Standard Discliamers apply
***********************************************************
(Hours later)
Simon wrapped up the final bandage on Kaylee's foot, before securing the brace to it again. He'd only just been able to get around to the mechanic's injury.
Nothing in her foot was really broken, but, the bullet had clipped it dead center and she wouldn't be able to run for a month at least. There was a plus to it for Kaylee, the doctor was in close proximity to her for an hour at least.
Mal was still lying unconscious on the side bed. Simon had done all he could for the Captain's arm, but it would still take a few days to see if it would heal correctly. For the time being, the doctor had decided to let Mal remain in his comatose state, knowing from experience that he needed the time to mend.
Zoe had finally been informed of her husband's condition, and was now lying in bed, watching the monitors hooked to Wash while their child slept. Her eyes had never looked so lost, even Mal would've been concerned by her unusual state.
The pilot's vital signs had been up and down, once even scaring Simon so bad that he prepped adrenaline shots to give to his shipmate if need be.
All through the night the good doctor Tam watched, scarcely noticing the light that glinted off Zoe's still open eyes in the darkness. Every now and then, the baby would cry and from the faint glow of his table lamp, he could see her slid off the bed to walk the baby around.
"Do you think the child knows something's wrong?" Asked Simon, yawning and pressing his forehead to his desk top.
"Maybe." Her voice sounded tired, but she was trying not to let it show, "I think they can tell some things, but they obviously don't know what the problem is."
"Would be crying a lot harder."
"Yeah."
"Zoe, why don't you try to get some sleep?"
"And let this crying continue?"
"Here, let me try." The doctor got up and walked over to her, gazing down at the tiny bundle she held.
"I take it that hunger isn't the problem?"
"No, shouldn't be. I just recently nursed."
Uncomfortable with this line of discussion, Simon held out his hands to take the child. She gingerly gave the infant over to him and recited the words new mothers are famous for,
"Mind the head."
It earned her a genuine smile from him as he gently moved his hands to accommodate her wishes,
"So, have you two decided on a name yet?"
"Wash and I did awhile ago, but I don't want to tell anyone until he wakes up."
Simon held back the urge to remind her in a doctoral way that her husband had a better chance of not waking up at this point. Though, the fact that Wash was stabilized had brought a tiny ray of hope back.
Zoe smoothed down the few wisps of dark hair on her baby's head before going to her cot to sleep. The child wasn't about to respect this, and kept crying.
"Shh." Whispered Simon into the infant's ear, rocking the little one tenderly, "Please go to sleep, we all could use the rest. That includes you, although studies show that infants almost never sleep their entire first night, but - " He stopped and looked down at the little face.
"Am I boring you? God, what am I saying? You don't even understand me." He sat down in his chair and held the child close to him. Fighting back the irritation provoked by the infant induced insomnia and loud noise to accompany it, the doctor began to study the features.
Zoe's features were predominant overall, dark eyes, hair, and lightly tanned skin. Wash's features showed through in face shape and the lips and nose. At least, that was all that could be told now, the child still possessing all the normal traits of a newborn.
Suddenly, the crying stopped, and the doctor came back to reality, "Thank you."
With all the care of an attending physician, he walked over to the small crib constructed temporarily and laid the baby down in it.
Tiptoeing carefully back to his own seat, he collapsed into his chair, and fell into a deeper sleep than his young charge itself.
************************************************************
(3 days later)
The medical machine beeped three times in quick succession. A short message appeared on the reading box and got the doctor's attention,
"Check patients Kaylee and Captain Reynolds for current injury status." Murmured Simon, scanning the sentence with his eyes. Sighing, he pulled out a small scanner and placed it on the side cot.
He walked past Wash on his way to the kitchen, and he turned the monitor towards him. The pilot had officially gone down in Simon's records as a miracle. Though he had failed to regain consciousness yet, he was alive and very much improved.
"I hope you're planning on waking up for us soon, Wash." He said, adjusting the screen and then checking the IV in his friend's wrist.
