Disclaimer: Joss is boss. I'm just borrowing, so no money in it, just reviews. Reviews are like drugs, and I need a fix. Please let me know what you think.

Author's Note: A lot of things got in the way of finishing this chapter. School work, Finals, and the several approaches I took. Sorry about the delay, but it is finished, kinda. I did mean this to be the last chapter, but I felt it would be best to split up some elements. One more chapter is coming.

Settling Accounts

Simon stood in the back of the cargo bay as the Mule drove in. He was wearing surgical gloves and his white smock over his clothes. His face was impassive, not betraying any emotion he felt. It was a necessary trait he had picked up as a surgeon on Osiris. On Serenity, however, he knew that it had caused him many problems, especially with Kaylee. Right now, he felt the look was a necessary measure given Zoe's condition. He watched as Mal, River, and Jayne dismounted the Mule and approached him.

Mal reached him first and asked him seriously, "How is she, Doc?"

"Well Captain," Simon started slowly, "I feel that I should tell you that her condition was very serious. She had multiple fractures, severe abdominal trauma, and a large hematoma to her head."

Mal stiffened. "What are you saying, Doc?"

"I did the best I could," Simon replied.

Jayne had been hanging back with River, but after hearing Mal and Simon's exchange he jumped forward and stammered, "Zoe? Is she?"

Simon looked directly at Jayne and said matter-of-factly, "Zoe's dead."

Jayne swung a shocked expression towards Mal. Mal looked back at Jayne icily and said, "Looks like you ain't got much time left."

Swinging his head between Simon and Mal's stares, Jayne stood for a moment in complete disbelief. After all they had been through, he couldn't believe Zoe would die like this. He had honestly believed that most of Serenity's crew would outlast him. Zoe was the rock, the constant, the steely nerved Second that would see them through no matter what their Captain got them into. Jayne felt his feet propelling him past Mal and Simon, and on to the infirmary. With each step, time seemed to slow down and Jayne began to doubt whether he would even make it to the infirmary.

After what had seemed like minutes, Jayne was exiting the cargo bay and going down the steps. He turned right jumped down the steps to the landing. He didn't bother looking through the windows to the infirmary. Turning to his left, Jayne saw the infirmary door open and light spilling out. It was just a few feet more.

Coming into the door way, Jayne saw Zoe lying on the infirmary bed. She was heavily bandaged and bruised. Kaylee was standing beside her, holding her hand. Jayne froze. They were…talking!

Zoe noticed Jayne and said warmly, "Welcome back, Jayne!"

Jayne caught his breath, and then he noticed some raucous laughter coming from behind him. Looking back, Jayne saw Simon and Mal walking down the steps with arms around each other and nearly doubled over from their laughing. River followed behind giving them both disapproving looks. Jayne suddenly understood and growled.

"We are psychotic!" Simon exclaimed.

"No, no," Mal said between chuckles, "just a couple of really bad men."

Jayne backed up as Simon and Mal approached the infirmary door. Kaylee asked, "What's goin' on?"

"Think I can guess," Zoe replied. "Sir, did you tell Jayne that I was dead?"

"Wasn't me, I swear!" Mal said holding up his hands.

"Simon?" Kaylee asked accusingly.

Simon didn't answer but began laughing uncontrollably all over again. Mal quickly joined him. Kaylee and Zoe both rolled their eyes and groaned.

River walked around Simon and Mal and stood next to Jayne still giving her brother and the Captain disapproving looks. Jayne asked her, "Why didn't ya tell me?"

"Conflicting loyalties," she said. Looking at Jayne assuringly, she continued, "Won't happen again."

Jayne nodded and then looked again at Zoe. "So yer okay?"

"Right as rain, thanks to you," Zoe replied and then she looked towards Mal. "Isn't that right, sir?"

Mal was still chuckling a bit as he turned his head and caught Zoe's pointed look. Looking back at Jayne, Mal wiped a tear from his eye and said, "Yeah, I have to admit you had a real good notion about sendin' the Doctor in 'Nara's shuttle. He says she wouldn't've made it elsewise."

"He's right," Simon nodded as he slowly regained his composure. "Her condition was as serious as I described in the cargo bay, but since I was able to treat her so quickly, she will now heal mostly on her own."

"Whatta 'bout her baby?" Jayne asked. Everyone smiled at his concern while Jayne continued, "She's been beat real bad. I don' think it's good for what's in her."

"The fetus is fine. She didn't have any injuries to her lower abdomen," Simon assured.

"What?" Jayne asked not understanding Simon's medical jargon.

"The baby's fine," Kaylee chimed. "We thinks she protected it."

"Mother's instinct," Zoe added.

