Mal was furious when they got back to Serenity with the cargo and he found out what had happened to Kaylee.

“Wasn’t her fault,” the young mechanic said, sitting on the medbed, her arm strapped to her chest. “I didn’t understand, tried to stop her. Shouldn’t’ve done that. You wanna blame someone, blame me.”

“Not blaming anyone, mei-mei ,” Mal said, aware he had been doing exactly that although unwilling to admit it. “But I'm beginning to think my initial reaction of locking her in the shuttle was the right one.”

Simon leaned against the counter, taking some of his weight on his hands. “It isn’t River’s fault. Nor is it her hormones. I checked them this morning.”

“Then explain to me why my mechanic’s sitting here looking like something out of a pyramid on Earth-that-was.” Mal crossed his arms and glared at the doctor.

“I think the baby’s consciousness is interfering with River’s control so she’s doing repetitive tasks to get some of it back,” Simon said. He nodded towards his cupboards. “She’s had everything out of here, gone through it, itemised things in more detail than I ever did.” He shrugged. “I think it helps.”

“And if we don’t let her?” Mal asked. “She takes it into her brain to attack us?”

“It wasn’t like that, Captain,” Kaylee insisted.

“Maybe not, but what if she decides to re-organise everything on the bridge? Maybe by opening all the airlocks, just so they’re the same.”

“I don’t think she’d do that,” Simon said.

“Don’t think? Ain't really wanting to hear that you don’t think.” Mal’s voice was sharper than when speaking to Kaylee.

“Well, that’s all I have. In something like five days time she’ll be giving birth, and hopefully this will all be over.”

“Hopefully. Another word that I'm wishing wasn't in your vocabulary.” Mal felt Serenity powering up, preparing to lift off. “Are you going to keep an eye on your sister?”

“I don’t have to. Bethie is.”

Mal’s shoulders went back. “Bethie? Simon, that girl’s only –“

“She’s a Reader. And