Serenity was in the air, with no specific destination and most of its people asleep. But not Mal. It had been a long and eventful day and he couldn't sleep. Instead, he replayed the event over and over in his head. It was a miracle no one was dead, but someday it would happen. They weren't very lucky people. Zoe was barely recovering from her injuries and was in no condition to fight. At least she was walking. Mal had many things to say about the Aberdeen doctor who patched her up, but the man knew his stuff. Problem was, they wouldn't always be near enough from Aberdeen when shit hit the fan. Like he said, they had some bad luck, especially recently. They lived in the underworld, after all. Their rivals, their clients, everyone would learn Zoe was out of the game before long and someone would try to take advantage of that. Mal knew he was ten times less intimidating without Zoe's expressionless and bored face behind him. People expected her to hurt them, so they didn't stab them in the back.
Mal wouldn't find sleep, but staring at the ceiling wouldn't solve their problems. He got up, noticed the cold in the air, so he wrapped himself in his blanket, and, as silently as possible, climbed the ladder, lifted the metal door to his room, and went to sit in the cockpit. At least the view was beautiful from here. Mal snuggled as comfortably as possible into the pilot's chair and lost himself in contemplation of the black sky. He didn't even realize he was falling asleep.
Some noise in the kitchen made him jump. He felt stiff. He stood, stretched, and cracked a few bones. Damn, that hurt. Mal didn't feel old, but he was definitely past the age of sleeping on a chair.
He heard the noise again. Someone was combing the kitchen. Still wrapped in his blanket, Mal walked towards it, watching for the hour as he passed. Two hours until the crew's usual waking time. He wasn't the only one with an insomnia problem. Mal found Book, busing himself cooking. It had been weeks since they had fresh produce on the table, but it smelled rather nice in the pot. The shepherd turned around, hearing his shoes on the floor, and smiled peacefully at him. Mal didn't miss the dark circles under his eyes when Book handed him his ladle. Mal tasted the mixture. It was hot and spicy.
"Not our usual breakfast."
He didn't mention the insomnia, and neither did Book. The shepherd raised an eyebrow and added some spices.
"While I appreciate your hospitality, sometimes I miss our monastery's garden terribly. I'd pay a lot for fresh eggs."
"Been a while since I had some on my plate. But we'd need better luck to buy some."
"Yes... Jayne told us you almost lost your life today, in addition to your cargo."
"Can't tell he's exaggerating, shepherd," Mal frowned. "Wish I could."
"You need more people down there with you when you're negotiating your business. Maybe next time I could add some presence? A man of the church can calm spirits when a gun can't."
Mal could see it cost Book to propose that. Perhaps that was why he couldn't sleep tonight.
"Respectfully, shepherd, I doubt you'll be of much help if things go out of hand. It's real nice of you, but we'll manage."
"I know how to shoot," Book admitted with some reluctance.
"But you'd prefer not to, or you'd have mentioned it earlier. Like I said, I appreciate the offer, but we'll make do. Besides, Zoe's wounds are healing. She'll have my back again soon. Or soon-ish. And I may have stopped believin in God, but that doesn't mean I'd want you to renounce your vows for us."
Book nodded silently, part relieved and part regretful. An awkward silence fell between them. Mal grabbed a spoon to taste the mixture again, nodded at the seasoning, and decided he should leave. Before he reached the door, Book's voice made him turn around.
"Thank you for that kindness, Captain. I hope you find faith again, one day."
Mal tapped the wall of the kitchen.
"My faith is in that, shepherd, in a ship that can make us fly. That's all I need."
Book didn't agree, but he didn't protest or try to convince Mal. Fleeing the conversation, Mal returned to the cockpit. The conversation had woken him up, and it would be stupid to return to his room for two hours of rest. Better to look at the stars for a little more.
Time went slowly in the cockpit, but Mal's mind wandered easily. He was half-thinking about their next destination and where to find a job that wouldn't end with some back-stabbing when an insisting beeping brought him back to the present moment. Someone was trying to contact them. Praying it was a customer, preferably one that brought enough money to help them fly for once, Mal answered the comm.
"Captain Reynolds? Am I speaking to Serenity?"
