All the usual disclaimers. I'm just keeping these characters who don't belong to me exercised. I promise not to permanently lame any of them.

****

“Mal, I just checked the spore counts. We can move back into Serenity,” Simon told Mal at breakfast three days later. “The water isn’t completely clear but as long as we don’t take any showers we’ll be fine. I think we may need some disinfectant to completely clear the water lines, but they’re considerably less contaminated.”

“Well, that is some good news.” Mal answered. “Let’s get to it. Why don’t we start by moving Zoe and Gowan back on board. Wash, can you get your bunk set up?”

“I can and I will. I want my wife back in my bed. I’m tired of sleeping on the floor next to her bed like a spaniel,” Wash answered.

“Kaylee, are we ready to go?”

“Yessir. I went all over her yesterday, Cap’n. She’s looking real pretty,” Kaylee answered.

“Get your stuff moved back on then. And keep runnin’ water through those lines, under as much pressure as you can manage.”

“Simon, how’s Zoe?” Mal asked.

“She’s recovering nicely, but I presume you want to know when she can carry a gun. I don’t know – not tomorrow,” Simon said.

“I don’t need her to be able to carry a gun tomorrow, just in two weeks when we hit Halcion. I’d like to not have our welcoming committee hit back too hard,” Mal said.

“I can’t promise that, but she’s certainly recovering,” Simon said.

“That’s a start,” Mal responded.

The crew busied themselves reloading Serenity with all their clean, well-aired belongings. Serenity herself was remarkably clean and fuller of fresh air than she had been since Mal bought her.

By the end of the day nearly everything was back on Serenity, leaving only the horses and their gear to be loaded the next morning. The crew ate dinner outside, enjoying the fine evening and the fire.

“Too bad my wife almost has to die for us to get a vacation like this,” Wash said.

“You call this a vacation? A vacation’s got whorehouses and whisky. This place