Simon stood up, easing his back from where he had been bending over the ViroStim, checking the calibrations.

“How’re we doing, doc?” Mal asked, leaning on the doorway.

“Fine. In fact, better than I’d hoped. I should have the first batch ready in about ten days.”

“Good to know. But it’s still a long time without it.”

“Mal, we haven’t had it at all before.”

“I know that. Just got me the feeling something is lurking around the corner, and I don’t like being unprepared.”

“Mal –“

“I know. You don’t have to tell me again. Nothing in this ‘verse is guaranteed, ‘cept death, taxes and the wonder I feel every morning waking up next to that woman. And I don’t even pay taxes if I can help it.” He smiled. “But anything is better than nothing.”

“I suppose.” He stretched again, and was sure the other man could hear the popping of his back.

“You got much else to do here?” Mal asked, seeing the flash of pain across Simon’s face, and sympathising.

“Not really. By tomorrow morning the calibration will be complete, and I can feed in the sample we have.”

“Then you go be with your wife. I figure she might need a little bit of comfort right now.”

Simon looked at his captain. “She’s thinking about Bethie and Hope?”

Mal nodded. “Sitting in the galley, rubbing her belly. That’s a sure sign Frey was thinking on the kids, too, whether they were born or not.”

“Then that’s one order I don’t mind obeying.”

“Not an order, doc. Just a suggestion.”

Simon smiled and walked out of the garden room.

Mal didn’t leave for a moment, just stood looking at the ViroStim and wondering how all his hopes had come to be pinned on a goushi piece of Alliance equipment. Then his gaze wandered towards the strawberry plants in one of the containers. A hint of red was peaking out from beneath a leaf, and as he moved it he saw a plump, ripe fruit, perhaps the last for a while.

Take it , he heard River’s voice in his mind.

You ever gonna stop reading me? he asked, unable to k