Even in the chaotic flurry of movement advancing upon him, Simon was marveling at his sister. Even in her agony, she was grace personified. The sight and sound of her anguish struck him to the core, and he hadn't changed his plans yet, but he was reaching for her, wanting to soothe her distress.
The shock of hitting the ground, her cry echoing in his ears, brought reality slamming home.
"River?" His arms were around her, his face and voice numb with shock. And all thoughts of suicide were cast out. He would have been startled to hear anyone suggest he would do such a thing. Not when his beautiful sister was here in his arms. "Shh, I've got you, mei-mei. I've got you. We're safe." He couldn't tell if it was her or him that was shaking. The fact that they were both clinging to one another, laid out on the ground, was of less than no importance.