Simon insisted that Peter Frye stay in the infirmary for twenty-four hours in case there were complications from the drug that had knocked him and Hank out so effectively. He’d finally managed, from the blood he’d taken, to identify it as something called Jutoprocaine, which worried him.

“It’s almost exclusive to Alliance hospitals, in the psych wards,” he told Mal. “Its immediate effect is useful in subduing aggressive patients, but the side effects can be disquieting.”

“The allergic reaction? Like Pete had?” Mal spoke quietly as they stood in the common area outside the infirmary. “But it didn’t affect Hank.”

“They were lucky,” was all Simon would say.

“Alliance.” Mal hitched his thumbs into his pockets. “But you said it was only almost exclusive?”

“Well, no drug remains under lock and key forever,” Simon explained. “No matter what it is there’s someone willing to pay a price for it, to try and get a high.”

“Does it? Make you high?”

“In tiny amounts, yes. It also destroys your kidneys, pulmonary system, attacks the –“

Mal held up a hand. “I get the picture.”

“That’s why I wanted to keep Peter under observation.”

“In case something else came up.”

“Yes.”

“And now?”

Simon glanced back through the window, looking into the cool blue room to where Kaylee was laughing and joking with her brother. “He can go home. I can leave a syringe of the antihistamine with him, but I doubt sincerely he’ll need to use it.”

“Look, if you ain’t sure he’s gonna be okay –“

The young doctor crossed his arms. “I'm sure.”

“Anyone would think you didn’t wanna spend time with your in-laws,” Mal commented, walking out of the common area, a smile on his face.

As he reached the bridge, though, Freya was waiting. “I just got a wave back from Dillon.”

“And?”

“We need to meet with him. He was clear on that, at least to me. He has information we need.”

“Meet?” Mal’s smile switched off. “Persephone ain't exactly my most favourite place right now, Frey. Too many A