Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own any of these wonderful characters, or even the setting and world of Firefly. They all belong to Fox/Universal and Joss Whedon.
James Norrington and related belongs to Disney, Gore, Jerry and Ted and Terry.
A/N: This series of ficlets takes place after Browncoats at World’s End. You don’t have to read it, but it would explain how an 18th century commodore came to be aboard Serenity
Saga: There is a saga? I guess since most of these fics will be after “Browncoats at World’s End” and continue after each other it is a saga.
Chapter 6: Philosophy of Healing.
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“I know you are halfway asleep,” Dr. Simon Tam leaned back onto one of the common room couches. His eyes were on the dozing woman next to him. “I guess this will make it easier for me to say what is on my mind.”
“Hmmm,” Zoe mumbled. Her consciousness was fading as she slipped into sleep. Sleep was what she and every one the ship needed, at least 8 hours worth according to every little pamphlet and every scrap of information on basic health Simon had read.
“You don’t have to respond,” he sighed. “If you are, or were going through insomnia, then I shouldn’t stop you.” He stared at his hands. “I wish I knew what is the exact cure that made you sleepy, unless it was the sound of my own voice.”
The only response he received form Zoe was deep breathing through her nose. It wasn’t exactly a snore; he just knew it meant she was asleep.
“We never got to talk about what is keeping me awake,” he smiled weakly. There were only a few things he could rationalize of what could keep him awake. The first is what he and the others been through. The traveling through time and returning did reach a part of his mind that did make him feel a bit giddy. The more painful aspects of the trip overwhelmed the giddy feeling. There was the fear of wondering if they could ever return, the fear of briefly loosing River, for his and the other’s safety when they were arrested and the horror of Davy Jones and his crew, and even more fear when he saw River run out of Serenity to fight against such aquatic mutations.
There was the uncertainty of the future. He was getting married. He proposed to Kaylee and she accepted. He was thinking about the details as much as she was. He was thinking about how things were going to be different. She will still keep the ship running and he will be treating the injuries of the rest of the crew. The only difference would be he and Kaylee will be sleeping in the same bunk and she will be Mrs. Kaywinnit Lee Tam.
“I guess I’m just worried about being a good husband.” He leaned forward to turn of the recording. His eyes lingered on the image of Hobby for a full second. He remembered helping Zoe deliver him. “And I guess I am worried about being a good father, but that won’t be for a while.”
Zoe continued to sleep. Her arm hung limply across her stomach.
“I’ll go and take care of your cup,” he stood up
-
Simon had washed and put the cup away before he returned to the common area. He couldn’t sit on the same couch as Zoe, not when she was taking up the entire room. He could go back to his bunk. That is if he were tired.
“I have to get my mind on something else,” he said as he headed towards the cargo bay. He could at least try to find a blanket for Zoe.
He was alone. That was the first thing he had noticed when he arrived. Jayne may have been exorcising earlier, but the mercenary was no longer there. That was one thing he didn’t have to worry about. He was in no mood for Jayne’s crude behavior or attitude.
“Blankets,” he muttered as he opened the storage box that contained extra bedding.
“Is it too cold in your room?”
“What?” Simon raised his head too fast, knocking the top against the lid. “Damn.”
“Sorry,” Inara apologized. Simon could hear her descending the stairs that lead to her shuttle.
“It didn’t.” Simon turned around. “I’m just disappointed in myself that I did something that stupid.”
“It happens to the best of us,” Inara stepped off the last step. “Are you cold in your room?”
He shook his head. “It’s for Zoe.” He lifted the lid again and reached inside. “She had trouble sleeping and we just talked and then she drifted to sleep.”
Inara nodded. “Does she have an extra blanket in her bunk.”
“She fell asleep in the common room.” He pulled out a simple bland colored blanket. “Nearly everyone is going through bouts of insomnia.”
“I am not exactly surprised.”
He paused. What was keeping her awake, or did she just wake up after unsettling sleep. “We did go through a lot recently.”
“Some believe the life of a Companion is full of romantic adventure,” She ran her fingers down the purple sleeping gown she wore. “I’m sure others could say they have been on some exciting adventures, but compared to what happened after I climbed aboard Serenity, The life of a Companion could be a little dull.”
“I think we had enough adventures to last a lifetime,” He raised a finger for silence once they entered the common room. “The captain did say our lives are more interesting than others.” He whispered.
“Even before we stole Jonas’s machine,” Inara grabbed the other end of the blanket and helped him place it over Zoe. “She certainly looks happy.”
Simon hadn’t noticed the smile on the sleeping woman’s face before. “I wonder if she is dreaming about her son.”
“She might.”
