Inara smiled down at Mist, even though the companion was able to make the slow, humiliating process of being bathed and changed almost pleasurable Mist was grateful that she could finally sink back against the soft warmth of the pillows once more.

Although she was weary her senses were keen and she could hear footsteps approaching. Mist watched as Inara's face lit up in anticipation as the Captain strode into the room.

Inara's expression changed as Mal approached her feelings, as always, guarded when in the presence of the man she loved.

"I would like to brush Mist's hair, will you help me?" Inara asked.

Mal paused unwilling to spend too much time in Inara's company; but he didn't shake his head and say he was busy. Instead he remembered how much Kaylee adored having Inara brush and fix her hair, who was he to deprive Mist of something had could bring her a little pleasure?

He sat down on Mists bed and bending over her he lifted her from the comfort of the pillows into his strong embrace.

Mist sighed as he cradled her against his chest, she could feel the hardness of his muscles through the fabric of his shirt and hear the faint beating of his heart.

Mal tried to ignore the soft swell of Mist's breasts as he pressed her against him, his arms wrapped around her fragile torso, one hand supporting her neck as Inara brushed her hair in long smooth strokes. Mal caught his breath as Mist murmured in appreciation.

Inara watched the expressions cross Mal's face, what he closed off from her, his feelings, his emotions were plain; he did not feel the need to protect himself from a crippled girl as he did from her.

Inara wasn't stupid, she knew Mal cared for her deeply, that he would die to protect her, but she also knew he would never come to terms with her profession, that it would always come between them and there was probably nothing either of them could do to change it.

Inara finished her one hundredth stroke and stood up to admire her handiwork, Mists hair glistened in the dim light as though it were made from gold.

She watched sadly as Mal slowly lowered Mist back against the pillows, something about the tender way he treated Mist, who was little more than a stranger wrenched at her heart and made Inara want to cry.

Mist drifted in and out of sleep the dreams absorbing her every moment, on the boat, Serenity, the days merge into the nights, into an endless dream where people cared for her and catered to her every need. The people, the captain and his crew were good people, different from those she had known at the hospital, it felt good to be here laying amongst the soft coolness of the cotton sheets and pillows, wrapped up in the cosy warmth of the duvets and blankets, it made her feel safe.

River sat in the corridor, Mist kind of liked the girl, she was broken like Mist herself, but broken on the inside where no one could see.

Mist could hear River muttering to herself as she sat cross legged on the floor, sometimes she was as innocent as a small child and sometimes it was like she carried the weight of the world upon her shoulders.

River looked up and smiled at Mist, then she stood up as she always did in one fluid movement and made her way to Mists bedside. She carried with her two plastic dinosaurs, a t-rex and a stegosaurus.

River places the dinosaurs on the bed next to Mist and starts to play with them, talking in a strange voice.

(Stegosaurus): We will rule over all this land, and we will call it... "This Land."
(T-Rex): I think we should call it "your grave!"
(Stegosaurus): Ah, curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!
(T-Rex): Ha ha ha! Mine is an evil laugh! Now die!

Mist heard footsteps coming down the corridor, they paused just outside the room, the half light casting Zoë's shadow on the opposite wall as she listened to River.

Rivers voice changed back to normal, "He loved her you know, he would have died for her, he loved them all very much". River told nobody in particular.

Her voice changed again.
"That's right, of course, 'cause they wouldn't arrest me if we got boarded, I'm just the pilot. I can always say I was flying the ship by accident."

"Oh, my God. What can it be? We're all doomed! Who's flying this thing? Oh, right, that would be me. "

"I wish I was somebody else right now, somebody not... married, not madly in love with a beautiful woman who can kill me with her pinkie."

"Were I unwed, I'd take you in a manly fashion."

"Sweetie, we're crooks. If everything were right, we'd be in jail."

"Hey, I've been in a fire fight before...Well, I was in a fire...actually I was fired, from a fry cook opportunity. I can handle myself."

"Mmm wife's soup. I must have done good."

Rivers voice changed once again as she started to sing

"Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell them I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I found Serenity".

"She feels empty". River surmised. "So alone, she lies in their bunk at night and sheds no tears, she stares at the place were he once slept, wears in his favourite shirt".

"She blames herself, wishes she had been a better wife, a lesser soldier, she longs for his touch, his kindness, to hear his laughter, to feel his skin against her own. She wishes that they had more time together, that they had gone on vacation, had children, all of the stuff normal folks do".

River pauses.

"She is not alone, inside they all cry, for their pilot, their comrade, their beloved friend. They miss his kindness, his laughter, his love. He was not a murderer or a thief. He was a leaf on the wind, watch how he soars.

He is not dead, he lives on in the ship that he loved, in their hearts, their memories, he is part of their family, of the boat they call home".

River stares out into space, still talking to nobody in particular, but Zoë knows who her words are meant for, she doesn't know why but Rivers crazy talk comforts her, somehow the moon-brained girl knows that her heart is breaking, somehow she understands exactly what Zoë needs to hear, that she is not alone, that he loved her more than life itself.