Part seven
Summary: The final part

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Chapter 1- It was a rough day
Summary: They just want to be alone for a bit

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"What happened?" Simon asked as he sank beside River. She was cradling him in her arms.

"The other doctor told him no loud sounds," she sniffed. "Preacher man was shot too."

Simon looked in at Shepherd and then back at Mal. Based on what he saw, Shepherd needed him more. He just hoped that River wouldn't kick his ass.

He stepped over them and got to work on the bullet wound.

"Are you okay?" Mal asked weakly.

"Fine. You're the one bleeding."

He saw the tears in her eyes. "Don't cry."

She said something with a faint smile, but he couldn't hear what it was. She pressed her hand gently to his ear to stop the bleeding.

"Simon?" she asked worriedly.

"I'm almost finished here. How bad is it?"

She looked down at Mal and let the tears flow. "Bad."

Simon knew that tone, so he picked up the pace. Once Shepherd was patched up—for now—he moved over to the captain. He pried River's hand away so he could inspect his ear.

"Based on the amount of blood I'm seeing, his eardrum went out again. Captain, can you hear me?"

River shook her head. "He can't hear."

"Son of a bitch! He must have undone what they did on Kerry. His legs are bleeding too. He probably ripped the stitches. Hopefully he didn't rip the muscle with it. Help me get him to the mule. Shepherd, can you walk?"

"I wasn't shot in the leg, son…" he replied gruffly. He was leaning against the wall, trying to push the pain out of his thoughts.

"Let's move," Simon nodded.

River helped Mal up and Simon got the other side. They half dragged and half carried him there while Shepherd slowly followed.

The ramp was down when they arrived. Kaylee bounced happily in when she heard them come home.

"Heya husband how'd it-" she stopped when she saw Mal. "Cap'in?"

"He can't hear," Simon responded. "I need to get him into the infirmary."

"We have to leave. Tell blonde," River added.

Kaylee ran to the comm. and Shepherd shut the ramp.

They got Mal onto the table and Simon went into overdrive to save his hearing. River stood beside him calmly. He gave her one of his handsome smiles and a sleepy, "It'll be fine, sweetheart" before the sedative kicked in at which point she started crying again. It had been a rough day.

Simon was torn between being the doctor or the brother, but he had to be the doctor. "River, I either need you to help or leave. I'm sorry. It's just-"

"I understand. I'm not leaving. What do you need?"

"Hold his head while I work."

She took his face in her hands, carefully turning it to the side.

He worked for three hours. The entire time she stood there holding his head perfectly still as Simon worked.

"I was able to repair the repair on his eardrum. His hearing should be back to normal after a few days. I need to work on his legs next. He's lost a lot of blood, but not enough to be concerned about."

He cut open his pants at the seams, pausing to look at his baby sister before progressing any further.

"Nothing I haven't seen before," she said coolly.

He pushed how repulsed and uncomfortable that comment made him feel back down and then continued his work. Another hour later, he was finished.

"He only ripped his stitches. It's painful, but not serious. The blood was misleading. He should be fine just as long as he stays off his feet for a few weeks."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "No more thrilling heroics, then."

Simon smirked. "No more thrilling heroics." He took off his apron and then reverted back to big brother mode. "How are you feeling, mei mei?"

"Tin roof can take ice, but it folds in a blizzard."

He nodded. "Right…"

"It was a rough day."

"Thank you for putting it into brother-dummy talk."

"You should check on preacher man."

"I should."

She pulled a stool over and sat beside Mal after he left. She took his hand in her own, leaning down and pressing a kiss to his lips. It felt like he faintly tried to kiss back. She stayed beside him all night simply watching him sleep.

"I love you," she said quietly as she outlined his face with her fingertips.

"I was worried I wouldn't hear you say that ever again," he grumbled while his eyes were still shut.

"You almost didn't. No more heroics."

She went to kiss him, but stopped abruptly.

"Kaylee…" she called.

"She ain't here," Kaylee's voice called from outside of the door. "She ain't eavesdroppin' either."

"Get in here."

She walked in shamefacedly like she had been caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. "Sorry Cap'in. You two are just soooo shiny and sweet! I'm glad you're okay."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek and then she gave River a hug.

"Just pretend I didn't interrupt or nothin'," she added on her way out.

He put his hand over hers. "How'd it go?"

She tensed, not quite ready to discuss what happened. It was still too raw and confusing. "I don't want to talk about it. Not yet."

"It worked right?"

"He said so. I'll check later when I'm sure you're okay."

"I am just as long as we're still flyin' and I have my crew. Come here so we can pick up where we left off."

She leaned in once again. They were about to kiss, but they were interrupted.

"Aw hell Mal! This is what I was talkin' about! You're makin' me all sorts of sick to my stomach and that ain't good before a workout! Jesus Christ," Jayne growled.

They waited until he disappeared towards the cargo bay to try again.

"Sir, how are you?" Zoe asked when she appeared in the doorway, stopping them once more.

"Shiny," he sighed impatiently.

"You don't look shiny."

"Because no one on this ruttin' boat is givin' us two seconds alone!"

"That's what doors are for, Sir. Have fun."

She shut them on her way out.

"We're finally alone n-" she started. He shushed her.

"Don't jinx it."

She smirked and they finally kissed. He pulled her closer, entangling his tongue with hers. She gently put a hand on his chest and eased him away from her lips.

"Too much. We'll want to do more and you just had surgery-"

"Last time I checked, the activity you're talkin' about doesn't require runnin' around or standin' or usin' your ears. So we're good."

"But-"

He silenced her with another kiss she happily returned. She realized what was happening and carefully pushed him away again.

"Mal, we can't. There are windows and those doors don't lock-"

"I know my limits. Besides, do you recall how long ago the last time we did this was? 'Cause it's been about-"

She swallowed the last part of that statement with her mouth and carefully climbed on top of him, avoiding hurting his legs.

"Exactly right," he muttered out of the side of his mouth.

****

Simon was walking along the catwalk by the infirmary. It was about time to check in on his patient. He just happened to glance sideways into his infirmary. His mouth dropped. There in his infirmary was his sister on top of the captain kissing and getting ready to……

"Ya look like you just spied a ghost!" Kaylee giggled as she walked over to him. She followed his eyes into the room. "Whoa!"

"Do you see what he's doing with my sister?"

"More like about to do…"

"I'm going in there right now!"

She caught his hand. "They's just got back from a hard time. Let them be alone for a bit."

"They're…he's about to…with her…in my infirmary!"

"You do that with me."

"But not there!"

"There was that one time…"

He turned an impressive shade of scarlet. "But this is River and Mal!"

"What do you say that we walk away before…whoa…I didn't know a girl could bend that way…" Kaylee trailed off.

"I'm going to be sick," Simon choked.

"Where was I? Right, the walking away part. Let's go make some magic of our own in a weird location."

"But Kaylee, I don't think that's such a good idea. They shouldn't be doing…that…this soon after his surgery."

"Ya don't need ears or legs for that. He'll be fine. Come with me, hubby."

She took his arm and led him away, pausing to watch for one last second. "I'll have to remember that move."

"KAYLEE!"

"What? This is gonna end up helpin' you."

"I'm really going to be sick now…"