Mal didn't recognize the voice. It was male and difficult to understand. Mal tried to switch to visual, but the communication must come from some faraway moon or planet because he only saw snow.
"This is Serenity and I'm Captain Reynolds. Who's asking?"
He heard a sigh of relief and a loud crackle, but nothing more than static. Mal fiddled with a few buttons to improve the communication quality until the sound was okay. The man was speaking, but Mal interrupted him.
"Start from the beginning again. I couldn't hear you. Who are you?"
"We crossed paths a few months ago," the man said in a muffled voice. Must be disguising his voice, or was taking care of not being heard. Maybe both. "I did you and two friends of yours a favor. I hope her accident had no lasting consequences?"
It only took Mal half a second to realize who he was talking to.
"You're the do..."
"No names and no places, please," his interlocutor cut him frantically. "Someone could listen."
Mal almost laughed to his face. Alliance didn't care about people like them. It made better use of its time than listening to every conversation. Only some central planets' kid like Simon could think the Alliance knew and could do anything, but Mal would not waste his time explaining that. He had better things to do.
"I've saved your friend's life, you know that?" Simon said. "You owe me a favor. You said so yourself. I need transport to.. anywhere else, really. I would need your people to do that for me, unless you know of someone competent and discreet enough in my area. Can you do that for me?"
Mal hated the arrogance in his voice. This privileged yú chun expected Mal to come trotting and doing whatever he wanted. Hell no. Mal almost hung up on him.
"Listen to me, doc, I owe you a favor, okay, but that doesn't give you the right to talk to me like you worth better than I do, because if I were you I wouldn't brag about saving Zoe, 'cause we had to force you to. You can ask me a favor, but I decide if and how I'll return it. I ain't your dog. Dong ma?"
"I'll pay!"
The urgency in his voice stopped Mal in his tracks.
"I'll pay," the young man repeated more quietly. He was afraid someone could hear him. "I still have some money left. Just... take me out of here and drop me off wherever you want."
"And where are you?"
"Paquin."
Paquin. An industrial planet, full of interesting people, most of them who had little concern for the law. It would be pretty easy to find work there. Good too. They hadn't got a job for now, and Serenity would need fuel soon. Mal looked at his maps of the 'verse. They were in transit between Jubilee and Jiangyin. Paquin wasn't that far away, and it wasn't a bad destination. Better than some, worse than others.
"I'm listening."
Ten hours later, standing behind his pilot, Mal watched Paquin's main landmass approach at high speed.
"I still don't understand why we're helping this guy," Wash said for the thousandth time.
"I don't know, maybe because we owe him your wife's life."
Mal was tired of having the same argument with Wash, Kaylee, and Jayne. Mostly because he wasn't convinced that they should help him. It looked dangerous, but it was true the fancy doctor had saved Zoe. And even after Mal threatened to kill him, he was the one who insisted on staying on board until she woke up to ensure there would be no complications. He had done what they asked of him and some more. It was well worth taking him from one planet to another. Besides, Mal wouldn't be sorry to have a doctor on hand for a few weeks. Things could turn back quickly, as they had learned. Also, he was curious. Doc was running from something and he wondered what it was, debt, some mafia, his family, or an ex-wife. As long as it wasn't the Alliance, they were good. So far, Serenity and her crew had remained mostly under the radar, and Mal wanted to continue it that way. But who was he kidding? He probably was in trouble with the Alliance.
"When he's on board, he better not to put his rich kid's face before my eyes or I'll punch him. The man didn't save Zoe. He just saved his skin."
"Didn't seem he had much attachment to his skin."
"Don't care, Mal. He would have let her die."
"I know. I was here. You've said your piece again and again, and you can tell him that yourself in a few hours. Now, focus on your landing."
Wash glared at him.
"Who's the pilot here? Don't you have a better thing to do than look over my shoulder?"
Mal didn't, as a matter of fact, but he still left, hoping for less irascible company. That excluded Kaylee, who was still furious that the doctor had almost let Zoe die, and Jayne, who didn't see the point in helping someone if there wasn't a lot of money at stake. Zoe and Inara were more nuanced in their opinion, only wary of the trouble the man could bring them. Book was the only one ready to give the man a chance, impressed by his composure during Zoe's operation. He thought that Simon's actions spoke volumes about the man he was.
