How We Used to Be, Chapter 32
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firefly_fanfic
Title: How We Used to Be
Author: Sarah-Beth (memorysdaughter)
Email: memorysdaughter@gmail.com
Summary: Set in present-day America, an AU fic. Dr. Simon Tam thought he lost everything when his parents were killed in a car crash. Forced to move back home to care for his fifteen-year-old “vegetable” sister, River, Simon comes face-to-face with all of his fears and misgivings about the past. When it becomes necessary to take in boarders to keep the Tam home, he ends up finding a family he never thought could exist. But what will it take to make him see that things might turn out all right despite the odds?
Series: Chapter 32
Character(s): River, Simon, Kaylee
Pairings: supports Wash/Zoe, Simon/Kaylee, eventually Mal/Inara
Rating: PG-ish
Spoilers/Timeline: set in present-day America
Disclaimer: Not mine. I just meddle.
Author’s Note: Sorry about the long hiatus on this story, but I've been busy, I swear! Busy losing both of my jobs, moving back home, writing "Radio Nowhere" (here on![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ff_fanfic) and "Triangles" (on thejeffersonian), coming third in ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lastficstanding, starting Round Two of that, attempting to finish my second joss100, and attending far more of my sister's softball games than is really necessary. But here you go... enjoy!
Chapters 1-31
How We Used to Be
“Your brother and I are going to finish getting stuff ready,” Jen said. “You’ll be all right?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, ‘Ace of Cakes’ is on,” River answered.
It was late Friday afternoon, and the house was quiet. All of the windows were open, sunlight streaming through the curtains, a soft breeze blowing them around. Kaylee was at work, finishing up her final shift before the two weeks of camp. Inara had come and gone, and all textbooks and schoolwork had been put in the cabinet next to the TV.
River was in her stander in front of the TV. Simon had been surprised when she’d asked to use it, since she usually spent most of the day in her wheelchair or in a positioning chair they all called the “up-down” or lying on her bed. He was thrilled by the request, though, since River’s doctors had told him it would help with circulation, pressure sores, and blood pressure. It was a two-person transfer, necessitating Jen to move tubes and Simon to support his sister’s entire dead weight, but once she was up in it, tilted slightly backwards for appropriate drainage and support, it was decided that they could leave her.
“We’ll be right down the hall, holler if you need us,” Jen said.
River made a dismissive noise with her mouth, and Jen smiled as she went back down the hall.
On Thursday night, Simon and Kaylee had started putting supplies and equipment in the empty dining room, across the hall from River’s first floor room.
Jen grabbed a pen from the table in the hall, and handed it to Simon, along with the list of required camp supplies. “You tell me what it is, and I’ll make sure we’ve got it.”
They went through the list, checking off the myriad of supplies, everything from “backup vent” to “suction catheters” to “wheelchair backup power source.”
Finally Simon looked up. “That’s it.”
“Really?”
“Well, except for the vent swimming bucket, but Kaylee’s bringing that home tonight.”
“Have you told River she’s going swimming at camp?” Jen asked.
“Not in so many words, but Colleen put her swimsuit in her suitcase.”
“Do you think she’s going to be okay with that?”
“Swimming? I can’t see why not.”
“Dr. Tam, she’s a girl, and girls have been known to get finicky about being seen in their bathing suits.”
Simon flushed. “Oh, really?”
Jen smiled. “Yes, really.”
“Well, she doesn’t have to swim if she doesn’t want to,” Simon said, “but it’s been hot enough lately that she’d have to be crazy not to want to swim. She loves swimming.”
“If she has a good time swimming at camp, I’ll see if we can take her down to my mother’s pool in Grandville,” Jen said. “I’ve always told her how sweet River is, and she’s dying to meet her.”
“That would be great,” Simon said.
She smiled. “You and Kaylee would be welcome, too. We could all go. You want to start loading the van? I’ll make dinner.”
Simon carried boxes and suitcases out of the house and packed the van. He had just finished with the job when Kaylee appeared, smiling in her cheerful-printed scrubs. “You look like you’ve been working hard,” she commented.
“Or hardly working,” Simon said, laughing. “Either way, the van’s all loaded for tomorrow.”
Kaylee kissed him on the cheek. “What time are we leaving?”
“No later than seven, if we want to get there on time. We’ll have to get River up at five-thirty, but something tells me she won’t be sleeping much tonight anyway.”
“Is she excited?” Kaylee asked hopefully.
Simon shrugged. “Inara was here this morning and they did school until almost one-thirty or two, and she’s been up in her stander watching TV since then.”
“Really? In the stander? Did you take pictures?”
He laughed. “No, although I probably should.”
“Do you think she’s nervous?”
Simon leaned back against the side of the van, pleasantly warm after sitting in the sun all day. “I think she’s a little nervous. It’s the first time she’s spent any length of time away from me since before the accident. It’s the first time she’s been on her own with her new chair, and it’ll be the first time she’s been around a whole bunch of kids who are basically just like her.”
“We’re going to have a great time.”
