Bane had always loved swimming. As soon as she had found out about the hot springs on St Albans, she told Simon and he had prescribed it immediately for his two patients. She persuaded Simon that it would be best if she would fly all the women there, and make sure they got plenty of exercise in the water. When he questioned why they all could not go together, she used the excuse that it would be easier for Inara and Sheydra to relax and heal without men horse-playing around. It was then Bane discovered Kaylee and River had never been taught to swim, presumably never being on a planet with that much spare water, or never having the time. When Mal and the other men found out they were mortified, but Simon had made his medical decision and River was now piloting them to the location a short way from the settlement.

“Sure would like to take a look at all those women bathing,” muttered Jayne. He had been lifting out his frustrations using weights in the gym. Karl was doing chin-ups.

“Guess we’ll just have to imagine it,” he replied, breathing heavily. Simon passed by the gym and Jayne called out to him.

“Doc! Explain to me again why we ain’t enjoyin’ a nice hot swim right now.”

“Well, I don’t rightly know. Bane found out about the hot springs and then insisted that it had to be just the women, after I said it would be good for Inara and Sheydra’s injuries.”

“Bane? It was Bane’s idea?” said Karl, halting his chin-ups. Karl and Jayne looked at each other, remembering a conversation they had once when the three of them were playing poker. Jayne grinned widely and Karl did the same.

“What is it?” asked Simon.

“It was something she mentioned when we was playin’ poker once. We were talkin’ ‘bout things we’d most missed about not bein’ planet side. Jayne and me gave boring answers like going to a bar, or something. Hers was swimming naked underwater,” Karl explained.

“Hell yeh.” Jayne was putting his imagination to work.

“That explains why I felt steam-rollered,” said Simon, now with a small