They were all in the kitchen, except Jayne. Mal pulled a chair and sat across from Inara. On his right, Zoe moved, massaging her sore leg.
"We're slowing down. What time do you meet with the doc?"
"In four or five hours."
Inara raised an eyebrow.
"Did you not say he was in a hurry to leave? I would have expected him to want to go as soon as we landed, based on your description."
"The man's more paranoid than he's in a hurry to leave. Said he wanted us to meet on his terms. Pretty sure he plans to be there long before us to make sure we're trusty, but I intent to be the first who gets there, so he's got the right to be paranoid."
"We? You and Jayne, I guess?"
"Me and the shepherd, if he wants to."
"Me?"
"You offered to help earlier, ain't you? I thought about it. We've got a paranoid doctor who's up to his neck in trouble. Seems to be right up your alley. No shooting this time. Just some reassurin' and escortin' to do. "
Book nodded silently. The shepherd even looked flattered Mal wanted him for this job, maybe even a little thrilled to participate this time. Wasn't it funny? The shepherd wanted a little adventure. Besides, Mal was pretty sure the man knew what to do in case all went wrong. There was a long list of things he didn't know about the shepherd, but "can do his part in a street fight" was pretty high on the list of things he was sure the man could do and never told them about.
"If you plan to arrive early on site, that doesn't leave much time to find a job," Zoe frowned.
"You ain't wrong, but in case the doc has trouble, I'd like to learn with who and why, just in case his trouble could become ours. Which means I need you and Jayne to find a job. Only legal stuff that doesn't get one of us hurt, if you can."
Zoe didn't point out that she was still limping, that Jayne wasn't someone you wanted with you to search for a legal job, or that Wash was going to kill Mal if he found out. They didn't have many options.
"And if you don't find a job?" Kaylee worried.
"We're leaving and look on another planet. The doctor will only pay more for his trip."
"That is hardly appropriate," Book frowned. "Where do you plan to drop him off?"
"Depends."
"Depend on what? Whether he makes himself useful and pays enough money?"
"This too. And how much he annoys me this time."
Mal got up and went down in the hold, checking his weapons and repeating his instructions to Jayne. The man wasn't happy to go on job hunting with Zoe, while Book and Mal would go near Paquin's slums. He loudly said so to anyone listening while Mal ignored him. In case something went wrong, he wanted to have the shepherd with him. A shepherd's company looked good when you landed into some trouble, like his morality was contagious. The landing shut Jayne off. He and Zoe were the first to leave. She couldn't hide her limp, and Mal's stomach tightened. He hoped everything went well for them. And for Book and him too.
He left with Book right after them. The meeting place was in the center of a factory district, half an hour away from the ship, on foot. Public transport was overpriced on Paquin, and perhaps talking to the doctor had also made Mal paranoid. He wanted to walk and take the vibe of the city. If the Alliance was on the doc's tail, Mal wanted to see it with his own eyes before he took Simon on board. If he did it. Good thing that they were in a smoky factory town. It wouldn't be difficult to hide. There were pipes and conduits running through every street and on most roofs. The smoke would help, even if it could also hide spies or attackers. Mal was busy identifying escape routes in dark alleys when the shepherd interrupted his thoughts.
"It is a nice little town."
"I've heard many words to describe Paquin, never these, even in the leaflets encouraging colons to come. Never been there before?"
"Once, over thirty years ago. It wasn't a nice place to live, but it got worse."
"Blame the Alliance, shepherd. Paquin and others paid a heavy price for not celebrating loudly enough the Alliance's victory. No wonder. People here had to work triple time during the war, and double time after. The Alliance doesn't care much about security and minimum wage, only about results."
Book nodded grimly and said nothing more, just observing the shadows on the walls and noticing people moving in the smoke, observing the crowd. Not them, specifically, but they were looking for someone. He signaled it to Mal, and the two men separated to be less easily spotted. They had two hours left before their meeting. The doctor was nowhere in sight, so Mal wandered, pretending to be looking for work and willing to accept nearly anything. Some proposals would have interested him in another circumstance, but he was more interested in the rumors there was a lot of movement in the neighborhood and new people in town, looking for someone. Mal didn't like that. He couldn't wait to have the doc and everyone else on board. They would leave the minute the hatch closed.
