“Everything okay?” Mal asked, sticking his head into the bridge.

“Shiny, sir.” Zoe stood up, preparing to hand over the watch.

Since their almost encounter with the Blue Hands back on Corvus, Mal had insisted on a rotating watch, just to make sure they weren't in danger of being followed. It had been a week, and the only thing showing on their sensors was a derelict slowly meandering down to a fiery death in the atmosphere of an unnamed moon that had chlorine for air.

In his capacity as captain Mal had decided to take the first of the long watches, from 10 pm to 4 am, at least giving the married and not-so-married members of his crew a chance for some time together, totally ignoring the fact that he too was married. As had been pointed out to him by his first mate.

“We’ll see how it goes,” he said. “Week, maybe two, and we can look again.”

“You think we’re going to be in that much danger of being followed?”

“Better safe than sorry.”

She’d given him one of her looks, he’d grinned at her, and they’d done as he ordered. She had to admit it at least gave her some uninterrupted time with Hank and Ben, but she still felt a little guilty. And now it looked as if it might just be coming back to bite her, as Mal didn’t sit down immediately.

“So. Zoe.”

“Sir.”

“You and Hank. Doing okay?”

“Fine, sir.”

“And little Ben.”

“You saw him at supper, sir.”

He smiled. “Zoe, you ever gonna just call me Mal?”

“On your deathbed, sir.”

“That soon.” He stood contemplating her for a moment.

“Is there something else?” she asked, gazing back.

“Zoe, why don’t you take a seat.”

“I've been sitting.”

“Then sit again.”

“If you’re going to fire me, I’d rather stand.”

“Not gonna fire you. Wouldn’t dare. You know all my secrets.”

“I'm sure there are a few I don’t.”

“Nothing major.”

Zoe nodded. “Good to know.”

“Zoe, sit.”

With a heavy sigh she did as she was told, lowering herself slowly into the co-pilot’s seat. Mal took the other. He looked at her, his b