Mal desperate was to say the least. He had to convince Inara to have the surgery at all costs and as soon as possible. The problem was that she was as stubborn as a mule - she even let the guild take her license just not to have it! In another moment he would have just admired her and think of how proud he was of loving a woman such as she was. But now he was going to loose her for good if he didn't do something about her stubbornness.

"Can I talk to her, doc?"

"Yes but we have to wait at least an hour when she wakes up. In the mean time you can think of saying something to convince her..." Simon said as he walked outside the door."

Yeah. Mal Reynolds never was an easy one with words and now - he had to use them to save the woman who stole his battered heart and soul. Maybe if he found out the reason of it all...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inara was almost invisible with all the wires that surrounded her, she wore the hospital night dress and still looked beautiful. 'Her beauty should be illegal' Mal thought as he entered the room. Still, she seemed so vulnerable - one wire stuck off and she'd die. That made Mal even more protective and in love with her.

"Morning, captain." Her voice was sleepy and weak but she was smiling. How the hell could she smile in a situation like this? And she called HIM insufferable!

"Mornin' there sleepy head. How you're feeling?"

"Good. Till now. But Mal... I can't stay here; we have to go back to Serenity! Simon and River are in danger because of me and hospital isn't exactly relaxing."

"I ain't leavin' this hospital till you have the surgery because YOU are in danger more than anyone 'Nara. Why are you refusing it?"

"If I'm going to die, I'd rather spend the last part of my life on Serenity then in a hospital."

"Inara, you have a mighty big chance of getting good as new after this."

"They said that that to mama as well before they cut her stomach open and killed her when I was only seven."

Inara's eyes were fire now and Mal flinched at