The Anesthetic Kiss

"YOU THINK?" the captain's voice roared.

Simon followed it into the infirmary with Kaylee in tow.

"What's all the shoutin' 'bout?" she asked Simon in a whisper. He didn't get a chance to answer.

"It's nothing-" River's voice said from somewhere.

"NOTHIN'? YOU COULD OF GOTTEN YOURSELF KILLED!" Mal argued.

"Sir-" Zoe attempted.

"Stay out of this," he snapped.

"I had to!" River shouted.

"Had to? You didn't have to do anything!"

Simon got a look at his sister. She was bruised and bleeding from several different places.

"Mei mei? What happened?" he asked, effectively stopping the shouting…for the time being.

"I'll tell you what happened! Your sis went crazy assassin big damn hero on us and almost got herself killed!" Mal explained.

"I had to or they would have taken the money back and the cargo after killing us!"

"Well maybehaps you could of told us that and let us help 'fore you got beat to hell!"

"I couldn't! I had to move fast!"

Simon moved forward to examine her. She pushed him away. "I have a ship to pilot," she growled as she took off for the bridge.

Mal waited a moment and then cursed harshly in Chinese before following, leaving everyone to contemplate his strong feelings on the matter.

"Go away," she spat before he even got all of the way up the steps. "I don't need another lecture."

"I'm here to say sorry…" he announced as he stood beside her at the pilot's chair. "I don't like it when you get hurt is all."

"You could have been nicer about it."

"I get testy when I get scared."

She smirked. "You don't get scared."

"I do when it's worryin' on my crew. Let your doc brother take a look at you."

"I'm fine. He'll just stick me with needles and make me sleep."

"Let me take a look at you. Real quick."

She sighed and then swiveled around. He physically winced at her bruises and cuts. He carefully took her chin in his hand and turned her face from side to side. He could tell that it hurt her when he did. He stopped and leaned down so he was eye level.

"Next time you plan on gettin' hurt, let me know so I can get the worst of it."

She nodded. He carefully put his hand on the nape of her neck and pulled her into a quick kiss on her bloody and swollen lip.

"I'll take your examination over Simon's any day," she muttered.

"Why's that?"

"That was better than anesthetics."

"Glad to hear it."