Chapter 2: Ice Burn

Simon lay on his bed flicking through his medical journals. He knew that he didn’t have any time to waste when it came to helping River but somehow he just couldn’t seem to focus. His mind was stuck on thoughts of Kaylee and how angry she had seemed when he walked in on her in the engine room. He hadn’t even looked up; she had just spat the words out and continued with her work. Simon was used to Kaylee getting angry at him but it was usually because he had said or done something wrong by accident and so he usually knew what to apologise for. This time he hadn’t a clue what he could have done and that left him feeling very frustrated. Why had she been so cold? He slammed his book shut and hurled it across the room in exasperation just in time to hit Mal in the head as the captain slid open the door to Simon’s room.

“Ai ya!” Cried Mal in shock “Ow! Watch yourself Doctor, throwing things at your Captain is a sure fire way to get yourself thrown out an airlock”

“Sorry” Said Simon sheepishly “I just have a lot of things on my mind and at the time, throwing a book seemed like it would help”

“Yeah, well, I’m fairly certain it didn’t” Said Mal, sounding slightly annoyed “Anyway, I got no time for any more of your problems right now ‘cause this one is big enough”

Simon looked at him, puzzled.

“I’m talking about your gorram sister” Said Mal started to let his annoyance get the better of him “I’m trying to get my guns cleaned up and she won’t move her ass from the gorram table. Keeps staring at me. Giving me the creeps”

“And you want me to do what with her exactly?” Asked Simon, a touch of stubbornness is his voice. He had enough on his mind at the moment without having to deal with the Captain’s periodical dislike for River’s presence “Drag her away and lock her up?”

“If it keeps her from staring at me, yes” Simon opened his mouth to object but the Captain cut him off “I’ve already made it plain that she is not to be messing with any of my business. I treat everyone on my boat t