“How was it?” Mal asked, getting to his feet as the door opened and Freya hobbled out.

“Fine,” she said.

“Really.” He looked into her eyes. “You wanna try that with a little more conviction? ‘Cause you’re as pale as a sheet right now.”

“It was … difficult,” she admitted, letting him help her to a chair and sit down. “I … things …” She stumbled to a halt.

“I understand, ai ren ,” he said softly, squatting down next to her. “That’s why we’re here.”

“Mr Reynolds?” Dr Yi stood in the doorway. “If you’re ready?”

Mal got to his feet. “Always,” he said, smiling charmingly. He followed the diminutive doctor.

“Good luck,” Freya called, stretching her legs out as far as possible and putting her head back on the chair.

Don’t need luck, Mal thought to himself as he entered the office. Just a strong will. He looked around. And something to stop the feeling that he was out of his depth.

“Please, sit down,” Dr Yi said, indicating the chair opposite.

“Darn it, you mean I don’t get to lie on the couch?” he asked, tucking his thumbs into his suspenders.

“If you’d like to.”

He grinned. “No, just joshing with you, doc. This here’ll be fine.” He sat down in the chair and leaned back, lifting the front legs off the ground.

Dr Yi gazed at him. “Comfortable?” she asked.

“Surely am.”

“Mr Reynolds –“

“Captain. It’s Captain Reynolds. Got me a sweet little ride of a boat, just parked out near here. Little darlin’ she is too.”

“Captain. My apologies. And may I ask …” Dr Yi didn’t blink her violet eyes. “… are we going to be having this shit-kicker persona for the whole hour?”

Mal’s eyebrow went up. “Is that what I'm doing?”

“Mr … Captain Reynolds, I promise you, I am not going to hurt you.”

“I never considered the possibility that you were.”

“No?”

Mal reassessed the woman in front of him, and realised he had been mistaken. There was steel inside that small frame.

“Please accept my apologies,” he said, setting the chair back down. “It’s … it w