The explosion rocked the ground, sending Zoë and Wash flying. The fireball that erupted over their heads only committed them to their prone positions, kissing the dirt and holding precious little air tight in their lungs. When the air was only mildly tangy and the sound was still watery in their ears, Zoë was the first up and looking towards the general direction of where the building had been. Soundlessly dropping her jaw, she began making her wavering way to the rubble.

Mal had only just entered the ramshackle building moments before the explosion.

Wash was still on the ground, shaking his head in disbelief. He wasn't sure his heart was still beating, despite the pounding he felt in his chest. The frame was still burning and there was his wife, now running towards it, calling for Mal to answer. He was up, stumbling, running, suddenly unable to catch a breath. The smoke was pouring out of the building. It looked like more smoke than fire...was that possible?

Why was Mal not answering Zoë? Wash realized he was now calling Mal's name between coughing and curses.

The townspeople were running with water. Zoë was pushing at debris. She moved fluidly now, systematically, pushing aside boards that were keeping her from going into a burning building that was still collapsing on itself.

Wash grabbed his wife around the waist and pulled back at her, just as flames leapt out to engulf her.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Wash shouted.

"The Captain is in there!" Zoë insisted. Wash looked back at the flames and smoke and burning wood.

"Then..." he gulped for fresh air, the cacophany of townspeople throwing buckets of water and shouting for more overpowering his shaken mind. "Then, we have to get him out."

***

Inara had been delighted to find a client here. She had been trying to prepare herself to leave Serenity, but lately Mal had been finding planets on which they could both work more and more, even on the Rim. This particular gentleman had been cultivating a vineyard, as they had done on E