simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

Visits are nice, when you're convalescing.

Even if they can only happen over a vidscreen.

He smiles, tired but genuinely pleased.

"Hi, meimei."

At the first word, River's body hunches a little more forward -- as though she could pass through the monitor and the distance, if only she focused hard enough.

"Simon."

"Yes."

He misses her suddenly, fiercely.

"Simon."

Abruptly, her eyes fill with tears. River, staring fiercely at the screen, doesn't seem to have noticed.

"You're okay." It's hot, a declaration of firm fact -- it is, underneath, a tremulous question.

"I'm okay," he repeats, even more firmly; there's no question under it. "I was just a little sick. And I'm much better."

"Pneumonic bronchiolitis. Infectious inflammation of the bronchioles -- standard expectation is mitigated by juvenile immune reaction."

Beat.

Her face twists, a faint shadow of her usual duh; this one is directed as much at herself as Simon. "I know."

"And I'll be home soon," he offers.

"Promise?"

"I promise." Soft. "Home for the weekend one more time, and then the next time we come home it'll be to stay."

River's smile is wobbly, and very small, and the effort behind it is clear.

But she does manage it.

"We'll make crackers."

He smiles back, both saddened and heartened.

"In the meantime ... are you behaving yourself while I'm gone?"

"Always do."

This is sometimes a giant lie.

But River's lies are usually teasing, and she's not in the right mood to tease just now. (Not much, anyway.)

"Good." That's firm. "And you're keeping an eye on the captain?"

He takes so much looking after.

There are no words. There is only DUH.

"Of course," he answers himself on her behalf, with a low chuckle.

(It's a little raspy, but not too badly so.)

"Call it collaboration."

Simon can join in! HINT.

(She knows why he isn't home right now; she knows the reasons are good. But.)

"And everyone else? They're well?"

It's more an excuse to keep talking than anything else.

"Wash fusses."

So that's a yes.

"Over Naomi, still?"

He's not surprised.

"She's very grumpy." River's voice is a little softer; she likes kids, and she likes Naomi. And she sympathizes. "Time to play."

"She should be well enough for that, by now."

Simon gets a blank look through the screen.

"I said."

"I know," he says, with a small smile. "I know you did."

River may not be entirely sure why Simon's smiling.

But he's Simon; he gets a tiny, uncertain smile back.

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