The preacher looked even less thrilled than him when they met again.
"Heard anything, shepherd?" Mal asked without stopping observing their surrounding.
"Some interesting things from locals and soldiers in civilian."
"They talked to you? People speak more easily with a shepherd, but soldiers..."
"They were not the brightest, but it is the doctor they're looking for. One of them described him to me, hoping these poor people would talk to me more easily."
"Not that stupid, then."
"The portrait he made of the doctor is likely to make people more cooperative. Our doctor is a thief who murdered two women and three children."
Mal frowned. He could be wrong, and he wasn't always to best at judging people. Also, some murdering bastards had an innocent face. But he didn't believe that story a second. No doubt the doctor committed a serious crime, at least from the Alliance's point of view. He may be a thief, but a murderer?
"You believed this crap?"
"The soldier said the doctor killed a soldier's daughter on Ariel. He gave me some truly awful details, but… some stories are too-perfect. That one was tailored to convince every man we're dealing with a monster."
"I agree. We'll still watch him when we're back on Serenity. Just in case."
"It is wise. All the same, I'd like to search this Simon Tam on the cortex one day."
"I'd like him to show himself sooner rather than letter. The sooner we're out of atmo, the better off we'll be."
Mal stopped, noticing a man coming out of a door at the other end of the alley. He hid his features under a hat and a coat, both too big for him, and the smoke hid him a little, but the way he walked close to the wall would denounce him to any spy wandering by. Mal cursed and patted Book on the shoulder.
"That's our guy."
"God must be with him if he hasn't been caught yet."
"Let's agree he was lucky, and you've got my permission to pray his luck lasts a few more hours."
They advanced toward the doctor, taking great care to look as normal as can be, but Mal felt like many eyes were following him. Simon froze when he saw them and hid behind a door. Mal couldn't believe it. How did he survive so long with such suspicious behavior?
"Follow us in thirty seconds," Mal whispered as they passed without stopping. "Two hundred feet from here, there's a vent that releases enough steam to suffocate the neighborhood. We'll talk there."
They didn't wait for long near that vent. Mal tried not to breathe so he wouldn't cough.
"That wasn't what we agreed on," Simon protested when he appeared.
"Plan changed. They always do, and there's more people here than we expected. Take off your jacket and your hat."
The doc barely refrained from protesting, but he obeyed and handed both items to Mal, who stuffed them into the vent. Book opened his bag and took out one of his shepherd costume. It was too large for Simon, but still more discreet than his previous attire. The shepherd then gave him a blond wig. The doctor looked at it with incredulity. That Mal couldn't blame him.
"It's a gift from Zoe to her husband. He was wondering if he should let his hair grow. He ain't asking anymore."
"That... think would convince anyone to go bald."
"Zoe calls it the abomination. Never thought it would be useful, but if people think that a shepherd needs a good haircut, they won't look too closely at the rest of his face. I hope."
With one last doubtful glance, the doc put the wig on. It was effective. Mal already wanted to look for a pair of scissors.
"Let's go. We've lingered for too long. Just... do what the shepherd does and you'll be fine. I ain't keen on staying here too long."
The doctor did what he was told, for once. He didn't have any acting skills, but now people's eyes drifted over them without lingering. No one was interested in the two men of the church and their guide. They were looking for a well-dressed young man or a man with suspicious behavior. If asked later, they'd talk about an old priest and one that needed a good haircut. Before they realized one shepherd got in the neighborhood and two left, Serenity would have left Paquin long ago. It was way better than Simon's plan. Some of these undercover soldiers had hidden weapons under their coats. If they had seen him, the Doc would be dead or in prison, and Mal and Book with him.
They were more Alliance men at the spaceport than when Mal and Book had left. They were also dressed like civilians, and they appeared ready to shoot any suspect. Unlike the ones near the factories, these were real professionals.
"Have you spotted these guys?" Mal asked the doc.
"It is hard to miss them, isn't it?"
Mal hadn't expected he had. The man was smarter than he thought, or even more paranoid than he appeared to be. But he had been right to worry. It wasn't paranoia talking. It was a manhunt. And Mal was getting very, very curious to learn what Simon Tam did for such an operation.
