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F: Like the Dead
Fandom: Firefly
Main characters: Mal, River
Referenced characters: Simon
Pairings: None
Contains: Angst
Rating: G
Summary: Mal takes care of River while Simon's away. For![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
comment_fic.
"Would you mind havin' a peaceful night? We'd all be much obliged if you could get through a whole night without screaming yourself hoarse. And I'm sure your throat would appreciate it too."
The gruff expression didn't last long -- Mal softened almost instantly -- and he went into her room, sat down on the edge of her bed. River clutched her covers around her more firmly with one hand, the other hand tangled in her hair, tugging at it. Mal reached up and disentangled her from her hair.
"I'm sorry Simon isn't here," he said, almost gently, "but they need him. He's the only one who can help them."
"Dying," River said, quietly, shaking her head. "All dying."
"Your brother's fine, little one. Got a wave from him just an hour ago. He said to tell you he's okay, and that they've nearly got the sickness licked. Well, he said it fancier than that, but he is okay, and he told me to tell you that he's missin' you and he hopes you're okay."
"Dying," River said, again, shaking her head, her eyes wild.
"Nobody's dyin', River." Mal hesitated, not quite sure what to do about this, but then reached up and stroked her hair a little. "Do you want some of your medicine? Simon said it'd help you with the sleepin', at least."
"No needles."
"Nope, just a pill. You want me to get you one? Or you want me to sit up for a bit longer and stay?"
"Where's Simon? I want Simon."
"You know where Simon is. He's helpin' people -- like he's meant to. Tomorrow, how about I tell you when he checks in and you come and talk to him a bit, huh? In the meantime, you need to get some sleep, or he'll be worryin' about you even more."
"Worries too much," River said, but she was already moving to lie down again, pulling the covers up over her head. "Go away."
"You going to get some sleep, little one?"
"Like the dead." Despite the, to Mal's mind, unsettling statement, she peeped out from under the covers. "No worries."
"Alright then. Sleep well."
She didn't answer, then, but closed her eyes tightly and ignored him. He took that as a hint and stepped out of the room, closing it behind him softly, and then went to get himself some coffee. He had no idea how Simon did it, the nights River would hardly sleep, but he was going to make ample use of caffeine.
Main characters: Mal, River
Referenced characters: Simon
Pairings: None
Contains: Angst
Rating: G
Summary: Mal takes care of River while Simon's away. For
comment_fic."Would you mind havin' a peaceful night? We'd all be much obliged if you could get through a whole night without screaming yourself hoarse. And I'm sure your throat would appreciate it too."
The gruff expression didn't last long -- Mal softened almost instantly -- and he went into her room, sat down on the edge of her bed. River clutched her covers around her more firmly with one hand, the other hand tangled in her hair, tugging at it. Mal reached up and disentangled her from her hair.
"I'm sorry Simon isn't here," he said, almost gently, "but they need him. He's the only one who can help them."
"Dying," River said, quietly, shaking her head. "All dying."
"Your brother's fine, little one. Got a wave from him just an hour ago. He said to tell you he's okay, and that they've nearly got the sickness licked. Well, he said it fancier than that, but he is okay, and he told me to tell you that he's missin' you and he hopes you're okay."
"Dying," River said, again, shaking her head, her eyes wild.
"Nobody's dyin', River." Mal hesitated, not quite sure what to do about this, but then reached up and stroked her hair a little. "Do you want some of your medicine? Simon said it'd help you with the sleepin', at least."
"No needles."
"Nope, just a pill. You want me to get you one? Or you want me to sit up for a bit longer and stay?"
"Where's Simon? I want Simon."
"You know where Simon is. He's helpin' people -- like he's meant to. Tomorrow, how about I tell you when he checks in and you come and talk to him a bit, huh? In the meantime, you need to get some sleep, or he'll be worryin' about you even more."
"Worries too much," River said, but she was already moving to lie down again, pulling the covers up over her head. "Go away."
"You going to get some sleep, little one?"
"Like the dead." Despite the, to Mal's mind, unsettling statement, she peeped out from under the covers. "No worries."
"Alright then. Sleep well."
She didn't answer, then, but closed her eyes tightly and ignored him. He took that as a hint and stepped out of the room, closing it behind him softly, and then went to get himself some coffee. He had no idea how Simon did it, the nights River would hardly sleep, but he was going to make ample use of caffeine.
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