At least she had ceased to get sick. He was glad the tea seemed to be working. Derek didn't take anything she said or did seriously. She wasn't herself. "You might've said something like that since you drank all that liquor," he gently teased while moving out of her hands to tuck her in properly. "Get some rest. I'm gonna clean up while you sleep."

That L word... It was nice hearing it come from her lips yet carried a lot of weight that neither of them needed. What they had wasn't permanent. There wasn't a future for them. He couldn't allow himself to believe Inara meant what she was saying. Love as in caring for one another, that was as far as he would give weight to her words. He flung the towel she used over a shoulder. "I'll still be here when you wake up."