Taking his leave of the patient, he stepped slowly and steadily towards the kitchen, official notice in hand.
The crew had just finished eating and sat around talking. Mal had his bandaged arm laid out on the table, and Kaylee sat at the end of the bench so she could rest her foot.
"Simon, you missed dinner." Commented Inara, giving him a delicate smile.
"Yes, I was working. I need to see Kaylee and Mal in the infirmary for checkups right away."
To the best of her ability, the mechanic was on her feet in under 5 seconds, already overly overjoyed. Mal was a lot slower, but he seemed to be in less pain.
"I'll come and help you." Book wasn't asking, he was telling.
In the end, Inara also decided to come to sit with Mal, River followed her brother, Zoe walked with them to check on her napping baby, and Jayne tagged along for lack of something better to do.
Once there, Zoe walked over to the temporary crib, where the little infant appeared to have woken up, "Hey sweetheart." She smiled, picking her baby up and kissing its forehead.
Kaylee and Mal took their places on the side bed while Simon scanned their wounded limbs.
"Kaylee, your foot is healing well, no problems with infection. You're free to go."
When she didn't hop off the table and move, he almost said something, but thought better of it. Over the last seven months, the upbeat mechanic had been a little skittish around him; after Jayne had publicly revealed her crush.
Now, he watched her even more, and was starting to see the blushes and shy smiles. The longing looks, teasing, and pouts were more than 'just a crush'. As much as he hated to admit it, he liked having someone interested in him.
Focusing back on the task at hand, he ran the hand held machine along Mal's casted arm and read the results out loud, "The arm is free of infection, but there is one bone that doesn't appear to be healing as nicely as I'd like."
"Is there anything you can do about it?" The Captain actually sounded uninterested.
"Well, I could reopen your arm and try to pin the bone back into place. Healing time will increase though."
"How bad will my arm be if I don't have the surgery?"
"Not too bad, but I recommend letting me set it. You don't want it to give out in the middle of combat."
"Fine."
A little angered by Mal's apparent underestimation of his skills as a doctor, Simon briskly moved to get the local anesthesia into a clean needle.
Suddenly, there was a faint moan from the center operating table. The doctor stopped and listened.
"Yo doc, what's wrong?" Jayne sounded rudely unaware of the incident.
"Everyone, be quiet." He commanded, and leaned over to where Wash was laying, ear near the Pilot's mouth.
This time, everyone heard the soft groan that came from their shipmate. Zoe's eyes got wide and she stared from the child in her arms to her husband.
Wash opened his eyes slowly, the world being hazy and dark. As things came into focus, he recognized Simon's face, "D-Doc?"
"Welcome back to Serenity Wash."
"What happened?"
"You got shot in the chest and nearly lower the crew number to nine."
"Nine? I thought - "
"I knew you wouldn't die on us."
"How?"
"It just wouldn't be fair to leave your little boy fatherless."
"Little boy?"
"Congratulations Wash, you have a son." Announced Simon, lifting up the top half of the bed so that the pilot could sit up without straining himself.
Everyone in the crew was in the infirmary, and Wash felt comforted at their presence. Kaylee was teary eyed with joy, "Hey Wash!"
He noticed her bad foot and Mal's hurt arm. Guilt overcame him as he realized that it was his run in with Jackson and Laychen that had caused all this.
The thought flew to the back of his mind as a pair of lips sealed themselves over his own.
Zoe was attempting to embrace her husband as tightly as she could, with regards to his injuries. Still drowsy, he responded as best he could to her passionate kiss. When she pulled away, her hand ran through his scruffy blond hair, "I missed you."
"I missed you too." He smiled, and placed his hand over hers where it rested on his cheek, "I love you Zoe."
All of a sudden, she pulled away, and walked over to the temporary cradle. She returned with a small bundle in her arms, "He's awake."
Wash tried to crane his neck to see better, and Zoe leaned forward. The pilot got his first look at his infant child.
