Kaylee started to feel scared for her too, think it was her fault somehow. Because she’d said she was scared of her and River obviously didn’t want her to be. She made up her mind. [Doesn’t hurt that bad.] She told herself and determinedly pulled back the covers and slowly made to get up so she could get over to River and make it right.

She wasn’t sure how it happened exactly, just a jagged bolt of pain that wouldn’t stop bolting. It tore a scream from deep inside her and made the world go white and take a tumble.

”No!” She heard form somewhere. ”All gone wrong, all wrong.” She heard up closer.

She groaned and felt herself being lifted up in familiar arms. Held carefully and set back to rest in a soft place. She blinked open her eyes, seeing River looking down at her, scanning her body in all but a panic over it all. ”River, I’m sorry, o’kay? …You’re not scary. Not at all.” She said blearily, thinking this would help.

And River did still, to look to her eyes for a moment. ”I am scary, I am, look at what happened. All from out of me.” And Kaylee saw tears in River’s eyes.

”You’re not.” Kaylee said. ”And I’m a sāncì zǔzhòu idjit for thinking otherwise. Just like I’m a sāncì zǔzhòu idjit for getting up out of bed like I did. S’not your fault, y’hear me?” She put a hand to River’s cheek. ”Y’undertsnad?”

River smiled and wiped away her tears with the side of her hand. ”You were pretty stupid.” She said with a weak smile. ”Me also. Stupid me.” And she hugged Kaylee, very gently off course, careful of her ribs, and just stayed like that a moment.

Kaylee held her back as best she could. ”Stupid us alright. I’m sorry River, really I am… It’ll be alright.” She said the last bit more softly than the other. It was kind of scary. How strong River could be, how bright and all of brave one moment, but like now, she could also be scared too, and shaken up, to the core of her.

”Have to check the fastenings.” River muttered, getting herself up. ”See that every place’s still correct and all.” She wiped more tears away and set about examining and rewrapping Kaylee’s injury.