Why In the Name of All Things Holy...

Who: Simon
When: Anywhere from a year on after Objects in Space.
What: Why In the Name of All Things Holy…
Where: Serenity, on some planet
Why: Waitin' to be a big damn hero
How many: 862 Words


The dark-haired doctor nibbles his lower lip anxiously and fiddles with the revolver in his hand again. Why, in the name of all things Holy, did Jayne give him- him- a gun and tell him to be look out?

Then he reminds himself that it's another one of those "Save Zoe and the Captain" type missions. The kind that involve Wash in the pilot's seat, Inara keeping River calm, Kaylee bustling around the engine - getting ready to give them the extra kick they're sure to need, and Book at Jayne's side with a shotgun - doing his best to destroy kneecaps in the name of the Lord.

Which leaves Simon to stand, well, lean really, shakily against the wall to the side of the opened cargo bay door. Clutching a handgun in his clammy hand and trying in vain to control the pounding in his chest.

He swallows hard and skims the still night air outside the ship with darting, nervous glances. Even the air is tense tonight. Hard, and cold and waiting to shatter to the sound of gunshots, or Jayne's bellows, or the roar of Serenity's engine. Simon's just not sure which will come first.

And it's then that he hears rustling outside and to the right of the void. He presses himself clumsily against the wall again, to the left of the open door. Hand reflexively tightening on the weapon he's holding, finger twitching over the trigger, and he says a quick prayer that he doesn't shoot himself in the foot because that would just be-

"Simon, you shoot me in the gorram gut an' you an' I are gonna have words when you finish stichin' me up," The low almost-growl is issued from the same place Simon heard rustling previously and he feels all the air expel from his lungs in one great, relieved sigh.

"Now, git your Jing Tzahn Mei Yong Duh hide over here an' grab Vera so's I can get Mal inside."

Fingers trembling less now, Simon flips the safety back on like Jayne showed him and tosses the gun to the side, listening to the muted clatter and scrap as it falls and skids. He's sure Jayne'll kick his ass for that later, but right now he just wants it out of his sight.

Hurries out the door and squints in the darkness until he sees Jayne, Book, Zoey, and Mal, who is pushing a bloodied hand to his left shoulder, crouching in the darkness. Crouches himself and darts forward in the darkness.

Wordlessly, Jayne holds out the largest gun Simon has ever seen. Wordlessly, he accepts it, along with Book's own shotgun, then, when Jayne jerks his head towards the ship, he scurries back towards it and into the hold, setting Jayne's gun down with a bit more care and keeping Book's shotgun with him. Just in case.

He squints into the darkness again, until the darkness becomes darkness with blobs of shapeless darkness moving nearer. And until that becomes Jayne, bowed down with his arm around Mal's waist as he supports the other man's weight. Mal's limping slightly and Simon's already going over in his head all the tests he'll need to run.

He glances now at Book who is helping Zoe much the same way, but less. She looks more tired than anything.

Steps aside as they enter the ship and goes to the com, pressing it and telling Wash they'll be ready for lift off in less than five minutes. Then turns again and watches Book accept Jayne's place at Mal's side, leading him towards the infirmary with Zoe following slowly behind them. Flicks a glance to Jayne who is closing the cargo bay doors and collecting the weaponry.

Stalks over to the hulking mercenary, "Everything go smoothly?"

Jayne nods noncommittally, "More r'less. Weren't no shootin'. Mal's shoulder's from b'fore we found 'em." Watches the doors slip closed the rest of the way and punches the com again to let Wash know they're all ready to go.

Simon quirks a brow, "Oh? That's splendid," A bit more snarking than he had originally intended, but it'll do, "Perhaps next time Book can stay behind and man the 'look out' position," All angry bravado, and he's hoping it's hiding the shakes he's still got from holding that damn gun, "Really, Jayne, why in God's name would you ask me to cover you? I couldn't hit the broad side of Serenity for all the platinum in the 'verse!" He makes a quick note to remember not to be self-depreciating while being self-righteous next time.

Jayne snorts, "Reckon that's so, but cover fire's cover fire," He shrugs and hefts Vera over his shoulder, already moving towards the stairs up to Serenity's second level, "'Sides, I trust you."

Staring after him, Simon can do little more than open and close his mouth like a fish.

And be thankful that Book calls for him from the corridor. He strides towards the infirmary, developing an agenda for the night.

Fix Mal's shoulder up. Get a look at the cause of that limp. Give Zoe a once over. Check on River. Go to his bunk. Dwell.