"It's something we do. Humans. It doesn't excuse it, but it is. And, I'm making sure the monkey isn't as tortured as it could be." Not that that was saying much. "And he has. Ten. Only one since you, and that doesn't count, whatever that is supposed to mean."
Simon just watched her. He didn't want her to hurt; he wanted her to be okay, for her to be normal, for everything to be normal. He wanted to make it all better, make her happy, make them all ruttin' happy. But, they weren't. Not completely.
"We'll never accept each other, River. It is all I can say. Though, I would think you'd be happy we were working together on something, even if it wasn't the best of situations." He hadn't moved to offer her any comfort; he just sat there, watching.