Chapter Six: Words That Are Better Unheard, Better Unsaid

Zoë walked up the stairs and onto the bridge. Wash was leaning back in the pilot's chair, staring at the stars. She stood there for a few seconds before Wash spoke, "Mal send you to play good cop?"

Zoë didn't answer but Wash could feel her glare right through his head. He turned in the chair and said, "That was low, sorry."

Zoë walked over and leaned against the railing. She didn't say anything, just stared out the windows.

Wash looked at her, "Mal doesn't have to worry about Adam. He can trust him." Zoë still didn't say anything so Wash said, "Or do you not trust him either?"

"He hasn't given me a reason not to," Zoë said.

"He won't," Wash said. "Adam's…He….Wash sighed, "If I can't trust Adam, then I can't trust anybody."

"Then how come you never mentioned him before?" Zoë asked.

Wash leaned back in his chair, put his hands behind his head and stared at the stars, "On some worlds when a person dies, his name's never spoken again. Some say it's because it dishonors them, others think that speaking their name gives a person power over their soul. I think it's just because it hurts too much to talk about them." He sat up and looked at Zoë.

"You thought he was dead?"

Wash nodded, "About ten years ago, we crashed and I didn't get a chance to see if he was alive before…"

"Before what?" Zoë asked.

"Nothing," Wash said so quickly that Zoë knew not to press the issue. She quickly redirected the subject.

"Little River sure took to him," Zoë observed.

Wash smiled, "That's Adam. He could charm just about anyone."

"Never seen her take to someone that way," Zoë said. "And she didn't seem to bother him neither."

"Adam's always had a soft spot for those smaller and more helpless than him," Wash said. "Couldn't stand bullies. Said that anyone who picked on someone smaller than him were Huh choo-shung tza-jiao duh tzang-huo cowards." Wash laughed softly, "The first time he told me that he got caught…..he probably still can t