Title: It Was Night

Author: Pyrrha Cottonwood

Rating; PG-13

Spoilers: Everything up to and including ‘Objects in Space’

Summary: Kaylee and Simon’s coda to ‘Objects in Space.’

Author’s Note: This stems from a joint project between Harriet Vane and myself—we both decided to write our thoughts on the events following ‘Objects in Space.’ Therefore, I give my thanks to Harriet Vane for the corrections/comments. As always, the sober ying to my raging yang.

Disclaimer: This story and its universe belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. I make no profit from this entertainment.

It was night on Serenity and everything was different. In addition to keeping his ears perked for any sounds his little sister might make across the hall, Simon was also listening for . . . anything. For the bump in the dark that would pull him from his bed, throw him into alert, beat him to a pulp and shoot him in the leg. His mouth twisted into a wry little smile.

No need to get paranoid. . .

Leaning across his bed, he picked up his encyclopedia and electronic tablet, wincing as the wound in leg shrieked. One of the first lesson he learned in medical school was the dangers inherent in a physician prescribing his or her own medication. As such, he’d been reluctant to give himself a full dosage and instead calculated one for a girl River’s weight. It took the edge off, but left his mind sharp and attentive. Opening his encyclopedia, he slipped in the tab for the Cortex and called up the Journal of the Osiris Medical Academy. Just because he was stranded out in the black didn’t mean he wasn’t obligated to stay abreast of the latest medical advancements.

I would be there right now, if she hadn’t. . .

Simon flinched a little as he recalled his words to Kaylee. Self-pity was a sweetly rationed treat in his life, reserved only for late-night vigils beside his sister’s bed. He had no right to drag it out into the daylight, giving those