Disclaimer: Not mine at all...
Simon was the one who knocked on the door. It hadn't been discussed, but he could tell by Mal's body language that it had been previously decided. The fact that it had probably been a specific part of the plan that his sister had been privy to, if not responsible for, Simon didn't dwell. Simon did as he was expected because Mal was in mission mode, which meant he was the the one in his element. He was in control and dangerous; Not the sometimes affable Captain or even the tortured ex-officer. Mal was in command. Simon just wasn't sure if he felt more or less secure with that. In this moment, Mal may as well have been a grenade without a pin.
When Warner opened the door, a red stained rag around his bicep, Simon held up his medicine bag, and tried to sound casual, "I was informed that you may be needing some medical attention."
Warner's gaze slid from Simon to Mal who's shotgun was clearly visible just under his long brown coat, "What, no back-up?"
Simon didn't crack a smile, he hadn't seen Warner and River fight - but he had heard about it, "The rest aren't far. And I'm bugged."
Warner nodded again and then stepped aside so the two could enter.
They faced each other then. It was odd, Simon hadn't expected to feel so adversarial. The last time he'd met with Warner it had been under an intense, but certainly exciting - certainly hopeful context. Yet, when Simon looked at him, all he saw were the butchers - the men who had torn into River's brain and stolen her future.
"It's good to see you again Dr. Tam."
Simon took a moment to let the anger slip away before ignoring Warner's extended hand and motioning for the other man to take a seat at the desk, "Yes well, I'd say I'm sorry it's under these circumstances, but I have to admit I had no intention of seeing you again under any circumstances."
Simon didn't introduce Mal, nor acknowledge his presence in any way... they both had very specific jobs here.
Warner looked sharply over as Simon started taking his supplies out of his bag, "There something I don't know about that went wrong with River's escape Doctor? Cuz you seem a mite prickly toward someone who risked his life for you to get her out."
Simon raised his eyebrows just a breath in that condescending way that he usually used to infuriate Mal - he'd learned it from his father and hated it just as much as Mal did. It was, however, very effective, "No, I am very appreciative of your help."
Warner fidgeted in his chair as Simon undressed the wound and threw away the bandages, "It just seems like you don't trust me for some reason and I just want to assure you that my intentions toward your sister are pure."
Simon readied a needle, "That's good to hear Mr. Warner. Now, this is just going to prick a little, I'm numbing the area..."
Warner nodded, barely winced as the needle work was done. Simon worked silently for a minute before asking the next, most important question. The answer to which would determine every other move from here on out, "Mr. Warner, how did you say you found us?"
"There's that paranoia again." He hadn't, of course, told them before but Simon didn't rise to Warner's taunt. Warner slapped a hand on his thigh, presumably in surrender, "Okay. It's common knowledge that the you and your sister were attached to a Firefly Class ship. There aren't a lot of those still out there. Anytime I land on a world, I check the logs - I've still got some serious status you know. I can go into the cortex and check past and present. I got here five hours ago - you can check that much yourself... I asked around and then - ."
"And then?" Simon repeated.
"There she was - walking out of the bar just like I've been dreaming about," Warner smiled at the memory, "Almost didn't recognize her covered in all that grime - it made me mad - made me think of how the Academy had forced her into this life - had forced her to live like some sort of grease monkey. That must be why she attacked - I wasn't mindin' my thoughts and I don't blame her for seeing what she must have saw and going for me."
Simon froze mid stitch, Mal had moved forward - twitched forward almost and Simon threw a desperate glance at the Captain to be still - to let him finish. Warner was still talking, oblivious to everything, apparently, but his own reaction to seeing River again; fighting her again. The passion with which Warner talked about the physical sparring didn't exactly make Simon happy either - but the crackle in the air coming from Mal worried him more at present. If Warner had trained River and River couldn't beat Warner in a fight - Simon didn't believe Mal's shotgun would be much use - more likely it would be turned on them.Mal nodded minutely and seemed to blend back into the background like the sentry he was supposed to be. Simon continued his work in silence, too worried now about the Captain's control to keep probing for information.
"So, River seemed well."
Simon cut the last thread, knotted it several times, then stepped back to stand beside Mal, "Yes, she does seem well, doesn't she?"
Neither man made a move to stop Warner from toppling head first onto the floor. In sync, they took deep breaths and looked at each other, Mal nodded, "Whelp, that was fine work, Doctor, now why don't you get him undressed."
"Don't you have some sort of gadget that can detect homing devices or bugs or whatever we're so afraid of?"
Mal pressed a small button on his com to signal the rest of the team, "You squeamish, Doc?"
Simon frowned, Mal was Mal again - which meant he was confident in Simon's dosage - that was a sign of respect in itself, which Simon acknowledged in his mind even if it didn't change how he was going to argue, "Isn't this sort of thing - you know, battery and kidnapping more your type of thing?"
Mal smiled amiably down at Simon, "Come now, Doc, aren't you trained on working on naked unconscious bodies all the time? I think ethically, it's more appropriate if you disrobe him."
Simon shook his head but moved forward to complete the task, "Are you worried?"
"About River?" The communication between them on this subject could be truly eerie at times. It unsettled Simon in a corner of his mind that he didn't acknowledge.
"Yes."
"Not yet," Mal responded quickly as he grabbed Warner's discarded clothes and threw them out a window. Together they got Warner dressed in the jumpsuit they'd brought and stuffed his body into a laundry bag. Mal stuck his head out of the door just as Zoe and Jayne got out of the utility lift in their borrowed attendant's uniforms. They transferred the cargo and Mal and Simon walked out of the hotel just as they'd entered - empty handed.
Back to the morning after Simon's wedding:
Mal didn't need to unlock his door, River had busted it when she'd forced her way in, but still, he paused before entering. Mal looked at Simon then held up a hand, "Just... wait here... one second."
Simon's brows snapped together, "Wait here!? Aren't we in some danger, isn't there sort of a rush? Is River hurt worse than you've led me to believe, I need to-"
Mal rolled his eyes and snuck his foot in the door, "No - just... you're not in that much danger and - uh -if you were, your sister would be... hollering so... just stay there for a second-"
Mal kept his hand against the door - keeping it firmly closed as he looked around. River was sitting primly at the dressing table wearing one Mal's shirts over her slip. Their eyes met and River smiled, "You're right - Simon jumps to conclusions. But I was so very comfortable and I could have dealt with him."
Mal let out the breath he'd been holding, "I know. And I appreciate the gesture."
Mal dropped his hand to the knob and opened the door to an anxious Simon. Mal stood back as the Doc rushed to his sister - there had always been something special between them that Mal had respected. He carefully closed the door and propped a chair against it, taking his time to let the siblings have a moment of privacy before they got down to business.