“I don’t even know how she got out of the restraints”, Simon winced.

It was the middle of the night as Doc patched the head wound Irina gave Simon when she escaped from the med bay and went after the Reavers. “I didn’t even turn my back on her for that long”.

Doc turned to examine the restraints attached to the bed. “From the looks of things, she found something to cut through the straps. After that, well…” she left the rest unsaid.

“But how did she get a knife when we were watching her the entire time?”

“She’s savage, not stupid”, Doc replied as she finished taping the bandage to Simon’s head.

“Yes,” Simon agreed. “I can vouch for the savage part”.

Doc stepped back. “Whatever was left of Irina inside,” she said, “it was strong enough to make her want to protect her brother. So, she found a way”.

“I just wish she could have found a way that was less painful”, Simon winced, gingerly touching his bandaged head.

Doc pointed to his damaged arm. “Just be careful with those stitches”, she reminded him.

Simon nodded. After a moment he asked “How is your captain?”

“I gave him a sedative”, Doc answered. “He should sleep through the night”.

“Good”. Simon considered what she had said. “This is going to be hard on him for some time”.

“Yeah”, Doc sighed.

Morning broke several hours later with the Nordic Troll sitting outside the town where it had landed two days ago. Aldous and Reilly left after breakfast to check the Tams’ shuttle for bobby-traps.

Gerrin had slept through the night but was still inconsolable in the morning. After he woke up, he avoided everyone, disappearing somewhere inside the ship. No one saw him for several hours.

Loomie found him in the engine room, sitting on the deck propped up against the port engine, a large makeshift mug in his hand. “Captain?” she started cautiously. ”Nick?”

“Whah?” Gerrin growled.

She stepped over to the still and turned the tap, obse