CHAPTER 6

Willow starred through the window of Serenity’s imfermary, her breath fogging up the same spot as she breathed in anticipation. Inara was right behind her fists clenched at her sides

Judith’s heart failed while Willow slept. She woke up from her restless sleep from the many alarms going off in the room. Simon and Kaylee ran into the room first, pushing the hysterical woman out of their space.

The rest of the crew came running a few moments later. Mal put his hand on Willows left shoulder, reminding himself to be careful of the redhead’s injury to her right shoulder. Mal’s jaw clenched tighter with regret as Jayne pushed Zoë out of his way with his naked broad shoulder.

“Judith. Listen to me, your going to fight this, you ain’t going to die. Dong ma?” Jayne’s blue eyes were filling up with tears as he fell to his knees beside his daughter’s bed. Simon swore in Chinese as he tried to work around the large mercenary.

“Jayne, get the hell out of my way. If you want your daughter to live, let me do my goramm job.” Simon reached for the defibrillator and proceeded to put the paddles on Judith’s heart. After two shocks the young girls blue eyes opened wide. She started to choke and turned her head to the side, blood poured out of her mouth. Simon threw down the paddles and secured the little girl on the bed as much as he could.

Jayne slowly walked backwards as he watched his daughter go into violent convolutions. He wanted so hard to help, but he felt useless. He hoped that Dr. Tamm knew what he was doing and could save Judith. Jayne turned around and came face to face with the scared green eyes of the woman he truly couldn’t live with out. He vowed to stay strong for his family but wasn’t sure how long his tough guy act will last.

Behind the glass Willow could see the pain in her man’s eyes. She knew if their daughter doesn’t make it, Jayne will snap. She had only seen him like that once before, and it scared both of them. Up in space is not a good place for someone to fall apart. Willow swor