Therapist says another three months, probably, at the least," Mal sighed. "Bad as I hate to admit it, I should have done the therapy before. Might have prevented the shape I'm in now. I just. . .I really didn't think I needed it."
"Sometimes it's hard to admit you need help," Simon replied, and Jayne nodded his agreement. "And I know how you feel. Doctors make the worst patients after all."
"I've heard that more than once," Inara laughed faintly.
"It's true," Simon smiled. "We always think we know the better course of treatment that the 'other guy'."
"Well, that might not always be wrong," Jayne offered. "I mean, you know you, know your body, better than anybody else might. Add medical know-how to that, and I can see where a body might take that notion."
"You know, Jayne, there are times I think there's an intelligent man beneath that ugly, brutish, ape-like exterior," Simon said, his face completely serious. Jayne blinked, and then threw his head back in a belly laugh. Mal almost choked on the tea he'd been drinking, and even Inara hid a giggle behind her hand.
"Simon, you really are loosenin' up a bit," Jayne said, slapping his brother-in-law on the shoulder. Simon winced, mentally checking his collar bone for damage.
"Yes, well, I get lucky once in a while," he snorted. "Anyway, you're right. The two are a deadly combination. Thinking you know better than anyone else is an easy way to wind up in trouble."
The table went silent at that, and Simon shook his head. His innocent comment hit too close to home for too many people.
"Well, I'm sure you're gettin' tired, Mal," Jayne said into the quiet. "And me an' Simon got a long ride back. It's good to see ya up and movin'. Inara, that was a great meal, and you're as beautiful as ever."
"Thank you, Jayne," Inara blushed slightly, nodding her appreciation.
"I have to agree," Simon nodded, rising. "I've had a good time, and the food was fantastic. We'll have to do this again."
"You fellas ain't gotta rush off, now," Mal protested, though he was tired. "I'm still good."
"But ya won't be, 'thout some rest," Jayne replied. "We can do it again better'n we can wait for you to recover from over doin' it, Mal. You ain't well, yet, though you look to be well on your way. Let's don't risk that just for a little jawin'."
"I agree," Inara nodded. "And it is time for your medicine, Mal. And you still need to do your exercises, too."
"All right," Mal sighed. "I meant what I said, though," he turned back to his two guests. "I really appreciate ya'll comin' by. It's been good to see you."
"We'll see you again," Simon promised. "Meantime, take care of yourself, and don't give Inara so much trouble. She's just making sure you recover as much and as quickly as possible."
"I'll be lookin' around for a ship, too," Jayne promised. "Even if we don't find one you like, we'd start gettin' an idea on what it'll cost to run one, yeah?"
"I appreciate it Jayne," Mal nodded. "You guys take care goin' home."
FF
"Well, that actually went better than I expected," Simon commented once the two were on the road home.
"Yeah," Jayne nodded. "Seems like he's not gettin' all that much better, though."
"It's his own fault," Simon replied. "I told him he had to take better care of himself. Had he listened, he might be completely recovered by now. As it is. . . ." He trailed off.
"As it is, what?" Jayne demanded.
"As it is, his back may never completely heal," Simon told him. "But it's his hip that worries me. Mal thought the pain in his leg was just that; his leg. Inara told me that when he reported for his therapy, they x-rayed him, and found several small cracks in his pelvic bone, and in the joints of his hip. That's where the pain was coming from."
"And he wouldn't take time to get it checked, of course," Jayne sigh.
"No, he wouldn't. And I'm afraid that may result in a permanent loss of at least some of his mobility. And," Simon added, "it may also cause him to be permanently in pain. It might be manageable, but it will be constant."
"Well, maybe that won't happen," Jayne offered. "I mean, it ain't wrote in stone, is it?"
"No," Simon shook his head. "If her does everything they tell him, just like they tell him, then it's entirely possible, even probable, that he'll recover most, if not all of his range of motion. I don't know about the pain," he shrugged helplessly. "That may still haunt him, no matter what he does. There's no way to know but wait and see."
