"Two by two … hands of blue … two by two … hands of blue …"

As River continues to repeat it, she struggles to break free of Kaylee and Inara, but does not. As Early repeats it, Mal gets confused and knocks him out with a right jab to the temple. Mal picks Early up and carries him out of the holding room, heading for the cargo bay. As he approaches, he hears River repeating the cryptic phrase between frantic breaths - "Two by two … hands of blue …" Mal is a bit taken aback by River uttering the same phrase he'd just heard from Early, but he says nothing. Kaylee and Inara are trying to soothe River, but she continues. Mal drops Early, steps in front of River, places his hands on her shoulders and looks deep into her eyes. River tries to look away, but Mal follows her movements and does his best to maintain eye contact. Eventually, River is grounded - her breathing slows to almost normal, and she stops speaking.

Mal: "You OK?"

River: "No more waiting."

Mal: "No more waitin'." Beat. "Inara, I picked up Early's ship comin' in behind us. Oughta be settin' down in about five minutes."

Inara: "I'll be ready."

Mal: "You sure you're up to …"

Inara (quick, but not curt): "*Fang xin.* I'm fine." Mal nods and kneels to pick Early back up, throwing him face first over his shoulder.

Kaylee: "Got him?"

Mal (nodding toward River): "You got her?"

Kaylee: "I do."

Mal: "Let's go." Kaylee gently takes River's hand and guides her off the ship. Mal lingers, waiting to find something else to say to Inara. He turns to her but hasn't found any words yet.

Inara: "There's work to be done, Mal. We work before we play. I seem to remember you saying that before."

Mal: "There's to be playin'?"

Inara (smiling): "Go get our doctor." Mal returns her smile, turns and leaves the ship. He stops and faces Serenity.

Mal (to Serenity): "Don't you go nowhere."

Inara is standing at the edge of the cargo bay looking out at the whiteness surrounding all she can see. Her eyes turn to Mal, and she watches him until the blackness of the c