I've Got Soul, But I'm Not a Soldier

[River Tam]

*River sat at the console, her feet rested up on it, her back buried deep in the co-pilots seat. Her dress bunched up near her upper theigh, and she didn't seem to care. Her face covered her eyes and in her hands she was fiddling with one of the dinosaurs that Wash had on the dash.

She sighed, and it was obvious to any passer by that she was pouting*

[Simon Tam]

Simon walked up the hallway from Kaylee's bunk, rearranging his clothing as he walked.

He came up into the cockpit and saw River sitting in the co-pilot's chair, playing with one of Wash's dinosaurs. "Hello, mei-mei," he smiled at her. It fell from his face when he saw that she was sullen.

"What's wrong?" he asked, immediately coming closer to her.

[River Tam]

*River glanced up from the dinosaur, her gaze cold when it met Simon's. She was still hidden behind her hair, like it was a safety net of some kind, and her eyes simply narrowed more.

Her grip on the dinosaur tightened and she shut her eyes, breathing in slow* Nothing...

[Simon Tam]

Simon blinked. "No, no, there's something definitely wrong," he said, not to be deterred. Not where his sister was concerned.

He reached forward to brush her hair away from her face, so he could actually look at her while he talked to her.

[River Tam]

Whats it matter to you?

*Her free hand whipped up from her leg in a flash, smacking his hand away when he reached out. Her gaze narrowed even more and she seemed to burrow further into the seat, if that was possible*

[Simon Tam]

Simon pulled his hand back quickly, as if he'd been burned. He blinked a few times and then said, a hint of caution in his voice, "Well, I care because I'm your brother and I love you. And I'm your doctor and I care about your well-being."

"So tell me what is wrong."

[River Tam]

Don't need a gorram Doctor! *She shouted, hopping up in her seat, standing on the cushion. It only took her a second to hop over the arm rest, to get a way from him. She needed distance, she felt like he was too close...felt like he was smothering her.

She landed on her feet, quickly taking a few steps back, putting space between the two. Then she whipped back around to glare at him*

[C.M. Napier]

C.M. leaned against the enterance of the cockpit holding his middle and index fingers against his lips in an effort to keep River quiet. For whatever reason, the man then slides his finger across his own throat with a grimace. For whos death he is calling was left in the open for now, at least until he could speak with the girl in private. On an occassion when Simon seemed to glance toward him, he "ducked away" to maintain the illusion that he ought not be seen.

[Simon Tam]

Simon just stared at River when she jumped up away from him.

"Yes you do, River," he said in the calmest voice he could muster. But really he was scared. Scared that she was reverting to the mindset she was in before Miranda. Even before Ariel when he finally was able to figure out what was wrong with her.

"What caused this relapse? What happened?" he asked as he took a step toward her, the smallest one he could manage, so he could still have some distance between them.

[River Tam]

No...no relapse. Everythin' just clear *She spat at him. The moment he took a step towards her, she took a step away. She glanced over her shoulder, like she was looking, looking for someone...something.

Her eyes landed on Napier, desperation in her eyes, like he could make Simon go away...like he could really help. But after a moment, she glanced back to her brother.* I want to be alone...you weren't supposed to come in 'ere. You was supposed to still be locked away...buried in the hammock. Perfect in here...just me...just me...just River...

[C.M. Napier]

Napier's face was stone for the entire back and forth. He doesn't move a muscle until he mouthes the words "He is the relapse." before moving his left hand to his right ear, his right hand to his left jaw and twisting hard. After this he folds his arms before mouthing "Alone".

[Simon Tam]

"Buried in the hammock?" he asked, trying to figure out what she could mean. "River, you can't bury things in a hammock."

[River Tam]

*She glanced immedialty back over her shoulder, ignoring him for a moment.

She frowned at Napier, shaking her head, mouthing "No." Simon wasn't a relapse...he just was confused. He just thought he was doing the right thing, that he was helping her.

When his words hit her, she turned her head back to him slowly, her gaze even colder* Kaylee's hammock, ni Kao!

[Simon Tam]

At those words, Simon's mouth dropped open in shock. "River!" he yelled, incredulously. He didn't want to say that, yes, he and Kaylee had been doing that, least of all to his sister.

Frustration started to build inside him and he looked up at her again, his eyebrows furrowing together. "I want to know what's wrong, River, and I want to know now," he said, the calm he had before dissolving completely.

[River Tam]

Simon! *She mimicked in the same tone before rolling her eyes*

Oh you want to know whats wrong. *She gruffed, her hands shifting to rest on her hips, her fingers drumming* Want to know when I won't tell. Want to know when I stop waiting and waiting, when I stop caring. Well guess what? You'll just have to be satisfied with out knowing

*She then turned on her hill, her bare feet padding across the floor, moving towards the door*