A/N: Sorry for the delay - here is the next chapter in my Simon/Kaylee angst fest!

As promised - the angst just keeps on comin'!

Thanks again to Leiasky for the beta ... and everything else.

And don't forget those comments ... I'd hate to have to threaten you with something like - refusing to update!!! Yes, I'm a meanie!

***

The Right To Love - Chapter 7 (Prompts 51-55)

***

051. Destruction

River awoke, panting and breathless. With wide eyes she took in the small confines of her bunk, the buttery yellow walls, the little space and with barely a thought, she pushed the covers off her body, whipping open the screen door and bolting into the cargo bay.

Once she was in the cavernous room, she felt her heart rate slow, her breathing returning to normal. Crying silent tears, she closed her eyes for a moment, searching for the root of her distress. With an audible gasp, her eyes snapped open and she realized things were only going to get worse. Shaking a bit, she ascended the stairs, taking up her favorite spot on the catwalks above and lying down on the cold metal. Soon, she wasn’t alone.

***

She couldn’t breathe, really. This wasn’t the imagined breathlessness of her dreams; no Kaylee was good and awake and she could not breathe. Heaving as her lungs fought for air that wouldn’t come, she sat up in the bunk, fighting the pain that shot through her still bruised ribs.

With tears running down her cheeks and her heart ready to beat out of her chest, Kaylee pushed her covers off, and staggered to her feet, her left leg still encased in a cast making it difficult for her to stand. She swayed dangerously over Simon and he woke quickly, his eyes wide as soon as he realized that he too, was not dreaming.

Rising, he encircled her waist with a strong arm and tried to sit her back on the bed. “Kaylee, it’s all right. You’re okay. Just lie back down.”

Shaking her head, Kaylee couldn’t form words. The room was so small and getting smaller. Why were the w