[River-Simon, re: Three Hills]

[river_meimei]

Dinner will be soon. It's Wash's turn to cook. (Naomi's helping, in the way where she gets to sit on Zoe's lap and babble.)

River is lying on her back in the corridor of the passenger section.

Her knees are bent up, feet tidily together. Her arms, extended, just brush the walls.

Comments

[river_meimei]

River's head turns slowly. She looks as if she's about to say something, but her eyes drop again for a moment and her mouth closes, and she's silent.

"Send up the signal flag," she says instead after a minute, with a wavering attempt at a smile.

[simon_doctor]

Simon returns the smile.

(His attempt isn't quite as wavery.)

"Come on," he says after a moment, and takes hold of her hand as though to help her sit up. "Dinner's going to be ready soon."

[river_meimei]

River's gaze falls to the floor where her hair tumbles across it.

"Not hungry," she says softly, but she lets Simon take her hand.

[simon_doctor]

"Then come and keep us company?"

[river_meimei]

A moment. A breath: in, out.

And then River gives in and smiles a little, and her hand closes around Simon's.

[simon_doctor]

He gets to his feet, and helps her to hers.

(He doesn't need to help her. They both know this.)

[river_meimei]

She lets him anyway.

And lets him draw her after him down the hall, towards the kitchen and the sound of laughter.