A/N: This is a Mal/Inara fic. I have become just a bit obsessed with that relationship as of late. This is a short little, angst-ridden piece, and I hope it does the 'ship and the 'verse justice!

Thanks to Kaynara for taking a look.

Please continue to comment as you always do!

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What’s fair – 1/2

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“How long?”

“Without treatment?” He waited for her nod and then said, “Six months tops. Possibly less.”

Swallowing thickly, the young woman’s brown-eyed gaze studied her hands resting lightly in her lap. She was much too young to be suffering such a diagnosis, but diseases were not discriminating. They made no accommodation for fairness.

The doctor watched his patient in silence for another moment. He could see her struggling and it pained him. He’d done a lot of good in the twenty plus years he’d practiced medicine, but he’d also been responsible for delivering news like this that had often destroyed the recipient’s life.

Setting her chart aside, Doctor Elias moved to the seat beside her and sat down. As she lifted her eyes to him, giving him a wan smile, he returned the look and said, “I think we should discuss your treatment options.”

Shaking her head, she told him firmly, “No. I won’t go through that. Not when the chances of survival are so low.”

“Miss,” he objected, his tone growing a bit forceful. “Treating this disease can increase your chance of recovery by almost fifteen percent. Don’t you think that’s worth it?”

Shaking her head again, those brown eyes were back on his face, a familiar glint of steel shining in them. “No, not when the treatments will render me basically comatose for months at a time. I will not spend the last six months of my life confined to a bed.”

“There are new treatments we could try as well. Gene therapy has been successful in other cases such as yours.”

“Doctor,” Inara intoned, her voice holding just a bit of a warning.

Raising a hand in surrender, Elias caved. “All right. If that’s what you want. N