Mal led the small group up to the table by the kitchen and looked around wearily as they all sat down. Kaylee was unusually withdrawn and quiet, still hovering close to Mal. Simon, you idiot. Kaylee was no innocent, and she’d seen a lot of wrong in the ‘verse. But she had a soft heart and a sensitive nature, and Mal tried to protect that. Like, by not lettin’ on that bastard killed me. Between that bombshell and the sight of the mangled stowaway in the infirmary, Mal was surprised she wasn’t in tears yet.

Couldn’t say the same for his pilot. Wash’s eyes were closed and moist with tears, his head low. “Wash?” asked Mal. “You did a good job in there, ya’ know.”

Wash nodded, looking at Mal with a haunted expression. “I still have nightmares,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. Zoe walked up and rubbed his shoulders, and Wash reached up and took her hand. “Zoe knows. That poor kid is – Mal, he’s-“

“I know, Wash,” said Mal. “It’s an ugly thing, and we’ll do what we can for him. But at this very moment we need to have words about what’s to be done with him. Down there in the hold, he went for my gun. Understandable enough, but we need to consider that he’s a danger to us. I want no undue chances taken.”

“Mal,” said Wash. “He’s not a threat, he’s a terrified and very small kid. What are you proposing, chaining him up in the cargo bay for the duration perhaps?” he asked sarcastically.

Mal winced. “Already did that once. And if you all could refrain from the dirty looks, tempting as they might be, I already feel sufficiently rotten about it. If we do confine him we’ll do it humanely. I’m just not altogether convinced he ain’t a threat.”

“He’s not going to hurt us,” said Kaylee. “He’s afraid of us. He’s afraid of you , cap’n,” she said, giving Mal a slightly accusing glare.

“Kaylee, what’d I say ‘bout dirty looks?” chided Mal. “That’s just the thing. He is afraid of us, and that fear is about as strong as it can get. Gonna take him a bit