"I want to hold him." He whispered, and his wife gently gave the baby into his waiting arms.
The little boy gazed up at his father, almost looking curious at to who the man was. Wash quickly took care of that, "Hey little guy, I'm your daddy."
Some of the more sensitive people in the room were feeling the tug on their heartstrings. The pilot himself shed a single tear, and the soldier looked to burst with joy.
Jayne and Mal were the only ones who were simply grinning, Jayne less so than Mal. The mercenary had seen more babies than the Captain. The Captain knew more of death than he did of life.
The rest of the crew felt separated from the new family, and were waiting until they get a good look at the baby. Shockingly, only Simon had really gazed upon the child, Zoe having kept her son in the infirmary since his birth. The doctor had forbid people from going into the medical center, due to Wash's condition.
It was the Companion who finally broke the silence, "So, what's his name?"
"Aaron," Came the simple reply, typical pilot style, "I think we agreed to call him Aaron."
Inara raised herself from her chair and walked over to the center table. Upon getting her real first glance, she gasped, "He's a perfect mix of his parents."
That cued Kaylee, and no one could've made her return to her seat, "Let me see."
A beautiful smile found its way onto Inara lips, "I betcha he's going to be a little heartbreaker."
"Yeah, he is a cute little guy." The mechanic reached a finger forward and nearly jumped with delight when the baby seized it in its tiny fist.
"Do I get to babysit?"
Zoe smoothed Aaron's fine baby hair, "We couldn't think of someone better than you. Although, I really don't think we'll need you that often."
While all of this was going on, River had moved over to stand next to her brother. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear, "I can see you watching her."
He leaned over, "Don't be such a brat."
"You like watching her, I can tell."
All she got from him was a discontented groan and a playful shove.
Hearing the giggles from River, Kaylee turned around and studied the face of the man she found so desirable. Whatever possessed her to do what she did next, she did not know.
Kaylee walked over to the doctor and stood on his other side, so as not to infringe upon the little sister.
"Hey Simon. Isn't little Aaron just so adorable?"
"Yes, he is."
"It is so wonderful to have a baby on the ship. You know, we all get to have an impact on someone's life."
"I hate to tell you that certain people on this ship shouldn't have an impact on someone, as impressionable as a baby's, life."
Following his gaze, she realized it fell on Jayne, and maybe Mal too, but it was hard to tell.
"I'm surprised you don't mean Inara."
"She's your friend, I didn't want to say anything to upset you."
"Thanks."
There was a long silence between them, only made more uncomfortable by the unflinching gaze of River. Feet were shuffled and throats were cleared numerous times before one of them finally got up the nerve to speak.
Kaylee's soft voice invaded Simon's ear, "Isn't the miracle of life beautiful?"
He noticed that her attention was on the baby in Wash's arms, and he stumbled between whether or not the question was harmless, or if something else was there.
"Yeah, one of the few true constant wonders." It was only too late that he realized that his tone was a little bit more wistful than he would've liked.
"You sound like you want a kid. We should have one."
Shocked, he sputtered, "What?"
"God, that was so easy!" Laughed the mechanic.
A touch relieved, he placed his hands on the counter behind him, 'So, we're back to games again…' He though, dismayed, and then turned to her to speak, but didn't get the chance. River jumped on the words.
"Why do you make fun of your feelings?" The young psychic knew the answer, and she also knew what lay in the two hearts nearest her.
"It's okay River, I was just joking."
"No, you weren't."
Simon held up a hand, "She was playing a game, like she said, it was only a joke."
That clinched it, Kaylee turned her head away, and took a step in the opposite direction.
"Kaylee, please." The doctor's voice was low, to avoid embarrassing her.
A step back placed her once again at his side, and to her utter shock, he placed his hand on her shoulder.
From where she was, River smiled slightly.
Back to where the main action was taking place, Book had his Bible in his hands.
