It couldn't get any worse. Sometimes Mal hated his bad luck, and when he said sometimes, he meant all the time. The last time he'd such a bad luck was when he'd found Simon Tam on Aberdeen and saved Zoe's life. Before and after that... These days, he was glad enough when Serenity was still flying with no one lying dying in the infirmary after a job. These were the good days. Today wasn't a good day. Or a good week. Guai, everything had gotten worse and worse since Fiddler's Green.

Mal regretted Zoe had failed to convince him not to contact Largen again. He regretted even more that when Largen said he had something for them, he'd accepted his offer. They would then be in a better position now. Taking the job on Aesir was a mistake.

-.-.-

They'd spent way more time on that gorram moon than they'd planned. It was supposed to be a straightforward job. Go to Regina take Simon, let him doctorin' some slightly sick colons, fly back to Regina, move on to the next job. Instead, they'd spent almost two weeks on Fiddler's Green. The only good news was that they wouldn't waste any more time getting Simon back to Regina. That ship had sailed and sank, like they said in the old days.

The crew was on the edge. No one liked to be stuck in a ship for so long, with only disease and foul air outside. It drove everyone a little crazy. At first, Mal could play on their emotional strings. After all, they were saving lives, or at least the doc and the preacher were. That argument never worked on Jayne and it didn't work on the other any longer. Of course, they all blame Mal. He was the one who came up with the plan. It was supposed to be easy, quick, and profitable, but it wasn't, so Mal was the one to blame. Lovely.

At least this forced pause gave Kaylee time to make all the repairs she needed—well, almost all. She always asked him for a catalyst that Mal didn't have and didn't know where to find. As she was still the only one still talking to him, Mal started spending much of his time with her to help her with her repairs. He could do with learning some mechanical stuff, and if he got in the way more than he helped, Kaylee would never complain.

However, Mal wasn't getting any younger. After two hours crouched next to the engine, he already needed to stretch his legs. He tapped Kaylee on the shoulder to let her know he was leaving. Too focused on her work, she didn't even nodd. Inara, however, was waiting for him outside and looked absolutely furious.

"You said it would be a quick trip."

"I know, Inara."

He had hoped not to repeat this conversation for the fourth time. But Inara was tenacious.

"You said it would only take a few days. I rent you a shuttle because you are mostly reliable. But we've been here for two weeks and I have..."

"Commitments, I know. That fancy party on Greenleaf, is that it? You see, I'm listening."

"This is not just a "party". It is the anniversary of the planet's terraformation. I am supposed to represent the Guild. We owe a lot to Greenleaf's first colonists."

"So they gave you money in exchange for a little whoring?"

"Mal!"

He gritted his teeth. They were all at their wits' end. They needed to take off like yesterday.

"I know. How do I dare not show more respect and all that? But I told you, I know you have the thing. If needed, we'll leave the shepherd and the doc here, drop you on a planet where you'll find a direct and fancy flight to Greenleaf and come back, but I have good news, for once. I spoke to Book yesterday. There have been no more deaths in three days, and they should be ready to leave today or tomorrow. Is that good for you?"

"It would allow me to be on Greenleaf on time, but I need to leave tomorrow at the latest."

"Good. You know I'm not having fun either, being stuck here? But we can't abandon these people, can we?"

She sighed but still nodded before leaving Mal where he was. The air immediately seemed less heavy. They all needed space and fresh air, literally and figuratively, to clear their heads, and Mal and Inara more than anyone else. Because he couldn't get that fresh air outside, Mal climbed onto the bridge instead. He needed some alone time, but of course, he wasn't the only one who had that brilliant idea to hide on the bridge.

"Zoe."

"Sir."

"No husband of yours here?"

She glared at him.

"We were getting on each other's nerves. These things happen when you spend ten days waiting for something that never comes. Didn't I hear you and Inara arguing right now?"

"We've got a slight difference of opinion."

"You can call it that, sir. If I may, you'll need to resolve this... tension of yours one of these days, one way or another."

Mal refused to answer and settled into the other seat. They stared quietly at the sky outside. That's what Mal liked about Zoe. There was no need to talk with her. That was her way of doing things. She'd aim right where it hurt and then let him figure it out on his own. Of course, she was right. He and Inara needed to resolve their issues. It wasn't just the crew that was driven crazy by this tension. Friends or lovers, they needed to make up their minds. Mal knew what he'd prefer. He wanted her so badly it hurt.

