Post-Attack with Mal.

[badinlatin]

"But I'll be here when you're done..."

The first conscious thought that occurs to Captain Reynolds is that he is very cold, and that this condition might be due to the fact he has no shirt on and is lying facedown on an examination table.

Gorramitwelosti'mattheAcademy

Mal quickly attempts getting up - too quickly - and immediately falls back down on the table, pain zipping through his right side.

Once it passes through Mal's head that he should look around this room he's in, he might see Simon's meticulously-ordered medical supplies throughout this sterile room.

And the person about to enter into it.

Comments

[badinlatin]

"Better. Thought I'd be feelin' pain...or at least sore," Mal starts, reaching around to the part of his back where he received the most damage. "Don't feel like nothin's there, really."

In a quieter, more sedate tone, "Can't get my right hand to stop shakin', though."

[simon_doctor]

Soothing: "That's normal. It should pass within the next day or two."

With absent firmness, Simon moves Mal's hand away from the bandaged area. "And I've put a nerve block on the worst of the injury. It's going to hurt later, I'm afraid. But there's no sign of infection, and none of your internal organs were damaged, so ... on the whole I'd say you're going to be fine."

[badinlatin]

"Yeah. I'll live."

The sentence sounds unusual to Mal for a minute, so he repeats it several times in his head before saying anything else.
I'll live I'll live I'll live
"How is everyone else? The students?"

Not that Mal could be asking after one student in particular.

[simon_doctor]

"Ted Brautigan and Sheemie Ruiz took them through to Taos on Earth-that-Was, just as we'd planned. I've given Ted copies of the files from the Academy, and ... they should be able to help them there."

A pause. "And I don't know how much else you've been told already, but ... River's back, and she's fine."

[badinlatin]

"Yeah; I heard that." Mal smiles for Simon - nothing Mal could say would make Simon happier about life than him knowing his sister is okay.

"So," Mal clears his throat roughly, "Am I clear for duty, doctor Simon person?"

Mal offers a jaunty salute in jest.

[simon_doctor]

A judicious look. "Well, I'd recommend you wait at least until the nerve block wears off."

[badinlatin]

"...And just how long is that going to take?" A bit of his humor drops, in an equal amount to his anxiety to get back to being captain-like.

[simon_doctor]

"A few days ... since I'll be renewing it constantly until I can be sure your stitches won't pop open the second you move."

[badinlatin]

Mal connects eyesight with Simon, giving him a bit of headtilt as Mal has hardly seen him in Doctor Simon Tam mode.

And he laughs.

"Fine, Doc. I won't be doin' anythin' too bad for a spell, okay?" Still chuckling to himself, Mal reaches with his right hand to shake Simon's. And retracts it quickly as he feels his wound uncomfortably move.

Now offering his left hand, he quips, "S'pose that means no handshakin' neither."

[simon_doctor]

Simon smiles, and comes around the bed to stand where Mal can reach his hand.

"Speaking as your physician, I don't think handshaking is a problem."

A pause. "And speaking as your crewman...."

He offers his hand.

"Thank you, sir."

[badinlatin]

Mal smiles quickly, letting his eyes turn kindly for Simon.

"Any time."