The first thing that struck Mal on his initial sight of Zoë after six years was her fist.

"He took my baby!" she choked out as Mal spluttered in the dirt at her feet. "Where have you been? What have you been doing?!"

"Eating bao and cavorting with loose women!" Mal shot back, regaining his feet. "What d'you think I've been doing?" Zoë looked past him and saw Simon, Kaylee and River standing in the cargo bay, Jayne swaying on his feet not too far behind. Cleo was even standing nearby, a child on her hip and another holding her hand, every last one of them gaping at the scene.

"He took my baby," she gasped. "He took her and now I..."

"I know," Mal said, calmer now, but still wary. "We're here, we can handle this. All of us."

She allowed him to hold her and she finally wept against his shoulder. She could hear heavy footfalls and expected Jayne's rough voice to ask the important questions that needed to be asked.

She did not expect the bear hug that enveloped her or Simon's voice calling out to Jayne that it was okay, and he could go back inside, now, and to let the Captain and Zoë go.

"Zoë, I'm real sorry your little baby girl..." Jayne's voice cracked as he released them and stepped back suddenly. He coughed. "If I ever get my hands on that...I'm gonna...I'll..." At Zoë's look, Mal just shook his head.

"Where could he have her hidden?" he asked instead.

"He took her off-world this morning," she answered, grateful for a solid question she could answer. "Hired some man to take her to Sihnon - the Companion Training House. It's possible he went with, but I can't confirm it."

"Then we'll follow and take her back before they get there," Mal said, moving back towards Serenity . "It's over a week to get there and we've only a few hours lapse. We'll bring her back safe. Cleo can stay here and keep the place runnin' smooth, can't ya, Cleo?"

"Don't worry about a thing, Zo," the woman assured her. "I put together a bag for you already and put it on board. I knew you wouldn't want