“You are joking.”

“I'm not.” Simon held out the result sheet, somewhat amused by the totally uncharacteristic look of utter dumbfoundedness on her face.

“I can’t be.”

“Freya, there’s no mistake. You’re pregnant.”

“This is a joke.”

“See for yourself. About seven weeks.”

She stared open-mouthed at the read-out, then looked down towards the region of her stomach. “But I … we … I can’t get …”

“You were sick. That can interrupt any form of contraception. I told Mal –” Simon stopped, realising what he was about to divulge.

“Told him what?” Freya asked.

“Nothing,” Simon said, turning away.

Now Freya was really suspicious. “Simon. Told – Mal – what?” she repeated.

“I …” Simon swallowed then turned to face her. “I told him to … to use condoms until –”

“But we never –” Freya interrupted. “I mean, he didn’t –” She stopped. “Did you tell him how long we had to use extra protection for?”

“Three weeks.”

She stared at him. “That lying, cheating, scheming tah mah duh hwoon dahn !” She got off the med bed.

“Where are you going?”

“To get my gun.” She strode out.

Simon smiled slightly. No matter that he got on a lot better with the captain now, it was good to see him get his comeuppance once in a while.

---

Mal opened the door to shuttle two and stepped inside into the darkness. “Frey?” he called. “You in here?”

“I am.”

“The doc said you were looking for me.“

Mal went to turn up the lights but she called quickly, “No. Don’t. If I decide to shoot you, I don’t want you to see it coming.”

“Shoot …what the hell are you talking about, Frey?”

She stepped forward into the light coming from the cargo bay. “How could you?” she asked, anger radiating off her like white heat. “I don’t believe you would do this!”

Mal swiftly went over all the things he’d done in the past few days that he might not want her to know about, but there was nothing major. Certainly nothing to warrant this. “Frey –”

“How could you even consider doing that, with