As far as Simon was concerned, today was not his best day. Though he was perhaps grateful to be still alive, he was by no means certain how long that was going to last. That, combined with his lack of knowledge on how River would recover from the shock of being woken too early, and the captain’s antagonism, made what little grounds he had made with the rest of the crew seem as naught. For some reason the captain was blaming him for smuggling dangerous and criminal business on his ship, while doing the same deed himself. Simon was not sure if he wanted to think too hard about the reasoning that passed for logic with this crew who held his life in their hands—but perhaps if he stuck close to the Shepherd and Inara, they might keep a level of civilized restraint to the discussion of his and River’s lives.

Rubbing his jaw painfully, Simon went to the infirmary. He had been seething at Mal’s callous response to his situation (though his logic could not entirely blame the captain), but receiving a strong right hook had calmed those feelings down quite a bit. Used to a society where emotions never grew that strong, Simon would have to learn to control this anger he had not fully understood that he had, if not for his jaw’s sake, then for River’s.

As he took a pill to prevent bruising, Simon looked over River again. She looked at peace, but he knew it was just an illusion caused by the sedative. Either that, or—gripped with a sudden fear Simon moved over and put two fingers on her neck to check for a pulse. Idiot , he told himself, you know she’s just sedated. But he had known that she was safe and happy at the Academy as well, and so now he could not trust that which he knew.

There was a rustling behind him, and he turned to see Kaylee shifting and wearily opening her eyes. They were a bit blurry, but cleared a little as she registered him.

“Hey doc...” she murmured. “Am I gonna live?”

Simon walked over to the counter and picked up a thermometer. “There’s no cause for worry right now,” he ans