[ Disclaimers : Everything belongs to Joss, except for one character of my creation.

As regards that character - hopefully she's not so much of an obnoxious Mary Sue that she turns people off, but the story basically wrote itself in my head and needed to get out. This is my first fanfic ever, and the first writing of any sort I've done in awhile, so all comments are appreciated!

Rated PG for most of the story, mostly for salty language. There is some sex, but not for a few chapters yet. I'll try to put a warning at the beginning before it happens!

***ALSO...for the Chinese, I've set it up (thanks to those on this board who taught me how!) so holding the mouse over it should get the English translation to appear!

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Mal lay back reluctantly on the infirmary table, his shirt open, while Simon examined him.

“I’m fine,” he protested. “Everybody’s makin’ a fuss.” He directed a withering look across the room at Kaylee, who was leaning against the wall near the doorway. Kaylee rolled her eyes and looked away.

Simon popped a thermometer in Mal’s mouth, cutting off what would have been the next protest, and began examining his wounds. Alex had been getting a tour of the infirmary when Kaylee brought Mal in, and she set about assisting Simon.

Kaylee had mentioned to Simon that Mal seemed out of sorts. Simon had noticed it himself, and decided the first order of business should be a checkup to make sure Mal was healing properly after his run-in with Niska. It had been just a little more than a week since the incident, and Mal insisted he was fine—but he was still moving gingerly, and he looked pale and tired constantly. Kaylee recalled what Alex had told her about having experience with torture victims, and maybe being of some use. She waited for an opportunity, and when she saw Alex with Simon, she seized the opening. She could get the captain to do almost anything for her just by turning on