Freya came out of the nursery to find Mal facing her. “He’s asleep,” she said, smiling.

“Good.” He didn’t smile back.

“Ah.” She closed the door and leaned on it. “We’re going to have one of those conversations.”

“Pretty much.”

“Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll be getting ready for bed while you tell me off.” She went to move past him, but he took her arm.

“I’d rather you didn’t. We need to talk. Properly. Not with you getting all naked and putting my mind onto other things.”

“Don’t you have any self-control?” she asked, teasing him.

“Just … don’t.”

She looked into his blue eyes, at the determination in them, and her forehead creased slightly. She nodded. “Okay. Can I sit down?”

“Surely.” He let go and she walked to the bed, forgetting to hold the limp back, lowering herself carefully to the mattress.

He noticed. “It still bothering you?” he asked, letting himself get side-tracked, just for a moment.

She glanced down at her hips. “I’m okay.”

“Not what I asked.”

“It’s getting better, Mal. And I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. As long as you’re sure.”

“I'm sure.”

“Good.” He took a deep breath. “So do you want to explain to me what all that was about?”

“All what?”

“Well, apart from the fact that Bethie said you knew about her … peeking –“

“Mal, that was –“

“I’m more concerned about why you don’t want River teaching her anything.”

She looked up at him, his arms crossed. “You being captain again?”

“Frey, don’t play games with me. Something’s going on, and I want to know what it is.”

She didn’t answer for a moment, just gazed up at him. Then … “Those two men on Ibis. The ones who attacked Kaylee. She killed them.”

“She did what ?”

“Killed them. It was her.”

“I …” For once Mal was stuck for words.

“I’ve spoken to her, so has Jayne. Just now. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about it again.”

Mal’s jaw dropped. “Worry about it? Frey, she killed two unconscious men. Weren’t attacking or fighting, or even tracking us. S