He smiled. “I know.”
Kaylee leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek.
From the door, Jen called, “Come on, you two! Dinner’s ready! And don’t think I can’t see you kissing out there on the driveway in plain view of everyone!”
Simon laughed. “Let’s go eat, it’ll make Jen happy.”
“And we’ll get back to that later?”
“And we’ll get back to that later.”
When Kaylee was drying the dinner dishes and Jen had finished giving River her shower, Simon went in to say goodnight. His sister was lying on her bed, staring up at one of the mobiles above her.
“Hey,” he said.
She rolled her head to look at him. “Hey.”
“Where’s Jen?”
“Cleaning up the bathroom.”
Simon sat down on the side of the bed and stroked her hair. “I am so proud of you, mei-mei.”
“Is this because I wanted to go in the stander today?” she asked cynically.
“It’s that, and a whole bunch of other things. You are an amazing girl.”
“You’re just saying that ‘cause I’m leaving,” River said, smiling.
“I’m saying that because it’s true,” Simon insisted.
“Simon?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not mad at you anymore.”
“No?”
“Colleen said I should think about it, so I did. That’s what I was doing all day today.”
“Funny, I thought you were watching ‘Ace of Cakes’ and terrorizing Inara.”
She grinned.
Simon leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. “You have the right to be mad at anyone for any length of time whenever you want,” he said. “But I’m glad you reconsidered.”
“Me too.”
He smiled, and stood up. “Did Jen put your night orthotics on yet?”
“No.”
“Would you mind if I did it?”
“If you’re the best I’m getting…” River said, trailing off with a mischievous smile. Then she added, “Go right ahead.”
Simon retrieved her knee-ankle-foot orthotics from the cabinet and a pair of long socks from the dresser. He unrolled the socks and began to slide them on her legs. "Your legs are... really smooth."
“Jen shaved them,” River said sheepishly.
“And?”
“She does a pretty good job.”
“I’ll have to remember to note that on her employee evaluation.”
River flushed. “You better not!”
“Just kidding.”
Simon finished putting the socks on and strapped the orthotics over them. “There. You’re good to go. Are you getting a feed tonight?”
“No.”
“Then you’re all set,” Simon said, and kissed her on the forehead again. “I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early.”
“How early?”
“Five-thirty.”
River groaned.
“If you want to have fantastic adventures, you have to get up early,” Simon said.
“Okay. But just this once.”
He was almost into the hallway when she called his name: “Simon?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll see you in the morning,” she said sleepily, happily, contentedly.
He smiled. “Yes. Yes, you will.”
Author: Sarah-Beth (memorysdaughter)
Email: memorysdaughter@gmail.com
Summary: Set in present-day America, an AU fic. Dr. Simon Tam thought he lost everything when his parents were killed in a car crash. Forced to move back home to care for his fifteen-year-old “vegetable” sister, River, Simon comes face-to-face with all of his fears and misgivings about the past. When it becomes necessary to take in boarders to keep the Tam home, he ends up finding a family he never thought could exist. But what will it take to make him see that things might turn out all right despite the odds?
Series: Chapter 32
Character(s): River, Simon, Kaylee
Pairings: supports Wash/Zoe, Simon/Kaylee, eventually Mal/Inara
Rating: PG-ish
Spoilers/Timeline: set in present-day America
Disclaimer: Not mine. I just meddle.
Author’s Note: Sorry about the long hiatus on this story, but I've been busy, I swear! Busy losing both of my jobs, moving back home, writing "Radio Nowhere" (here on
ff_fanfic) and "Triangles" (on thejeffersonian), coming third in lastficstanding, starting Round Two of that, attempting to finish my second joss100, and attending far more of my sister's softball games than is really necessary. But here you go... enjoy!Chapters 1-31
How We Used to Be
“Your brother and I are going to finish getting stuff ready,” Jen said. “You’ll be all right?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, ‘Ace of Cakes’ is on,” River answered.
It was late Friday afternoon, and the house was quiet. All of the windows were open, sunlight streaming through the curtains, a soft breeze blowing them around. Kaylee was at work, finishing up her final shift before the two weeks of camp. Inara had come and gone, and all textbooks and schoolwork had been put in the cabinet next to the TV.
River was in her stander in front of the TV. Simon had been surprised when she’d asked to use it, since she usually spent most of the day in her wheelchair or in a positioning chair they all called the “up-down” or lying on her bed. He was thrilled by the request, though, since River’s doctors had told him it would help with circulation, pressure sores, and blood pressure. It was a two-person transfer, necessitating Jen to move tubes and Simon to support his sister’s entire dead weight, but once she was up in it, tilted slightly backwards for appropriate drainage and support, it was decided that they could leave her.
“We’ll be right down the hall, holler if you need us,” Jen said.
River made a dismissive noise with her mouth, and Jen smiled as she went back down the hall.
On Thursday night, Simon and Kaylee had started putting supplies and equipment in the empty dining room, across the hall from River’s first floor room.
