The Universe's Mixer

"You're being ridiculous."

Gert was standing outside an ordinary brick-facade office building, her arms crossed over her chest and a frustrated look on her face. Old Lace hid behind a post-office box a few feet away; or rather, she attempted to hide but failed miserably, as she had several feet on the blue metal structure. The dinosaur hissed.

"You think this is fun for me?" The teenager demanded, her eyebrows scaling her forehead. "Dude, I would so much rather be at the park right now. Don't be a baby. I put up with this kind of thing all the time and you don't hear me whining."

Old Lace slunk backwards a step. Apparently, Gert's pep-talks could use some work.

"Old Lace." The teenager's tone was flat. "Do you know how hard it was to find a vet that would see you? Come inside."

Simon had had a bad day, or bad days. He needed someone to talk to, but he didn't know who. Jennifer seemed to be busy; George was out of the question. River? Hannibal? No, he couldn't go to either of them; they wouldn't understand for all their great brain powers. He needed to talk to someone who wouldn't judge, which left out Mal. He'd never really set down and talked with Zoe or Wash, but he had a feeling that might not be for the positive. There was Inara...No, not even Inara. Simon needed someone who could truly listen and who later he wouldn't feel the need to pay or kiss.

"Book." He didn't want to doom the man to this place, but the man would have been a god-send, whatever god that was. The shepherd understood the doctor's way of life, or what it had been, even if the older man wasn't one to partake of it. Yes, Simon needed some perspective, and the shepherd would have given it, whether Dr. Tam liked it or not.

He had finished his shift and decided to go walking; the Park had become a place of interest, and that had been his intention. Yet, even the best intentions could be hijacked by the City. Case in point - Simon found his way to a church building. He supposed it made sense, seeing as he'd wanted Book, only in the advisory sort of way, but he'd wanted him.

With a shrug and a sigh, Simon entered the building; he wasn't religious - science didn't really give over to it. Though lately Simon had found himself praying a little more than he used to, even back on Serenity. So, he walked in and stood just within the entrance, waiting. "This is ridiculous."