#objects in space

Series: Pain Share

Grief_E5714

Simon sat reading on the common room couch, his sore leg stretched out in front of him. The only sound in the room was the silent turning of the pages and Serenity's gentle hum. The book dipped, Simon's eyes fluttering shut, when a sudden thump from the cargo bay made him start awake and drop the book, the movement jostling his sore leg.

"Wo de ma he ta de fen kuang de wai sheng dou-"

"Easy there, doc," Mal said, appearing in the doorway, the portable Cortex held in his hands. "Just me."

"I don't know if that's better or worse." Simon muttered, grimacing when a spasm shot through his leg.

The captain smiled and put the Cortex down on the coffee table next to Simon's leg, taking a seat on the chair next to the couch. "Leg botherin' ya?"

"Not at all," Simon deadpanned. "I've had mosquito bites worse than this."

Mal laughed, a small smile making its way onto the doctor's face.

The Cortex pinged and Mal's smile fell.

"Is something wrong, Captain?" Simon asked. He tried to push himself up but hissed when his leg shifted. Mal passed him the screen and sighed.

"They, uh, they updated yer wanted bulletins."

He didn't need to see the screen to know why the boy froze. Hell, he would have done the same.

Both of the Tam's bounty had been increased with a 1000 credits and the words Dead or Alive flashed next to Simon's name.

It was quiet, Serenity's engine a steady hum.

"It's a few days old-"

Simon's voice was soft and Mal almost missed it, but missing what he said was as hard as missing a brick wall.

"We'll leave."

Mal stopped, stunned.

"Huh?"

Simon's eyes were downcast, his jaw set and his body tensed.

"I said, Captain, we'll leave. River and I are a threat in more ways than one and-"

"Doc."

His voice was harsh but Mal wanted, needed, the kid to hear this.

"Doc, listen to me. You and yer sister are crew and that's not nothing. Ya ain't leavin' this ship just because yer bounty'd been increased. Yer safer here than anywhere else."

He tried to catch the doctor's eyes.

"If ya want to leave, then so be it. But it should be yer own decision, not out o' some misplaced sense of protection. We can look after our own, and, well," Mal smiled, "having a doc on board to patch us up after ain't too bad."

Simon laughed quietly and looked up at the Captain with suspiciously bright eyes.

"Why?"

"How many times do I have to say this, son? Yer on my crew."

Mal gently clapped Simon on the shoulder, careful not to jostle him.

He stood up, picking up the fallen book and handing it to Simon before he left. Just as he reached the doorway, he turned back. Simon looked up at him, frowning.

"Oh, and doc?"

"Yes Captain?"