A Note From Me:

So, work has been a nightmare these past few months and a few weeks ago I took a much needed week long vacation in beautiful Vancouver with some friends (remember: what happens in Canada stays in Canada). So I apologize for the wait.

Also, this is kind of short, but I figure any update is a good thing at this point! Enjoy

"Simon!" Mal's voice echoed loudly as he stepped quickly into Serenity's cavernous cargo bay, not bothering to glance behind him at the large group hurrying in his wake. The man in question came out of the infirmary, wiping his hands on his pants in anticipation. Kaylee and Jayne appeared near them suddenly, though Mal didn't see from where, and he watched as the mechanic's eyes widened as they traveled first over himself and the woman in his arms to the new arrivals at his back.

"No trouble here?" The Captain heard Zoe speak from behind him and for the first time he noticed that indeed the rest of Serenity's crew seemed unaffected by the fray.

"Nope," Jayne replied with a pronounced pout. "Guess everything's been taken care of already..."

"He was cocky," Mal said, more to himself than the others, as he stepped past Jayne and headed for the infirmary, trusting that Simon was following.

"Zoe..."

"On it Sir." The first mate turned her attention to the young women and old man they had liberated.

The captain left Zoe and the others to deal with their new guests as he stepped through the infirmary doors. Stopping near the examination table, Mal turned back to Simon as the doors clicked shut, as though unsure of what to do next.

The Doctor glanced at Mal briefly, eyes wide, before his professional mask slipped back into place and he began opening and closing drawers. "Just put her down as carefully as you can," Simon spoke, his voice soft as he pulled a few items out of one of the drawers. "And slip her arms out of your coat."

Mal did as he asked, ignoring the pain that had begun coursing through his shoulder where the bullet had entered earlier. Pulling the coat gently from each of Josephine's arms, Mal let it fall lifelessly around her, the fabric of the arms swaying heavily where they hung over the table's edge.

"Wode ma..."

Mal jumped slightly at Simon's voice, surprised that he hadn't noticed the young doctor step up next to him. He followed Simon's gaze to the unconscious woman that lay below them, resisting the urge to wrap his coat back around her frail form. He knew she wouldn't want this. The very thought of some man, even a doctor, being privy to her innermost pains and fears would be enough to color her cheeks. Mal watched as Simon's eyes traveled over the ruined flesh of her thighs that he himself had only seen a few days prior, almost taking comfort in the drying blood that covered her like a second skin. Almost.

Feeling the soft pull that could only mean Serenity was leaving the moons atmosphere, Mal cleared his throat in haste, the thought of where Zoe and River had them going slipping in and out of his head briefly.

Simon had the decency to look embarrassed as he tore his eyes away from Josephine and trained them on the Captain.

"Right." Snapping his gloves over his hands easily, Simon's demeanor became professional in an instant as he began poking and prodding Josephine gently. He mumbled to himself as he moved around her and Mal stepped back only a bit as he passed, unwilling to get too far away lest Josephine open her eyes or speak.

After what seemed like hours, but was probably only minutes, of Simon's incoherent mumbling, Mal cleared his throat, once again getting the young doctor's attention.

Anticipating the Captain's questions, Simon spoke quickly. "It could have been worse," he began, locking his eyes with Mal's. "Much worse... It seems to be mostly surface abrasions and bruises. She's lost a lot of blood and there may be some internal bleeding. Nothing I can't handle."

"But?"

Simon let his hand hover over Josephine's broken leg. "This worries me." He pointed to the exposed bone as he glanced back down. "It's broken multiple times, and from the looks of things, its been like this for awhile. Most likely, this was the first thing Rawley did to her..." Simon's voice trailed off as he bent to examine it closer.

"The point Simon, I know it's there somewhere..." Mal let the impatience drip freely from his voice.

Simon sighed deeply, clearly searching for the right words. "My point is it's begun to heal like this, at the wrong angle." The Doctor cringed as Mal's eyes widened, but pressed on, lowering his eyes as he did. "If we don't break it again before I set it... she won't be able to walk." Simon watched as his words sunk in, waiting silently for Mal to lash out suddenly.

Mal paused a moment, looking back and forth between the Doctor and Jo. "What are you waiting for?" The Captain's voice was soft as he regarded Simon.

Nodding swiftly, Simon walked towards the counter and came back with a small syringe. He pressed the needle into the flesh of Josephine's neck gently but paused before breaking the skin.

He looked hesitantly up at Mal before speaking. "Even with this," Simon gestured towards the syringe, "she'll still feel it... It's going to hurt." His voice was almost apologetic as he waited for Mal to respond.

"Do it."

"Mal..."

"Simon!"

"Fine..." Simon pressed the plunger with his thumb, emptying the syringe's contents before setting it back on the counter. He went to stand near her damaged leg again, placing his hands on it gingerly, before looking at Mal again.

"Someone should hold her down... I can get Zoe or Jayne..."

"I'll do it."

Simon didn't bother trying to argue with the Captain again, but instead waited for Mal to place his large hands around each of her arms, pressing her into the table top as softly as he could.

"Ready?"

"Stop stalling Simon," Mal grunted, "get it over with."

