I dont own Wash or the Firefly crew - Joss invented them. I just make them do stuff. The crew of the Kestrel are mine. They do their own stuff whether I want them to or not. :D

Scar Petals - Chapter 5

He’s awake now. Hoban Washburne. Or as awake as he’s going to get, according to Sallie. He keeps sleeping and waking, waking and sleeping.

Kate’s standing in the doorway of the medical bay, watching him doze. She’s set them on course to the next job; far off on Sihnon. She hasn’t been there in years, and she isn’t looking forward to it. It doesn’t sound like it will be a time filled with wacky fun. She takes a tentative step into the medi-bay, and her boot heel echoes on the metal floor, even though she is trying to be quiet.

He tries to sit up. She can see the muscles in his stomach bunch as he tries, but he can’t, and it hurts; he gives a strangled cry and falls back.

“Hoban?” Kate strides across the room, looking down on the bed. “Don’t try to move. Sallie – that’s our doctor – she’s shot you up, but don’t push it or you’ll really damage yourself.”

His voice is cracked. “Who are you? Where’s Zoe?”

“I’m Ka – Captain Malory. You’re on my ship. Who’s Zoe?”

“No, no.” His eyes dart from side to side, rolling in panic. Great drops of sweat stand out on his forehead. “No, please. Your ship? But – Firefly. Zoe. Where’s Zoe?”

“Try and stay calm,” Kate says, feeling her own heart speed up. She doesn’t quite know how to explain. “Firefly – that’s - where you were?”

“Where I was?” he whispers.

“Hoban. You were on a ship when we found you. Your ship.” She wants to soften the blow, to call him sweetie or honey or something that will ease the words. She knows nothing will. “There wasn’t anybody with you. You had a terrible injury. Pinned to your chair with a spike or a harpoon or something fired by those rutting Reavers.”

“Reavers,” he says and closes his eyes. He opens them again. “R – River?”

“What river?” Kate pulls a chair over to his bed and sits down. She pats his hand. The oth