Hey guys... been awhile, I know, and I'm sorry for the delay. This is a short little chapter that will hopefully serve two purposes:

1. Help the story get to where it needs to get, and

2. Get me back in the swing of things.

Let's hope it works...

Josephine's footsteps echoed loudly as she hurried down one of the Training Houses many corridors, the cane long since forgotten. At Inara's suggestion, the young woman had joined Rawley's other wives in their sessions with Ivani, though Jo saw little need in her being there. But Inara, if anything, was persistent, and had finally asked her to go, if only to support the other women. Josephine had found no way to argue this and had agreed. Today had begun the third week of daily meetings and it appeared to be no different than the previous ones. Josephine was late... again. But it never seemed to be her fault... at least not entirely.

Her left hand flew to her lips, as though if she pressed hard enough she could still feel Mal's on her own. Shaking her head and quickening her pace, Jo tried to force those thoughts from her mind, or surely she would turn on her heels and head back to their shared room to finish what had almost been started. It seemed that every time she made to leave Mal was there blocking the door, a mischievous glint in his eyes... or her favorite, surprising her by coming up silently from behind as she went to open the door and placing his hands roughly on her waist. She always cried out in shock as he pulled her back against him, attacking her neck with his mouth, and the door and any reason to leave was quickly forgotten. It was as though he had made a game out of seeing how late he could make her. Perhaps, Jo thought suddenly, he'll believe he's won his game if he gets me to miss one of them entirely. Today she had just barely managed to force herself to pull away from his embrace and seriously believed she had been only moments away from conceding him victory. Josephine had wished him well in his ride with Zoe and Mal had frowned and grumbled that she should come riding too as she left the room.

For once, Jo was actually relieved to not be going riding with Mal. The Captain had gone riding with Zoe or Jayne almost every single day since their arrival and once Josephine's leg had healed she had been asked to go as well. But Mal liked to ride for hours at a time and though she was not unaccustomed to riding a horse, Jo found the constant jolting and strain on her legs to be too much after a time. Though she would greatly miss their... excursions... in the soft hay of the stables afterwards.

She smiled to herself softly as she rounded a corner, almost running head on into one of the older students in her hurry.

"Oh! Excuse me." Josephine stepped to the side just in time and hurried past the girl, ignoring her questioning glance. She skidded to a halt outside the plain door that led into the classroom turned dormitory and paused to catch her breath before reaching quietly for the knob. Pressing her ear gently against the door, she could hear the muffled voices from within and knew they had started with out her again.

She sighed and pulled the door open quickly, knowing that every head, save one, would be turned her way. Josephine managed to catch Ivani's disapproving stare before averting her gaze to the floor and moved towards her usual space in the back with Mira. The silent young woman reached a hand out to Josephine as she approached and pulled her down to sit cross-legged next to her, tucking her small hand into the crook of the older woman's arm. It was the only sign of acknowledgment Mira had given since their arrival at the Training House but it was enough to entice Jo back to the sessions day after day. If there was even the smallest chance that Jo could help Mira come out of herself she would do it. River seemed to be the only one to ever get through to Mira and Josephine made a note to seek out the young pilot later that day, if she could find her that is. She'd barely seen the others accept at meals and sometimes River neglected to even show up for those.

Jo turned her attention back to Ivani, who had continued talking upon her arrival.

"You see, what happened isn't your fault. You must not blame yourselves."

Josephine turned towards the wall, trying to hide the inevitable eye roll that seemed to accompany anything Ivani said. Of course I don't blame myself, she thought, I blame Rawley. Josephine had done her best to avoid thinking of her late husband as much as possible but as though triggered by her thoughts he was suddenly all she could see. The older woman's voice faded into the background as the odious man's image floated before her eyes. He wore his familiar grin that meant he was about to do something nefarious and Josephine's chest tightened as panic gripped her. She compelled her eyes to close, trying to block out his face, but he drifted against the blackness of her eyelids, still smiling. The fear overwhelmed her for a moment and she was lost as to what to do. He isn't here, she reassured herself silently. You killed him. That was it. Suddenly the image of his laughing face changed to one of surprise as bullet after bullet pierced his chest and blood blossomed across his shirt. Mal's gun, Mal's bullets... I killed him. The picture flashed yet again and this time Rawley was on the floor, eyes open in an unblinking stare.

Josephine's own eyes opened as sound rushed back into her ears with a small popping noise. She was fairly certain she'd made no noise or movement and was grateful to see Ivani had continued to speak softly to the other wives. She could feel eyes on her however and turned her head quickly to the side, her mouth falling open in surprise.

Mira had turned her head from it's usual position staring at the wall and now had her gaze fixed sharply on Jo's, an unreadable expression hidden behind her eyes.

"Mira..."? Jo's voice trailed off, unable to form the question she was itching to ask.

"Josephine? Do you wish to contribute something?"

Jo whipped her head around suddenly at Ivani's words to find everyone staring back at her.

"No... no ma'am." This answer seemed to appease the older woman and she directed her attention back to the others after a moment, allowing Jo to turn back to Mira. But the young girl's eyes were once again fixed on the wall and she had pulled her arm out of Josephine's, all evidence of her previous attentions wiped from her face. Jo was sure that if she asked Mira if she had felt what she had felt, seen what she had seen, she would get no response now.

Josephine had left Mira with the others as the session ended and walked slowly back to her room. She'd tried to get the young women's attention several times as the hour progressed, but the only thing she had to show for it was a growing weariness and headache that had set in as the nightmare had left her.

