Everyone was there – the rest of the ship had to be deserted. Even the kids were clustered on the old yellow sofa, ostensibly reading a story book, but it lay on Bethie’s lap, untouched. Kaylee was staring through the infirmary window with Freya at her side, while Jayne and River were by the door, standing so close there wasn’t even daylight between them. Zoe was of course next to her husband, holding his hand while Simon fussed.

“Thought you said he was awake?” Mal asked somewhat peevishly.

River turned her dark eyes on him, reading his soul. “He is. He just doesn’t know it.”

Mal raised an eyebrow at her but didn’t comment. Instead he stepped over the sill into the blue room. “Doc?” he asked. “Your sis right?”

Simon paused, only half his attention on his captain. “Well, his vitals are improving a little, his brainwaves ...” He looked up. “I don’t know. She usually is.”

“So Hank’s being his normal enthusiastic self?”

Simon grabbed his old-fashioned stethoscope and was about to make some, quite possibly damaging, remark when the man on the medbed groaned.

He wanted to tell whoever was shouting to shut up. They were way too loud, and his hangover was way too advanced. He wanted the elephant on his chest to get up too, but he didn’t know the language. Half the time it was difficult to make himself understood anyway, so pachyderm was probably beyond him. Still, maybe if he groaned loudly enough they might take the hint.

Okay. Silence. That was good. Now maybe he could get some sleep, and when he woke up ... Gorramit, they were at it again. Shouting. Making his ears ring. And something ice cold burning just above his navel. He shivered, or tried to, and made a mental note to berate whoever had bought the last round – it must have been off. Except he had the idea alcohol had not been involved, particularly as the hangover seemed to be centred around his belly.

This was going to take more thought. If they’d only shut up.

“Hank? Hank. I know you can hear me. Open