“See?” Sam said, looking down at the little boy next to him. “I told you she’s okay.”

Ethan had his thumb in his mouth, biting on the pad. “’Kay.” He didn’t sound convinced, even though he was staring into the infirmary at his mother.

Sam sighed, bending down and lifting the boy onto his hip. He hadn’t had much to do with small children for a while, not since his daughter was little. Even visiting her and being made to hold her babies hadn’t prepared him for the experience of dealing with children like those on board Serenity. “Ethan, we’re doing what we can.”

“Misses Daddy.” His voice was indistinct.

“Yes, she does.”

The boy looked at Sam, his blue eyes piercing, full of sadness. “Doesn’t want us.”

“No, Ethan, that’s not the case,” Sam assured him. He looked around, saw the yellow sofa against the wall and went to sit down. Ethan climbed into his lap, holding onto his silk shirt with a tiny fist. “She loves you. Both of you. But she’s hurting so much that she can’t see how much she loves you, and we have to remind her.”

“How?”

“We talk to her. Tell her how much we care. That she’s not alone.”

“Make it stop hurting?”

He nodded. “We’ll try. But it won’t stop for a long time.”

“But we’ll be here.” Ethan’s little face was hopeful. “Can I tell her now?”

Sam glanced into the infirmary, where Simon was adjusting a drip into Freya’s arm, and Kaylee had hold of her hand. “In a little while. Why don’t you tell me what you want to say?”

“Want my Mama.” He bit his lip as a tear ran down his cheek. “Want to tell her Ethan loves her.”

Sam felt a knot tighten in his chest, and he took a deep breath, pledging silently to do all he could for this boy’s mother. “That’s –“

Zoe leaned in the doorway. “Doc!” she shouted.

Simon hurried into the common area. “What is it? Someone hurt?”

“Not sure. Get your bag.” She was gone in a swirl of leather waistcoat.

“Honey?” Kaylee watched as her husband grabbed his medkit. “What is it?”

“I don’t know