This is going to be it for a while until I can get the next story in the series to a point where I actually like what I've written. I don't know how long that will be, maybe a few days, maybe longer.

Thanks for the great support while I've been writing this. I really expected a lot more people would be upset. I was told by one very upset person who knew what I was going to be writing that people would stop reading and just hate me. I'm glad that person was wrong.

People handle this type of trauma in different ways, and I really wanted to explore what would happen if it happened to someone in the Firefly 'verse.

As always, please let this play out to its end. Right now there are quite a few stories left in this series. You may be surprised, or not, where it ends up leading.

This chapter ends with a bit of a shock, sorry, but, I do love drama :)

Some things will become clearer, or more confusing to some, as the stories and chapters go on. But don't worry, everything will be explained eventually.

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Chapter 5

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Simon didn’t know what to do with himself. It had only been a day; a day without his wife by his side, waking up beside him, snuggling into his arms, sighing against his mouth as he kissed her good morning.

After cleaning the infirmary, reading a few medical texts, researching treatment on traumatic events and walking aimlessly around the ship, Simon was at his wits end.

He needed to speak with Kaylee. He needed to help her. He rounded the corner into the cargo bay and stopped short as River blocked his path.

“River?” Simon blinked. He mentally chastised himself as he looked down at her. Her hair in disarray, her skin pale and her eyes red-rimmed. He’d been so wrapped up in Kaylee for the last few days, he hadn’t taken the time to see how his psychic sister was handling everything had happened. “Mei mei? Is there something you need?”

“You need more than I do.”

Simon sighed. He was really in no mood to try and decipher her cryptic words. “Yes, I