Relaxing, Jayne looked back at River, who was smiling, and took her hand his. Mal then spoke up again saying, "Well now, since we all know that my first mate's makin' a fine recovery, I'm thinking we best give the Doctor some room to do his work."

"Absolutely," Simon said stepping in through the infirmary door. "But I believe I have two more patients."

"One more," River corrected as she nudged Jayne inside. "I'm okay, but Jayne had his nose broken."

Jayne hesitated against River's nudging, saying, "S'nothin' really, Doc..."

"I tried setting it, but I'm not sure I did it correctly," River interrupted as she tugged Jayne's arm sharply. Looking back at River, Jayne caught her furtive glare.

"Yeh, well," Jayne said in a different tone as he turned back to Simon, "guess ya could look at it."

River remained behind as Jayne tentatively stepped into the infirmary and allowed Simon to examine him. Seeing this, Mal looked at River and said, "Well then, seein' as that's taken care of, River, I need you on the bridge relievin' 'Nara."

"Yes, Captain," River replied as she turned to head up the stairs.

"Wait! 'Nara's flyin' the boat?" Jayne asked as he swung his head out of Simon's hands.

"Jayne, let the Doctor do his work," Mal ordered. "Plenty of time later to answer your questions."

Mal then looked at Kaylee. "Right now, I got me a Mule that needs to be stowed."

Looking back at River, Mal continued, "And a ship that needs to be hid."

River nodded as she ran up the stairs. Kaylee clutched Simon's shoulder and they exchanged a meaningful glance before she left the infirmary. Mal remained at the door with his eyes on Jayne as Kaylee passed. "Once the Doctor's finished patchin' you up, I'll need you in the cargo bay."

"Be right there," Jayne said trying to keep his head still as Simon gently felt his nose. Mal then turned and strode back into the cargo bay leaving Zoe, Jayne and Simon in the infirmary.

An eerie silence settled over the room. Jayne tried not to look at Simon while the doctor examined him, but that proved difficult since he was literally in his face. Jayne knew that River wanted him to talk with Simon by the way she pushed him into the infirmary. It was likely that Kaylee also had the same idea, but for now, Jayne was at a loss for words. He continued to sit on the counter letting Simon examine his nose. The silence became increasingly weighty until Zoe broke it.

"What's the prognosis Doctor?" she asked.

Simon suddenly snapped his gaze to his hands. Jayne realized that he had been lost in thought. After a moment or two of actual examination, Simon rendered his prognosis.

"It appears River was overly concerned," he said, "She set it perfectly."

Jayne let out a sigh. The three of them seemed to relax now the silence was over.

"I can give you something for the swelling," Simon said more as a question.

It took Jayne a moment, but he finally said, "Yeah, be fine."

Simon moved to his med-kit and removed a vial and a syringe. He withdrew an amount of the liquid from the vial using the syringe and then approached Jayne. Jayne expected Simon to inject him right away, but Simon paused after he had picked up Jayne's arm. Looking at Simon, Jayne saw him staring blankly at his arm.

"This is difficult," Simon said after a pause.

"Why?" Jayne asked confused. "I musta seen ya do it a hundred times by now."

"That's not what I mean," Simon said looking Jayne squarely. They stared at one another for a moment before Simon began again. "What I mean is it's difficult to thank you for what you've done."

Simon let go of Jayne's arm as he continued. "Jayne, as long as I've known you, I haven't seen you do anything if there wasn't any profit in it for you. Yet, today you saved my mei-mei's life and risked your own in doing it. She is the same girl who you would have liked to have thrown off this ship just a few months ago."

Simon backed up a couple of steps and folded his arms while still holding the syringe. "I have to know, Jayne. What makes River so valuable to you now?"

When Simon finished, he was staring intently at Jayne. Jayne turned his head to Zoe to find that she too was looking intently at him. Then Jayne looked to the floor as he mulled over his response.

"I done told Mal already," Jayne said evasively.

"Then it should be easy to tell me," Simon responded leaving Jayne to pause once again.

"Can't," Jayne said finally while shaking his head.

"Why not, Jayne?" Simon asked.

"'Cause ya ain't gonna like what I say. That's why," Jayne shot back.

"I think if what you said was good enough to stop the Captain from shooting you, then I believe I can listen to it," Simon assured.

Jayne's eyes shot to Simon. "If'n you know about that, then why I gotta tell you?"

"I would like to hear it for myself," Simon said calmly. "The Captain wasn't explicit about the details."

Jayne looked once again to the infirmary floor. He cocked his head from side to side as he decided once again what to say. Finally, he made his decision.

