Back on Claxton…

The sun rose brilliantly and with the passing of the day it now stood high in the sky, radiating streams of intense light that baked at the surface of Inara's smooth skin. Inara shielded her eyes from the blinding light as she looked toward her destination that lay silhouetted beyond the shadow of the mountains. Inara had long since said her 'farewells' to her latest client Thomas and with the late arrival of Serenity she was going to visit Book at the Little Hope Abbey in hopes that he might know what was the cause of the delay.

Book stood outside of the nearly completed Little Hope Abbey and raised the hammer in his hands swiftly above his head, letting fall a mighty blow that buried the sharp tip of the sturdy nail into the final piece of wood that ended the completion of the abbey, his job was done. He stepped back to look at the finished product a satisfying grin crept across his face snagging at the corners of his mouth and pulling them skyward into a full blown smile. Book's smile broadened when he saw a very elegant Inara walking steadily towards him, it was good to see a familiar face.

Book was glad for Inara's company, they sat in the shade of a towering pine tree and she shared her concerns about the crew. Inara believed with her whole heart that they where in trouble and Book consoled her to the best of his abilities, not at all believing for one second there wasn't bigger reasons that had held up the crew from making a timely pickup. Book looked into Inara's glassy eyes and could see she was still deeply troubled, he was disappointed in the fact that he couldn't provide her with the comfort she seeked.

And although the Shepard lingered just above the point of being worried he put his faith in God to deliver his friends safely to them, trusting strongly in the fact that He would see things got set right. Book and Inara waited out the rest of the smoldering day under the cool embrace of the shade of the pine tree. Tiny browning pine needles fell from t