"Do you two mind if I place a blessing on the child?"
Both of the proud parents smiled and Wash answered, "Not at all Preacher."
So, the senior member of the crew of Serenity placed a traditional, christening type blessing upon baby Aaron. Maybe no one on the ship was so religious, but everyone had some sort of blessing put on them.
When all of that was done, it was Doc Tam who decided that it was late, and both Wash and Zoe needed sleep. As he stepped forward, he slid his hand from Kaylee's shoulder, down the contours of her back. Regrettably for the young mechanic, his hand stopped just above an area of her backside that she'd have preferred his fingers grazed.
He noticed the redness of her cheeks at his actions, and almost felt the want to lose his self-control. Perhaps he would soon. After all, he had only ignored women before because he was working towards being the best doctor he could be. That was now obsolete.
"Everyone, I know you don't want to hear this, but it's late and I need Wash and Zoe to get some sleep. So, if you would please leave, I'd appreciate it."
The crew filed out, and Simon reminded Mal to be in the infirmary around noon tomorrow for his arm surgery.
Zoe and Simon moved the temporary crib up to the head of Wash's bed, and repositioned the soldier's bed to lay next to her husbands, at the exact same level and everything.
Quietly, the young doctor left the room, leaving only a small light on.
For the first time in days, Zoe could wrap her arms around Wash, even if he couldn't turn to face her. They lay there in the semi-dark for a long time.
"Thank you Zoe. For Aaron, I mean, and, for being my wife."
"Shh, I know what you mean, and I want to thank you too." She reached up and gave him a long kiss on the lips.
Once again, silence prevailed. Suddenly, an idea entered Wash's head.
"What do you think he'll be when he grows up?"
"Probably a great pilot like his father with all of his mother's combat moves."
"If he's good enough at it, he can inherit the pilot's dinosaurs."
Zoe's beautiful laugh seemed to reach only her husband's ears, as soft and musical as it was. She draped her arm around his waist, and he put his arm around her shoulders, and they fell asleep.
***********************************************************
(Hours later)
Simon wrapped up the final bandage on Kaylee's foot, before securing the brace to it again. He'd only just been able to get around to the mechanic's injury.
Nothing in her foot was really broken, but, the bullet had clipped it dead center and she wouldn't be able to run for a month at least. There was a plus to it for Kaylee, the doctor was in close proximity to her for an hour at least.
Mal was still lying unconscious on the side bed. Simon had done all he could for the Captain's arm, but it would still take a few days to see if it would heal correctly. For the time being, the doctor had decided to let Mal remain in his comatose state, knowing from experience that he needed the time to mend.
Zoe had finally been informed of her husband's condition, and was now lying in bed, watching the monitors hooked to Wash while their child slept. Her eyes had never looked so lost, even Mal would've been concerned by her unusual state.
The pilot's vital signs had been up and down, once even scaring Simon so bad that he prepped adrenaline shots to give to his shipmate if need be.
All through the night the good doctor Tam watched, scarcely noticing the light that glinted off Zoe's still open eyes in the darkness. Every now and then, the baby would cry and from the faint glow of his table lamp, he could see her slid off the bed to walk the baby around.
"Do you think the child knows something's wrong?" Asked Simon, yawning and pressing his forehead to his desk top.
"Maybe." Her voice sounded tired, but she was trying not to let it show, "I think they can tell some things, but they obviously don't know what the problem is."
"Would be crying a lot harder."
"Yeah."
"Zoe, why don't you try to get some sleep?"
"And let this crying continue?"
"Here, let me try." The doctor got up and walked over to her, gazing down at the tiny bundle she held.
"I take it that hunger isn't the problem?"
"No, shouldn't be. I just recently nursed."
Uncomfortable with this line of discussion, Simon held out his hands to take the child. She gingerly gave the infant over to him and recited the words new mothers are famous for,
"Mind the head."
It earned her a genuine smile from him as he gently moved his hands to accommodate her wishes,
"So, have you two decided on a name yet?"