“I wish I was able to heal everyone’s sleeping ailments. All I can really do is just prescribe some medicine.”
“It is more of a psychological condition,” Inara beckoned him to follow after her.
“I can heal bodies,” he continued to whisper. “Their physical bodies. I can’t heal the minds or the heart.” He closed his eyes. He just said something stupid again. “I can treat their brains and their hearts, but not the mind and not the part of the heart that is equal to love, and never like you could.”
Inara smiled. “It was part of our training.” Her voice increased in volume once they were back at the cargo bay.
“Have you ever treated someone with insomnia?” If the crew didn’t want to take the pills then he would suggest they speak with Inara.
“None of my clients ever mentioned it, even if they were going though lack of sleep. Some said they had some trouble, mostly with dreams and I talked with them about it.”
“I know one of the key factors is stress,” Simon leaned against the metal scaffolding. “I’m worried about the wedding. I’m afraid I will say something stupid, or do something that will make Kaylee upset.” He squeezed his hands into fists. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
“You love her.”
He nodded. “I never loved anyone like her. I know it’s supposed to be enough,” great, he couldn’t even find the right words to describe his fears.
“Just say what is on your mind.”
“I never met anyone like Kaylee. On Osiris I have encountered many other girls and women. Most of them were shallow, and some were simpering idiots who either thought doctors were boring or only saw me for the potential money I could make. Even the smart ones were no where near as smart as Kaylee, and none of them were as pretty, and her charm and the way she talks to the ship, and the games she plays with River,” he paused to take a breath. “I just want her to have the perfect wedding.”
“There is never a guarantee there will be a perfect wedding,” Inara sat down on the bottom step. “You have no idea if one of the guests will become drunk too early, or if one of us bridesmaids trips on our gowns, or if Jayne does something, or if it rains. You just need to do what Kaylee does, don’t worry about what could go wrong and imagine what the perfect wedding for the both of you will be. Imagine her in her dress, and you kissing her.”
Simon could see their wedding. It would be a bright and sunny day. The chairs would be filled with guests. There would also be a string quartet playing for them and a pianist as well. He would stand under an arch covered in garland and Kaylee would approach him with a bouquet of flowers in her hands. He could feel Kaylee’s soft lips against his before he ran his fingers through her hair.
“You see it works. You just have to think like Kaylee.”
“Instead of just thinking about her.”
Inara chuckled. “You can think about her all you want. Just try to be positive.”
“It will be a beautiful wedding and Zoe will be with her son and everyone else will be helping James adapt.”
“I can’t remember the last time I helped a guy go shopping for clothes.”
“That isn’t what has you vexed?” Simon had a small theory about why Inara would be stressed. He was certain it had something to do with Malcolm.
“No it isn’t,” she continued to chuckle. “I think it might be about the Kraken and the pirates and Beckett and everything else.”
“What about Malcolm?” He knew he shouldn’t have mentioned it when he saw the way she stared at him. “I saw you looking at him in fear when he was fighting against Hamiton.”
“Oh,” she relaxed. “I wonder if that would be enough to convince him to continue training.”
“It isn’t the only thing.”
She shook her head. “I saw a part of him I thought I would never see. I never expected him to adapt to being a naval officer and it awoken the soldier part. I wasn’t too sure who I was dealing with.”
“I was also a soldier,” he still had his marine uniform, folded neatly and stored away in his cabin. “I know I wasn’t as good as the captain.”
“You all were convincing actors.” She smiled. “I’ll have to admit he did look good in the uniform.”
“Kaylee was adorable in hers.” His response caused Inara to laugh again.
“That is what you have to keep doing.”
“Be like Kaylee,” He stepped away from the banister. “Just think about her and be like her.”
“Where are you going?”
He paused on his way back to his cabin. “I’m going back to bed.”
-
It wasn’t the exact truth, nor was it a lie. Simon did plan on going to sleep. He wanted to check in on his sister first. River was sleeping peacefully. Her eyelids and her fingers twitched slightly and a smile appeared briefly on her face.
“At least you are not suffering from any nightmares.” He said after he slid back the door.
He didn’t pause by James’s cabin on the way to his. Although he did stared towards where Book had once slept for a few minutes. If Book were still alive Simon would have asked the Shepherd if he would do the honor and marry them.
“There will be a great priest on Santo,” Simon sat down on his own bed. “Or a Shepherd, or a minister, or a pastor and there will be a horse and carriage to take us away. We will stay the night in a nice motel, unless Kaylee wants to stay in Serenity for our honeymoon.” He closed his eyes and thought about dancing with Kaylee. The image of her smiling face and the scent of her hair was on his mind as he drifted off.
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