A/N: Yep, updates are getting far in between, but they are coming. As always, I keep writing so long as you keep reading. Candle Wax, friends!

Book One – Chapter Fifteen

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Simon had a haunting feeling. That horrible nostalgic feeling that created a pit in his stomach, and he found that concentrating on the pit only tore it up more.

He hadn’t been in his sister’s dorm in at least three months, probably more. At most, he would poke his head in to tell her dinner was ready, as if she didn’t already know. It had been years since he had even considered spending a night in the dorm, ready to assist her in case of her midnight attacks. But those nightmares were believed completely in the past. Now that Simon had reason to believe otherwise…

The nostalgic pit had returned.

Back on Osiris, Simon would always shake his head in disbelief at the young orderlies trying to make the beds comfortable for comatose patients. He convinced himself that this was different. Should River wake up suddenly, she might require the extra blankets and pillows. Although, she didn’t really like too much material touching her when she was awake, so Simon figured it was mostly for his own benefit. He had to feel like he was doing something useful.

The color had returned slightly to River’s face, and Simon welcomed the homecoming. She showed no further signs of waking up, but the fact that her body was still taking care of itself gave him a little bit of comfort. He checked her pupils again, just to be sure, and retired yet again when he greeted with no response.

River never locked any of her drawers. All the drawers on Serenity had locks on them, but River never used them. Simon figured that she probably could tell if anyone had any intention on stealing her possessions. That, and she didn’t really keep a lot stored away. Her clothes, obviously, took up the most room, but other than that, she only had a colored pencil kit she had