Without help he'll never be able to get Mal up onto one of the operating tables. There doesn't seem to be anyone else within shouting distance, just now.

Well, and so.

"Mal, I'm going to try to move you down to the floor," he says, "so I can deal with that wound. If you can put pressure on it, right here --"

Carefully as he can, he takes Mal's right hand and moves it to cover the bullet hole.