Mal hadn't slept for days. He still went about his normal Captain duties and ate where he could and when he felt hungry, which to be honest wasn't often. But at the end of another busy day, he would always find himself drawn to the infirmary and the sleeping woman laying against the pale covers, her skin gaunt and her eyes dark as she struggled to survive. Simon had induced her into a coma so that she could rest unhindered and to help her body heal. Her heartbeat had been thready at first and for the first few days Malcolm hadn't left her side. But he had a duty to his ship and the rest of his crew so once her heartbeat had grown steady and stronger, he left her sleeping, only to return at night when the day's work was done.
On this particular occasion when he entered the infirmary, the Doc was already present, checking her vitals and writing a few things against her chart. Even though it was weird and he didn't have that many patients, he still insisted on keeping his medical records up to date.
"Captain." Simon greeted warmly, knowing this was a tough time for him. Though his Captain would never admit it to him, Simon knew somehow that things were different between Mal and Kali. Himself and Kaylee had been the same.
"How's she doin'?" Mal merely queried in response and Simon eyed him levelly.
"Better today. Heartbeat and vitals are strong, no sign of infection. She should wake up soon." Simon explained simply and Mal nodded.
"If you like, I've got some tidying up to do in here so if you wanna get some sleep or something, I'll call you when she wakes up." Simon offered and he was about to decline but merely rubbed his face tiredly and nodded. He was far too sleepy to argue. Mal left the infirmary and entered his bunk, plonking down onto his stomach on the bed before falling asleep.
It seemed like mere minutes before someone was shaking his shoulder gently, rousing him from his slumber.
"Sir." Zoe's voice echoed through his sleep clouded brain as he blinked, trying to wake up.
"Sir, she's awake." She tried again and this time Mal's head popped up from the bed and he shifted into a sitting position, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"How long was I asleep?" Mal mumbled, running a hand through his messy brown hair before getting to his feet.
"About twenty minutes, sir." Zoe responded.
"Wonderful, I feel real well rested after that here catnap." Mal retorted sarcastically, following his first officer out of his bunk and toward the infirmary. As they grew closer though, they could hear quite a hefty commotion going on and raised voices ranting angrily back and forth. They turned the corner and entered just in time to witness Jade yelling at the good doctor, an angry scowl on her face and seated upright in bed.
"Would ya quit pokin' me with your gorram equipment, I feel fine!" Though as she tried aimlessly to bat away at Simon's hands, she still seemed rather weak. If Jade were at full strength, she would have knocked him to the ground. Her face was still pale and pasty and she had dark rings beneath her eyes but otherwise she seemed very much back to her old self. A gigantic pain in the butt with a mouth like a garbage heap.
"Now, now kids, do I gotta separate you two?" Mal stated and both Jade and Simon turned and glared at him.
"Would you please talk some sense into her. I'm only making sure nothing gets infected so she doesn't die!" Simon stated, gesturing to Mal who had a small amused smirk on his face as he watched the exchange before him.
"I ain't gonna die! I didn't die when I had a pool of blood in my lap so I sure as hell ain't gonna die now!" Jade protested loudly and Simon sighed in irritation and stuck a hypo needle in her neck before she could object.
"Gorramit Simon Tam! What the hell!" Jade yelled angrily, rubbing her neck and scowling up at Simon who only smiled, obviously pleased with himself.
"Jade." Mal said, his tone warning as she opened her mouth to release another torrent of foul language at her doctor. Jade turned and looked at him before crossing her arms over her chest and muttering Chinese curses beneath her breath.
"Can I go now?" Jade finally asked, letting out an irritated sigh and refusing to look at either Simon or Mal.
"Missy, you ain't goin' no where til you've fully recovered. If you remember correctly, that tah mah duh Graegarn nearly cut you from nose to navel." Mal stated sternly.
"Ching-wah tsao duh liou mahng! Rutting niou fun!" Jade swore colourfully, whipping back the blankets from her body before slipping over the side of the bed.
"Whatya think you're doin', gorram woman!" Mal queried angrily, the medical scrubs she wore looking utterly ridiculous as she crossed her arms and stared him down.
"I'm gettin' out of this gorram infirmary!" Jade retorted and tried to pass him.
"You ain't goin' no where, crazy!" Mal said, his eyes dark and angry as they both stared at each other for several minutes in silence.
"Mind givin' us a moment alone?" Mal finally spoke up, turning toward Zoe who had stayed in the corner of the room and watched the entire confrontation in amusement and Simon who was glaring at Jade, still annoyed by her irresponsible behaviour. They both nodded soundlessly and exited the room, glad to be away from such an awkward moment.
"Wanna tell me what the gorram hell this is all about?" Mal asked, his voice low and annoyed as he continued to stare down at the woman before him. Jade put her hands on her hips and let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm just tired, Mal. My damn stitches hurt and this bed is a gorram pile of rotting cow dung!" Jade whinged tiredly, pressing a hand against her brow to steady the dizziness in her head.
"And I just..." Jade began, staring up into his face before an expression of hurt crossed her eyes then disappeared before she turned away from him.
"Jade, look at me." Mal said quietly, his voice softer than its usual tone. Jade turned back to stare into his eyes and there he saw tears and it made his gut tie into sharp knots. Mal felt her grab for his arm, her face suddenly pale.
"Mal." Jade managed to get out weakly before she had crumpled into a heap in his arms.
"Doc, get in here!" Mal hollered, cradling the frail unconscious woman against him protectively before Simon raced into the room followed by Zoe, both of them helping Mal lift Jade back onto the bed before checking her heart rate.
"Heart beat is thready. She's unresponsive. Give me a pulmonary stimulator and a cardiac infuser." Simon ordered quickly and both Mal and Zoe raced to grab the vials he needed, loading the hypo-gun before handing it back to the doctor. He injected it quickly, checking her vitals again before cursing under his breath.
"No change. Ready the defibrillator and charge to 200." Simon commanded, cutting open the front of her shirt before placing a resuscitation mask over her mouth.
"Cap'n, I need you to help me get her breathing. When I say, I need five consecutive compression on the mask." Simon stated simply and Mal nodded, his face pale and his eyes concerned but he did as he was asked. The Doctor began cardio pulmonary resuscitation before gesturing to Mal, "Gimme five."
Mal pressed against the mask steadily, once, twice, three times, four times and a final time before Simon pressed down on her chest again.
"I've got a heart beat! Give me one quart of adrenaline and some clean bandages." He cried out in relief, lifting her shirt to remove the blood soaked bandages before checking on her stitches. He redressed her wounds and injected the adrenaline, before washing his hands then running them over his face tiredly.
"Why does she insist on making my life a living hell?" Simon muttered, both infuriated and concerned by the unconscious woman in the bed beside him.
"She has no regard for her own personal wellbeing." He continued, pacing the room.
"I think she's just stubborn, Doc. Very, very stubborn." Zoe replied, the smallest of smirks on her face. Simon let out a snort and smiled also, trying to see the funny side of the situation.
"I'll make sure to keep her doped up until she's fully recovered. A couple of weeks bed rest and she'll be back on the job." Simon reassured them but he knew it was more reassurance for Mal than anyone else. Mal merely continued to stare at the pale woman on the bed, his hand against his mouth and deep in thought.
"Sir?" Zoe tried to get his attention.
"I'll be on the bridge." He muttered softly before leaving the room.