Zoë waited, her shoulders screaming from the tension she was piling on them. She had returned home just before dawn to find Iona's sister, Cleo, waiting for her with word from Sheydra. Zoë had doubted Mal would accept a wave from any Companion...and the long, dreadful days of silence had only fed her uncertainty. She hadn't doubted Mal would help, just that he would hear about her troubles too late to be of any help.

But Cleo - one of the few who had stayed on with Zoë after Hammin's threats and actions - assured Zoë that Mal had accepted the wave and he was moving. Cleo also had other news: Kya was off-planet. Hammin had hired someone to take the little girl to Sihnon, to be closeted away within the confines of the Companion Training House there. Apparently, Kya had attempted to run away from the family paid to become her foster parents too many times and now, Hammin knew he would receive no cooperation from the widow should she hear her daughter might run home at any time.

So now, Zoë waited. Again. She waited for Cleo to give up trying to convince her to eat; she waited for Cleo to stop trying to comfort her; she waited for Cleo to leave. She waited until the last shred of waiting she had left died within her and she stood up slowly. Cleo looked at her, slightly afraid, and asked what she was going to do.

"Right now," Zoë said quietly, her voice flat. "I am going to wash my hair and dress in clean clothes. And then, I am going to kill the man who took my baby from me."

"But," Cleo cried out as Zoë turned and began to climb the stairs. "What about Mal and the others? They're coming!"

"I'm sure they are," Zoë replied, not even bothering to stop or speak directly the girl. "You can wait here for them. I am done waiting."

***

"Wait!" Jayne insisted, thrusting a stack of pages into Mal's hands. "It's for them, the little ones. I wrote it for 'em." Mal looked from the scribblings to the large man's sweating, yet hopeful, face.

"Hell, if River can write out stories for 'em, I figure I can," Ja