Hi, guys! I am so sorry I took forever to update! This chapter is short, but I hope you like it!

Mal was finally discharged two days later to his incredible relief, as well as Natara's. After being cooped up in the hospital, his living room was a greatly comforting environment ad he collapsed onto his couch.

"Mal, have you ever been to a grocery store?" Natara asked as she slipped into the living room. "Your fridge is almost empty."

"Yours is just as bad," he defended. Natara rolled her eyes and sat down at the end of the couch.

"Wow. This is a lot better than hospital chairs."

"At least you slightly conquered your fear of hospitals," he teased.

Natara gave him a cross look. "Don't even start. And I can tell you're as glad to be out as I am."

"Sometimes it scares me when you read my mind."

"I was right, wasn't I?"

"Have you ever been wrong?"

"Hmm. Not that I know of." Natara let out a soft laugh. The melodic sound alone was enough to make the corners of his lips curl into a smile.

"But you are right. My apartment is a lot cozier than a hospital room." Mal grabbed a small throw pillow and placed it under his head.

"You can go to your bedroom and lie down if you want."

Mal shrugged. "I'm fine here. No use wasting valuable energy just to go down the hall." He still felt weak from the chemotherapy, and he had been ordered on bed rest. But being in his own home made him feel somewhat better physically as well as emotionally.

He knew deep down that the feeling wouldn't last long. He had lost track of how many times he had been told that in as little as a couple of months, possibly more or less, he would sometimes find himself absolutely miserable. And it would gradually get worse, as if he were being consumed by a deep black hole.

Suddenly he wondered what he was going to do about work. He was instructed to take two weeks off to recuperate from the surgery, as well as several days after each session of chemotherapy. That left him approximately no time to return to work.

He shuddered, unable to stop himself. Natara glanced at him. "You okay?"

He nodded slightly, still in thought. "Yeah. Just thinking. That thing you do too much of."

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"You know... this situation. And work." Mal sat up, unable to wrap his finger around the strong chance that his sick leave was permanent. "I guess I'm not gonna go back, huh?"

Natara chewed her lip thoughtfully and scooted closer to him. "You're probably right," she said softly. She herself hadn't fully considered it, but she knew that it was unlikely he would be strong enough to return to work.

"I'll have to talk to Captain," Mal sighed.

"I'm sure she'll work something out. Maybe desk work, as daunting as that sounds," Natara offered.

Mal made a face. "That sounds worse than staying home. I wanna be out there chasing the bad guys, not sitting behind a desk. I guess I'm out of options."

Natara rested a hand on his back. "I'm sorry, Mal. I really am." She knew how important his job was to him, and it broke her heart that he was going to have to leave it all behind.

"I just didn't think it was gonna be like this, you know? I always thought it would be a bullet or a bomb. But you know what? It just doesn't seem real." Mal would give anything to be able to wake up and realize it was all just a dream.

"No, it doesn't," Natara agreed, putting her arm around his shoulders. Mal leaned into her embrace, closing his eyes. Natara rubbed his arm comfortingly.

After several long moments, Mal pulled away. "Thanks, Nat."

"Don't worry about it."

"So what about you? Are you going back to work? Just because I can't doesn't mean you're stuck to me."

Can't... The word echoed in his mind. He had never been the type to admit he couldn't do something. It wasn't him.

"I'll probably go back soon. But I'll try to be here as much as I can," she responded reluctantly. She had to work, but the thought of leaving him alone made her feel uneasy.

"You don't need to tie yourself to me, Natara. You have your own life."

"I know... but it's the least I can do. So let me do this, alright?"

"Alright." He wanted Natara to be there with him, but he didn't want to pull her away from her job. But when Natara made her mind, there was no changing it. It was one of the many things he loved about her.

That was yet one more thought on his mind. Was it too late to tell her that he loved her?

I probably won't get many reviews since I took so long, but... review please? And I hope it isn't too choppy... not my best chapter, but I promise that the next will be longer, better, and sooner.