Mal felt Simon lift Jo's leg off the table and felt a slow tremble under his hands as he held her down. He could feel the Doctor hesitating behind him, and Mal began to turn and ask Simon if he was going to be able to do this when he felt Jo's body jerk, a noise like a shotgun blast coming from behind him. He only had a moment to be startled, however, before he felt Josephine's tiny frame push back against him. Her eyes flew open as her arms tried desperately to flail about and her upper body rose up off the table. The smallest of sobs escaped her mouth and Mal had to rest his arm across her chest, leaning sharply into her, to keep her still.

Their eyes finally met and he saw surprise flicker through the pain. She had obviously been expecting Bryce Rawley to be the cause of her anguish. As soon as the surprise came it was gone, only to be followed by fear and, Mal felt his heart jerk, disgust.

He forced his gaze away, not wanting to see anymore in her telling eyes, and glanced behind him. Simon had been busy, strapping some sort of complicated looking splint against her leg. He finished up quickly and Mal watched him grab another syringe from the counter and push it into her neck.

Josephine's eyes fluttered shut again, even as her body tried to protest and keep fighting. Mal waited for her to become completely still again, the only sign of life the soft rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, before releasing his grip on her arms.

Mal heard water begin to run but stayed where he was until he felt a hand grasp his injured shoulder. He winced slightly as he heard Simon speak. "You should wash your hands."

Raising his hands in front of him, the Captain was somewhat shocked to see Josephine's blood on him. He turned around to see that Simon had taken off his gloves and washed his own hands, but their were still red splotches on the Doctor's crisp shirt where he had obviously pressed her leg against him.

Mal allowed himself to be led, almost like a child, towards the sink in the corner. After he had scrubbed the offending blood off his hands, he let himself be forced into a chair and Simon began to explore the bullet wound in his shoulder.

Mal flinched slightly at Simon's probing hands and the Doctor looked down at him. "Do you need something?"

"It's a mite numb," he answered absently. "I'll be fine just get the bullet out." Mal let his eyes wonder back to where Josephine lay a few feet away as Simon nodded.

The Doctor worked quickly, prying the bullet from Mal's flesh and bandaging the area, as the Captain continued to stare at the young woman. Simon pulled back when he was done, regarding Mal silently for a moment.

"She'll be out for awhile... you should try to get some sleep."

"But what about..." Mal let his voice trail off as he turned back to Simon.

"I'll take care of the rest. You're no good to us exhausted Captain."

Mal continued to sit silently, a stubborn curl to his lip.

"There is nothing you can do for her now," Simon said quietly. "You need to let me work."

For a moment, Mal looked as though he were going to argue with the Doctor, but he could feel the fatigue setting in and he reluctantly stood up.

Before Simon could usher him out of the infirmary, Mal approached the young woman cautiously, gently placing a hand on her forehead, the one place the blood seemed to have missed. He leaned over her pressing his lips lightly against her temple and inhaling sharply. The acrid smell of blood and baser things greeted him but underneath all of that was an aroma that was distinctly Josephine. It was sweet and flowery, mixed with the salt of her skin and it was what he remembered when she had woken up next to him that morning that seemed longer ago than it really was.

Mal righted himself and abruptly turned on his heels and headed for the doors. He hesitated briefly, one hand resting on the latch.

"Call me when she wakes up." He slid the doors open quickly and stepped through before closing them behind him.

Mal's back was too the cargo bay as he slowly rested his head against the infirmary doors and took a ragged breath. He stood there a moment, silently willing himself to be calm before he felt the eyes on his back. Turning around reluctantly, Mal was surprised to find that the eyes of eight very frightened women and one very tried looking old man stared back at him. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw River sitting with one that looked particularly young, a nasty scar stretching down the side of her face.

"Sir?"

Mal turned, startled to find Zoe and Kaylee standing closely to his right. "Simon thinks she'll be alright," he answered her question, voice low. "What's going on here?" Mal nodded towards the group in the cargo bay. They all had blankets and there was some food scattered nearby.

"We tried to put them in the passenger dorms," the first mate began, "but they wouldn't all fit in one and they refuse to be separated. They've opted to sleep down here."

"That can't be comfortable..."

Zoe shrugged as she looked out over their guests, Mal following her gaze.

As if it dawned on him suddenly, Mal turned back to Zoe. "Gorramit Zoe where are we goin'? What are we gonna do with them. We ain't got the resources to take care of ourselves, let alone them."

"Actually Sir, Kaylee and I been meaning to talk to you about that." She motioned for Kaylee to continue.

The young mechanic stared up at Mal uncomfortably before speaking. "Now before you go gettin' angry, keep in mind this wasn't exactly my idea... though I think it's a good one nonetheless." Kaylee paused and Mal motioned impatiently for her to continue. "Inara's already offered to take them in. She says they got plenty of space for them and counselors and all..."

Mal processed Kaylee's words slowly, one hand rubbing his forehead, and as much as he was trying not to, he was already seeing the wisdom behind her suggestion.

"So we're going...?"

"To the Companion Training House... Inara's expecting us," Kaylee answered meekly.

Mal felt something to his left and he turned to find River smiling up at him.

"We're already in route," the young pilot spoke, her eyes twinkling mischievously.