simon_doctor | (no subject)

(no subject)

They came to an agreement early on: since Kaylee's much busier than Simon right now, even if he helps, and since Simon will be much busier after they've moved, it only makes sense for him to do the bulk of their packing now and for her to do the bulk of the unpacking later.

This means careful documenting and labeling, while he's putting things into boxes; it'll save a lot of trouble in the unpacking, since he might not be there to remember where he put what. In short: making lists.

He's a bit confused by the pair of unfamiliar books he's just come across, though.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"And ... not just with me."

That's tentative, and only half a question.

"Not just with you."

She lets out a long sigh. "I think -- it's gonna get better when we're gone. If only because I'm wantin' to pick back up with the talkin' to someone until it gets better."

He nods. "There's some psychiatric counseling available in Logan City. It wouldn't be hard to arrange."

"Then let's plan on it."

Her turn to let out a sigh. "Just that I'm tired of always thinkin' it'll get better later if I can just hang on."

Simon closes his eyes.

"I know what you mean," he whispers.

She looks up at him again, and tightens her grip on his hand.

He opens his eyes and meets her gaze, and bends to kiss her forehead.

She smiles, faintly, and it's a little wry when she says, "So you still love me even though I'm terrible and don't treat you right?"

Simon brushes a wisp of hair away from her face.

"Kaylee." Soft. "I will always love you."

Don't jinx us, she almost says.

Her smile's a little crooked.

"Well."

No louder. "Back at you, handsome."

He smiles, small and warm and only a little crooked.

"Does this mean you forgive me for prying into your plans?"

"Yeah."

She looks away -- a little ashamed.

"You don't have to tell me anything else about it." Quiet. "Now or later. Until you want to. I just ..."

A breath.

"I know you don't want me to worry about you, but it'll be easier not to worry if I know you've got something like this."

Her gaze slides back to him. "Seriously?"

He nods silently.

"Why?"

A small headtilt, like a shrug. "The same reason you wanted to do it in the first place, I guess."

"...because you're gonna be bored and need somethin' to do so you don't go crazy?" Beat. "Crazier?"

"Because you would be. Because I remember how much better things got on Osiris once you had -- not just something to do, but something to do that's ... what you're best at."

Her smile's a little fragile.

"Handsome, I'm more likely than not to fail. I don't want you gettin' your hopes up neither."

Soft: "Why do you think you're likely to fail?"

"Investment's got to happen before I can do any serious work on the business if I want to finance it myself, which I do. And from what I'm readin', all the homework in the world's not gonna make up for a good set of instincts. And I never done this before."

Simon bites his lip, and nods.

"That's going to be the tricky part."

And I don't know how much help I could be even if you wanted me to; I've never done this before either.

"So's the math. 'Cause it's not like I'm plannin' on high-risk nothin' until I know what I'm doing, which means I got to look at simple and compound interest and all that business."

She aims an eye at the rest of the engine room. "Course, it's not like I'm ever gonna be done here, so most of it's moot."

He makes a rueful face. "Are you done here for the night, or ...?"