These days, more often than not, River's thoughts are her own. Slowly, methodically, she is growing accustomed to the deafening quiet that unsettled her so in the long days immediately following Miranda.

These days, her mind is clear and open, uncluttered and unchaotic. She follows Mal and Kaylee about the ship every chance she gets, thinking and questioning, absorbing as much as she can about Serenity's inner workings. She is a quick learner, and takes over most of Mal's day-to-day duties almost immediately. He grumbles and makes a tiny fuss, but she knows he is secretly pleased at how naturally she has taken to piloting.

She also knows that sometimes, as much as he loves the old girl, he can hardly bear the feel of his own hands on the controls. This wakes her in the night, causes her to find her way to the bridge, surprising him less and less each time. Moving silently, she creeps into the co-pilot's chair and takes over the controls before he can even register her presence. On these nights, he doesn't grumble, not even a little -- just sighs and settles deeper into his seat.

On these nights, he never makes it to his bunk, never leaves her alone. They wait for morning in silence.

River is beginning to feel whole again.

* * *

One of these nights, only after she confirms that Mal has indeed dozed off in the pilot's chair, River slips into the engine room, roots around until she finds Kaylee's most recent batch of home-brew, and fills a mug from the kitchen with sweet-smelling wine.

She has never been drunk before, but the potent blend quickly seeps into her system and makes her dizzy. She is sitting crosslegged on the floor, contemplating what Kaylee has only recently told her is the port-pin-lock, when Jayne finds her.

"Girl? What're you doin' up? And where's Mal? He ain't in his bunk, an' sure ain't keepin' you out of trouble. What's that you got there anyho--" He sees the mug in River's hands. "Oh."

She smiles.

"Gorrammit, girl, you know how much trouble I'm gonna be in if Cap'n