The three day trip to Argus went as well as could be expected, especially as most of the crew spent the time keeping metal utensils out of River’s way at the same time as trying to come up with various small, repetitive tasks she could perform. It seemed to work, as she sorted the odds and ends in a box Hank found which had been long forgotten in the cargo bay, undid the tangle of string Freya provided, and she even went through all the seeds she’d collected and was going to plant once she could tend her garden again. She seemed more centred, more relaxed.

The most surprising and effective task, however, was one dreamed up by Jayne.

The morning of the second day everyone sat down to breakfast of protein bars and coffee - it being Hank’s turn to cook, and these were the things least likely to cause a fire - and chatted amongst themselves, talking of mundane things such as how they intended to spend the day, whether Freya was going to be able to help Kaylee or teach lessons, and how they were going to spend the money due them from the delivery on Argus. River seemed to be listening, but her hand edged towards the salt even as Jayne dropped his large one on top.

“River,” he said softly. “Ya don’t want that. Eat your breakfast.”

“Not hungry,” she demurred, still gazing at the salt pot. “Don’t want it to consume.”

Mal glanced at Jayne, wondering if they were going to have to watch River counting out the tiny grains of salt, one at a time, but the big man shook his head slightly.

“Got something for ya better’n that,” he said. Getting to his feet he crossed to the cupboards behind the counter, opening the top one that held his bottle of booze out of the way of tiny, prying fingers, and reached inside. When he turned around he had a small bundle in his hand, which he placed in front of his young wife. “Here. Made this for ya.”

River touched it with awe, eventually unwrapping it as he took his place back next to her.

Everyone else watched as the contents were revealed.

“Knitting needle