Simon woke with a start, unsure of what precisely had brought him from a very enticing dream of Kaylee and a moonlit lake, and thought as long as he was awake, he'd look in on River.

She wasn't in her room, or sitting outside Inara's door, as he thought she might have done in the night. He looked to make certain the other shuttle was still there and void of his sister and made his way to the infirmary, checking every corner in between. He didn't really start to panic until he found himself on the track that led to the bridge and still no sighting of her.

"You let me know when we're close," Mal was saying, leaving the bridge. Simon noted the sleep pants, but didn't think much of it, his mind was still trying to discover a nook or cranny in which River would have hidden herself.

"Doc," Mal said, standing at his bunk's doorway. "You lookin' for your sister?"

"Yes," Simon admitted. "Do you know where..."

"She's here," Mal pointed to down the ladder. "You can collect her, let her know we're goin' back."

"Going back?" Simon asked, gratefully coming forward. He started the descent into the captain's quarters while Mal explained.

"Somethin' ain't right about leaving without everyone on board," the captain's voice followed him down. "River just confirmed it."

River was, indeed, on the floor in Mal's room. She was curled into a ball, her long hair fanning out from her head. She was crying. Simon went to her softly, pulling her into his arms. He rocked her and smoothed her hair away from her face, shushing her sobs. Mal entered the room quietly and waited as Simon calmed his sister.

When her tears had subsided, Simon helped her stand and they left Mal to his privacy. He went to his bed, but could not sleep. His mind was still racing, trying to find Inara through phrases or scraps of conversations...but all she ever said was she had a client. No other information. Not that he was supposed to have that sort of information. And what would he do with it, if he did have it on a regular basi