Keeping On: Part 9 - New Beginnings

Disclaimer: Firefly, Serenity, and all related characters are copyright 2002-2005 Mutant Enemy, Inc., Universal Pictures, and 20th Century Fox. This is a work of fanfiction. No copyright infringement is intended.

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A Week Later…

Things on Serenity seemed to be going well enough. Lilah was taking to her job very well, Mal and Zoe both thought. Their only concern was that Lilah rarely left bridge. Whereas Wash had often put the controls to autopilot, Lilah rarely did so, except at night and at meal times. When she wasn’t on the bridge, she was in her room with the door slid shut. She showed up for meals and did her time on the chore and cooking rotation, but mostly kept to herself. There were a few instances where she would open up, but mostly the only people she talked to were Simon and River.

Simon had insisted to Mal and Zoe that Lilah was fine and was mostly likely just taking time to adjust to her new situation.

“Of course, it’s also possible that she thinks we’re all insane and is plotting her escape.” He added wryly.

“Go clean your infirmary.” Mal had said.

Zoe had been surprised when she’d gone up to the bridge one night to let Lilah know that dinner was ready and saw and heard Lilah talking to one of Wash’s old dinos before reaching into the bag she always seemed to bring with her onto the bridge and pulling out a new dino and placing it among the others. It had taken Zoe a moment to get a hold on herself and she’d managed to keep her voice even when she finally spoke.

“Having fun?”

Lilah caught Zoe starting at her and smiled, embarrassed.

“I- I saw it in a store back at the Sky Bazaar and I couldn’t stop myself. He looked so lonely.”

“Did you name it?” Zoe asked.

“Did I name it?”

“Wash always named them.” Zoe said quietly.

“Oh, yeah. His name is Penny.” Lilah said, with a smile, holding the ridiculous, green plastic dinosaur up. “His mother told him it would build character.