"Well," he began slowly looking up at Simon, "like I done told Mal, yer sis' is the best thing that done happened to me. I been with lotsa girls and she's the first one who didn't jus' want me for sex or money or ta kill somebody, ya know. She jus' wanted me for me, said there was good in me. And ain't nobody say that ta me 'cept my Ma in a long time. And, I guess when ya got someone tellin' ya that, ya start thinkin' it. She got me wantin' to do things right now, even if'n I don't know how. And she's got me happy, more than I been since leavin' home, and I don't want that to stop fer nothin'. And I know that it's 'cause I been with her."

Simon waited a moment before asking, "Do you love her?"

"Yeah, Doc, I do," Jayne answered.

"Does River love you?"

"She does, Doc."

"How do you know?"

Surprised by Simon's question, Jayne turned his head as if to avoid the question.

"How do you know?" Simon asked more insistently.

"Well, like I said, I been with lotsa women." Jayne said softly and carefully watching Simon's expression. "I know 'cause River don't hold back like none of 'em."

Simon visibly tensed at the implication and Jayne backed away slightly. Fortunately, Simon was within arm's reach of Zoe who reached up and laid a hand on him.

"You asked," she stated. Simon turned his head to Zoe and after they exchanged looks for a few moments, he sighed and nodded.

Looking back at Jayne, Simon said understandingly, "Kaylee is the same way with me."

Jayne relaxed a bit, although he did have to suppress the temptation to leer at Simon.

"One thing I'd like to know, Jayne," Zoe said, "You said you want to do the right thing. Does the right thing include marrying River?"

Both men's eyes shot to Zoe and then to each other. Jayne then began to slowly nod his head and said, "Yeah, it does."

"Will that be alright by you, Doctor?" Zoe asked turning her head to Simon.

Simon tilted his head and said to Jayne, "You know you don't really need my permission."

"Sure like it," Jayne said. "Mean a lot to yer sis', too."

"Better than them doin' it behind your back," Zoe added. "Trust me."

Simon looked down pensively, then up at Jayne. "Then you have it," he said as he walked over to Jayne and injected him with the syringe. "Thank you for saving River's life. I hope you aren't upset about the Captain and I pretending Zoe was dead."

Jayne smiled. "Naw, ya both got me good. Figure we're even."

"Accounts settled then," Simon said as he backed away and Jayne headed towards the door.

"Not quite," Zoe said as she extended her hand to Jayne. Jayne stopped and when he saw Zoe's outstretched hand, he walked to her. As Jayne took hold of her hand, Zoe said, "Thanks for saving my life, and the life of my child."

"Hey, yer on my crew," Jayne said humbly as he held her hand.

"Go on, then," Zoe ordered. "Captain's probably wonderin' what's keepin' you."

As if on cue, a muffled shout penetrated the infirmary from the cargo bay, "Jayne! What's takin' so gorram long? The ship can't take off 'til we get this Mule stowed!"

"Be right there!" Jayne shouted back. He quickly squeezed Zoe's hand and patted Simon's arm as he rushed out of the infirmary. A large smile was set on his face by the time he reached Kaylee and Mal in the cargo bay.

"I take it by the look on your face that everything's smooth 'tween you and the Doc now," Mal asked as he was tightening some straps on the Mule.

Jayne nodded as he set to work on the straps on the other side. "Yup."

They worked in silence for a while until Jayne ventured a question. "Things smooth 'tween us?"

Mal hooked the final straps together and signaled to Kaylee, who activated the hoist. Jumping off the Mule next to Jayne, Mal watched it ascend. Keeping his eyes on the Mule, Mal said to Jayne, "Ain't accustomed to sayin' it, Jayne, but you did good."

The rare compliment caught Jayne off guard and he stared at Mal. Mal continued to watch the Mule's progress saying, "Back at the tree stand, I didn't think there was no way we could save Zoe and find River, but seein' the both of you wavin' from the back of that train changed my perception."

The Mule reached it stowing position and stopped. Mal then looked at Jayne. "If things keep goin' this way, my days of not takin' you seriously are definitely leavin' their middle."

Mal and Jayne exchanged understanding looks before Mal continued again, "Just gotta ask one thing: the next time you have a better idea, you rough me up or you shake me. I ain't partial to gettin' hit, dong ma?"

"Sure, Mal," Jayne answered with a smile.

Kaylee had walked up to the two men almost unnoticed. "So, Jayne, ya gonna tell us how ya rescued River and was all heroic and stuff?"

"Think we all would like to hear about that," Mal said clapping a hand on Jayne's shoulder. "Maybe you could tell us at chow time."

The mention of food made Jayne realize that he was extremely hungry. "Yeah, good idea. I could go fer a mess a food right now."

"Maybe not," Kaylee said with a grimace.

"Why not, mei-mei?" Mal asked.

"On account that Zoe's laid up in the 'firmary," Kaylee answered. "Simon's cookin' tonight."

Both men exchanged apprehensive looks.