Title: Abandon
Author: Cade
Rating: PG
Summary: Simon never wanted to be abandoned.
Spoilers: The episode called "Safe."
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Joss Whedon. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Note: This was one of those times when you saw something, and then something inside you – that fucking writer wanted to do something about it and wouldn't let you sit still until it was done. I'm not sure if any good will come out of this – but that's the truth.

The voice of his father permeated even his sleep. He couldn't find any escape from it. He couldn't forget what that man had told him. A small part of him didn't want to either. It would forever be a scar within him. One of those wounds that could never be healed, but once you thought it was, you would look down to find it ripped open and bleeding.

Simon had thought it was healed on Jiangyin. It had been long enough. He didn't care for his father, seeing through the man's façade earlier in his life. He couldn't find himself caring. He had his sister to care for and that took up enough of his musings. He didn't need to be self-pitying, on top of all of that. He had a job to do. He wouldn't act like the abandoned child. He couldn't.

And then the Serenity had upped and left them.

Abandoned. Again.

Simon chewed his lip. He was safe back on the Serenity. They had been here for a few nights since then. He shouldn't let this bother him. He still had River to look after. He still had his duties as a doctor to attend to. Still, when "night" crept in, and the ship was dark, there was nothing for him to do, and such doubts came back to haunt him.

He hugged his knees to his chest, feeling very much like a gangly teenager, but he couldn't care.

He didn't want to be abandoned ever again.