Mal had taken his boots off, and his socks, and was now sitting on the end of the small dock, letting his feel dangle in the water.

“You know, you could go the whole hog and go swimming,” Simon said, walking up behind him.

“Nope, this is fine,” Mal replied.

“You’re virtually healed. It wouldn’t hurt.”

“You can promise that?” Mal smiled as the young man sat down next to him, resting his forearms on his knees and lightly clasping his hands.

“As your doctor I can promise you, light exercise would do you good.”

“Been getting that. Only it wasn't that light.” Mal smirked, and had to stifle a laugh as Simon blushed. “You know, you gotta get that under control.”

“I never had a problem until I came on board your boat.”

“You saying we corrupted you?”

“Big time.”

“Glad we could be of assistance.”

“So you could swim. Unless those scratches on your back have become infected.”

“Nope. That cream of yours seemed to do the trick.”

“And you’ve got no more?”

“You want a blow by blow description of my love life, doc?” Mal asked.

“Not particularly.”

“Then, no. Frey’s calmed a bit the last couple of nights. Now she knows Ethan’s fine.”

“I'm glad.” He truly was, too.

Mal gazed out at the mountains fringing the world. “Sure is pretty here.”

“Yes, it is. I'm not surprised Inara wanted to stay.”

“Oh, I think there’s more than just its good looks, doctor.”

Simon nodded, perfectly aware of the feelings of all involved. He glanced down at the water. “Is it cold?”

Mal shrugged. “It’s okay once you get used to it.”

For a moment the young man paused, then pulled off his shoes and socks, rolling up the bottom of his pants legs. Gingerly he lowered his feet into the water.

“ Wo de mah !” he muttered.

“Yeah, but it gets better.”

“When?”

“’Bout the time your toes fall off from frostbite.” Mal wriggled his, looking down at his bare feet. The water was so clear he could see all the way to the bottom. “Fed by the mountains, according to Monty.”