A/N: Hmm. Morning sickness isn't so good on fanfiction.

Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me.

One moment they were walking side by side - he and River; a habit they'd taken to Mal had only recently noticed - she'd brushed past him like a cold wind leaving the space beside him

Mal cursed - he'd thought he'd seen a shadow hovering across the way and it was that shadow River had gone after like a hellfire. Mal turned in a circle, trying to figure which direction they'd ended up in - aware that the rest of the crew were in similar postures. Jayne started moving first, a growl deep in his throat, "I got her."

Mal motioned for Zoe to stay with the others- exchanging just the barest of looks with Simon before following his Merc.

As silently as he could Mal moved up alongside Jayne. The mercenary didn't look at him, just growled softly, "Moonbrain at ten o'clock. Quite a tussle... she don't usually let it last this long."

Mal knew. River could outfight and out maneuver anyone in the verse. He swallowed hard, a buzzing sort of dread settling in his blood. Mal saw them now, struggling on a large courtyard - just a shadowed pairing against the night. He motioned to Jayne to flank them while Mal moved in.

In the starlight, with the dew heavy dust the combatants were kicking up, Mal couldn't quite take stock of the situation until he was very close.

Mal had never seen River pinned before - on her knees, in the dirt... he didn't like it- not even a little bit, "Get your hands off my pilot before I put a bullet in your head." Mal aimed his gun steadily.

"I mean her no harm." The man said quickly, keeping his hold on River, "I was defending myself."

"Who are you?"

"Name's Warner. Matthew Warner. I'm a friend." He spoke clearly, with a sort of respect for the weapon trained on him, "I was a friend of River's..from the Academy."

Mal cocked the gun, "You got real close to her while you were cutting into her brain, did you?"

Warner released River, which was a mixed blessing in Mal's mind... shooting him would have felt good. "No! I wasn't a part of that. I was her trainer. I was her friend. River? Tell them -" He whispered something toward River and Mal shot a hole through the man's jacket. Warner clutched at his arm, but didn't cry out - which didn't impress Mal who felt sure he'd just grazed the muscle.

"We don't like secrets around here Warner. You try that again and the next bullet spills a lot more blood. River, come away from him."

Jayne emerged from the shadows behind them and Warner started to look anxious. "River might not remember - she - they hurt her - but Dr. Tam - where's her brother? He'll remember. I helped break her out. He'll remember."

Mal wasn't paying so much attention to what the man was saying as how River was responding. She'd gotten to her feet with all her normal grace and was now facing Warner; Searching his face and, Mal assumed, his thoughts. Mal took a step closer and grabbed for her wrist, pulling her back beside him, "Whether he does or not, don't really matter. Go about your business, leave us be."

Warner hesitated, looked back at Jayne, then to Mal, "You don't understand - I've been looking for her for... so long. I've been hoping to track your ship, but hadn't gotten the right information yet. This is just the purest of luck-" Warner swallowed hard when Mal made an angry noise with his throat, "I've wanted to see her again, make sure she's okay."

Mal still had a hand on River's wrist, didn't want to let go because he had the craziest feeling she might just go straight back to Warner. Mal wasn't in the mood for this, "She's peachy - as you can see. Now move along-"

"I remember him." River's voice, soft and simple and tender, seemed to split the night sky for Mal.

His trigger finger itched again as Warner's face lit up, "That don't prove nothing River."

"Please, Captain."

Mal sighed and smiled crookedly at Warner, "Excuse us for one second. Jayne, maim him if he acts up."

"Aye, aye, Captain." Jayne said pleasantly.

Mal pulled River aside and whispered fiercely, "What in the hell is going on here? Why did you attack him if you're so keen to have tea with him now?"

River's eyes seemed unable to keep from sliding back to Warner, "It was reaction. I was being cautious."

"Cautious I like. This guy - I do not."

River met Mal's gaze unwavering, "I can do this."

Mal shook his head in frustration then turned back to Warner, "Where can we reach you?"

Warner reached for his wallet then thought better of it as Jayne cocked his gun, Warner swallowed, "I'm staying at the Starlight Inn - I'm in the register - uh - room - 5778."

Mal nodded, "We'll be in touch. Jayne!" Mal motioned for Jayne to join them.

"River!" Warner called out, "You look... good - amazing."

River pulled back from Mal who was dragging her alongside him, "Captain said we'll be in touch."

Mal rolled his eyes, "River, stop talking. Warner you move before Jayne here counts to a hundred and you'll regret it." Jayne looked worried and Mal whispered, "You don't actually have to count Jayne."

River kept looking over her shoulder, "I do remember him."

"I heard you."

River stopped in her tracks, "Did you?"

Mal forced himself to a stop beside her, looked down into her eyes and wondered fleetingly what she could really see of him, "Yes, River. I did."

One year ago, dawn after Simon's wedding:

According to River, Mal had a window - a short opportunity to catch the newlyweds clothed. Still... Mal rubbed the stubble on his chin before he knocked on the door. It wasn't that he didn't trust her. It was just that he worried she might not be at the top of her game - hurting for rest. Just like him. Turned out there had been quite a lot that this trigger had unlocked in her mind; And the more she revealed the heavier the weight on Mal's.

Mal rolled his shoulders once and knocked on the door. He should have prepared a speech - but as it was, he wouldn't have needed it. Simon took one look at Mal's face and stepped back into the room. Mal cleared his throat, remembering River wasn't the only genius in the family. Mal stood off to the side in the hall, letting Simon make whatever excuses or promises he needed to make.

When Simon joined him, he had his medicine bag with him. He closed the door and simply asked, "River?"

Mal nodded, "She's okay."

"What happened?"

Mal had his hand on the butt of his gun as they walked, the only sign that he was paying very close attention to his surroundings, "The simple answer is that she cut herself."

Simon nodded acceptance, "And the long answer is going to involve how my parents could care so very little about their own children."

Mal shook his head, "Don't jump to conclusions, Doc."

Simon stopped in his tracks, bent at the waist, his voice thick and tortured, "I didn't know Kaylee had done it - if I'd known I swear to you I wouldn't have let it happen ."

Mal grabbed his arm, anxiously looking around them, "Come on Doc, this isn't the time."

Simon nodded dully but didn't move, "I don't think River is normal."

Mal cocked an eyebrow, "Doc, I don't know where you've been the last couple of years but that there is old news -"

Simon straightened, "I think she was part of an experiment before she was born. I think it was because of me."

Mal pulled on Simon's arm again, "Doc, you can beat yourself up all you want in a minute - somewhere it ain't likely you're going to get me killed doin' it."

Simon moved then, sluggishly, "Where is she?"

Mal didn't answer, simply led the way back to his room.