Mal let out an enthusiastic whoop as he caught the ball and moved to return it to Wash, exhilarated by his newly regained freedom. The Eyebrow hadn’t bothered to show up with the guards who entered without fanfare to release Mal and Gray and return life to normal in 28A, and the occupants were unabashedly enjoying themselves. Wash grinned in delight as Gray ran up from behind Mal and snatched the ball away, triggering Mal to race after him in mock indignation. Mal caught him in a few strides and wrestled his prize back, turning to toss it back to Wash.

He stopped in his tracks, suddenly uneasy as he noticed their day shift guard was leaning on the gate, watching. The officer had a genuinely happy grin on his face, and he gave Mal a cheerfully sheepish look as the two caught each other unawares. Shaking his head, the man turned and walked away.

“See?” said Wash with a smile as he looked affectionately at Mal. “Told ya’ they weren’t all bastards.”

Mal grinned back. “It’s a good day,” he said with a satisfied nod as he bounced the ball back to Wash.

##

Mathew Lee took a deep breath as he opened the file, scanning the list of names and dates resignedly. Most of the inmates on the list were unfamiliar to him, but the very first made the knot in his stomach tighten unpleasantly. He contemplated silently for several minutes before tapping the name on the screen. Reynolds, Malcolm, Sgt. This has got to be some cruel joke of the universe, he thought, standing and looking out at the massive prison through the window. Buildings and yards and people stretched out further than he could see. Why this guy? Out of the thousands who could have been on that list, why in the name of Murphy’s law did it have to be him?

He returned to his desk and buried himself in research and reports, organizing data even though he knew that all too soon he’d run out of reasons to put off breaking the news, hoping that some bureaucratic hun dahn would grow a conscience in the 11th hour.

##

The