When he returned a long while later, Inara stood in his path and glared at him. “You lied to her.”

Simon sighed, hoping Inara, of all people, would understand. A kiss and a profession of love was what Kaylee needed to remember of their last moments together. Not him being led away to an unknown fate at the hands of the Feds. “I had to. I couldn’t let her see –“

“You took the coward’s way out.” Inara snapped but then winced inwardly, her tone and words more hurtful than she’d intended.

Simon clenched his fists and steeled himself to answer. “I made the decision I thought was best.”

“Can’t leave me,” came another, weaker voice from behind them.

Regan, who had been watching the exchange silently, clutched her daughter’s hand and smoothed back her hair. “River!”

“Mei mei.” Simon hurried around Inara and checked her vitals, satisfied that they were stable. “Do you feel any pain?”

“Only in my heart,” River answered, her eyes sad. She looked around the room, her eyes taking it in as if it was the first time she had ever been there. “Can’t move.”

“I gave you something to knock out your motor functions. Moving now would put too much strain on your injury,” Simon explained as he prepped a few more medications to push through the IV line.

“Make it harder for me to stop you from leaving.” Even as a child River had always been able to see through his lies. But he had to do this for her. He had to try.

Simon glanced at Inara before pushing another sedative through the line.

“Don’t want to sleep. Don’t make me sleep!” River’s agitated condition sent her pulse and heart rate into the red and the monitor on the far wall began to beep noisily.

“Calm down, River.” Simon’s gentle hands cupped her face and he smiled sadly at her. “You have to calm down.”

“Can’t. Won’t. I saw it. Death and darkness. Coming for you. You can’t keep me away!” Tears slipped out of the corners of her eyes but she couldn’t lift her hand to wipe them away.

Simon wiped away the tears with his thumbs and rested his