"If something's going to happen, why hasn't it happened already?"

Usually, Zoe wouldn't have pushed so hard. All the waiting must have really bored her.

"We argue all the time. And the captain of the ship with a passenger... That ain't a good idea."

"I don't think you'd like to be with someone you didn't argue with from time to time. And you let me marry Wash."

"Ain't the same. If I had refused to let you marry him, you would have mutinied and I value my life."

"I would have just taken your manhood. You're trying to change the subject, sir. There's something else, ain't there?"

"I can love Inara. I can't respect her profession. Companions can wear shiny dresses and golden things, it's still whorying. How is it better than the military brothels we see in the countryside with the girls covered in bruises? It ain't just because it's prettier. It's neither fair nor good and no one can convince me otherwise, not even Inara who says it's a noble and ancient tradition. A cage is still a cage, even a golden one, and it's easy to throw away the key. I don't have to like it, and I don't."

Zoe made a noise that was neither approval nor disapproval. He had never heard her opinion on the subject, one way or the other, even before they met Inara.

"Inara loves her job. Where does that leave you?"

"I ain't sure. Do you see a future where she and I would work out?"

"Either you both make big concessions, or something so huge happens that you get over it, or..."

Mal didn't see what could make them forget how much they disagreed on something so important unless one of them almost died. And since not even that would make him change his mind about her job,... Mal could only see one outcome to their troubles and it hurt him. A crackling sound spared him from answering. Zoe leaned over to the console.

"Shepherd, is that you? Is everything okay?"

"It is, actually. I wanted to let you know we should join you in the evening. Simon is confident that the epidemic is contained. The last patients will recover under the supervision of their loved ones and the villagers have sworn to maintain the quarantine for about ten days, as a precaution. They paid us for our help."

That was it. The good news Mal wanted. The end of their trouble, or so he thought.

The atmosphere on board changed completely when the doctor and the shepherd came aboard. They were all excited to finally leave. Kaylee, in particular, was almost jumping up and down. Everything was ready. They were just waiting for the two men to come onboard. Their enthusiasm diminished a little when they saw them. Both looked like they had aged ten years. Kaylee let out a small cry. She looked ready to wrap them in a blanket and hold them the entire way to Greenleaf. Only Jayne doesn't seem affected. It wasn't a surprise, but usually, Zoe was better at hiding her emotions. She looked scared to see them in such a state. Even Wash finally looked ready to forgive Simon.

Mal took a step forward.

"Welcome aboard. We're leaving right away. I ain't wasting more time here. We've got enough water for you to take a shower, but make that a short one. Take one and go change. Dinner is in half an hour, and then you go to sleep as long as you need."

"You should go first, Simon," Book said. "You need it more than I do."

Simon was usually the sacrificing kind, but this time, he dropped his doctor's bag on the ground and staggered in the shower's direction. Wash tapped him on the shoulder as he passed.

"Well done, doc. I'll get the ship off the ground."

Looked like Mal was right. Good, because he was getting tired of Wash's displeasure with Simon. They let the pilot go, then guided Book to the couch near the infirmary, where he collapsed with a sigh.

"I don't remember ever being this exhausted. Dare I hope it will be proper food on the table? I fear the thought of sitting down to eat a full meal is the only thing that's kept me alive these past few days."

"It is an actual meal!" Kaylee promised. "It's cooking, I started before you arrived. Any special requests?"

"Dear girl, as long as the food is hot and abundant, I'll sing your praises, and so will Simon."

The girl laughed and hurried to the kitchen, followed by Jayne, who was probably hoping to pick up something along the way.

"How bad was it, preacher?" Zoe finally asked once she was sure they were too far to hear.

"Very bad. We did our best for these poor people but... in the end, we lost seventy-five of them. Their lack of regular contact with the nearest town was fortunate; otherwise, the entire planet could have been contaminated within a few months. Even now, their situation is still dire. They should at least move to somewhere else, or this swamp will be their death."

"Will they?"

"I doubt it. They buried their dead here; this is where they suffered. That kind of trial make people take roots somewhere."

