Title: During my absence Author: bookishtype Prompt: Several Ways to get her attention Rating: PG Characters: Kaylee, Inara, River, Wash, Zoe Word Count: 434

The next twenty –four hours saw many interesting sites. River lay propped up on Inara’s bed and received visitors almost continuously.

Kaylee came in and spoke to her about what she was doing in the engine room and about what everyone was doing on the ship and where they were headin’ towards. She sat and spoke for over an hour until her voice became raspy and tired. Kaylee’s head drooped a little when she stopped and realised that River hadn’t changed an iota from when she had started. Inara walked into see Kaylee grab Rivers’ hand and give it a squeeze.

“You did well, mei mei, but you should rest, maybe come back later” Inara eased Kaylee off her chair.

“It’s not right, seeing her like this, Inara. I don’t like her being so alone.” Kaylee saddened by the thought that she hadn’t helped River in any way.

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Wash stepped through Inara’s doors, it wasn’t often that he came into her shuttle and he was awestruck by the care she had taken to set it up to be so inviting and so plush.

He had decided to try his hand at helping River; he figured that the ship being on autopilot meant he had a bit of time to do something.

In each of his hand held two dinosaurs, this was his special gift to River, a dinosaur story. He had only ever given these to Zoe before but seeing as this was a special case, he was going to perform for River too. She was his sole audience member and he was going to get her attention one way or another.

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He finished up on a very good note in the story. He had told a thrilling tale of heroics and adventure and a little of love thrown in too. He picked up his dinosaurs from the bed, lightly patted River on her head and headed out the door. He opened it to find Zoe standing there.

“Hello husband”, she said.

“I can explain, wife, Wash started, “It was just this one time and it meant nothing to me, it was all for her, really.”

Zoe smiled, “I know babe, I came here to say a thank you of sorts and you doing this reminds me what I went through for my brother and to see you doing this tells me that you’re something special.”

She leant in and gave Wash a kiss. Wash relaxed; he didn’t want to hurt Zoe’s feeling in anyway.

******************** The IV dripped in more fluid into River’s veins; she sat there oblivious to it all.