Simon was fuming. He was bench-pressing weights in the hangar with Jayne who was spotting him.
"Why your sudden interest in lifting, doc?" Jayne asked, clueless to Simon's anger.
"What would you think if someone just asked you if they could marry your sister?" Simon said, lifting the bar back into its spot and sitting up.
"Capt'n asked you about River?" Jayne asked, still clueless.
"Yes, this morning. It's just I can't let her go." Simon looking up at the mercenary who was leaning against the stairs.
"You have to let her go sometime. And you would be a better person than the Capt'n? I can't think of any other better person. He's a good person; better than I am. Also, they've been together for two years." Jayne said sympathetically.
Simon was shocked, "That's the nicest thing you've ever said before." He got up and ran up the stairs.
"Yeah, well I have good advice when it comes to some things." Jayne said at the retreating doctor.
Simon went immediately to the bridge, finding Mal there alone. At the sounds of footsteps, Mal had turned around.
"Have you given any consideration to what I asked earlier?" Mal asked with a slight ease in his voice.
"Yes, Jayne gave me some brilliant insight." Simon said.
Mal looked at him quizzingly, "Jayne? Brilliant insight? Are you sure we're talking about the same jackass?"
"Yes."
"Who knew that could happen." Mal didn't seem to remember what they were talking about earlier.
"No. More like you can ask River to marry you." Simon said with a growing smile.
Mal was now back on track. "Thank you Simon. I really appreciate it. We can be brothers-in-law if she says yes."
"Well you can ask now before I let go of Jayne's insight." Simon joked.
"Thanks." Mal gave Simon a huge and uncharacteristic hug and ran off.