Was it a nightmare? I was awake when it happened, she thought suddenly as the door to her and the Captain's room appeared in front of her. Jo rubbed her forehead gently and slipped into the soothing darkness of the room, making her way easily to the large bed. She turned on the small lamp next to it, bathing the room in a soft yellow glow. The room had been cleaned and the bed had been made in her absence. Not by Mal of course, of that she was certain. Though she had yet to see anything of this phantom cleaning service.

She absently wondered how long Mal had been riding before slipping off her shoes and shoving most of the pillows off the bed. She laid down, fully clothed, above the covers and tried to force herself to remember the exact expression in Mira's eyes, but it was no use. Frustrated, she turned on her side and drew the nearest pillow towards her, burying her face in it's softness. Had it meant something, had Mira felt something? Josephine didn't know what to think but she was more determined than ever to find River later that day. The questions that had been floating painfully through her head began to fade slowly as exhaustion over took her and finally allowed her to drift into sleep.

Josephine felt herself shift into that corner of the mind between fast asleep and truly awake at the sound of the door opening and closing briefly. A few seconds later the bed dipped slightly and warm hands slid around her.

"Mal," she whispered groggily and allowed herself to be pulled back against his chest.

"Yes darlin'." The Captain leaned down and placed a chaste kiss where her neck met her shoulder blade as Jo let out a small sigh at the contact. She began to shift and Mal relaxed his arms so that she could turn on her other side to face him.

His skin seemed tanner from being in the sun and his short hair was tangled and windblown from riding at breakneck speeds. As though to make sure she weren't still asleep, Josephine placed a hand tentatively on his cheek and smiled when she felt his skin, soft and warm, under her palm.

"Hello."

Returning her smile, the Captain leaned forward and captured her mouth in a soft, lingering kiss. After a moment, he pulled away from her slowly and, sighing slightly, rolled onto his back. Josephine slid her hand over the material of his shirt and pressed herself against his side, resting her head to the right of his heart. The distinct odor of sweat and horses filled her nostrils but underneath was a smell that was purely Mal and she pressed herself closer, inhaling deeply as though searching for more of his scent.

Mal brought his hand to her back and began to rub small circles through the thin material of her shirt.

"How was your ride?"

"Fine," he answered plainly and paused a moment before suddenly bursting out in laughter.

The sudden movement startled Jo and she raised her head to look down at him. "What is it?"

Mal was grinning and his eyes were shining with amusement as he answered her. "It's just... Jayne decided to come..."

"And?"

"And the fella that runs the stable got himself a new colt. Jayne thought he'd impress the women 'round here by breakin' it in for him."

She had a feeling she knew where this story was going and began to return Mal's grin. "And were they impressed?"

Mal's smile grew wider as he shook his head. "I don't think so... not unless they're impressed by a man landing on his butt every five minutes."

"I can't believe I missed it!"

"Next time," Mal responded. "But speakin' of missing it, how was your little head shrinking session?" He couldn't manage to keep the sarcasm and slight haughtiness from his voice.

Her smile faltered and she hesitated just enough for Mal to notice. His own grin left his face as he looked up at her and reached out a hand to cup her cheek. "Shenme shi?"

Closing her eyes, Josephine shook her head slightly and rested it against Mal's chest again. She sighed deeply, searching for the right words.

"I saw Rawley today." She felt more than saw Mal's entire body go rigid at her words, which had clearly been the wrong ones, and she lifted her head, propping herself on an arm.

"No Mal, not like that... he's dead, I know that."

"Then what do you mean?"

"It... it was strange. I just thought about him, only for a moment and suddenly he was there." She closed her eyes and she could see him again, but this time it was only a memory. "He was all I could see, all I could hear..." She shook her head and opened her eyes in time to see Mal push himself into a sitting position, his back resting against the headboard and his legs stretching out in front of him. His change in position forced Josephine to crane her neck as she looked up at him.

"It was like a nightmare but I was wide awake..."

Mal's hand reached out and closed gently around her upper arm. He pulled slightly, coaxing her up and into his lap. Her legs bent at the knees and rested on either sides of his own, until she was straddling his waist.

Reaching a hand up, Mal cupped her cheek before speaking softly. "He can't hurt you anymore, dong ma?"

Sighing, Josephine wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her forehead against his shoulder. "I know, I know," she whispered, her voice slightly muffled. "I'm fine, really. I did... panic... for a moment, but seeing Rawley isn't what has me worried, honestly."

"So what is it then?"

"It's Mira." Josephine pulled back so she could see the Captain's face. "Afterwards, she was looking at me, and I mean really looking at me. She had the oddest expression on her face, as though she'd seen everything I had. She'd never looked so... normal before."

Mal frowned, clearly confused. "But that's good, right?"

"I don't know. Maybe. It seemed wrong somehow."

"What are you gonna do?"

"I'm not sure," Jo answered, shaking her head slightly. "I want to talk to River, see if she can communicate with Mira. Maybe find out if she did see Rawley too."

Mal looked up at her for a long moment, his expression thoughtful, before speaking. "You know what I think?"

"Hmm?"

"You need someone to help you take your mind off it for while," he answered, the corners of his mouth turning up in a small smile.

Josephine suddenly realized exactly where she was sitting and couldn't stop the faintest hint of a blush as it graced her cheeks. "You are the oddest man," she whispered, smiling softly.

Mal leaned forward until his lips hovered above her own. "Not odd xin gan," he breathed against her mouth, sending a small shiver up her spine. "Just a man."

His arms wound tightly around her back as he pulled her against him, seizing her mouth with his own.