Lost in his own thoughts as he walked away from the infirmary, Mal didn't see Inara coming down the hallway until she threw herself at him. He caught her awkwardly, startled out of his reverie. "What in the gorram hell-"
"Oh, Mal," she sighed, grabbing him tightly. "I was so worried."
Confused by the embrace but not willing to waste the opportunity, however brief it might be, to hold her, he squeezed back. "Worried?" How is it she always smells so good? Like peaches or somethin'. "'Bout what?"
"About you. Zoe...Zoe told us what happened this morning."
"Oh. Then shouldn't you be more worried about Jayne?" he asked, scratching his head.
She just looked at him for a moment before shaking her head. "Of course I am. I was on my way to the infirmary, actually, but...Mal, you could have died. If he hadn't...you would be..." She was suddenly on the verge of sobbing, and found herself completely unable to do anything about the fact.
He pursed his lips tightly, holding her shoulders as they shook. "I'm well aware of that fact," he said. "And it ain't gonna go unrewarded, not by any stretch of the imagination. Speakin' a which, I'd like to see some attitudes around here change."
"I know. Zoe pointed out quite clearly how unappreciative we've all been, and I...I admit that I am as guilty as anyone of not acknowledging his value to this ship. I just...didn't realize his importance until I heard that you...that he had..." Her lower lip trembled, and she couldn't finish the sentence without blubbering.
"'Nara," he said helplessly, hating to see her in such a state but not certain what he could do to alleviate her obvious emotional distress. "Hell, woman, I don't know what to do here," he muttered. "You're gonna get me all wet."
"Well I'm sorry," she snapped, pulling back as anger flared at his callous response to her tears. "I thought maybe you would understand why I was upset, but evidently I was wrong." She tried to storm past him, but was stopped by his hand gripping her arm carefully. "Unhand me, please," she ordered.
"Hold on. Look, Inara, I...I know why you're upset, all right? I ain't too happy about it myself. He's about the last person I figured would ever jump between me and a bullet. But he did, and now he's lyin' in there half-dead and Kaylee's mooning over him like Simon ain't never entered her vision. You gettin' all teary just adds to the craziness, and I've had about enough of that for one day. So I ain't tryin' to be all ungentleman-like, I'm just...tired. And damn confused as to why I ain't got a hole in the back of my head. And I ain't sure, but I think I might be feelin' a bit guilty, too, for the way I acted out there this morning. If Zoe hadn't been there..." He looked away, eyes troubled as he remembered. Worthless? He ain't worthless. I know that, hell I knew it when I said it, every time I said it. If he was worthless I never woulda let him set foot on this ship, and I sure as hell wouldn't a let him stay. But I didn't even try to find out if he was all right before I was yellin' at him. Just kicked at him. "Aw, hell, 'Nara." I shouldn't be sayin' this to you. Shouldn't be sayin' it to anybody.
"Mal," she breathed his name. "What happened? Something is bothering you about this, I can tell. Tell me what it is, please. Let me help."
"Not here," he replied, his voice dropping to match her volume. "Someplace quieter. I don't want the wrong ears to hear."
"My shuttle, then," she said without thinking. Wait...Did I just invite Malcolm Reynolds to come to my shuttle for a discussion about feelings? I believe...I believe that I did. She blinked rapidly, taken aback by her own boldness, as she waited for his answer.
"Your-" The shuttle? Don't rightly know that you've ever actually invited me up there before now... "All right. Let me just tell Wash to get us back to town, and I'll...I'll meet you?"
"Of course. I'll just check in on Kaylee while you speak to Wash." He turned away with an uncertain nod, but now her hand held him back. "Mal? One last thing." She reached up to kiss his cheek, then smiled and walked off towards the infirmary, leaving the captain standing in the hall with his mouth agape. Realizing finally that anyone could come along and see him like this, he scrubbed roughly at his face, trying to erase any lipstick that might have marked him. Damn women and their makeup. Heading in the opposite direction, though, he could help but smirk over the smooch. Heh. Almost wish I'd a left it there, like some sorta brand. Property of Inara. He shook his head. Nah. Too good to be true.
