“Jin jin” Inara was hoping it was Simon with the promised cold tablets. Her nose was stuffed and she felt miserable. It just wasn't dignified for a Companion to have a cold. An ex Companion Inara reminded herself. The cold had come on so suddenly that an injection of immune boosters or the antiviral injection she would have gotten as a matter of course in one of the Houses wasn't available. She'd have to fight the cold the old fashioned way, with decongestants and a fever reducer.

The last person she wanted to see walked into what was her shuttle. Mal walked in with a chipped mug full of something steaming hot and several pills in his hand.

“Thought I'd repay your kindness. It ain't tea, but I found a can of chicken broth. Heated it up for you. My Ma thought chicken broth would cure just about anything that ails you. Simon gave me these pill for you, he thought they might help more than the broth”

“How kind of you” Inara said nasally. “Considering you gave me the cold, Ooh here it comes!” Achoo She sneezed into an embroidered handkerchief that in Mal's opinion looked so delicate that it would blow away in the slightest breeze, much less a full blown sneeze.

Mal shifted his weight from foot to foot and looked around unsuccessfully for some where to sit. All of Inara's opulent hangings and furniture weren't there, in fact all she had was what was in the box she'd left on board when she went to the Training House. She had supplemented her wardrobe with a few practical yet typically Inara pieces while Serenity was being repaired on Persephone. A proper bed had been brought into the shuttle from Shepherd Book's old passenger dorm along with a chest for her things. It was sparse but still had an elegance about it.

Mal handed her the mug of broth and the pills, He stood uneasily looking at Inara reclining on two pillows with a dark green wool blanket pulled up over her waist. She took a sip of the steaming liquid and took the pills.

“It's hot, And Mal you're making me nervous standing t