Zoe stepped off the ladder into her bunk and sighed. Long day. Longer night to come. And probably very little rest in it. She tugged off her waistcoat, pushing her boots off, and stared at the picture of Wash on the dresser.

“I don’t know what’s come over me,” she admitted, picking up one of the small dinosaurs still littering the room. “Nor why I should feel so guilty.”

No need to feel guilty, lambie-toes , she seemed to hear. Ain’t done nothing wrong. Yet.

She carried the dinosaur to the bunk and sat down, not looking at it, just staring into the distance. Not so far in this small space, but it felt like she was seeing to the edge of the ‘verse.

“He’s a good man. I’ve always known that. But he reminds me of you too much. Not just being Serenity’s pilot. But the way he talks, acts … if he had a stupid moustache I’d think it was you come back to haunt me.”

I think as a ghost I’d be sensitive enough not to include the facial hair.

“He nearly died. Like you.”

Not quite like me. Didn’t get speared through the chest with a big wooden stake. If I’d been a vampire, I coulda understood it. But I don’t even like the sight of blood. ‘Specially my own.

“When I saw him there, lying on the floor, I was so angry. I could have shot him myself, just to make it clear to him how angry I was.”

Known that feeling myself. I mean, you about to shoot me because you’re so angry with me. Coupla times I remember looking around just to make sure you weren’t actually armed when I owned up to something. It was usually Mal’s fault anyway.

“Then when Simon was about to operate, and his hand was shaking, I wondered what life would be like on board Serenity without him.”

But you didn’t have to find out. Pumpkin, I understand.

“I don’t understand.” She put the dinosaur down on the bedside table and laid down, her hair billowing out around her.

I love your hair. Always did. Wanted to be buried with it. Well, not exactly with it, you know.