A/N: Thanks to all who read. As a reminder, I ascertain that the beginning of the BDM makes a lot more sense if it is depicting a second rescue attempt of River, not replaying the first one we were never privy too. It's best to read Part XI if you still have questions on this.

Thanks to Leiasky for her thoughts and feedback!

I don't own the 'verse, I just play in it.

Enjoy all.

***

As soon as Simon felt the lift jolt into place, absorbing itself back into Serenity’s hull, he breathed a deep sigh of relief. Kneeling next to his trembling sister, Simon pushed some of her hair out of her eyes and lifted her chin up to look at him. “River,” he questioned quietly, searching her gaze for any sign of recognition. “River, it’s me, Simon. Can you hear me?”

Slowly and with great difficulty, River rescued her brain from the dark and desolate place the Alliance had forced it to. In a rush the sights and sounds around her came flooding in: the cold metal beneath her skin, the sharp pain in her head and torso, the fear and anxiety filling her heart; the loving and comforting face that was only inches from her own.

“Simon,” she questioned with a voice not nearly as strong as it had been inside the hospital. He nodded once, and she wrapped trembling arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder as huge sobs wracked her body. “Home now,” she questioned, her voice muffled against his shirt.

Fighting back his own tears, Simon held her tightly, vowing silently to never let her go again. “Yes, mei mei, we’re home.”

Not a second after the words were spoken, Simon felt her body go limp, the adrenaline in her system finally dissipating, allowing her body to shut down and start to work on repairing all the damage the drugs had done. Pulling her back from him, Simon quickly took her pulse and checked her breathing. She would be all right; she was just too exhausted to keep her eyes open a second longer.

Looking up, Simon took in the concerned faces staring down at them.