Mal Love Bots for Sale! (6/6)

Word Count: 664 per Word

Rating: PG-13

Author’s Note: For damiarvn, srichard, obsidianagirl. Yes, the long anticipated end of the story is here!

* * * * *

Mal grinned as he walked into the kitchen to make himself and River a cup of tea. The job had gone well. No one had been shot up, stabbed or otherwise harmed and they’d gotten paid. That made everything right in his ‘verse for the moment.

He was surprised to see Simon sitting at the table.

“Doc.” He nodded his head as he went over to the sink and filled the pot with water.

“I’m confused about a few things.”

“Like what?”

“If that was River’s bot that I saw her… with in her bunk, then how did you know what I was doing to try and keep you two apart?”

“I saw her open the crate. I watched her room every night to get a minute alone with her and saw you guardin' it. Figured you knew," the captain shrugged. " 'Sides, every time I went down there I could hear 'em going at it.” Mal's insides churned as he thought about River and the bot.

“And you said all those things to me because…” Simon left the statement open. He needed to know.

“I meant what I said.” Mal didn’t want to go speaking about feelings again with Simon.

Simon pondered the ramifications of the bot in the series of events, as Mal prepared two cups of tea.

Taking a deep breath, he had one last question to ask of the captain. “So, aren’t you, I don’t know, jealous of the bot?”

Mal shot Simon a penetrating glance.

“If Kaylee had gotten one of you before...?”

“I would... that is to say, I wouldn't be…” Simon faltered as the impact of a variety of emotions coursed through him, drawing a succinct “oh.”

“Exactly. 'Night, Doc.” Mal said as he headed toward the bridge.

Simon watched Mal’s retreat before sighing heavily and heading toward Kaylee’s bunk.

* * * * *

Mal strode onto the bridge, setting the steaming mug on the console before River.

“There