Mal nodded. The Alliance had made Shadow uninhabitable, but some people had returned there, anyway. Easier to leave the living than the dead. The three of them knew that. He wondered if Simon did. If not, he wouldn't be the one to tell him.

"Go rest, preacher," he said. "See you at the table."

"Thank you. By then, I hope I'll feel more human."

Mal was kinda relieved to see they both looked more alive when they entered the dining area. Simon's hair was still damp, but some color had returned to his face. It was almost funny to see him wearing a fancy embroidered vest. Except on Aberdeen, Mal had always seen him wear second or third-hand clothes, threadbare and ill-fitting.

"Shwai," Kaylee breathed.

Mal had to agree. If Simon gained a few pounds to fill out his fancy suit, he wouldn't look out of place on Inara's arm.

"There was no need to make such an effort dressing up, doc," he still said.

Simon collapsed into a chair, then blushed and stood up to hold Kaylee's chair and let her sit, like a true gentleman. She blushed and smiled at him.

"I fear I had little choice. Almost all my clothes are stained with blood or vomit. Both, in some cases."

Jayne snickered.

"Little Kaylee is suddenly much less wet."

Simon turned pale, then blushed and lowered his head. Mal glared at the mercenary.

"Jayne, you can come back and eat after everyone has finished. Maybe there will be something left, maybe there won't. I don't care either way."

At least Jayne left with little protest, and Simon finally dared to raise his head.

"I apologize. I think I'm too tired to make conversation without talking about..."

"You have every excuse in the world, doctor," Inara said, placing her hand on his, "and we are all aware of your exhaustion. Eat without worry."

It was hard not to smile when, without further ado, Simon began devouring the content of his plate. He looked more like a hungry kid than a smart doctor from the Core right now, and Mal appreciated he pretended not to hear the crass joke Jayne made. He wasn't the only one, but they probably thought it was kindness and education when Mal knew it was more likely the embarrassment talking. Some people, like Kaylee, were comfortable when taken out of their comfort zone. People like Simon, much less so. He was the kind of man Dad ended up taking to a Companion out of desperation to have them out of their shell. Maybe that happened with Simon, but if so, it didn't help. Funny. It could have been Inara taking that role. Mal suddenly realize he didn't want to think about that.

Simon groaned as he swallowed a mouthful of something that looked like meat in sauce, making Kaylee's cheeks turn red. Mal was so surprised he almost did too. That was quite a moan that came out of the doc's mouth.

"Forgive me," Simon blushed. "I feel like I haven't eaten in days."

"Our cooking must look as good as in the Core, right?" Wash joked, spontaneously handing him the next dish. "Here, eat that, but please don't bite. I don't want to lose a finger."

Simon nodded, still eating with desperation. Book wasn't much better. Satisfied, Mal stopped watching them and turned to the other to plan. Inara's party was supposed to last six days. That gave them time to find a quick job, just enough to replenish their pockets, then to rest and enjoy some sun to compensate for the confinement of the last few days. Mal wanted to contact some people in the Red Sun system in the next few days, to see if they had something for them. He and Zoe were arguing about whether to contact Greg Largen, a former client on Moab who paid well but was making them find some trouble more often than not when a strange noise interrupted them. It was Simon, who was snoring softly, his head resting in his arms. A lock of his hair was lying in a bowl of sauce. Kaylee laughed quietly, then shook him gently, with no effect.

"Looks like it's time to put the kid to bed," Wash snickered. "Some help, anyone?"

Mal sighed for effect and stood up. Between the two of them, they lifted the doc, put his arms over their shoulders and take him downstair with Zoe holding his legs.

"The kid is too thin," Wash noted. "We'll need to be plumped up a little if he stays."

Mal nodded, but stayed quiet. Simon wasn't the only one who was tired. He went straight to his bed after, closed his eyes and slept almost immediately. He only spared a thought to Simon, thinking it was good they had a full time doc on the ship know, but that they'd need him to get out of his shell if he was going to be a member of the crew. It wouldn't be easy, but it was a problem for another day.

-.-.-.

Greenleaf, as its name showed, was a beautiful green and spotless planet. A good place to settle down when you find life in the Core too dull and expensive. Mal didn't like it at all. It was good on paper, but there was almost as much surveillance as on Londinium or Gonghe. Still, it was good to stretch his legs outside Serenity, and he gave the crew two days to enjoy the scenery.