"They're looking for a terrified doctor wanting for an escape, not a tired preacher. Look the part. You're glad to have transmitted the good word to the poor people of Paquin, but eager to go in a less smelly place. Drag your leg, don't speed up near those soldiers, and don't look where you know they are or where they could be."
"Easier said than done. They've been following my trail for weeks. Anyone would be nervous."
"You can be nervous when you're safe on my ship. I forbid it for the next five minutes. Follow that mule over there. Don't go faster. We'll stay in her shadow once we're there. Serenity is ready to go and we'll pass under their noses without them seeing us. If you do your part."
"I hope you are right, captain. I would hate to die with that thing on my head."
The kid had a sense of humor. Mal didn't hold back a snicker and turned to Book to show him the mule. The shepherd nodded. They kept a steady pace and a relaxed attitude until they could hide behind its cargo, but when they did, even Mal felt his shoulder relax. They weren't safe yet, but he still felt better. Good thing the mule driver didn't notice their maneuver. He was too busy yelling at passers-by. It was hard not to run when they saw Serenity. Mal could swear someone was aiming at his back, right between his shoulder blades, but he would be dead already if it was true.
Serenity's ramp was down. They rushed inside to see Kaylee waiting on the stairs.
"Are Zoe and Jayne back? Inara?" Mal asked.
"Inara didn't even leave. She feared we might leave in a hurry. Zoe and Jayne came back half an hour ago."
"Good. Did they find work? Cargo?"
"Yes! We're meant to transport metal beams to Athens. Someone will deliver the goods within two hours. I'm waiting for them."
Mal didn't like it. He would have wanted to leave immediately, but they needed more work than just transporting one very much wanted by the feds' passenger. Even better, that job looked legal. It would be less suspicious when they'd talk to the spaceport authorities. The last thing he wanted was for Serenity to look suspicious.
"Wait for the cargo, then. Book and Jayne will keep you company and make sure no one snoops on board. Doc, with me."
They left the charging bay and passed by the infirmary and the rooms. Mal opened a closet at the end of the hallway, removed the blankets they stored there, and then the bottom plate to reveal a dark space under it.
"I ain't sayin' it's nice and comfy, but no fed did not find that place. You'll breathe, but better take off your shirt because you're going to sweat to death in there. We load the cargo, we notify the authorities we're taking off with our perfectly legal cargo for our honest job, and as soon as we're in atmo, we get you out of here."
The doctor contemplated the cache with some repugnance. He truly was a privileged kid from the Core planets. Mal had hidden in worse places during the war. The doc wasn't used to sludge and dust.
"I don't have much choice, do I?" Simon finally acknowledged. He didn't wait for Mal to respond before taking off his shirt and jacket, tying them around his waist before he slipped into the cache. Mal put everything back in place and went to find Zoe. He needed to learn more about their cargo and the job and prepare for the takeoff.
He wouldn't have said it out loud, but Mal was the first surprised to see that everything had gone exactly as planned. No delay in the goods delivery, no visit from the feds, and no problem from air control when they warned them of Serenity's departure. He still waited until they had left atmo to free the doctor. As expected, the young man rushed out of his hiding place, sweating and covered in dust and grease. With the dark circles under his eyes, he looked at the end of his rope. Mal took pity on him and tossed him a towel.
"I'll show you your room. You can wash your face before the meal."
"It would be amazing. Are we far from Paquin? Is there any risk that someone is following us?"
"None. No one saw you board and too many ships left Paquin this afternoon alone for them to suspect us rather than anyone else."
"They may have been monitoring communications. The Alliance..."
"Can't do everything. They may have, but it's unlikely. How long have you been on Paquin?"
"Two days. Aberdeen, Salisbury, Harvest, Tongyi, and Paquin. They've been after me for three weeks."
"I ain't surprise here. To escape Alliance, you need big cities, a planet with too much traffic, and communication to track everyone. Paquin wasn't a bad choice, but it was your first true chance to lose them."
"I suppose you are right."
Visibly exhausted, the doctor washed his face and hands and immediately collapsed onto the bed.
"What's next? I've heard you need to deliver some goods to Athens, am I right?"
