Ben gripped River's hand as soon as she was free of the man's grasp. She looked worriedly around the infirmary, not trusting the sterile surroundings. Ben squeezed her hand and grinned in reassurance. She returned it weakly.
"Okay," the man called Mal pulled a light over them, "Let's have a better look at this, eh?" he smiled at River. Ben felt her grip tighten.
"Gee girl, you got one roarin' fever," he whistled. Ben looked over worriedly.
"Is she-" he began, but a noise in the hall made him halt.
"Captain?" a woman had appeared in the doorway. Mal looked around.
"Hey Zoe," he said cheerfully, "not one for sleeping either?"
"Thought I heard noises," Zoe looked over Mal's shoulder at the two stowaways. She lowered her voice. Mal shook his head.
"Nah, they're fine. One of 'em's a bit shot up, so I'm gonna see what I can do."
"Fine, sir," Zoe nodded, "want me to get the doc?"
"Nah, let him sleep. He's not getting much."
"Right," Zoe shot one last look at Ben and river before walking away. Mal turned back to River.
"You're not the doctor?" Ben asked, leaning over River protectively. Mal looked up.
"Nope, I'm the captain. Doc's got himself a newborn, coming up on two months old soon. He can be fussy on certain nights so, I figure let him sleep." Mal caught the boy's uncertain expression.
"Don't worry, he figured this would happen. Been showing me the ropes for months now."
"Okay," Ben nodded. River relaxed slightly. Ben looked down at her and smiled, only to feel her tense again. Looking up, Ben saw Mal approaching her with a needle. He immediately drew her to him.
"What's that?" he growled, aggression dripping in his voice.
Mal paused, slightly shocked.
"It's just some anaesthetic," He said, confused by the reaction. The girl clung to the boy, leaning as much as she could away from the sharp object.
"What's it do?" the boy demanded again.
"It's just gonna put her to sleep," Mal's brow furrowed.
"Why?"
"Well…" Mal was baffled, "Well I'm gonna have to… operate slightly to get the bullet out, and that's gonna hurt. If she's asleep, she don't have to feel it."
"She won't have to feel it?" the boy's expression softened.
"No," Mal was still confused. The boy looked down at the girl; Mal watched the two communicated silently again. The girl nodded.
"Okay…" The boy sighed, "That's okay then." Mal watched them, shaking off his confusion.
"Okay," he affirmed, approaching the bed with the needle in hand. The girl screwed her eyes shut, panic written on her features. She gave the slightest of whimpers and Mal gently moved her head to expose her neck.
"S' alright, darling, just a small prick," he assured her. The girl was crying silently. She gasped and gripped the boy with her other hand when Mal slid the needle into her skin. The boy whispered to her. Mal knew he was trying to be as quiet as possible, but he caught the words nonetheless.
"It's okay, bao bei, you're not there… just hold onto me."
Mal noted the words carefully but didn't comment. Withdrawing the syringe, he watched the boy stroke her hair while her eyelids flickered. Just as he dropped the used needle into the waste her heard he speak clearly for the first time, though her words were slightly slurred by the drugs in her system.
"Will you be here when I wake up?"
Mal smiled to himself, recalling asking that on more than one occasion.
"I promise," The boy smiled.
"Count back from ten for me now, darling?" Mal asked, moving the light again. The girl had barely begun before her eyes shut.
"So," Mal addressed the boy as he started, "she afraid of needles or something?"
"Something like that," the boy offered a small smile. Mal returned it. He concentrated on placing a drip before continuing.
"What's that?" the boy asked. Mal realised he was going to have to put up with these questions the whole time.
"Just a bit of fluid, might help to hydrate her quicker. It'll do the world of good," he assured the boy. He nodded.
"Listen," Mal went on, "If you two are slaves… I can tell you now I ain't gonna turn you in. Never had stomach for slavery myself."
"That's good to know," the boy sighed. Mal glanced at him, but the boy gave no further answer. They stood in silence for a while; the boy looking anxiously over Mal's shoulder. He still held the girl's limp hand in his.
"You should get some sleep," Mal told him, "You look like you're ready to drop."
The boy shook his head. "I'm staying with her," his voice absolutely resolute. Mal nodded.
"At least have a seat," He nodded toward the ledge, "I don't have the skill for two patients in one night."
"Okay," The boy agreed. Mal smiled at him.
"So… if you ain't gonna sleep, how bout you tell my why you're on my ship?" Mal asked casually. The boy was silent.
"I understand you got secrets," Mal sighed, "But I ain't gonna be able to do much, 'less I got no reason to doubt you two." Still the boy did not react. Mal sighed.
"Maybe later then?"
"Maybe," The boy sighed too. The silence reigned again.
"Tyen shaio duh!"
Ben was jerked out of his half-sleep by the exclamation, instantly alert. Mal was frowning. He moved away from River and pulled off his gloves.
"What's wrong?" Ben asked, his voice shaking. He couldn't see anything different. Mal growled.
"This infection's gone deeper than I thought," he strode over to an intercom, "I don't know what to do about it."
Ben slid off the bed, gripping River's hand again as Mal hit the intercom.
"Hey doc," he said.
"What's wrong?" a tired crackly voice came through. Ben heard someone complaining in the background.
"I got a bit of a situation down in the infirmary I could use your help with. It's past my knowledge. I'm really sorry to have to wake you."
"I know, Kaylee- hold on a sec. Alright Mal, I'll be up in a moment."
"Much obliged," Mal killed the transmission. Ben watched him.
"Is she going to be okay?" he couldn't keep the tremble out of his voice.
"Should be right," Mal sighed, "as I said, I just don't know what to do."
"If…" Ben hesitated, "if the doctor's coming up anyway, do you think he'd mind looking at something else?'
"Like what?" Mal glared suspiciously. Gulping, Ben carefully pulled down River's collar to reveal the site of the catheter. Mal swore.
"What in the worlds is that?!" he asked.
"I don't know…" Ben began. Mal sighed.
"Couldn't have told me before?" he asked incredulously, "This is infected too!"
"What's infected?" the same bleary voice that had enquired through the intercom asked. Both Ben and Mal turned.
"Doc, got yourself a patient," Mal moved forward, and with that motion River's face was revealed to the doctor. Ben saw him gasp.
"Oh my god…" he breathed. Mal frowned.
"You okay?" he asked. Ben stared. The doctor gulped.
"Yeah... it's just…" he ran his hands through his hair, "That's… that's River!"
Three things happened very quickly. Mal opened his mouth to ask Simon what he meant; Simon started toward the table, and Ben grabbed a syringe and leapt forward. Both Mal and Simon took a step back as the boy brandished it at the doctor.
"Who are you?" He snarled.