"Listen, Simon, I meant to tell you earlier," Jayne changed to subject. "I had 'Nara do some book keepin' type stuff for me a little bit ago. I had some money placed in a fund for River's care." He handed over a small bank book. "This here is where you can draw on it for whatever ya need. If it runs low, lemme know. I'll have Inara put more in."
"I. . .okay," Simon agreed, taking the offered book.
"And this here," Jayne handed over another little black book, "this is for the baby. It's a trust fund." Simon was speechless. He took the offered item, and looked inside. What he saw was. . . .
"Jayne, this is. . .I can't accept this!"
"You can, and you will," Jayne told him flatly. "That baby will by my niece or nephew. I can do as and when I please. 'Sides, me and River. . .we. . .anyway, we had already talked about it."
"And on that subject, you and Kaylee need anything? For the baby, I mean?"
"No, we're fine," Simon promised. "Kaylee's garage is actually doing pretty good. She's running the office while she's expecting, and their replacement mechanic is pretty good, she tells me. Good enough that her and Caleb are talking about keeping him on even after she's able to go back to work. With business picking up like it is, they'll need his help."
"I'm glad," Jayne nodded. "She deserves it."
"Yes, she does."
FF
Simon walked into his house after Jayne dropped him off. River was sitting on the couch, reading. Since her release from the clinic, she had been staying with he and Kaylee, despite having a wonderfully nice home less than two miles away.
Of course, she didn't know she had it.
"Hello, brat," Simon smiled. River replied by sticking her tongue out.
"Is Kaylee. . . ."
"Simon, is that you?" Kaylee's cheery voice cut off his question. Seconds later she entered the room. She was starting to show, now, he thought clinically.
"Whatcha lookin' at?" she asked, smiling.
"The most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he replied honestly.
"Oh, gag," River commented, rising from the couch. "I'm going to my room before I. . . ."
"Just go, then, and without the commentary," Simon ordered, earning him another appearance of River's tongue sticking out at him before she raced up the stairs.
"She's doin' pretty good," Kaylee commented, kissing her husband.
"Yes, she is," Simon agreed, hugging Kaylee to him. "I just wish. . . ."
"We all do, ai ren," Kaylee soothed. "We all do. Just gotta have faith, that's all."
"How did you do, today?" he asked, placing his hand on her slightly swollen abdomen.
"Oh we was fine," she grinned. "Little slow gettin' started, since someone didn't want their momma to keep their breakfast down, but other'n that, no worries."
"I can give you. . . ." he began.
"Simon, it's mornin' sickness, not a disease," Kaylee assured him. "Women been dealin' with it long 'fore somebody first mixed two leaves together with a lizard tail and called it medicine. I'll be fine."
"I know," he smiled softly.
FF
"You have found him?"
"We believe so, yes," Many Horses nodded. "He is at the far end of the 'verse. Literally."
"Very well," Flint rose from his desk. "Arrange transportation there for my daughter and myself at once, along with a small guard. Say three men, and one woman."
"I will see to it," Many Horses bowed slightly. "But are you sure this is a path you wish to pursue, my Chief?"
"You question my orders?" Flint demanded icily.
"I question your motives," Many Horses shot back, unintimidated. "As I am duty bound to do."
Flint relaxed. It was true. Many Horses' position as sub-chief demanded that he be a check and balance over Flint's actions. His power was not absolute. More than that, Joseph Many Horses was a friend of long years.
"Joseph, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to strengthen our clan's position, not only on the Council, but also in wealth. That land lying fallow right on our border is the perfect place to expand, and it's prime land. Suitable for farming, cattle, and industry. There is plentiful water, and several mineral deposits."
"And it just sits there!" Flint's hand hammered down upon his desk. "The Council is so set in it's ways that it would rather see that land un-used than allow it to be re-settled."
"It is an honorable clan's Tribal Homeland," Many Horses commented. "Their decision is just."
"It might have been five hundred years ago," Flint disagreed. "Today it is just another example of Old Ways interfering with progress. I want that land, and I will have it, whatever it takes."
"No good will come of this, Chieftain," Many Horses told him firmly. Seeing that Flint would not be swayed, he sighed.
"I will make the arrangements."