"Yes, and soon if we can. We have fuel enough and they'll pay better if we do it fast. When it's done, we'll drop you off wherever you want, if you have the money, or somewhere convenient for the both of us."
The doctor's hand moved closer to the pocket where he hid his money, despite himself. Mal expected him to negotiate to pay less. It was clear from their conversation via the cortex Simon didn't have much money left, probably too little for the trouble he brought with him. But instead of trying to coax him, Simon shrugged.
"One planet or another... Take me where it's convenient for you. You could eject me into space and I wouldn't complain much."
So much pain in his eyes. He closed them and let his head fall onto the pillow. Maybe he just wanted to escape the conversation, but he fell asleep in less than a second. Mal walked out, closing the door behind him. They'd talk about payment later. After all, going after Paquin had landed them the best-paid legal job of the last six months and the best-paid of the last three. With that money, they'd be able to buy gas, water, and food. It was good enough for Mal to not make Simon pay too much for his trip. Zoe's life was payment enough, anyway.
He found the other waiting in the dining room. Wash was still angry, unsurprisingly, and Kaylee didn't look happy either.
"How's our passenger?" Zoe asked.
"Probably claustrophobic for the rest of his life, but otherwise in good shape. I don't think we'll see him until dinner, maybe even until tomorrow."
"He looked exhausted," Book agreed. "And he was brave when he was afraid."
"Well, I was exhausted just looking at the circles under his eyes. As for brave... He has a good survival instinct, but not much else in the head."
"Oh, I think he might surprise us all."
"The only way he could surprise me would be if he could pay well for our trouble. But as long as he can pay and help while is here, we'll pamper him until we drop him off."
"And if he's too much trouble?" Wash asked.
"Whitefall is next to Athens. I'm sure Patience would welcome him with kindness."
"They would kill that wimp in a matter of hours," Jayne laughed. "I'm voting for that." "I'm voting for that."
The shepherd opened his mouth to protest. Mal stopped him with a wave of his hand.
"We've got plenty of time to think about where to drop him. He doesn't seem to have any preference, so I'll listen to anyone's suggestions. For now, let's go to Athens drop off the goods and restock. It'll be eight days of travel. That leaves plenty of time for people to voice their complaints about the doc, but nobody ain't doin' that 'til the cargo is secure and Serenity in perfect working order, so go to work, everyone."
The crew obeyed with little protest. Mal intended to follow and check everything, but he had barely slept a few hours in the last two days. He lay down on the couch for a few minutes. He had a lot to do, and he'd work better after he slept. So many things to do. Mal not only had to make sure everything was alright, but he also wanted to learn more about that story of a doctor wanted by the Alliance. What had the fancy doctor done to make such enemies? It wasn't debts or a jealous husband like he had imagined. It was a serious problem, and Mal should learn how much it endangered the crew. He'd question the boy after he slept. Five minutes, no more.
A loud noise startled him. Mal opened his eyes. The room was plunged into semi-darkness. The others had let him sleep for over five minutes. He hadn't woken up even while they ate, which meant he really needed it. Now he felt, if not well-rested, at least able to function properly. Mal stood up to look for the source of the noise that had awakened him. In the dim light, he made out the doctor, and couldn't hold back his sneer. The man wasn't used to moving around the ship and had bumped into the table. He looked in quite some pain. Mal looked at him while he opened the compartments of the kitchen.
"You're looking in the wrong place if you're looking for alcohol."
The young man jumped and turned around.
"No. I am looking for a glass. And water. Sorry, I woke you."
Mal went straight to the light switch. They both closed their eyes for a second in reaction to the dazzling light. Mal pointed to a compartment and watched the doctor help himself and drink in large gulps. Mal found out he was hungry and went for a protein bar under the stove. It was too late to cook something.
"Want some?" he asked, handing one-half of the bar to the doc.
The young man frowned like he needed to think about it before he took it. He didn't eat it. He just nervously turned the bar between his fingers.
"Must be hard to find time to eat and sleep while on the run from the Alliance. When was your last meal?"