Simon didn't get off the ship like the other did, even the preacher. Instead, the doc spent the whole trip sleeping as soundly as the dead, then spent the next three days shivering in his bed, overcome by a virus. At least it wasn't the one he fought on Fiddler's Green. The lack of sleep and food were just the perfect cocktail to get sick. He only really resurfaced once they left Greenleaf's orbit.

The trip between Greenleaf and Aesir was short, barely twenty hours. That was part of the reason Mal had chosen this job despite his lack of trust in Largen. He had only set foot on Aesir twice, and each time he had counted the hours before leaving again. It wasn't a nice place at all. That's why he was searching Serenity's cupboards and closets, throwing on the floor anything that didn't match what he was looking for. Zoe was doing the same while Kaylee folded and sorted their mess. They were making so much noise that Simon came out of his room, a little disheveled. It looked nice on him.

"This is... a mess. Can I help you, Captain?"

"Don't think so. Ever been to Aesir?"

"I must say I never did. The only thing I know, I've heard you say in passing in conversation these last few days."

And that was a problem Mal had neither the time nor the inclination to deal with at the moment. Now that he was no longer dragging himself from his bed to the infirmary, Simon hadn't use the opportunity to get more friendly with the crew. He was still keeping to himself.

"Himminbjorg is a cold sun," Zoe explained. "None of its planets have anything close to a temperate climate. We're looking for some clothes that would do down there. In theory, we shouldn't be there for more than a few hours, but I'm wary. Some people have said that before."

Mal pretended to ignore her glare. Fiddler's Green wasn't his fault. They all thought it was a good idea before they learned how bad it was.

"We have to pick up a shipment in Oulu, on Aesir," Kaylee continued. "Whoever goes out to pick it up is going to be cold, so they might as well bundle up. And we'll have to hurry because there are terrible snowstorms that can stop us from taking off for hours."

"Luckily for us, the Alliance's very interested in Aesir's ore," Mal explained. "Satellites are monitorin' the storms. Larsen had given us the next six days' forecast. We should be good."

Zoe sighed.

"At least we have two winter coats that will do for Jayne and you, captain, and a smaller one for me. I still would have liked a fourth person with us, but no luck with that. We looked everywhere."

"Wish they sold some on Greenleaf, but we'll make do with three people."

Simon quietly retreated to his room. With a glance, Zoe made it clear to Mal that he would need to do something about that and help him fit in with the crew. Mal bit back a curse. He knew that. Normally it would be Kaylee's job, but she was still a little ashamed about how she behaved with him when she had hated him for his behavior towards Zoe. Since Simon himself wasn't good at social interaction, and was a little afraid of Zoe, they were at an impasse, and Mal needed to focus on the job.

Simon came out again from his room with a thick pink sweater and a heavy coat, which he handed to Kaylee.

"I probably should have gotten rid of them, but I'm glad I didn't. They might be a little small for you, but..."

"You're into cross-dressing, doc?"

Jayne intervened, sharpening his knife on the couch and not helping at all. Mal ignored him.

"Your sister's?"

Simon nodded. He looked ready to collapse again.

"I was going to give them to her when... Might as well be useful to someone. You and her are nearly the same size, Kaylee. Try them. And if you want... I have other things in my bag. If you want them."

"I can't..."

"Please, do. My sister, River, she would have loved you very much."

With tears in her eyes, Kaylee clutched the clothes to her chest and stood on tiptoe to kiss Simon on the cheek.

"That's very kind of you, Simon."

He tried smiling and failed. When he went back to lock himself in his room without another word, no one held it against him this time. They silently retreated to the rest area.

"These clothes are so pretty and so soft..." Kaylee said. "And Simon looked so sad. Captain, do you know what happened to his sister?"

"She died, I think. I don't know more. Preacher?"

"I'm afraid you know more than me. I had a feeling he lost someone very close to him. It would explain what made him so..."

Apathetic. Lost. Cynical. Take your pick.

"Poor Simon. He must have loved her very much. She had such pretty clothes... Do you really think I can try them on? I wouldn't want him to be sad when he saw me wearing them, or if I got them dirty working with Serenity's engines."

"If he offered them to you, of course you can," Zoe replied. "I imagine it hurt him as much to keep them as to throw them away."

