CHAPTER 6

Simon watched through the medbay window as Kaylee flirted shamelessly with Cappy, feeling a mixture of jealousy and concern. He expected the jealousy, and her occasional stolen glances in his direction assured him that it was intentionally stirred. What concerned him was how little she used the left side of her body. At first, he had assumed she was keeping her injured leg immobile, but the more he watched, the deeper his concern became. Not even an involuntary wriggle of the fingers or scratch on the nose. Simon’s blood boiled as Kaylee placed her right hand affectionately on Cappy’s forearm.

“I didn’t even feel him,” River whispered, making Simon jump. When had his little sister crept up behind him?

“You what?”

“I heard Kaylee scream, but Cappy was silent. I can never hear him,” she lamented, floating back up the stairs.

As soon as Cappy left the Infirmary, Simon entered. Kaylee’s smile vanished and she left him to work without looking at him. A part of him was glad she resented his care as much as he resented giving it. But that part of him rapidly shrank when he took her left hand and she did not immediately yank it away.

His lips parted to speak comfort, but instead, he became her doctor.

“Kaylee, squeeze my hand.”

“Qu ni de”

“Kaylee…”

She continued, her eyes still turned. “Bi zui, you zheng qi de gou— ”

“Kaylee look at your hand,” Simon commanded.

Finally she faced him, noticed her hand in his, and jerked her shoulder. Where once was rage, panic took control.

“Simon,” she cried fearfully, her eyes widening, her breath shortening.

“Calm down, Kaylee,” he soothed, but she did not. He feared her struggles would make the injury worse, but dared not dope her until he traced the extent of the damage.

“Look at me, Kaylee. Calm. Breathe.”

Her eyes wild, Kaylee slapped him across the face with her good hand. He fought the urge to recoil, grabbed her wrist, and held her down.

“Bao bei, bao bei, bao bei,” he whispered until she stopped struggling. “Let me help you.”

He’