Chapter 6: Family

Zoe waited in the stairwell for her husband. She had sent Jayne on ahead to guard the bottom entrance, while Kaylee remained with her. Her belly was hurting something fierce, but that was nothing compared to the pounding in her head.

Her concept of who her husband was just wasn’t fitting with what she had seen here today. Oh she knew that there was a lot more to him than met the eye. She had always figured that. He had proven her suspicions about his bravery and willingness to fight if it could not be avoided to be true the time they had rescued Mal from Niska.

And she had already heard Mal read the public record, the obituary, he had dug up. Still, it was so much more information about her husband, about abilities and facets of him that he had kept carefully hidden, that it had seemed all but impossible to take it all in. That was until just now, when she had direct evidence that it was not only possible, but true.

Just then the man in question made an appearance, gun drawn, carefully checking the stairwell before entering. When he saw her and Kaylee, he stepped in and then transferred his bag to the hand holding the gun. He had the weapon cleverly hidden by some clothing that hung out the top of the bag, but fact was that the gun was still firmly in his grasp. All he would have to do was drop the bag and he’d be ready to fire.

Again, not like the man she thought she knew. Still, that might be a good thing given their situation. Zoe turned and led the way down the stairs, but was brought up short by Wash’s hand on her arm as she turned the corner leading to the fifth floor landing.

“There’s something I need to check on before we leave,” he said.

“And what might that be? We don’t have time to take in the sights, husband,” she threw back.

“Don’t I know it!” he answered, talking quickly. “Alliance military are already on their way. But I was taken captive in the room below my own and I want to grab their papers before we go. Need to know whatever I can.”

Zoe nodded. “I’ll do it.