The departure of River was so unexpected and shaking, that for the most part there was hardly any socialization on Serenity.

Simon had taken it particularly hard. He missed his mei-mei dearly, and wouldn’t talk about it. However there was plenty of work to do, as Zoe was recovering but not awake and required monitoring, and there were supplies that needed to be inventoried. So with the help of Pike, he opened the crates, took down the contents, and applies them to a growing list of medications, vaccines, equipment and general supplies. They were going to be prepared for anything, from birth to death he could probably cure it all as he carefully took out small silver disks, precious as they were software upgrades for the infirmary’s equipment.

So many new supplies should have given him excitement, yet he felt as if a piece of his heart had left.

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

“Doc’s offly quiet.” Jayne took notice as he was shoving his maw with Sterling’s leftovers. Kaylee was at the table, pushing her food around in a bowl as she knew she needed to eat, but didn’t feel like it. Missing River, the crew’s schedules had become sporadic, with no sit down meals or talking to be had. Everyone dealt with it their own way.

“He’s got a lot on his mind.” Kaylee announced with a forlorn twinge in her voice. “River’s gone and they was best of friends, plus Zoe still needs docterin’ and he’s got new supplies and the there’s the town and all the folk he’s gotta treat when we get home.”

“That is if they ain’t all died.” He noted.

Kaylee fumed at Jayne, which startled him some because he had never seen her so angry. “You can’t say that. There’s people there that are still hangin’.”

“We don’t know that, fer all it could be is us touchin’ down on a ghost town, Lilac Syndrome coulda wiped them all out.”

“The optimism is awe inspiring.” Wren snorted sarcastically as she walked from the helm and into the galley. “You should write Get Well cards.” Opening the fridge, she pulled out a bottle of blue electrolyte