Of all the rooms on Serenity, hers was the only one that Mal would do everything he could to avoid. It was rather ironic, back years ago; he would barge into her shuttle headstrong, so confident in himself, all though feeling like a young schoolboy. Now, he did everything he could in order to stay away from it.

But today, today was different. The room drew him in with the magnetic grasp that used to lure him in back when he still had his life, his family. Standing at the doorway, Mal told himself every reason why he shouldn’t enter, but the temptation was too great. After sweeping his, long, un-kept hair behind his back and tucking in his dirty, grease-stained shirt, in a futile effort to look dignified and respectable, his hand slowly reached for the hatch.

******

Mal entered Inara’s shuttle. Its lights were dimmed. The candles, lovingly placed around the room, burned. Their fumes hung thickly in the air, making the room seem gloomier that it was. Despite the pleasant fragrances that they let off, they still couldn’t mask the hopelessness contained in the room.

Inara lay upon her bed, asleep. Her olive skin was pale and glistening in the candlelight from the sweat upon her brow. Over her stood the doctor, his kit neatly laid out before him. He looked up as he noticed Mal’s presence.

“How’s she doing” Mal asked, breaking the silence which seemed to suffocate the room.

Simon took a moment to speak. He opened his mouth a few times, but the words would not come out. It was obvious to Mal that the boy was conflicted over what he was to say.

“Just spit it out.” Mal said with impatience “No matter how bad it is, I need to know. Tell me. Please”

“What am I supposed to say Mal” Simon responded after another moment of deep thought “Her body is shutting down systematically. Probably from some disease that she contracted through one of her clients. If I were guessing, it’s been ravaging her body for years”

Silence passed between the men that seemed to last forev