Despite the blankets, by the time they’d rounded the last outcrop and could see the shuttle sitting a short distance away, just visible through the snow being blown into their faces, Mal’s body temperature was getting dangerously low.

“Soon be home,” Simon said, checking the saline bags.

“Sure,” Mal whispered. “But then it’ll be time to get up and feed the horses.”

“What’d he say?” Jayne asked, craning his neck around.

“He’s delirious.”

“No, I ain't,” Mal said. “Least, not that I know of.”

“You just mentioned horses. We don’t have any.”

But Mal had slipped back into semi-consciousness.

“Hurry,” Simon said.

Freya had the door open, and as Jayne pulled the hover to a stop she was out in a moment, ignoring the snow clogging her hair, her clothes, just clambering aboard. “Mal?” she said, looking at his almost blue face.

“We need to get him inside.”

She nodded and helped them lift her husband down from the vehicle.

Then Jayne’s foot slipped on a crust of ice, and he’d have fallen, taking Mal with him, except River was suddenly there, her arms around him, stopping him.

“Thanks, moonbrain,” he said softly, and she smiled at him.

Zoe had the heater going full blast inside, and the air felt hot and dry as they manhandled Serenity’s captain through the small doorway. Something jarred, and he cried out, Freya instantly at his side, holding his hand, but he hadn’t really woken.

They laid him flat on the bench, and Simon checked his pulse yet again. It was thready, weakening. “He needs blood,” he muttered. “That saline just isn’t enough.” He glanced at the others. “I don’t have the equipment to filter it, so it has to be the same group.”

Jayne sighed and shrugged out of his coat. “Go on then,” he said, holding out his arm. “Might as well get his money’s worth.”

River beamed proudly at him.

---

Hank couldn’t sit still. He was pacing the bridge like a caged animal, wanting … no, needing to know what the tyen shiao duh was happening.

“Heard anything?