PART 6:

Mal only slept a few hours before the exhaustion in his body faded sufficiently for the worry over his crew to take charge. He lay in the soft hotel bed, designed for two but able to fit five in a crunch. The pillows were thicker than he preferred and excellent for smothering, though Mal tried not to think in that direction, except toward the men who stole his boat. Dim city light peaked through the pulled curtains, but it was far from morning.

Jayne had not moved since his head hit the pillow. His breathing was regular, but silent, as though he were stalking prey even in his dreams. He lay flat on his back under a single sheet, using one pillow, having thrown the rest of the linens onto the floor. Although Mal had no plan, he knew he needed Jayne in order to get Serenity back. He also knew that if their first attempt to recover the ship failed, the merc would likely head off to greener pastures. Since Miranda, Jayne had become more attached to the crew, but it was the ship holding them all in once place. The ship and the work… Right now Mal could offer neither.

“Simon?”

River’s voice startled Mal and he jerked up sharply in his bed. He hadn’t even heard the girl enter, but in the dim light, could see her tip-toeing through the room.

“He ain’t here, River,” Mal said, his voice gravelly with sleep. Briefly, he mapped the location of the syringes Simon had given him. “You feelin’ sick?”

“Help her. She’s screaming,” River implored eerily, sitting at the foot of the bed, her hands falling limply onto her lap. Mal rolled onto his knees, donned his shirt, and moved closer to River. Tears streamed down her cheeks and even with Simon’s medicines at ready, Mal felt helpless.

“Why is she screaming?” Mal asked, not understanding the question even as he spoke it.

“Because she can’t.”

Mal reached out to touch River, but his hand didn’t connect. Comforting River wasn’t his domain; it was Simon’s domain. And Mal wanted to check on Inara anyway.

“Why don’t we go to the hospital, you and me? You can