(no subject)

[simon_doctor]

Simon Tam comes stalking out of the infirmary in a cold fury, and heads in the direction of the --

wait.

A few paces into the room he slows, then comes to a stop. His hands and arms relax from their taut anger, and his eyebrows draw down slowly in bewilderment.

He looks back over his shoulder with an expression that says, as clearly as though he'd spoken aloud: what the tiān xiăodé just happened?

Comments

[doc-lecter.livejournal.com]

"Something wrong in there?" Dr. Hannibal Lecter asks in a mild voice from the counter.

[simon_doctor]

"Ah ..."

Simon turns and blinks at Dr Lecter.

"I don't ... no, I don't think so."

[doc-lecter.livejournal.com]

He raises an eyebrow slowly. "Your anger speaks otherwise."

[simon_doctor]

"I'm not angry."

And he isn't. Not anymore.

That's the strange thing.

[doc-lecter.livejournal.com]

"Is a friend of yours hurt?"

[simon_doctor]

"...A friend of a friend. He should be all right."

He'll live.

Simon visibly works to regain his bearings. "Dr. ... Lecter, isn't it?"

[doc-lecter.livejournal.com]

He nods. "I am. And you are ... ?"

[simon_doctor]

"Dr. Tam. Simon Tam."

[doc-lecter.livejournal.com]

"A pleasure, Doctor.

"What is the condition?"

[flybywash]

He's at the Bar with a small bowl of salad, picking out the tomatoes for no reason. Wash looks up as Simon comes stalking in; immediately, he frowns a little.

"Simon?"

[simon_doctor]

Simon's head turns rather quickly when he hears his name. He heads in Wash's direction, still looking a little bewildered, and takes the barstool next to him.

"...I just had the strangest conversation with the captain," he finally says.

[flybywash]

The frown relaxes into a more wry expression.

"A lot of conversations with him end up that way," he says, ferreting out another cherry tomato as he watches Simon. "It's this weird and slightly alarming gift he's got. What happened?"

[simon_doctor]

"I have no idea."

Simon's fingers lace together on the bartop.

"There's, ah ... a friend of his here. From the War. Injured. We took him to the infirmary, stitched him up. He should be okay."

[flybywash]

Wash doesn't make the connection that 'from the War' means just that: a soldier fallen straight into Milliways from Serenity Valley, 2511. He hisses in a short breath all the same.

A friend of Mal's may likely mean a friend of Zoe's, too.

"Don't give me three guesses to find out how well that went. I don't think I need 'em."

[simon_doctor]

"The kid's still pretty badly shellshocked. He's here from still during the War." Beat, and Simon's voice softens. "Near the end."

[flybywash]

"...Oh, hell."

It's a breathy, stunned whisper. Wash looks to his food and back to Simon.

"You mean Hera?"

[simon_doctor]

Simon nods. "Serenity Valley."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe's settled at a table near the bar, with a bowl of...something rather pink. She glances up as Simon exits the infirmary, her brow furrowing.

"...Doc?"

[simon_doctor]

He glances up at her.

And looks ... oddly guilty.

"Yes?"

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe eyes him steadily, one eyebrow arched a bit.

"You okay, there?"

[simon_doctor]

"...I think so."

He's blinking, and doesn't sound at all sure.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

"Somethin' happen back there?"

Zoe jerks her head towards the infirmary.

[simon_doctor]

"I meant to tell you earlier."

He puts aside the confusion, almost visibly.

"Last night -- a friend of the captain's showed up here. From the War. A young man with bright red hair."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe goes still.

She wasn't moving that much to begin with, but the sudden stillness is noticeable, somehow.

"From the war as in someone he knew in the war, or from the war as in...?"

[simon_doctor]

"Yes."

It's harder to say than it has any right to be.

"He's here from Serenity Valley."