Warnings: Altered timeline from 'Ariel', angst, hurt/comfort

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

~

Warm…Simon revels in the heat, would burrow into the softness against his back if his limbs weren’t so leaden. He can’t summon the will or energy to open his eyes at that moment, and he wonders where he is. He hasn’t forgotten the events of Ariel, can remember his own capture, though the events and after are still cloudy. Even recalls the looks on both Jayne’s and River’s faces as they left him behind. As I told them to…

He’s not in his bunk-the mattress there is harder, better support for the back and besides, the ship doesn’t smell this fragrant. It reminds him of Inara’s shuttle, incense and musk, and he inhales deeply, his eyes still closed, not taking the chance that this is a dream or hallucination and opening them will send him catapulting back into reality. Definitely not Serenity, and Simon feels a pang of remorse at that. Funny how an object becomes all the more like home when you’re welcomed, when they come back for you. Or at least don’t throw you out the airlock.

Not a hospital either, no underlying feel of sterility and stench of antiseptic. And he’s not dead. Simon grimaces as his chest protests his large inhalations. No longer a burning tearing pain, no longer such a difficulty to breathe, but it feels unpleasant and uncomfortable taking such deep breaths and he switches to shallow--no longer trying to use his sense of smell. He doesn’t want to open his eyes, to ruin whatever hallucination his broken ribs have brought on. No doubt he’d find himself bundled in some filthy cell, or some dank little room, something over the top and clichéd.

Just a peek…

Simon forces himself to look, pushes away the lethargy, eyes watering and shutting instinctively when bright light assaults. A murmured curse comes from above him, low and feminine, reminiscent of the woman that had forced the tube down his throat. He starts, g