“What happened?” Zoë asked a somewhat bewildered Mal.

“He passed out.”

Zoë made her way over to the pilot and pressed her hand to his head.

“Fever’s back.”

”I figured,” Mal said still fuming.

“What else happened?”

Mal said nothing and continued pacing. Zoë chose to ignore it for the time being and shifted her focus back to Wash.

“We can’t move him out of here. I don’t know how Kaylee and him managed it in the first place.”

No response.

“We’re getting close to atmo; you’re going to need to be at the helm.”

Mal nodded but he wasn’t really hearing her.

“Captain,” Zoë said sharply effectively stopping his movement, “what happened here?”

“I’m not sure you want to know.”

Zoë said nothing but looked concerned.

“Then again,” Mal tacked on, “you may already know.”

Zoë was about to protest when they were interrupted.

“You want me to land this thing or what?” Jayne’s voice boomed over the comm.

Mal and Zoë exchanged looks. Each acknowledged silently that this conversation wasn’t over.

“No,” Mal replied back into the intercom, “I’m on my way.”

Within seconds he was gone. Zoë didn’t have time to think on it, she had to tend to Wash.

It didn’t make sense. They’d gotten that damn dredge out already. The only thing she could think of was that maybe the site had gotten infected. That could cause a high fever, but she wasn’t positive. Laying Wash back on his bed, Mal hadn’t even bothered to move him, as gently as possible she moved him onto his side so she could check his back.

“Zoë,” the comm came alive again, this time with Mal’s voice, “I’m sending Kaylee down with supplies. Prepare for landing.”

Zoë didn’t hear it.

A slight gasp from behind finally got Zoë’s attention.

“How?” was all Kaylee managed to get out.

“I don’t know,” Zoë finally said shaking her head.

The black web had returned.

“Stay here,” she said to Kaylee as she shot up the ladder and down the hall in record time.

She got to the infirmary and heard the familiar buzz