Mal rapped on the door as he opened it, “Mina, are you…”

She stood with her bare back to him, her arms over her head pulling on a pink, floral top.

“Oh, hey…” He spun around to face the door. “I’m sorry.. I should ha..”

She turned and tapped him on the shoulder as he continued to apologise. “Don’t worry ‘bout it.. You can turn ‘round now Cap’n”

“I’m.. sorry ‘bout that.. Shoulda waited for an answer.. I, uh, just wanted to see how you were settling in..”

“Great, everything’s great.. Please, come in”

“Oh, I can’t talk.. Got captainy things and the like to attend to.. But.. You’re good? And I see the clothes fit.”

“Perfectly. They’re pretty too.. Wife’s got good taste” She added, “..in more than fashion..” mostly to herself.

“She ain’t my.. Well, so to speak.. But can’t argue she knows what to wear to make a man’s brain fuzzy.”

She smoothed down her brown skirt. “Do they have the same effect for me?”

“Uh.. Well I’m no good with women’s clothes… not that I do nothin’ with ‘em.. The clothes, I mean.. but they do seem to suit you..”

She smiled and began to fold her old dress, “Captain..”

“We’ll be havin’ a meal in ’bout three hours.. Your friend is helping’ Kaylee out. Uh.. Doc tells me you‘re from Osiris. Must be nice to bump into someone from back home..”

“Well, I’ve lived there since I was two or three.. But to me and mine Shadow’ll always be home..”

“Shadow? Well I’ll be… I’m from there myownself…”

“So then, you tell me.. Nice to bump into someone from home?”

“It is at that..” He said after a pause, smiling.

“My, my, Cap’n.. I do believe you smiled. First time I think I’ve seen that since I came onboard..”

“Mal.” He said, ignoring her comment.

“What?..”

“Call me Mal.. You’re part of my crew now… You don’ gotta be callin’ me Cap’n unless you‘re standin‘ to attention.”

“Uh.. Okay.. Mal..” She tried to think of anything to say, but nothing was coming to her. She wasn’t usually at a loss for words, even with the opposite sex. She felt something with Mal. She thought she mig