"Wash and I did awhile ago, but I don't want to tell anyone until he wakes up."
Simon held back the urge to remind her in a doctoral way that her husband had a better chance of not waking up at this point. Though, the fact that Wash was stabilized had brought a tiny ray of hope back.
Zoe smoothed down the few wisps of dark hair on her baby's head before going to her cot to sleep. The child wasn't about to respect this, and kept crying.
"Shh." Whispered Simon into the infant's ear, rocking the little one tenderly, "Please go to sleep, we all could use the rest. That includes you, although studies show that infants almost never sleep their entire first night, but - " He stopped and looked down at the little face.
"Am I boring you? God, what am I saying? You don't even understand me." He sat down in his chair and held the child close to him. Fighting back the irritation provoked by the infant induced insomnia and loud noise to accompany it, the doctor began to study the features.
Zoe's features were predominant overall, dark eyes, hair, and lightly tanned skin. Wash's features showed through in face shape and the lips and nose. At least, that was all that could be told now, the child still possessing all the normal traits of a newborn.
Suddenly, the crying stopped, and the doctor came back to reality, "Thank you."
With all the care of an attending physician, he walked over to the small crib constructed temporarily and laid the baby down in it.
Tiptoeing carefully back to his own seat, he collapsed into his chair, and fell into a deeper sleep than his young charge itself.
************************************************************
(3 days later)
The medical machine beeped three times in quick succession. A short message appeared on the reading box and got the doctor's attention,
"Check patients Kaylee and Captain Reynolds for current injury status." Murmured Simon, scanning the sentence with his eyes. Sighing, he pulled out a small scanner and placed it on the side cot.
He walked past Wash on his way to the kitchen, and he turned the monitor towards him. The pilot had officially gone down in Simon's records as a miracle. Though he had failed to regain consciousness yet, he was alive and very much improved.
"I hope you're planning on waking up for us soon, Wash." He said, adjusting the screen and then checking the IV in his friend's wrist.
Taking his leave of the patient, he stepped slowly and steadily towards the kitchen, official notice in hand.
The crew had just finished eating and sat around talking. Mal had his bandaged arm laid out on the table, and Kaylee sat at the end of the bench so she could rest her foot.
"Simon, you missed dinner." Commented Inara, giving him a delicate smile.
"Yes, I was working. I need to see Kaylee and Mal in the infirmary for checkups right away."
To the best of her ability, the mechanic was on her feet in under 5 seconds, already overly overjoyed. Mal was a lot slower, but he seemed to be in less pain.
"I'll come and help you." Book wasn't asking, he was telling.
In the end, Inara also decided to come to sit with Mal, River followed her brother, Zoe walked with them to check on her napping baby, and Jayne tagged along for lack of something better to do.
Once there, Zoe walked over to the temporary crib, where the little infant appeared to have woken up, "Hey sweetheart." She smiled, picking her baby up and kissing its forehead.
Kaylee and Mal took their places on the side bed while Simon scanned their wounded limbs.
"Kaylee, your foot is healing well, no problems with infection. You're free to go."
When she didn't hop off the table and move, he almost said something, but thought better of it. Over the last seven months, the upbeat mechanic had been a little skittish around him; after Jayne had publicly revealed her crush.
Now, he watched her even more, and was starting to see the blushes and shy smiles. The longing looks, teasing, and pouts were more than 'just a crush'. As much as he hated to admit it, he liked having someone interested in him.
Focusing back on the task at hand, he ran the hand held machine along Mal's casted arm and read the results out loud, "The arm is free of infection, but there is one bone that doesn't appear to be healing as nicely as I'd like."
"Is there anything you can do about it?" The Captain actually sounded uninterested.
"Well, I could reopen your arm and try to pin the bone back into place. Healing time will increase though."
"How bad will my arm be if I don't have the surgery?"
"Not too bad, but I recommend letting me set it. You don't want it to give out in the middle of combat."
