Mal-Simon re: Gabriel and dreams...

[badinlatin]

Mal is in the infirmary. Nothing's wrong, really, just Mal is looking on some of the med-references Simon has collected there. Something about 'hypoglycemia' and palming a small vial in his hand over and over.

He only vaguely hears someone walking toward him.

Comments

[simon_doctor]

"...Was there something you needed?"

It's Simon, standing in the doorway of the infirmary. The tone's more concerned than challenging.

[badinlatin]

"Uh, no, Doc, everythin's shiny. Shiny like...I dunno, somethin' Kaylee likes."

Yeah, Mal's not doing too good with the lying bit.

[simon_doctor]

"...ah hah."

Simon takes a quick look over Mal's shoulder.

"This would be some light after-dinner reading, then."

[badinlatin]

"Yes," Mal retorts defensively, turning off the screen where his information had been scrolling. Still rolling the vial in his hand, he continues, "Can't help it if I'm educatin' myself."

[simon_doctor]

Simon looks pointedly at the vial.

[badinlatin]

Mal follows Simon's gaze and quickly tucks the vial back in his pocket.

"Sorry for pokin' through your books and such..." he says as he starts to leave.

[simon_doctor]

Mildly: "If you're taking medication out of the infirmary, I do need to know about it."

[badinlatin]

Less than mildly: "Weren't ever yours; Faith gave it to me in the bar."

Mal's eyes shift downward in a I-hadn't-meant-to-say-that look.

[simon_doctor]

"Really." Simon's voice goes a bit thin. "I wasn't aware Faith was licensed to prescribe medication."

[badinlatin]

"Neither are you, Mr. Fugitive Doctor."

Mal doesn't say anything for a long moment, but doesn't leave the infirmary either.

"It's a Dreamless Sleep potion Bar had given her once. She thought I should try it. And as far as what I was lookin' up in your medbooks, I went to go see Dr. Sandhu in the bar the other day."

[simon_doctor]

"...I see."

Simon is silent for a moment in turn.

"You realize this is exactly the kind of thing I need to know in order to do my job here?"

[badinlatin]

"Doc, your job here is to patch up my crew. If I so choose, I can take my problems elsewhere."

He's just trying to help; why are you being such a hun dan?

"You're crew, and got friends here. I don't need the rest o' the crew knowin' 'bout this."

[simon_doctor]

Simon's chin comes up, and his voice thins even further.

"Captain, I would never. Ever. Discuss with anyone else something a patient told me in confidence.

"And if you intend to as you say take your problems elsewhere, you might do me the courtesy of informing me. If I ever have to prescribe you anything and I don't know what other meds you're taking, I could do you a great deal of unintentional harm."

If that sounds just a tiny bit like a threat, Simon's probably not aware of that implication. Probably.

[badinlatin]

"Fine. Shiny. I went to the bar to find someone else because I didn't really feel like sharing that I haven't slept more 'n 2 or 3 hours a night in weeks, my gun hand keeps shakin' like I'm strung out on drops, my back hurts all the time, and apparently now I'm hypoglycemic! What in the good gorram is hypoglycemia?"

Mal's face seems to be flushing in direct proportion to his tone increasing in volume.

[simon_doctor]

"...Low blood sugar."

The irritation is completely gone from his tone; it's calm and professional now, with only the slightest touch of something that might be called concern.

Or possibly alarm.

"You said you've been having trouble sleeping -- have you been having trouble eating as well?"

[badinlatin]

Mal breathes of a second to let his rankles fall back into place, then starts, "Eh. I eat when I'm hungry. Don't know what really classifies as trouble, Simon.

"Inara told me once that I eat like I'm on death row," he offers, not quite sure what the doctor is looking for.

[simon_doctor]

Patiently: "Have you been eating less than usual lately?"

[badinlatin]

"Thinkin' on it, yeah. I suppose," is the quieter response.

[simon_doctor]

"And you've been experiencing..." Simon's eyes flick to the pocket containing the vial.

"...troubling dreams?"

[badinlatin]

Mal has turned rather suddenly chilly in demeanor at this question.

"Yes."

[simon_doctor]

Quiet, almost apologetic: "That could account for the other symptoms you've described. Loss of appetite; loss of sleep leading to buildup of fatigue toxins..."

[badinlatin]

"Well, I went to Dream about 'em to see if he could get 'em to stop and all he mumbled about was some dàxiàng bàozhàshì de lādùzi about there bein' a difference between dealing with them and stopping them.

"I don't know what to do about them. I just need to sleep."

[simon_doctor]

"Ah. Hence the, ah ... potion."

He sounds dubious.

[badinlatin]

Mal looks dubious.

"I don't wanna use it. But if I don't get some sleep soon, I'm not going to be the nicest person to be around."

Not that I am anyway.

"'Sides, I figure if I get a decent sleep, I can convince my body I ain't such an old man."

[simon_doctor]

"That's definitely a good idea. I could, ah ..." His voice goes slightly hesitant. "If you're not comfortable with the, ah ... I could prescribe you a soother. I've used them myself, la -- occasionally."

That last word sure sounded a lot like it was going to be lately.