Simon leaned over her, stitching up the wound to her heart. It was as plain to see as the one he sported on his own right now. "Hold him down!" Niska turned to her. "Now, my little flower, you shall watch as we cut into him. This is only the second time that I have found one such as you. So selfless and loving that there is no need to hurt you. Now, my little flower, i have no need to cut into that body of yours. I shall simply watch and meet the real you, because you shall feel all the pain I give to him just as sharply as if it were your own body I cut into." He injected the morphine into her system from the syringe. Screw the orthodox part of his training. Her blood was spurting out into the air or her chest. He needed to slow it down. This was the only way to save her. The only way. Simon shook as the electrodes were applied to him, sending thousands of volts through his body in a measured charge. From off to the side, he heard someone scream. He knew that scream. It could only be- "KAYLEE!!!!" Simon pounded his fist down onto her sternum, desperately trying to get her heart going again. The electro-pads needed thirty more seconds to charge. A thirty seconds he didn't have. Not anymore. Outside, the rest of them just watched, waiting for her salvation. They all had complete faith in him. Simon started to wonder if that faith was misplaced. He screamed out her name again. "Kaylee, damnit, don't you give up on me!!! C'mon, baobei, C'MON!!!!" He pounded his fist down one last time, then heard the sound. Oh, the blessed sound!!! A new tone, past the moniters mocking scream. The pads were charged. Ready. "CLEAR!!!" Niska pressed the gun into her shaking hand. He had a twisted sense of paternal pride about him, as if happy that she had broken so easily. She wouldn't close her hand on the vile thing, this spawn and this incarnate of all the evil men possesed. He frowned at her. "Come, come, my child. You musn't play these games. Take this gun. You must, or we will torture him some more." She wimpered, but then closed her hand on the gun. In front of her, Simon lay on the floor, groaning weakly. Tears clouded her eyes. Two guards came up and hauled him upright. His shirt was off, revealing his bare chest. It was traced with seven scars. "Now, you will shoot him, and I shall meet the real you." The deranged bastard almost sounded gleeful. Simon coughed something. Niska cocked his head to one side. "What was that?" "Kay...Kaylee. If she... kills me, then... will she go...free?" Niska frowned for a moment, then brightened up. "Ah, yes, yes. I swear, that if she does what I ask, then she will go free." "I... we... have your... word?" His smile held no kindness. "Yes." Simon looked down at his life and his love. The moniter beeped thoughtfully at them, no longer a demon of ill omen. The I.V. she was hooked up to slowly drained more blood into her system. Simon clenched her hand tightly in both of his. It had worked. He had saved her. But could he save them? She coughed a little, and he ran a hand soothingly through her hair. Her eyes opened. "Simon? Wha'-" Simon held his hand to her lips. "Shh, shh, xin gan. Its over. Your safe. We're safe. Now, please, just sleep a little. Your still very weak. Just... sleep..." She slowly closed her eyes. "Thanks, Simon. You take such good care a me." Simon smiled until she had closed her eyes. Save her? Take care of her? He had nearly killed her! Did he deserve to be with her, like he wanted to be? No. He couldn't protect her. Not like he should be able to. Not like she should be protected. He ran his hand through her hair once more. So sweet... so innocent. He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, and settled down in the chair he had set up next to her. Niska gently but firmly pushed the gun back into posistion. She had pointed it slightly left, so that it wasn't facing Simon's head. He smiled his evil little smile. "Now, now, my child. You shouldn't play with guns. Do this, or you will simply watch him die slowly. I know many ways to make a man die over many, many hours. And you don't want that, my little flower." Kaylee looked down the barrel, past it. Straight into Simon's eyes. They were dead and barren, like how he must surely feel inside. A spark. Kaylee simply stared into his soul, trying to say what she wanted without any words. I'm sorry, Simon. I love you. Please forgive me. Slowly, painfully, he nodded. An answer to those questions and qualms. He has forgiven all. All is forgiven in death. Everyone dies alone in the end. River came over, silent as a shadow. Everyone else was sleeping. Mal was talking with Inara in her shuttle. Zoe and Jayne were in their bunks. Simon was sleeping next to Kaylee. River wasn't sleeping. She got next to Simon. One arm was thrown around Kaylee's waist, the other around his own chest. Protecting her, even while she slept. What she needed to tell him could wait. All is forgotten in sleep. She could wait to tell him. Tomorrow.