(no subject)

[simon_doctor]

It's midmorning in Logan City on Praxed -- early afternoon, ship's time -- when Serenity touches down at the spacedocks. There's supplies to take on, and cargo to unload ... and two members of the crew to go ashore.

Simon and Kaylee are standing by the gangplank, next to the float pallet bearing their luggage. They've put in a call for a rental skimmer; it should be here sometime in the next twenty minutes.

This isn't goodbye forever. But it's still goodbye.

Comments

[river_meimei]

River goes to him, immediately and in silence.

[simon_doctor]

He wraps both arms around her, equally silent, and rubs her back gently.

[river_meimei]

River's not crying. Not today.

But she rests her face against her brother's shoulder wordlessly, leaning into him, and her hands curl into his shirt at the small of his back.

[simon_doctor]

"You'll come visit us," he murmurs. "And we'll come back to see you. All the time."

[river_meimei]

River nods firmly against his shoulder, without lifting her head.

You better, dummy.

[simon_doctor]

"And, hey."

He draws back, just enough to look her in the face.

"You'll look after the captain for us?"

[river_meimei]

River manages a watery half-smile, for Simon.

"I promise."

He takes so much looking after.

[simon_doctor]

His own smile isn't much better. Put them together and they've got one whole smile between them.

"I know you will."

[river_meimei]

Abrupt and low, and almost fierce: "You too."

[simon_doctor]

He's gotten better at understanding River's half-spoken thoughts, over the years.

This one doesn't take a whole lot of translating.

"I will. We will, meimei."

[river_meimei]

River nods, sharply, before she wilts forward against Simon's shoulder again.

"It's a deal."

[simon_doctor]

"If you need me," he whispers. "If you need me for anything."

He doesn't have to finish the sentence.

It's as true now as it was all those years ago.

[river_meimei]

"It's ontological," River whispers, and the wobbly teary smile on her face is the realest one yet, even as new tears spring to her eyes.

Fierce: "You too. I know it. She'll listen."

[simon_doctor]

"I know."

He rubs her back again.

"I know you will."

[river_meimei]

"I remember," River whispers, curling into his embrace.

The fierceness is gone again; she's a young girl in this moment, younger than her years, and she huddles against her brother. Her hair tangles around his fingers in the breeze from a passing skimmer, as if that too is clinging.

[simon_doctor]

Slowly he untangles her hair from around his hand, fingercombs through it lightly.

"We're going to be okay."