Mal pushed into the infirmary as though he owned it, because he did. Simon might run the medical facility, but it was Mal's as much as any part of Serenity was, and Mal had had about as much as he could stand for one day, and the day had barely begun.

"Doc! I know that you're smarter than to just up and leave in the middle of a palaver like that. Tell me, in as few words as possible, why?"

"Cap'n, we have a little problem in...the engine room." Kaylee said, though it sounded like an interrogative, more than something informative.

Mal didn't even turn to look at Kaylee. He just pointed at the door.

"But, Cap'n..." Kaylee began, mournfully.

Mal kept pointing.

Kaylee huffed (something she normally didn't do with regard to her captain)and left the room.

Book stepped forward, and this time, Mal did take his eyes off Simon. Mal, while not being a man of God, tended to take Book's opinion with a bit of gravity. He saw Book as a font of knowledge, whenever Book was willing to impart any, which was often, so long as it didn't have much to do with himself.

"Captain, I wonder if you wouldn't accompany me to the cargo hold? Where we could talk. Uninterrupted"

The implication was clear to Mal. There would be information imparted that could not be done so in the present company. Simon looked distinctly nervous, which was not out of sorts for Simon, who seemed to be a nervous sort anyway.

As they were walking to the cargo hold, Book said, "It would appear that you have some theory as to the cause of the sleeping problem here on the ship"

"That I do, Shepherd, but you want to tell me why you are clearly trying to keep me away from my medic?"

If Book was taken aback, he was very subtle about it.

"I'm not, Captain, but I think that this is a situation that would warrant a moment's thought. I know that you think as I do...River is the only one capable of the kind of things that we've seen this morning."

Mal shrugged, nonplussed as us