She pressed her lips together as she noticed the slight tremor in her hand. The tea poured steadily in the cup and she doubted that anyone would have noticed. But she was still grateful that she was alone in her shuttle.

She was getting worse. The medicine that she had smuggled out of Sihnon was no longer controlling the tremors. If she increased the dose, she would be completely out in a matter of weeks rather than months as she had planned.

She doubted that they would be stopping on any civilized planet any time soon. She would even settle for Whitefall. However, Mal was only accepting jobs that kept them on the Rim and well away from any possible encounter with the Alliance.

She didn't blame him. The events on Miranda had shaken them all. The only good things that had happened there was the River had gained some sanity and the Alliance seemed to lose interest in her. At least for now.

Miranda had also strengthened her resolve to live. Oh, she that the disease would eventually kill her. She had no illusions about that. But she would fight for more time every way she could.

With a sigh, she set the teapot aside. She wondered how long she could continue to hide her symptoms. She had left Sihnon to keep her secret. How long would it be before Simon or even Mal would become suspicious?

What would she do then? For someone would notice her shakes sooner or later. Leave? Stay? Would they even let her stay?

She tried to ignore the tremor still present in her hand as she raised the cup to her lips. The herbs would help augment her medication for now. Soon she would have to decide when she would go to Simon for help.

* * * * *

To the others, River seemed absorbed in the ball game in the cargo bay below her. After all, Jayne was taking great pleasure in dominating her brother. She called an instruction to her brother and tried not to smirk as Simon scored. But her thoughts continued to stray to the woman in the shuttle behind her.