Thanks to lvs2read for the great beta and thunder_nari for the great beta and spurring me on.

Disinterest is not an emotion Simon can feel right now, nor can he allow himself to relax, to act casual. So instead he feigns it. Sits upright in his chair and forces himself not to tense, digging his fingernails slightly into his hands as he clasps them together just to stop himself from crossing them, from acting defensive. He doubts he looks anything but what he feels, but he pretends none the less, just as he fakes indifference at the cool stare levelled his way.

Dark brown eyes thoughtfully appraise him;eyes that Simon would have thought could have conveyed emotion extremely well, suited sympathy perhaps, show nothing. Just resolution. Which only adds more weight to the man’s words and tone as he leans forward, sending a cold chill through Simon.

“You understand that there is only one outcome and one offer. Want it or not, all the hope in this 'verse isn’t going to stop us finding your sister, from bringing her back to us. Only the choice of when is yours, Doctor Tam."

~

Eight days earlier

Inside River Tam’s head, a dozen voices are screaming, yet she doesn’t make a sound; just follows impassively; waiting, hearing the stray idea and watching as Jayne’s shoulder comes up to neatly clip the Alliance officer. It’s not a calculated move, not like the ideas she can hear whirring around in Simon’s head, it’s sudden and spontaneous and makes her startle to a stop.

Jayne’s mental curses almost drown out the screaming as River watches him tussle with the officer; her brother throwing himself at the other, letting his weight take the man down. Two by two… she can feel them closer now, making the screams all the louder. A dozen voices clamouring, begging for something, whispers and fragments of things she can’t know, hasn’t ever known, all trying to cover the thought… hands of blue . They hurt her ears, hurt her head, but they keep the coldness at bay. The creep