Zoe fell into a feverish sleep.

“You have got to stop dreaming about me.”

Turning, as she was on Serenity’s helm, a blanket of stars before the windshield, she saw Wash sitting in his pilot’s chair, holding a live igunadon the size of a beagle.

“I mean, you’re not dreaming about me now, you passed out and I followed you in here.” He was scratching the iguanadon’s chin, and it was purring like a tom cat. “But every time before this, you keep going into the same dreams, Baby, and it ain’t healthy. You have to let go.”

“Wash, I don’t think that’s possible.” She leaned against the co-pilot console.

“I know it’s hard, but that’s why I’m here, to help you kick this and get over me too. A two fer. Plus I get to show you Muffin.” He grinned and patted the dwarf dinosaur’s back. “She’s a Miniature Iguanedon, picked her out at the All God’s Creatures Pet Store myself.”

Muffin let out a playful noise, nibbling his finger like a happy bird, her tail swishing from side to side.

“Downside is she eats laundry and digs in the back yard, but we’re working on that, right Muffin?” He scratched the lizards back, the leathery spine arching like a cat’s. Turning, taking in her wistful face his mien became tender. “See Baby? Don’t feel miserable about me not being there. Where I am, it’s pretty darn peachy, I mean look! I gotta pet dinosaur!”

Zoe chuckled, crossing her arms against her chest. “Your greatest dream. Congratulations.”

Wash set Muffin down, and she scampered off to the galley. Getting up, he walked over and rested his warm, deceiving alive hand against her cheek. “One of my greatest dreams.”

Zoe’s face flinched, yet relaxed and leaned into the touch she had yearned for for almost a complete year. Her exhale was heavy, ribcage dropping low and pressing out the breath she had held in for so long, content yet bittersweet as she leaned against Wash.

He held her, one hand on her face, the other rubbing her back. “Zoe…”

“Zoe… ZOE!” Mal’s voice gave a dull roar, as if distant, underwater. Su