Jen grabbed a pen from the table in the hall, and handed it to Simon, along with the list of required camp supplies. “You tell me what it is, and I’ll make sure we’ve got it.”
They went through the list, checking off the myriad of supplies, everything from “backup vent” to “suction catheters” to “wheelchair backup power source.”
Finally Simon looked up. “That’s it.”
“Really?”
“Well, except for the vent swimming bucket, but Kaylee’s bringing that home tonight.”
“Have you told River she’s going swimming at camp?” Jen asked.
“Not in so many words, but Colleen put her swimsuit in her suitcase.”
“Do you think she’s going to be okay with that?”
“Swimming? I can’t see why not.”
“Dr. Tam, she’s a girl, and girls have been known to get finicky about being seen in their bathing suits.”
Simon flushed. “Oh, really?”
Jen smiled. “Yes, really.”
“Well, she doesn’t have to swim if she doesn’t want to,” Simon said, “but it’s been hot enough lately that she’d have to be crazy not to want to swim. She loves swimming.”
“If she has a good time swimming at camp, I’ll see if we can take her down to my mother’s pool in Grandville,” Jen said. “I’ve always told her how sweet River is, and she’s dying to meet her.”
“That would be great,” Simon said.
She smiled. “You and Kaylee would be welcome, too. We could all go. You want to start loading the van? I’ll make dinner.”
Simon carried boxes and suitcases out of the house and packed the van. He had just finished with the job when Kaylee appeared, smiling in her cheerful-printed scrubs. “You look like you’ve been working hard,” she commented.
“Or hardly working,” Simon said, laughing. “Either way, the van’s all loaded for tomorrow.”
Kaylee kissed him on the cheek. “What time are we leaving?”
“No later than seven, if we want to get there on time. We’ll have to get River up at five-thirty, but something tells me she won’t be sleeping much tonight anyway.”
“Is she excited?” Kaylee asked hopefully.
Simon shrugged. “Inara was here this morning and they did school until almost one-thirty or two, and she’s been up in her stander watching TV since then.”
“Really? In the stander? Did you take pictures?”
He laughed. “No, although I probably should.”
“Do you think she’s nervous?”
Simon leaned back against the side of the van, pleasantly warm after sitting in the sun all day. “I think she’s a little nervous. It’s the first time she’s spent any length of time away from me since before the accident. It’s the first time she’s been on her own with her new chair, and it’ll be the first time she’s been around a whole bunch of kids who are basically just like her.”
“We’re going to have a great time.”
He smiled. “I know.”
Kaylee leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek.
From the door, Jen called, “Come on, you two! Dinner’s ready! And don’t think I can’t see you kissing out there on the driveway in plain view of everyone!”
Simon laughed. “Let’s go eat, it’ll make Jen happy.”
“And we’ll get back to that later?”
“And we’ll get back to that later.”
When Kaylee was drying the dinner dishes and Jen had finished giving River her shower, Simon went in to say goodnight. His sister was lying on her bed, staring up at one of the mobiles above her.
“Hey,” he said.
She rolled her head to look at him. “Hey.”
“Where’s Jen?”
“Cleaning up the bathroom.”
Simon sat down on the side of the bed and stroked her hair. “I am so proud of you, mei-mei.”
“Is this because I wanted to go in the stander today?” she asked cynically.
“It’s that, and a whole bunch of other things. You are an amazing girl.”
“You’re just saying that ‘cause I’m leaving,” River said, smiling.
“I’m saying that because it’s true,” Simon insisted.
“Simon?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not mad at you anymore.”
“No?”
“Colleen said I should think about it, so I did. That’s what I was doing all day today.”
“Funny, I thought you were watching ‘Ace of Cakes’ and terrorizing Inara.”
She grinned.
Simon leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. “You have the right to be mad at anyone for any length of time whenever you want,” he said. “But I’m glad you reconsidered.”
“Me too.”
He smiled, and stood up. “Did Jen put your night orthotics on yet?”
“No.”
“Would you mind if I did it?”
“If you’re the best I’m getting…” River said, trailing off with a mischievous smile. Then she added, “Go right ahead.”
Simon retrieved her knee-ankle-foot orthotics from the cabinet and a pair of long socks from the dresser. He unrolled the socks and began to slide them on her legs. "Your legs are... really smooth."
“Jen shaved them,” River said sheepishly.
“And?”
“She does a pretty good job.”
“I’ll have to remember to note that on her employee evaluation.”
River flushed. “You better not!”
“Just kidding.”
Simon finished putting the socks on and strapped the orthotics over them. “There. You’re good to go. Are you getting a feed tonight?”
“No.”
“Then you’re all set,” Simon said, and kissed her on the forehead again. “I’ll see you in the morning, bright and early.”
“How early?”
“Five-thirty.”
River groaned.
“If you want to have fantastic adventures, you have to get up early,” Simon said.
“Okay. But just this once.”
He was almost into the hallway when she called his name: “Simon?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll see you in the morning,” she said sleepily, happily, contentedly.
He smiled. “Yes. Yes, you will.”