"I'll be very careful about it then."

Kaylee took on a resolute air while folding the clothes as delicately as possible. Zoe leaned towards Mal's ear, pointing to the scene.

"I think our Kaylee just suddenly decided that the doc needed a surrogate little sister."

Now that would be fun to watch, at least as much as watching Kaylee chase after the doctor in search of some sex and affection. Maybe it was even better this way. The doc needed a friend on board and a broken man like that was anything but what sweet little Kaylee needed in her bed and life. Not all people like them were as lucky as Zoe to find the perfect person to help them heal. More often than not, people like them hurt the people who loved them and only wanted to help.

Simon joined them for dinner a few hours later. He had a sad smile plastered on his face when he saw Kaylee in his sister's pink sweater, but he said nothing and took his place among them. He was almost shy, politely thanking each time someone handed him a meal. Mal couldn't help but watch him furtively. Talking with the others had awakened his curiosity about the doctor's past. He obviously had no business being there with them. He was a fancy doc from the Core. Even Inara, with her fancy Companion dresses, looked more like she belonged here than him.

"Now that you're up, doc," Jayne finally said, "I hope you're going to be of some use, huh?"

Simon glanced around.

"I apologize for staying in my rooms these last few days. I thought I'd make an inventory of the infirmary and a list of what needs to be restocked, but of course, I can help with other things."

Wash laughed.

"I'm designating a volunteer for the next trash, cooking, and ship cleaning chores, just to give him a taste of what it's like."

"Do not worry, Simon," the preacher said. "Everyone takes part equally in everyday tasks. Don't let anyone make you believe otherwise, not even Jayne."

"Yeah, he'd love to be excused from chores just because he's a hero and all that. Doc, has anyone told you the story of the hero of Canton yet?"

Simon's face when he heard the story was worth all the gold in the world, but Mal laughed less when the other talked about Saffron. No one asked the doctor if he had any funny stories to tell, not with Fiddler's Green and his sister being in everyone's mind. Still, as the evening went on, Simon shoulders relaxed. Wash's little slaps on the shoulder and Kaylee's delighted smile had their usual effect, and Mal hadn't even had to lecture his crew. A good evening, all in all.

The next day, Mal was finishing shaving when Wash's voice rang out from the cockpit, tense.

"Captain, if you could come and see this?"

He scrambled up the ladder to rush to Wash, who was staring darkly at the planet in front of them. He pointed to the northern hemisphere. "That's Oulu, where we're going. And that big, big cloud mass over there is the huge storm that's going to hit us before we even get to land."

Mal swore.

"Largen lied to us."

"Zoe's going to kill you, Captain. She told you so."

"Any chance we can stay in orbit until it calms down?"

"If we do, we'll run out of fuel halfway back to Greenleaf. At best."

Mal swore again, on principle. They were going to have to land in the storm and there was no telling when they'd be able to leave again. It was all going from bad to worse. And of course, it was just the start.

-.-.-.

And here they were now. Mal had hoped they'd spend only two or three hours on Aesir. Six hours later, they were still stuck there, with no hope of leaving soon. Largen had screwed them well this time. Mal had only himself to blame. He needed to learn not to look desperate when he was looking for a job to keep his crew afloat. It only makes people think they could play him. Sadly, it worked because he was a fei fei pi gu. Zoe would tell him so herself if she wasn't too busy chattering her teeth. Jayne was carrying Kaylee, who was too tired to walk and collapsed three times already. While they tried to get through the snow which came to their knees, sometimes even to their hips, Mal kept throwing by imagining himself punching Largen next time he'd see him. He'd punch him a first time for lying about the weather forecast, a second for giving such a bad landing spot, right next to a frozen lake. Wash's stellar piloting skills kept them from landing at the bottom of the lake. Mal would punch Largen a third time for making them wait an hour for his man, and a fourth time because he forgot to tell them the goods they were supposed to take were a half-hour drive from their landing spot, with no way to land closer. Largen had said they'd just had to land, load the goods and leave. Yi Da Dwei Bun Chou Roh. Mal would punch him a fifth and a sixth time for how wrong the things had almost gone at the warehouse. The guns nearly got out when they had Kaylee with them. Unforgivable. And worse, the transport provided by the middleman had stopped working in the middle of the storm.

