Jayne opened the door to the shed, smiling slightly at the sign outside. ‘ Kaylee’s Workshop ’, it said, with flowers painted all around. “She don’t change,” he muttered. Putting on the light he stood back. “Want me to stay with you?” he asked.

River shook her head. “We’ll be fine. But don’t go too far.”

“I’ll wait out here,” he said, taking the lead from Bethany. “Keep the little’uns company.”

River handed Ethan to him. “Thank you, bao bei .” She kissed his cheek. “Leave the door open a bit.”

“’Kay. Any idea how long?”

She shook her head. “As long as it takes.” She looked down at the little girl. “Come on, Bethie,” she said. “We have work to do.”

---

It was hard. Harder than ever he imagined it would be. He’d been through a war, seen men with bits missing, guts hanging out, pieces that he couldn’t even identify lying wetly on the ground. But this …

“Cap’n?” Kaylee said softly.

“I’m okay, mei-mei ,” he replied. “It’s just …”

“Freya.”

“Yeah.”

Simon turned off the saw and lifted out the bone end. He sighed in relief. “Good.”

“Now what, doc?” Mal asked, watching him place it in a bowl, the water turning pink around it.

“I have to remove the calcification, before I fit the replacement.”

“Is it going to be as noisy?”

The young doctor nodded, selecting a new tool from the tray. “Yes.”

Mal took Freya’s hand in his. Even though he knew she couldn’t tell, it was a comfort. To him, admittedly, but still … “You’re doing good, doc,” he said quietly.

---

River reached into her pocket and removed a small leather pouch.

“What’s that?” Bethany asked, perched on a high stool.

“It belongs to Auntie Frey,” River said, tipping the contents into her palm. She handed it to the little girl.

“What is it?” Bethany turned the small disc over in her fingers, examining the rough casting either side.

“When Freya was young, younger even than me, she had a friend. A man who taught her how to control her powers.”

“A friend?”

Ri