“How’d they get Hank’s DNA?” Kaylee asked. “They are talking about those two men who … the ones that …”

“I figure they are, little Kaylee,” Mal said. “Ain't been on Ibis for more’n a year before that, and it ain't like Zoe’s let my pilot that much out of her sight that he could wander that far.”

They were sitting around the table in the dining area, food uneaten in front of them.

“But Simon was the one with the messed up hands.” She looked at her husband.

“DNA can come from anything,” he said, shaking his head. “I'm surprised they don’t have mine too.”

“Maybe they do, doc,” Mal said. “But we’re not gonna put you in the position of finding out.”

“So, what?” Jayne asked. “We break in and get Hank back?”

“Are you suggesting an armed raid on a hospital?” Simon said, staring in disbelief at the big mercenary.

Jayne shrugged. “Just an idea. And it wouldn’t take more’n a couple of us to carry it out. Hell, I could do it by myself.”

“It’s a stupid suggestion.” The young doctor shook his head. “Do you have any idea of the number of security cameras they’re likely to have?”

“Oh, no, sorry, doc, I ain't never committed a crime before,” Jayne said sarcastically. “Ripped off that hospital on Ariel, didn’t we?”

“Yes, and look where that got us.”

Jayne started to get up, to show the man exactly what he thought of that comment, but River put her hand on his arm. “No,” she murmured, and he subsided.

“Is this going to be the way of things now?” Simon asked bitterly. “You’re going to side with him even when you know I’m right?”

River looked at him. “You’re both right,” she said, her voice low. “And wrong.”

“River, honey, that don’t make sense,” Kaylee said, anxious to defuse the situation, even if it was by putting herself in the line of fire.

“We could walk in and take him, but we would be seen.”

“But we can’t let the Alliance have him.”

“No.” River sighed. “Not for something he didn’t do.” She looked at her brother, then at Mal. “I think I may have t