Mal tried to call Serenity, but the storm was blocking all communication. All they could do was keep moving and hope they were headed in the right direction. The only sign they were probably going in the right direction was the cliff on their right. As long as they kept it in sight, they should be fine.

If only it wasn't so cold, Mal wouldn't worry so much. He glanced behind him. Even Jayne was slowing down. Things were getting worse by the minute, and Mal could do nothing about it, except keep walking. Barring a miracle, all four of them were going to die here. And Mal hadn't seen miracles in a long time if he'd ever seen one. How far could they be from Serenity? How long would it take to get back there? Ten minutes? An hour? If so, it would be less painful to shoot themselves in the head right away. Dying from coldness wasn't a fun way to go, but Mal couldn't do it. Even if he had seen no gorram miracle in his life, it didn't stop him from believing in them. How could he hurt Zoe or Kaylee when there was still a shred of hope they'd get to Serenity? Jayne? He could shoot them if needed. Perhaps.

It didn't matter. Mal was so cold he had trouble thinking. A part of him wanted to curl into a ball and wait for help. The other remembered it would be the worst idea in the world. Mal forced himself to keep moving, if only to set an example for the others. His thoughts grew more grim by the minute. How many times would Serenity return to Aesir before the crew found their bodies a day the snow melted? What would become of them afterward? Wash would be the captain, but he would be the only crewmember left. The preacher would stay to support him and help him recruit new people, perhaps. Simon would probably stay. The doctor had a good heart and was in danger anywhere else. Inara... Mal wasn't sure what she'd do. He never understood her, never would. He stumbled again. Snow got into his mouth and boots. Zoe stepped forward to help him up. She was shivering, too.

"Courage, Sir."

Mal's teeth were chattering too much to answer her. He accepted her outstretched hand, but froze when he heard a noise above their heads. Zoe also looked up. She had heard the same thing he had, but it couldn't be Serenity. It was too dangerous to fly in the middle of a storm on Aesir. Even the fancy Alliance ships never risk it. The wind killed as quickly as the cold here. Still, Mal couldn't help but hope, and he cried out in joy when Serenity descended towards them. Jayne did the same, and Zoe hugged Kaylee tightly. The poor little girl didn't even have enough strength left to smile.

The ship landed with difficulty. The winds tried to push it back against the cliff, but Wash was a wo cao pilot. Huddled together, all four of them waited for the hangar door to open so they could rush inside.

The temperature contrast was striking. Mal felt like his skin was burning. His hands were shaking too much for him to take off his gloves. He settled on collapsing on the ground. They were safe. He could let go.

"Preacher, you've got Jayne. Inara, warm up Kaylee first, then help Zoe. Wash will come to help when he can. I've got the captain. You both know what to do."

Someone tried to force him to stand up. Mal opened his eyes to see Simon's worried eyes trying to assess his condition.

"The others first," he said.

His voice sounded strange to his heart. Simon frowned and insisted.

"Everyone is taken care of. If there was a need to triage, I guarantee you'd have the last word, as the captain. Now, get up. Don't you dare close your eyes until I give you permission to do so?"

He was deadly serious. Mal's tired brain slowly realized the risks. His brain was slowly clearing. After two failures, he stood up. Simon grabbed him by the shoulders and led him to the rest area, forcing him to take tiny steps, like Mal was an old man. They finally got there, but going down the five steps was an ordeal.

"Well done, Captain. Now, one more little effort. I need you to undress."

"Buy me a drink first."

Simon laughed softly and began to take off his coat delicately.

"We'll see about that later. For now, we need to get you all undressed and put on something warm."

"Are we going to see Kaylee and Zoe naked?" Jayne asked.

The preacher had to hold him tightly to keep him from falling down the stairs, just like Simon did with Mal. Behind them, Kaylee made a noise of protest that turned into chattering teeth. Simon took off Mal's gloves and undid the buttons on his shirt. His fingers were burning. Worse, they were slightly blue. Mal didn't wanted to think of the color of his toes. He'd heard stories.

"No one is going to see my wife naked except me!" Wash shouted as he ran down the walkway high above them.

"Don't worry. Inara's taking them to my room. It's small and easier to heat, anyway. Preacher, when you've undressed Jayne, go get us some more blankets. They're in worse shape than I dared hope."

"I will."

"Some hot drinks would help too."

