We All Fall Down
Chapter 2
The captain was resting now, no signs of the morning's outburst visible on him. Well, besides the straps still holding him down. Simon didn't want to risk another outburst, with noone around to help keep Mal from hurting himself. River had been so hysterical, he had to sedate her as well. It broke his heart to see her hurting so, but he didn't know what made her do it. And the bit she had said about Mal. . . it strained the mind a bit. Jayne checked in every hour or so, to see if anything had happened, or if Simon needed any help; luckily he hadn't. It was wierd though, Jayne was being uncharacteristically sympathetic about this whole situation. That strains the mind a bit too, but he wasn't going to waste time wondering about untrained apes. He needed to figure out what was wrong with the captain.
Zoe came by about 30 minutes later. "How is he?" she asked, worry etched on her face. Simon looked up from the cortex entry he was reading, "Oh, well." He looked over at the captain who was still out. "He's resting, but I have no clue what caused that outburst." Simon rubbed his eyes, trying to think of something, but nothing came. Zoe nodded, "You know, I'm not a doctor." she said, laying a comforting hand on Simon's shoulder. "But doctors aren't much help, if they can't think right. You should get some sleep." He smiled, but shook his head. "I can't I have to. . ." Zoe cut him off, "That wasn't a suggestion." she said, her face getting stony. "We can keep eyes on him. Shifts, four hours each." She smiled reassuringly, "If anything happens, anything at all. We'll get you up, double-quick." Simon conceded, realizing he really didn't stand a chance against the warrior woman, and put his hands up in surrender, saying," Allright. I'll go try and sleep." He went to walk out, "Anything happens. . ." Zoe cut him off again, "March."
Zoe was pacing the room, trying to keep awake. She had told Simon that they would take shifts. . .well, she lied. She could last till the Doc got some decent sleep. Wash came over the intercom, "Zoe, baby. Need anything?" Zoe smiled. He always knew. She was about to answer when he said, "Let me guess. . . Coffee for my goddess." She picked up the mic, "That sounds wonderful husband. You're a lifesaver." You could hear his smile through his words, " I aim to please. I'll be right down, just gotta put ol' girl on auto." "Not in a hurry." said Zoe, turning off the mic.
Wash had come in with the coffee, a little less than an hour ago. They had talked, mostly of how the capn weren't going nowheres, and she should come to bed. Hmmm, she thought smiling. No ulterior motive there. . . A voice cut into her thoughts. "You should go with him. You should leave." She jumped, many people weren't like to sneak up on her, but then again Mal hadn't been awake a minute ago. She moved over to his side. "And leave you to your own devices, sir?" She laughed. "Not a chance in the 'verse." He didn't smile, he looked like a man who was walking on the edge of reason, and at the slightest noise would go over it. Fall into the nothingness of his mind. It scared her, she'd never seen him like this before. He'd been close, but far enough away to where she knew he would come round.
Mal needed to be far away, away from the ones he could hurt. Far away from them all, but it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter, we all die alone in the end. With noone left to care. Just echoes, dust, and shadows. None of it matters in the end. He knows what he has to do. To keep them safe, and happy. In their own little world. He needs to leave, he's got to let himself go. "Got to let go. . ." He said, trying to undo the straps that held him from his plans. "Ruttin doctor's got this whole mess over me for what?" Mal yelled, to anyone and noone. "You gotta let me loose. Gotta keep them away."
Zoe tried to calm him.I can handle him if he gets upset. She thought to herself. "Ain't gonna be able to stop them all." He rambled on, "You gotta let me go. . .gotta let me go." He strained hard once more on the straps, and then relaxed falling into a somewhat relaxed state. Zoe decided to undo the straps. Mal gave a laugh, as he got up from the bed, one you woulda thought came from River, then sang in a whisper, "Ring around the rosie. A pocket full of posies. Ashes. . .Ashes. . . WE." Mal banged his fists on the table."ALL." Again. "FALL.", and again. "DOWN!" Then he collasped into fits of giggles with nothing discernable coming from them. Zoe decided that now would be a good time to fetch Simon. Zoe tried the comm, but it wasn't working. Mal giggled as she struggled with it asking, "Looking for this?" He held up a wad of wires in his hands. "I think it's broke." laughed Mal, dropping the wires from the mic into Zoe's hand. "How did you do this? I was watching you?" He gave a pleased smile. "I'm a sneaky one, aren't I?"
Zoe was really beginning to worry now. This wasn't the captain, it couldn't be. Something was seriously wrong, so she decided to get Simon. "Just stay here, sir." said Zoe, pointing toward the bed. "I'll be right back. I just have to get Simon." Mal smiled, and sat down dutifully. "I'm here. Not going anywhere." She left, locking the infirmary doors, and heading towards Simon's bunk. She passed Jayne, and told him, "Go to the infirmary, watch the captain, but keep the doors locked." At Jayne's quizzical look she ordered, "Do it. Don't ask questions." He went without another word.