Disclaimer: I don't own these characters.

Summary: This story is based off of CottonWoolFairy's set of vignette's called Sweet Nothings. I decided to put them all into the same story. It's about Mal and Inara. And all the many kisses the share in my little dream world. So here ya go.

Inara laid all night in the makeshift bed she had made with another exam table. Her arm caressing his. She sang him soothing songs as well as his favorite ballad. She sang the sweetest love songs and childhood lullabies. All the while allowing a slow trickle of tears to cascade down her cheek. "You have to wake up now, bao bei. I need you." she kissed his lips softly before relenting to the sleep that had been threatened to overcome her body.

Inara spent the next few days like that. Leaving only to shower, change clothes and use the bathroom. The crew brought her food during every meal. Even Jayne contributed as best he could. Eventually days turned into a week and Simon began to fear the worst.

"He may be comatose." said Simon to the rest of the crew around the table. "I don't have the proper equipment to know for sure but if he doesn't wake before tomorrow we may have to take him to someone better equipped to handle-"

"An' risk you an River?" Kaylee asked.

"We could take a shuttle somewhere and hide. It wouldn't be for too long." he squeezed Kaylee's shoulders from where he stood behind her. "That wouldn't do anyways." said Zoe. "'B'sides having an emotionally wrecked mechanic we'd be missin' our pilot and doctor." The words stung at her heart as she spoke them. Even Jayne winced at the hurt he saw on her face. "We just better hope he wakes up."

"He will." said Kaylee. "He has to. The Cap'n promised an' we only got a day till my birthday."

"Inara?" called a voice from the infirmary door. "Maybe you should go get some proper rest." Simon felt for the woman. She hadn't slept well on the cold metal table, she'd barely eaten and she spent most of her days crying and talking to the man on the table.

"No, thank you. When he wakes up I want him to know I was here all along." she whispered.

"He knows you're with him." Simon spoke softly. His words gave Inara a sense of calm, which she imagined his job required that skill. As did hers.

Simon finished checking the printed sheets, IVs, and the several monitors hooked up to Mal. "Call if you need me. And Inara?" she looked up at him and a twinge of pain went to his heart when he saw the pools in her eyes.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Try to get some rest?" he pleaded.

"Thank you, Simon." she said with the most grateful smile she could manage. The doctor nodded and turned, leaving the infirmary.

She took Mal's hand in hers as she laid down beside him on her own bed. She placed her cheek down in his shoulder and draped her arm over his chest. She tilted her mouth up to his ear as she spoke softly. "Mal, bao bei, can you hear me? Sweetie, please wake up. Kaylee's birthday is coming. Won't be much of a birthday without you." she paused to wipe her tears. "Plus, I know a secret. Simon bought her a ring, Mal. He's going to propose. I've considered that maybe it's a good thing you're unconscious." she laughed slightly before sobbing again. "Oh Mal. You're missing their lives. You're their papa and your missing it all. We need you back. Please come back, Mal." she begged until the force of her tears refused to let her voice through. Inara's shaking was so violent she didn't feel the man beside her move. She startled when she heard the raspy voice.

"Inara?"

The Merc stomped towards the local showers. He had decided that after his lifting time a nice bathing would be pleasant. He walked into the room without knocking. As he took off his shoes he noticed the slow trickle of water from one of the showers. Jayne walked around the wall that separated the showers from the changing area and stopped suddenly when he saw Zoe sitting against the wall, fully clothed, with her legs to her chest, rocking slowly back and forth. "Gorram it Zo! What are ya doin'?" he yelled as he rushed to the shower and turned off the freezing cold water and knelt beside her. He wrapped his towel around her shoulders as he spoke. "This waters freezin'. We have warm ya know. Kaylee fixed it last week."

"I know." she said meekly. "I jus' wanted to feel somethin'. Anything."

Jayne absent mindedly wiped what he assumed was tears and not shower water from Zoe's cheeks. "I know bao-bei." Jayne responded. Zoe looked up into his eyes, stunned by his sympathy. Her eyes welled up again as she held his gaze.

"I just want to feel." she sobbed as he held her close. "I just want to feel. Will you make me feel, Jayne?" They sat on the floor together, he consoling her and she letting out her pain.

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TBC- Lover's spats. Trying to get my story out of my notebook and into the computer. So sorry for all the posts.