"So I'm the one who gets to see Jayne naked?" Mal whined. "What did I do to deserve this?"

Simon finished taking off his shirt. He threw a blanket over his shoulders, then his hands ventured toward his belt.

"Don't rub your skin. I know it's tempting, but wait until you've warmed up to do it. And remember, you're not the only one who'll have to endure this spectacle. If I am your employee now, I think I already deserve a raise, just for that."

Jayne protested weakly, but Mal could no longer follow the conversation. He was fighting the urge to sleep. When Simon finished taking off his pants and soaked boots, he let himself fall onto the couch without a word. The doctor finished wrapping him in blankets before going to help Jayne and Inara. Mal should probably have felt ridiculous, naked in a bunch of covers, but it felt nice in his cocoon. He managed to stay awake until the preacher placed a hot cup in his hands, advising him to sip. When he was done, Mal let his head fall back and closed his eyes.

He woke up with aches and pains. He was getting too old to sleep somewhere other than in his bed. Opening his eyes, he realized he was no longer alone on the couch. Jayne was snoring on the other side of it, curled up in a ball, and Kaylee was sleeping between them, her head resting on Mal's thigh. He stroked her hair gently and sighed in relief when he saw his fingers lose their blue tint. On the chair on the other side of the coffee table, Zoe was also curled up in her husband's arms. Wash was snoring softly, but her eyes were open and she smiled at Mal.

"It was a close call this time," she whispered.

This time again, she could have said. Mal nodded slowly. He didn't want to disturb Kaylee.

"It could have been worse. This is the last time I agree to work with Largen."

"With all due respect, sir, that's what you also said last time."

"This time it's true. Jayne has my permission to shoot me if I change my mind."

"I'll pass it on."

She turned to kiss Wash gently and wake him up. Mal looked away to give them some privacy. He caught Inara's gaze, curled up in another chair, and smiled back. She stood gracefully and came to kiss his forehead.

"You scared us badly. Can I get you something?"

"I'm starving and thirsty."

"Then I'll wake Simon up to see what food you should eat. Be thankful he was here. He did great."

Mal glanced around. He noted their wet clothes balled up in the corner and the pile of clean clothes on the coffee table. On top of it sat Kaylee's new pink sweater.

"I can see that."

Wash yawned and opened his eyes.

"He was the one who decided we had to take the risk of coming to get you, you know? I was so scared that I would have gone straight into the storm when we realized something was wrong. We would have crashed into the cliff if I did."

"You didn't when you came."

"Because of Simon. He stayed calm, stocked up on blankets here, studied the contents of the infirmary, and explained the things we should do when we get you and that we needed to wait until the risk was becoming higher for you than for us. I shouted, but he didn't change his mind."

"Of course you did."

"Well, it was my wife out there. Finally, he said we should go or it would be too late. Luckily, the storm was calming down at that moment, or we wouldn't have seen you, or the cliff."

"We'll have to tell him he needs to work on his timing. We wouldn't have lasted two minutes more. But good work, the four of you."

Inara slipped away to go wake the doctor. Wash greeted him with applause. Kaylee, woken with a start, joined him and even Jayne agreed to clap her hands twice while groaning. The poor doctor looked lost in the face of such a gesture. Mal's smile froze. This boy had seen so much lately that he no longer knew how to accept a little respect.

"Good job, doc."

Simon finally came closer.

"Wash did it, not me. You have a great crew."

"That I do. Good thing you're part of it now."

Simon's eyes almost widened in amazement. It explained a lot. He hadn't quite realized he was part of the crew yet, but now he knew. Mal watched him closely as he examined his patients. It was a good thing they had taken him on board. Even if things continued to go wrong, at least they had a doctor with them. Mal was glad he had convinced him to stay with them. Besides, he really liked this young man. He might be as broken as Mal himself, but Mal was a little in awe of his ability to handle a crisis. He was good at it. They just needed to work on his social skills.

Simon wasn't going to understand what was happening to him. He was part of the crew now, and not just in Mal's eyes. And on Serenity, a crew was a family. They were going to get his head above water, one way or another.

Already, Simon didn't look so defeated. He was no longer like a man waiting for the next disaster that was going to hit him in the face. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless. That satisfied Mal for the day. They'd worked on the rest once he got enough sleep.