“So just how close you were to the captain during the war,” Wash asked as he slid under the sheets.

Zoe grimaced, knowing that one day she would she would have to answer this question, but at this point, and considering the events of the past days, there was no point in resisting. Zoe took her place beside Wash in bed and released a big sigh.

“I want you to know that during the war,” she began, “the captain and I was very close.”

Wash smirked a bit. “Is this an admission I’m hearing?”

Zoe shifted. “No.”

“Aha,” Wash blurted. “You slept with him didn’t you!”

Zoe rolled her eyes uncomfortably. “No, It wasn’t like that,” she said, her voice full of sincerity. “It was about a month or so after Du Khang.”

~~~

“We had just won an important battle,” Mal said, “major victory.”

“No doubt by your cunning leadership,” Inara added.

“Why of course, woman,” Mal smiled.

Mal and Inara were sharing drinks in the dining hall. No implications, at all. Period. Kaylee and Simon had been there but had since left, leaving Mal and Inara alone. Mal couldn’t help but feel he was being set up, but sat there cordially all the same. Inara had always shown interest in old stories and so he decided to entertain her with one of his favorites.

“Anyway we was back at base, and the soldiers were having a little party.”

~~~

“Cap’n was the type of man who had a girl in every port,” Zoe admitted. “You wouldn’t see it so much now, but he was a powerfully persuasive ladies man.”

“Go on,” Wash said hesitantly. “Did he use his wiles on you?”

“Hell, no,” Zoe laughed.

~~~

“I’ll admit I was pretty lubricated,” Mal said, taking a sip.

~~~

“Drunk as hell, would be the term,” Zoe said with a laugh.

~~~

“Oh,” Inara questioned raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, but so was Zo,” Mal recalled fondly. “She was trouncin’ about, hoopin’ and hollerin’ just like the rest of us.”

~~~

“I maybe had a drink or two,” Zoe said softly, and not too convincingly either. Wash immediately picked up on it.

“Oh this just gets be