A/N: Here's the next chapter. I'm really sorry it's so short but I thought it was a good point to leave off. To everyone reading and reviewing, you make my day and have my gratitude. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, they really helped. Thanks to those that just read too.

Warnings: See Chapter One.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Serenity or Firefly, or either movies/shows characters.

Simon drew in a deep breath, taking a lazy catalog of their surroundings.

It had been a surprise to step off Serenity to be greeted with a planet lush with vegetation. Usually Rim planets were dusty and barren but this one had a healthy green glow about it. It was a mystery and had left Mal visibly agitated. Simon couldn't exactly blame him, the turn around from the usual was down right suspicious.

Simon had argued with Mal that the need for supplies was greater than any suspicion that might tug at his mind. Mal had nearly taken his head off for the perceived challenge to his authority but Simon had shrugged it off this time.

Eventually it had been Jayne's grousing that had convinced Mal that maybe the best course of action was to venture off ship. River would be staying behind with Book and Jayne, Simon having figured that if he was wrong, River would at least be safe from the feds.

It was full daylight, high noon really, and it was sufficiently heating up the planet. Simon had forefitted his usual vest, sticking to dress pants and a white button up. Luckily Mal had been able to procure a pair of boots for Simon so he hadn't been forced to resort to dress shoes. He had been meaning to stock up on some clothes that didn't practically scream he was from a Core planet but had never gotten a chance, choosing to spend his portion of the money on medical supplies first and never having enough left over to get himself some clothes.

As it was, he'd be trying not to sweat too much during the travel to the clinic. They hadn't landed close to the town for fear of startling or even scaring the townsfolk. These jobs had enough problems initially without adding to them. Thankfully, the land cruiser was fully operational and supported their weight without trouble. Everyone settled themselves in as comfortable as possible, as even with the land cruiser, it would take an hour to get to the town that the clinic was located at. For the first few minutes there was nothing but silence and healthy green grass. Suddenly though, the cruiser came across a herd of horses. Even before the cruiser had become visible to the horses, they had heard it and had started to flee. By the time the cruiser came upon them, they were already a stream running away from them and their transport.

Of course, they, especially Zoe and Mal, were still a bit sore over the stampede earlier, even though they had managed to drop the horses off without further incident, and only glared at the running herd. Simon only rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the land scape. It was lusher than he had been expected, the herd evident enough that it wasn't the typical dust bowl most Rim planet were. He could even make out a lake in the distance, east to where the crusier was headed. His interest was piqued but he felt more concern for the village they were headed.

Simon hadn't talk to or seen his friends for quit a while and though he was sure his friend was the same enough to not turn him in, Simon knew all too well how a person could change. Still, Simon knew how all to eager he'd to be to help him. It made him apprehensive but not nearly as much as the little fact that he was keeping from the rest of the crew. Just thinking of what Mal would do to him if, when, he found out nearly made him mentally cringe. Thankfully though, he was stronger than that.

The very knowledge he was dreading was going to bite him in the ass, was the very knowledge that made him so sure his friend would help him.