Disclaimers : Everything belongs to Joss, except for one character of my creation.

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“Next stop—Boros,” Wash said as he brought Serenity down on the Persephone dock. “But we ain’t gonna make it there if we don’t refuel here.”

The airlock opened to the dusty chaos that was Eavesdown Docks. Alex peered out.

“This is where it started for me,” she murmured, taking in the scene.

Kaylee glanced at her. “Bring back memories?”

Alex nodded and smiled. “It was all your fault—you lured me in!”

She was up and around some. Simon had declared her well enough to be off IV fluids, and she had moved into the room she had occupied previously in the passenger dorm. Kaylee had found her an old pair of crutches in the cargo hold, and she had been tentatively walking. Her right leg was not cooperating much at all, and her hands and arms were so cut up it was hard for her to hold the grips on the crutches for long. But she was trying, and as they docked on Persephone she was in the bay watching the crew prepare to disembark for fuel and supplies.

“Wish I could go with you,” she said to Kaylee wistfully.

Kaylee patted her hand. “You’ll be off soon enough. Boros ain’t but a two-day ride from here.”

Mal spotted her as he entered the bay, and frowned. “You s’posed to be up here?”

She shrugged. “You tell me—it’s your ship.”

“Well, just don’t be grabbin’ a gun and shootin’ at nobody,” he said as he passed her. “I know what a temptation that is!”

“Don’t get involved in any botched jobs and I won’t have to!” she shot back.

Kaylee smiled. “You and the captain’re gettin’ along better now.”

“Yeah,” Alex agreed. “We talked about stuff—we’re doin’ okay.”

“What’d you decide—if you don’t mind me askin’?”

Alex sighed. “To take it one day at a time.”

“C’mon Kaylee,” Zoë called as she and Wash descended from the bridge.

Kaylee rose and dusted off the seat of her pants. “Gotta go.”

“Bring me a prize,” Alex c