Mal was waiting outside when Inara was carried out to have the surgery. She looked like she was sleeping but the nurse told him she could still hear him so he pecked her on the nose.

"Now's the time you'll show me how strong you are baby, I'll be here for you."

Then he went with her until they took her through the double door and told him he can't go in and that they'll keep him informed.

After a whole gorramn hour of pacing, he decided to go to the cortex near by to hail his beloved ship.

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

"Any changes, sir?"

"Sure is, Zoe..." grinned Mal.

"Is she having the surgery son?" asked the shepherd.

"Gave the reason. The reason to live..." smiled River

"Yeah..."

"SHINY!!" squealed Kaylee "Is there something we don't know, cap?"

"NO! I mean, yeah... It's just that..." stammered Mal blushing furiously.

"You two got clear..." grinned Wash "Nice move there Mal." earning a kiss from Zoe in agreement.

"About ruttin' time..." joined in Jayne "I woulda taken her myself -OW Kaylee!"

Kaylee had just him with the spanner she had in hand and everyone glared at him.

"So, sir... Simon's in charge? Or..."

"Yeah. He and his fellow teacher are drawing all the lines and stuff. Makes me a bit relaxed seeing the core-study an all..."

Everyone expressed their agreement on that. They knew they could thrust Simon.

"Don't worry cap." grinned Kaylee "Simon will fix her up real easy and she'll be on this here ship before you can spit!"

"Hope so lil' Kaylee. Gotta go in case they have any new notions..."

They all nodded and the screen went black. Maybe things are going to be well now!

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

After about ten minutes, Mal was approached by a kind-looking nurse covered in blood. Inara's blood.

"Are you Mister Reynolds, sir?"

"Yeah. Any good news?"

"Unfortunately not." the nurse motioned for him to sit down and - blood running cold - he obeyed. "We managed to get the lungs and heart perfectly in place but the