Simon's P.O.V

As he woke Simon reflected on what happened. Getting shot, not so bad, in the grand scheme of things. But getting shot, by a crazed bounty hunter searching for my sister in nothing but my sleep pants, after I attacked him is just shiny.

It's one thing that River's secret cannot remain her own. Her's is something that everyone can see. Plus there was the whole federal agent and Kaylee being shot fiasco.

But this, this is something that I never wanted the crew to learn.

As I lay still on the hard bed in the infirmary, I think about how to get out of telling the crew about what happened. But knowing them, they'll push for answers and it'll get them off of my back sooner if I just give them some sort of answer.

Working this out in my head I almost missed River slipping into the infirmary. "He worries. She understands, it will be difficult but he will be okay. Crew of Serenity thinks of how they have misjudged him. They know the girl has problems, but they never thought he did too. Here they come."

Giving me a serene smile, she kissed my forehead and danced away before anyone came to the infirmary.

Meaning that I was prepared to see everyone on Serenity, excluding River, press into the infirmary. Time for the interrogation.

Mal's P.O.V

Walking into the infirmary, I'm struck by how tired the Doc looks. Like he's running on empty and it's been that way for awhile. His eyes are sunken like he hasn't been sleeping. This just adds to the confusion.

"You got something you're wantin' to tell us Simon?"

If I had been standing farther away from the foot of the infirmary bed I wouldn't have heard the soft groan escape his lips before he opened his eyes.

"Not paparticularly, but do I have much choice in the matter seeing as you've decided that you need to know?" Was his reply, sounding defeated. A sound I had yet to hear from the boy and one I instantly decided that I didn't like.

"Now don't go making this out to be some sort of interrogation. You got the right to keep things to yourself. But we're asking if you'll shed some light on this."

I watched as the boy repositioned the bed so it was more of a chair. Once that was done he sighed and pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it in his lap.

"I might as well tell you enough to keep you from prying." As he runs his hand over the blade marks and burns, I can tell he's trying to decide where to start.

"Before I say anything I want to ask all of you a question. You don't necessarily have to answer aloud but I would like you to think about it while I talk."

At my nod, he continued. "Do all of you think that my life in the Core was all roses and money?" Now that is an odd question...not particularly out of place but odd just the same.

But it did get me thinking, and from the looks on the faces of everyone else they were to. Coming to the conclusion of Yes that is pretty much what I think of the Doc.

" My sister and I were polictical and social statements for our parents. We were toys to show off at parties. River and I were often left on our own. The Governesses gave up because we knew everything they tried to teach us, and the nannies left us alone. When my parents were home they had strict rules. They were to be followed and if they were not we were punished, each infraction had a different punishment."

I don't think I like where this story is going, but I wont interrupt.

"River hates rules always has, and I used to always want to find little ways to get around them. River was caught once I'm sure you've seen the scar running across the back of her left leg." Not giving us a chance to answer he continued.

"After that I couldn't let her get hurt anymore. So I took the blame, I made sure it looked like me who had broken whatever rule she had. Father was different with me than he was with River though. He used a hot skewer to draw the lines across my ribs. His favorite decorative knife to cut my abdomen. And his favorite, creating the perfect electrical charge to damage specific areas."

With that it seems that Simon is finished speaking because he pulled his shirt back over his head.

That is until Zoe said "That explains your front, but what about your back?"