Disclaimers: Everything belongs to Joss, except for one character of my creation ----------------------------- **Mousing over the Chinese should reveal the English translations on most browsers. If not, translations follow the story. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “What was the stop this morning?” Alex asked Simon groggily. He had upped her pain medication enough that she’d slept most of the day; but the stop at the training house registered. “We dropped Inara off,” Simon answered, and at that Alex came fully awake. “Huh? Dropped Inara off where?” She tried to rise up on her elbows, and winced as she did. Simon pushed her gently back down. “She left...to work at a Companion training house, or somesuch.” He answered almost absently as he pushed buttons on the IV pump to adjust the flow rate. Alex frowned, an uneasy feeling coming over her. “What prompted that?” Simon shrugged and gave her an odd look. “Not sure. Why?” Alex decided not to pursue it. “It’s nothing,” she murmured. She recalled her conversation with Kaylee, during her transport to the prison, about Inara and Mal. Kaylee had been concerned that Mal’s encounter with Alex might further complicate things. Alex tried to assure her she was only a blip on the radar, and wouldn’t mean anything in the grand scheme. Now she wasn’t so sure. “When did she decide to leave?” she asked, opting to pursue it after all. Simon looked at her curiously. “A few weeks ago. I’m not sure exactly.” Alex hesitated. “You sure you don’t know why?” “No, sorry. I don’t.” He checked the connections on her IV line and smiled at her. “Good news,” he said. “What?” “I’m pulling your feeding tube—you get to try some real food today.” Alex felt her stomach roll. She made a face. “Sounds yucky right now.” She patted her stomach and smiled a small smile. “’Course, the critter here would prob’ly disagree.” Simon was quiet a long moment before he spoke again. “This is almost certainly none of my business,” he said, nodding toward her stomach. “But you seemed very concerned that the captain not think... this...” He stopped, fishing awkwardly for the words. “It’s not,” she said, answering quickly and firmly. “His, I mean. I don’t want him thinking I’m...it’s not his problem, is all.” “Hmm,” Simon murmured. Alex cocked her head. “What?” “Nothing,” he said hastily. “I’m sorry—I was just...curious. I shouldn’t have asked.” He reddened slightly, and avoided catching her eye again. “I need you to relax now,” he said. “I’m gonna pull this. Breathe through your mouth...” Alex gagged slightly as he pulled the tube. “Good,” he said when it was over. He drew up a syringe of pain medicine and injected her. “Now go back to sleep. I’ll check on you a little later.” Alex closed her eyes as Simon dimmed the lights. Then she opened them again. “Is Mal okay?” she asked. “Okay? How do you mean?” “About Inara leaving.” Simon shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess. We haven’t talked about it.” He left and Alex felt her eyes begin to droop again. As she floated toward sleep, she felt, rather than heard, a presence in the room with her. She forced her heavy lids open one more time, and saw River standing over her, swimming in and out of focus. “The pebble’s hit the water,” River said, her voice resonating in Alex’s woozy brain. She bent down, studying Alex’s face. “The ripples are spreading out. Everyone can see. You can’t hide them.” Alex tried to respond, but the connection between her brain and her lips was not working. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. “River.” It was Simon’s voice, sounding far away. “Let Alex sleep, mei-mei . She needs to rest.” Alex let her eyes close, unable to hold them open, and as she drifted away she thought she heard River’s voice one last time: “You can’t hide the ripples from him. He’s already seen.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHINESE: mei-mei = little sister ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go to Chapter 29. Back to Chapter 27.