"Kaylee", Mal shouted into the engine room "make sure everything is secure and prepped for a quick take off."

"Expecting the need for another speedy get away Captain?" She replied cheerfully as ever.

"With Badger you never know what orbit he's swinging in from so we ought to be prepared for anything and we need you keeping Serenity ready for everything."

"Aww Cap'in you know you can count on me."

"Yeah, Kaylee, you never have given me any reason to fret," a movement out of the corner of his eye caused Mal to turn and watch Jayne pass down the corridor. "Now on the other hand," he muttered, turning to follow the mercenary. Mal wondered what violent inclination Jayne had in mind at the moment. That particular hard sloping angle to Jayne's shoulders generally meant a confrontation, of which Jayne only solved in one way: Violence.

In the kitchen Simon and River we talking softly amongst themselves

"No, no more medications, no more please. They make me all down to left, right to up and blue hazy, anyways I told you I can control it better now."

"River you can't just stop your treatments, without the medications who knows what mental state you would be left in, and all of the progress you have made will be for…"

"Who knows exactly, with all your medical training you still haven't a clue what I have become and you won't listen either."

"But River, you know I only have your best interests in mind, as your doctor I really think…"

"I don't want a doctor Simon, I want my brother. I just want you to be my big brother again, how is that so hard for you to understand. You don't know what is going on inside my head so quit trying to tell me what it is I should do. It's inside my head and I can feel things working, changing, and growing in there so why can't you just listen for a change?"

"River you know I would never force you to do something against your will, you have already been subjected to more than enough of that already. But I am your big brother, even when I'm your doctor and nothing can change that. Nothing. Ever."

Forehead to forehead, the two siblings could never be mistaken as anything besides utterly devoted to each other. Few people could observe that scene and not be touched by the exchange. In turn, few people would be willing to intrude on that very personal and intimate moment between brother and sister. Jayne Cobb was one of those few people. Barging into the kitchen and yanking a chair back from the table, Jayne grabbed Simon by the back of his collar. Flinging the doctor heedlessly into the chair, "Now doc, I don't want you tellin' me how to do my job, cuz I know you couldn't last till' lunch if you dared strap on my holsters, but I know ruttin' well that that sister of yours is a something you be needin' seeing to. She's plum loonier than a heat addled penguin and if you can't keep her still and quiet well then I can guarantee …"

"Jayne, I wouldn't be makin a point of threatening sweet little girls, especially one which has already laid you as well as dozens of Reavers out cold. She is crew and unless you want to revisit that conversation we had after Ariel just let me know. Seeing as I have a rather busy schedule, I would want to fit that discussion in so I can get an application circulating for your soon-to-be-open position as rapidly as possible."

"Mal that is unfair, you damn well saw what that girl pulled back there and if you…"

"Jayne get yourself out of my sight and help Zoe finish prepping. We have Badger to meet about that possible job and I expect you to be ready for the task."

"Goramn pile of shiong mao niao, ain't worth wastin' my time on, stinkin…" he muttered trudging out the door, but not before shooting another venomous look backwards towards River. "You watch yourself girl, you right better be scared."

"No, but you should be." She retorted with another one of her characteristically eerie predictions.

"OUT!" shouted Mal as Jayne turned to escape the skull penetrating stare of River and his passage through the ship was marked by a string of Chinese verbs all linked into an impressive suggestion of nearly physical impossibilities and improbable partnerships in which the individuals in the kitchen should partake in.

"Captain Reynolds, my apologizes for any inconvenience and concern that my sister has caused but…"

"Doc, just hear me out, we all love your sis dearly and she really has pitched in to pull her weight with us short some crew, but she still is a tad… unstable at times."

"I am going to ignore that last statement you made regarding my sister only because I know how hard these past few months have been on you, but it is important that you understand just how critically abused River has been. You cannot seriously expect her to instantly turn into a sweet little pigtailed and innocent girl now just because she doesn't have that atrocious secret of Miranda boring through her brain. The Alliance made her what she is and there is no changing that."

"I reckon you are right about that Doctor but I can't be expected to let her endanger my ship and the crew with another antic like todays. I need promises that River will remain the River we all adore and not go all Alliance wacky on us or all metaphysically suicidal."

"Captain Reynolds, there is no way one can definitively predict what course her condition…"

"You have my assurances that you will have no undue disorder or turmoil from me." River interrupted, starring at Mal with deep genuine eyes.

"Aw hell, I always have had a soft spot for crazy teenage weapons of mass destruction." Mal smiled, ruffling Rivers head affectionately. "I will hold you to that promise my little albatross, now you go ape shit homicidal towards me or crew, well 'cept maybe Jayne seeing as he probably had it commin' to him, and end up killing me mark my words, I will make you regret it little one."

"I'm sure you would Captain." River beamed at Mal and twirled out of the kitchen with feet dancing and hair spinning as she hummed a happy tune.

"Doctor, I want you and your sister to keep to the ship while we are out dealing with Badger. I also want you on the ready should any medical situations arise. See to it that your sister keeps herself out of the way. I've asked Inara to keep an eye on River while we go about business and make sure nobody catches wind of you two on board. While I doubt the Alliance has any questions as to your two's whereabouts and the company you keep, I don't need Badger knowing anymore about my crew than he does already."

"I agree completely Captain Reynolds, just call ahead on the comlink, I will be ready for whatever medical treatment you require."

"Well thanks for the boost of confidence Doc."

"Not that I am hoping for anything to happen, I'm just basing it on past precedents which generally involves some sort of trauma and pain as well as my services"

"Yeah, well that is just one of the non-monetary perks of my job." He said with a mercurial smirk coming to his face. "You get to be worked on by cute doctors all the time."

Simon sighed and shook his head bewilderedly as Mal left, laughing wickedly, "That man has the damndest sense of humor."