Someone is shaking him. He groans. “Mom, I don't want to go to school.”

“Gorramit, Wash! I ain't your mother!”

He opens his eyes to find himself on the floor of the infirmary, a disgruntled looking Jayne holding him by his lapels. His head aches like he's spent the last two days drinking Kaylee's engine brew and the world has a curious, over-bright quality to it. Concussion, he figures. He hasn't felt this light-headed since Saffron kicked him in the head.

He blinks, trying to fill in the blanks with regard to why he's on the floor. Realisation dawns as full consciousness kicks in, and he struggles upright. “Zoe?”

“She's alive,” Book replies. He's crouched at the side of the fallen first mate, taking her pulse. “Just out cold.”

“Looks like they broke his nose,” says Kaylee. She's ministering to Simon, a look of mingled anxiety and pity on her face. “But he's breathin' okay.”

“Zoe, baby,” Wash says, replacing Book at his wife's side and touching a hand to her face. “Time to wake up.” He gives her a little shake. “C'mon, or I'll start telling them about the time we-”

“Dn't y'dare,” she mumbles, forcing her eyes open and staring at him muzzily.

“What happened here? Where's the Cap'n? And River?” Kaylee asks, sounding on the point of panic.

Zoe stands with difficulty, holding herself upright using the counter and her husband as the world spins slowly past. “There was a man... Danny, old army friend. Came on board talkin' about the recording,” she says slowly.

“He said something. Sounded like gibberish to me,” Wash adds, “And River... well, she just went wild. Knocked us both out. That's all I know.”

The three other conscious crew-members absorb this for a moment. “She hit Simon?” Kaylee manages after a moment, horror edging her words.

“Guess she must've. Or Danny did,” Zoe says heavily.

“One of the shuttles is gone,” Jayne declares, “We though Mal might have taken it.”

Wash shakes his head and instantly regrets the movement. “No, he's with Bill... some kind of meeting. Tzao-gao! They