“The captain will be up soon, he’s just being sure to get plenty of shut eye before we reach Lilac that’s all bao bei” Zoë assured her ‘naturally nervous’ husband as he plotted their assent into the atmosphere.

“Yeah well ai ren the captain’s been in somewhat of a ‘down’ mood. He only comes out to eat, oh remember what that was like?” Wash said in would be reminiscent voice pulling a glazed over face. Zoë recognised this for exactly what it was a further attempt by him to high light the fact they hadn’t had a real paying job in a long time.

“I’m sorry honey but ever since Book ‘left’ to stay on at Haven and sermon a spell it’s like Mal’s slipped, it stared when Inara..” he broke off after he spotted his wife’s furrowed brow and knew that he was flying a little to close the sun with that last comment. Wash could read his wife’s furrows like Serenity’s gauges and he was used to seeing them both in the red line, but he always knew how to fix it.

“The captain hasn’t ever really steered us wrong although there was that great adventure with that sweet ol’ man Niska. But you have to admit he’s changed the jobs we take are becoming fewer and usually lean more towards the dangerous side” Wash said soothingly Zoë’s face became less stern. Zoë came in closer to Wash and sat down in the co-pilot’s chair her hands in her lap, Wash called this her defeated pose he rarely saw it.

“We very nearly didn’t get this job, Fanti and Mingo are about as good with Mal as Badger is the. Only thing is Mal seems to have lost his ability to put up with people’s attitudes of late” Zoë punctuated he statement with a weary sigh and Wash placed a comforting hand on her shoulder which she took in hers.

“Well I guess if we do get paid from enough from this we can always resume our epic struggle to find that naked beach” Wash said bringing up one of the many private jokes the couple had and he smiled to see that it brought the same sheepish grin from Zoë it always did.

“I’ll get looking for it as soon as our cut is in our hands” she sa