"Fine."
A little angered by Mal's apparent underestimation of his skills as a doctor, Simon briskly moved to get the local anesthesia into a clean needle.
Suddenly, there was a faint moan from the center operating table. The doctor stopped and listened.
"Yo doc, what's wrong?" Jayne sounded rudely unaware of the incident.
"Everyone, be quiet." He commanded, and leaned over to where Wash was laying, ear near the Pilot's mouth.
This time, everyone heard the soft groan that came from their shipmate. Zoe's eyes got wide and she stared from the child in her arms to her husband.
Wash opened his eyes slowly, the world being hazy and dark. As things came into focus, he recognized Simon's face, "D-Doc?"
"Welcome back to Serenity Wash."
"What happened?"
"You got shot in the chest and nearly lower the crew number to nine."
"Nine? I thought - "
"I knew you wouldn't die on us."
"How?"
"It just wouldn't be fair to leave your little boy fatherless."
"Little boy?"
"Congratulations Wash, you have a son." Announced Simon, lifting up the top half of the bed so that the pilot could sit up without straining himself.
Everyone in the crew was in the infirmary, and Wash felt comforted at their presence. Kaylee was teary eyed with joy, "Hey Wash!"
He noticed her bad foot and Mal's hurt arm. Guilt overcame him as he realized that it was his run in with Jackson and Laychen that had caused all this.
The thought flew to the back of his mind as a pair of lips sealed themselves over his own.
Zoe was attempting to embrace her husband as tightly as she could, with regards to his injuries. Still drowsy, he responded as best he could to her passionate kiss. When she pulled away, her hand ran through his scruffy blond hair, "I missed you."
"I missed you too." He smiled, and placed his hand over hers where it rested on his cheek, "I love you Zoe."
All of a sudden, she pulled away, and walked over to the temporary cradle. She returned with a small bundle in her arms, "He's awake."
Wash tried to crane his neck to see better, and Zoe leaned forward. The pilot got his first look at his infant child.
"I want to hold him." He whispered, and his wife gently gave the baby into his waiting arms.
The little boy gazed up at his father, almost looking curious at to who the man was. Wash quickly took care of that, "Hey little guy, I'm your daddy."
Some of the more sensitive people in the room were feeling the tug on their heartstrings. The pilot himself shed a single tear, and the soldier looked to burst with joy.
Jayne and Mal were the only ones who were simply grinning, Jayne less so than Mal. The mercenary had seen more babies than the Captain. The Captain knew more of death than he did of life.
The rest of the crew felt separated from the new family, and were waiting until they get a good look at the baby. Shockingly, only Simon had really gazed upon the child, Zoe having kept her son in the infirmary since his birth. The doctor had forbid people from going into the medical center, due to Wash's condition.
It was the Companion who finally broke the silence, "So, what's his name?"
"Aaron," Came the simple reply, typical pilot style, "I think we agreed to call him Aaron."
Inara raised herself from her chair and walked over to the center table. Upon getting her real first glance, she gasped, "He's a perfect mix of his parents."
That cued Kaylee, and no one could've made her return to her seat, "Let me see."
A beautiful smile found its way onto Inara lips, "I betcha he's going to be a little heartbreaker."
"Yeah, he is a cute little guy." The mechanic reached a finger forward and nearly jumped with delight when the baby seized it in its tiny fist.
"Do I get to babysit?"
Zoe smoothed Aaron's fine baby hair, "We couldn't think of someone better than you. Although, I really don't think we'll need you that often."
While all of this was going on, River had moved over to stand next to her brother. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear, "I can see you watching her."
He leaned over, "Don't be such a brat."
"You like watching her, I can tell."
All she got from him was a discontented groan and a playful shove.
Hearing the giggles from River, Kaylee turned around and studied the face of the man she found so desirable. Whatever possessed her to do what she did next, she did not know.
Kaylee walked over to the doctor and stood on his other side, so as not to infringe upon the little sister.
