The Lady, or the Tiger? à la Washburne (part 2 of 2)
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Having a baby - should they or shouldn't they? Wash consults with Doctor Tam
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 2545 RATING: 10.0 (PG13) SERIES: FIREFLY
"Doctor-patient confidentiality, right?"
Simon's eyes widen a bit as he catches the nervous urgency in Wash's voice. He quickly blinks to cover any look of surprise. "Yes. Of course."
"Irrevocable, inviolable, relegated to eternal bedpan duty if you break it-absolute, right? Even if an amazon threatens to beat you senseless with a Winchester Randall, you're bound to silence?"
The words are typical Wash fei hua, but Simon sees no mirth on Wash's face. He looks pale and drawn and totally serious. "Yes. What's this about?"
It comes out in a rush: "A vasectomy, that's something you could do on the ship, out-patient style, isn't it?"
Simon notes the puffy bags under Wash's red-rimmed eyes, his angry, impatient tone and abrupt movements, the way he is rocking just a little on his feet. But it doesn't take a doctor to diagnose a conflicted man. Clearly something has changed in the Washburne baby debate. So Simon pauses a beat, and then asks cautiously, "Have you talked this over with Zoë?"
Wash laughs in a skittish, high-pitched tone that Simon immediately puts down to stress and sleep deprivation. The pilot throws up his hands and shrugs emphatically.
"She says I'm making excuses." This is so unfair, Wash fumes. Him on the defensive, being forced to considering bodily alterations. "Says it doesn't matter that trouble follows this ship like it's on a mission from God." His voice is rising, gestures getting broader. "She says… she says she's not so afraid of losing something that she won't try to have it." He shakes his head in disbelief. When did he become the sensible one?
But that has all to do with Zoë and Simon knows this visit is about Wash. And so he waits and listens.
Wash bows his head for a moment, hesitant to go
If there is a third choice for Zoe's & Wash's pregnancy, I guess it would be that Wash must die (the Reaver/Tiger gets him) which solves all the story problems for future episodes with babies. Mal's violence can shoot to moon after Serenity movie, but I'm hoping that Mal mellows, now that he's no longer a nobody.
1. Zoe is already pregnant, although she doesn't know itm, yet. That takes this question off the table but raises others.
2. Wash turns out to be sterile, because of the polluted planet he grew up on. That resolves the conflict, without making it anyone's *fault*.
3. Zoe turns out to be infertile for some reason. The least plausible of the three scenarios.
If I were the show's writers, I would go with option #2. Zoe and Wash could then start discussing adoption. They could adopt an older child, say 7-12, who is not so helpless and can be used more diversely in stories. Think Naomi Wildman on 'Star Trek: Voyager'.
I'd like to know more about why Wash loves the ship. Because the violence would make me blind to any of Serenity's charms. As for which he should choose (never mind the fact that we have an idea now): I'd choose making leaving Serenity a condition of having a baby. That's another conversation between Wash and Zoe that I'd like to see!
p.s. Sorry for the delay. Real life is hectic.
Maybe my saying that Wash loves the ship has been influenced too much by other fanfics, where people say Wash loves the ship. Maybe your right and that's more a Kaylee thing to say/feel.
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