Aboard Serenity: Zoë
It is as if he just walked out that hatch, not a moment ahead of me. I still catch the ghost of his scent, every once in a while, like now. It's just a hint, drifting through the air, stirred up by my passing this way I suppose.
It's been so long… but really, shouldn't I know by now? Moments can contain lifetimes' worth of feeling, in the war or out. Now memories are all that's left. Mostly good ones, thank God, for me and him; us and the crew. Captain'd have a right laugh if he saw me standin' here, all misty-eyed 'cause I thought I smelled… almost saw but no, never again in this lifetime.
"Zoë…"
I startle, damit, respond a mite too heartily. "Sir!?"
"I been talkin' at ya whole minutes here," he says eyeing me, betraying a touch of concern in those puppy-dog eyes, "Seem distracted, you okay?"
"Good to go, sir." What else can I say? I take a deep breath, pulling the ghostly scent into myself before it can escape; that bit of him I'll keep.
Mal nods, "I know this meet is gonna be tough, Zoë. You don't have to go, I'll take Jayne and River. Between his scariocity and her being a reader, can't imagine what could possibly go wrong.."
"No," I shake my head, just once, "I'm fine, sir. Wouldn't miss it."
"Good," he says with that gorram cocky grin he gets when he's forming a plan. "'Sides, who else can I count on to try and talk me outa hiring us a decent pilot?"
"I do have all the prior experience, sir. Nobody else on board is really qualified." I joke with him, appreciating the effort he's making for my sake. I wish I could take the 'out' he's just given me, but I can't. This is what Wash would want. Good thing I didn't talk the captain into getting rid of him back then after all, turns out all we had were moments.