The doctor shrugged as if it didn't matter. He didn't even seem to remember it. Tāmāde. What kind of person was fighting to escape the clutches of the Alliance but didn't even realize he needed to eat? Mal knew the answer all too well. At first, right after the defeat, right after Serenity, he only ate if Zoe reminded him and threatened to force him to. That boy had lost everything, and even more. Mal sympathized, at least a little. He would have been more inclined to if he had been less careless about Zoe's life when Mal went to ask for his help. No, he would not feel sorry for that rich kid, whatever his history. He stood up, picked up his jacket that someone, probably Kaylee, had placed on him as a blanket, and only turned back to the doctor as he was leaving the room.
"The switch is here. Remember to turn it of when you leave. Tomorrow, ask Kaylee to explain how everything works. Kaylee's the mechanic. She doesn't like you very much after what you did last time, but she'll explain everything. If she doesn't, ask the shepherd."
The doctor nodded. He looked lost in his dirty shirt with his empty glass and protein bard. He probably was. Mal nodded one last time and headed towards his bed. Once he rested, he would probably get rid of this stupid empathy. He had a job to finish, a ship to keep aloft, and no time to waste feeling sorry for this kid.
When morning came, Mal took his time to shave and clean up. This time he felt well-rested, and that was a nice change. No problem had come during the night, another nice change. The kitchen was empty when he went to eat, but he could hear Jayne training with the shepherd in the cargo hold. Mal was the last one up for once. Once his stomach settled, Mal went to the bridge. Wash was more busy with kissing Zoe than checking his instruments. Nothing new. When she heard him, they both looked up.
"Here comes the sleeping princess!" Wash laughed. "Had pleasant dreams?"
"Slept like a baby. Is my ship okay?"
"Nothing to report, Captain," Zoe said. "We thought we could let you sleep. You had little time to rest these last few weeks with my leg and my migraines taking me out of the game."
"Well, good think we have a doctor on board for the next few days. You should let him examine your head. Unless you've already gone to see him?"
"I was trying to convince my husband not to bite him if I did."
"That's what you call convincing?"
Zoe laughed and stood up, pulling Wash behind her toward the cargo hold. Mal stole the chair and checked everything. He trusted Wash, but he always felt better when he did his own checking. When he saw everything was working as it should, he got out the maps to search for a place for the doctor. Not Boros for sure, nor its moons. Too much federal presence there. But it would be a good place for them to find work unless something came up on Athens. The doctor needed to disappear. That meant he needed to settle on an uncivilized planet with next to no fed presence. Mal wasn't sure he would survive in a place like that. His build didn't command respect from the kind of men who lived there. He looked like a man who wanted to be killed. Mal believed that there was fire deep inside him, but Simon wouldn't have time to prove it before someone shot and robbed him, possibly in that order. Whatever he said in jest the day before, Mal wouldn't put him on Whitefall, Newhope, Sweethome, and more than half the planets and moons around here.
"You seem to have a problem, Captain."
Mal turned to Book, then back at his map.
"Where would you hide a man wanted by the Alliance and so visibly a fish out of water anywhere on the Rim?"
"I'd ask friends if they can hide him. People you trust and who would have an interest in keeping him as much as he would need them. Plenty of places can use a doctor. Some enough they would hide a criminal no matter the cost."
"That ain't stupid. I could think of two or three places. How does the doc acclimate on board?"
"It isn't easy for him. He jumps at the slightest noise like he still expects someone to arrest him, and Jayne doesn't help. He already asked three times how high his is bounty."
"Kaylee?"
"She glared at him at breakfast and left without a word when he asked if she could show him the ship."
"She really likes Zoe. But her grudge won't last long. She's too nice for that and the doc is a pretty thing. If he smiles at her, she'll fall in love with him for a few days. And, well, he'll be gone in a few days. He can manage until then, even if they don't warm up to him."
"I hope so. The boy would benefit from a friendly ear."
He needed more than that, Mal thought. His enemies were only one of Simon's problems. Mostly, he needed to get out of his self-loathing attitude. He was drowning. But you couldn't help people in his state of mind. He had to get out of it alone, or he would kill himself soon. Mal knew that too well. He had almost collapsed into the dark after the war. Zoe had done what she could, but it was only thanks to Serenity he had healed. He could keep his ship flying and keep himself alive at the same time, but he couldn't save a man who didn't even really realize he was still alive.
Curse the Alliance.