Simon was right, Mal mused as Serenity dropped through the heavy cloud layers towards Persephone’s Eavesdown Docks. A fairly good night’s sleep, and a dose of antibiotics, and he was feeling fine. Well, not truly up to par, if he was honest, but better. And he’d need all his wits about him to deal with Badger. Something about that little man just made him want to shoot first and take a shower after.

“Looks like you’re going to need your coat,” Hank said unnecessarily as half-frozen rain lashed against the windows. “And waders.”

“Better look out your own, since you’re supervising the refuelling.”

“Can’t I do that from the warmth and comfort of the bridge?” Hank adjusted their trajectory slightly.

“No.”

“Ah, well. Can’t fault a man for trying.” The clouds parted, but the rain didn’t stop. “Down in two.”

Mal merely nodded and headed for the cargo bay.

Not taking his eyes off the console, Hank wondered vaguely if Mal knew he was rubbing his arm like that. Probably. He shrugged and went back to making sure it was a textbook landing.

---

As Mal stepped through onto the upper catwalk, he looked down into the bay. Zoe was checking the ammunition in her Mare’s Leg, while Jayne lounged on his weights bench, doing idle arm curls with one of the dumbbells. What made his eyebrows lift, though, was Freya standing by the closed doors.

“ Ai ren ?” He started down the stairs.

She smiled up at him. “I've got your coat here.” She held up her arm, brown leather draped over it, already securely buttoned into her own.

“Are you coming?”

“Unless you’ve got a problem with that.”

He reached the floor. “Haven’t you got lessons?”

“Day off. And the kids were so disappointed.”

His lips twitched at the sarcasm as he joined her, taking his coat and slipping it on. “You can make it up to them.”

“Then I'm allowed to join you?”

“Sure. Only I thought you didn’t like Badger.”

“I don’t. But since you’re still not feeling at your best I thought –“

“I'm fine, F