"Hey Simon. Isn't little Aaron just so adorable?"
"Yes, he is."
"It is so wonderful to have a baby on the ship. You know, we all get to have an impact on someone's life."
"I hate to tell you that certain people on this ship shouldn't have an impact on someone, as impressionable as a baby's, life."
Following his gaze, she realized it fell on Jayne, and maybe Mal too, but it was hard to tell.
"I'm surprised you don't mean Inara."
"She's your friend, I didn't want to say anything to upset you."
"Thanks."
There was a long silence between them, only made more uncomfortable by the unflinching gaze of River. Feet were shuffled and throats were cleared numerous times before one of them finally got up the nerve to speak.
Kaylee's soft voice invaded Simon's ear, "Isn't the miracle of life beautiful?"
He noticed that her attention was on the baby in Wash's arms, and he stumbled between whether or not the question was harmless, or if something else was there.
"Yeah, one of the few true constant wonders." It was only too late that he realized that his tone was a little bit more wistful than he would've liked.
"You sound like you want a kid. We should have one."
Shocked, he sputtered, "What?"
"God, that was so easy!" Laughed the mechanic.
A touch relieved, he placed his hands on the counter behind him, 'So, we're back to games again…' He though, dismayed, and then turned to her to speak, but didn't get the chance. River jumped on the words.
"Why do you make fun of your feelings?" The young psychic knew the answer, and she also knew what lay in the two hearts nearest her.
"It's okay River, I was just joking."
"No, you weren't."
Simon held up a hand, "She was playing a game, like she said, it was only a joke."
That clinched it, Kaylee turned her head away, and took a step in the opposite direction.
"Kaylee, please." The doctor's voice was low, to avoid embarrassing her.
A step back placed her once again at his side, and to her utter shock, he placed his hand on her shoulder.
From where she was, River smiled slightly.
Back to where the main action was taking place, Book had his Bible in his hands.
"Do you two mind if I place a blessing on the child?"
Both of the proud parents smiled and Wash answered, "Not at all Preacher."
So, the senior member of the crew of Serenity placed a traditional, christening type blessing upon baby Aaron. Maybe no one on the ship was so religious, but everyone had some sort of blessing put on them.
When all of that was done, it was Doc Tam who decided that it was late, and both Wash and Zoe needed sleep. As he stepped forward, he slid his hand from Kaylee's shoulder, down the contours of her back. Regrettably for the young mechanic, his hand stopped just above an area of her backside that she'd have preferred his fingers grazed.
He noticed the redness of her cheeks at his actions, and almost felt the want to lose his self-control. Perhaps he would soon. After all, he had only ignored women before because he was working towards being the best doctor he could be. That was now obsolete.
"Everyone, I know you don't want to hear this, but it's late and I need Wash and Zoe to get some sleep. So, if you would please leave, I'd appreciate it."
The crew filed out, and Simon reminded Mal to be in the infirmary around noon tomorrow for his arm surgery.
Zoe and Simon moved the temporary crib up to the head of Wash's bed, and repositioned the soldier's bed to lay next to her husbands, at the exact same level and everything.
Quietly, the young doctor left the room, leaving only a small light on.
For the first time in days, Zoe could wrap her arms around Wash, even if he couldn't turn to face her. They lay there in the semi-dark for a long time.
"Thank you Zoe. For Aaron, I mean, and, for being my wife."
"Shh, I know what you mean, and I want to thank you too." She reached up and gave him a long kiss on the lips.
Once again, silence prevailed. Suddenly, an idea entered Wash's head.
"What do you think he'll be when he grows up?"
"Probably a great pilot like his father with all of his mother's combat moves."
"If he's good enough at it, he can inherit the pilot's dinosaurs."
Zoe's beautiful laugh seemed to reach only her husband's ears, as soft and musical as it was. She draped her arm around his waist, and he put his arm around her shoulders, and they fell asleep.