Part I can be found here: http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=9110

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Hours later I lay in my bunk, my mind a hive of activity. Drink made it run twice as fast and I was restless. I jumped up and found my way to the bridge, but it was empty. Did I expect him to be here? Hoped? Cared? He was right, I was used to repelling men. I sat in his chair for a long time, until my mind grew heavy. Did I actually care?

“Zoë, Honey.”

“Wah?” I groaned groggily.

“Wake time. You’ve got first mate type duties to do. And… you’re in my chair.”

“Hu?” I hurled my eyes open, blinking wearily.

Wash grinned down at me. “You know there’s a reason we have bunks.”

I nursed a crick in my neck, staring out at the stars. “Don’t tell -”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

I laboured to my feet and stifled a yawned. “What time is it?”

“Late, but doubt Mal will show ‘is head for a while if last nights anything to judge by.”

“When are we arriving at Persephone?”

“Friday afternoon, if all goes well.”

“I’ll be in the cargo bay then.”

“’K, have fun. Oh and Zo.” I swivelled around in the door and caught what was chucked at me. “Try these.”

Aspirin. I smiled. “Thanks.”

“No problem!”

~

“Good move,” I told Tom. “Friendship was a good move. I’m not sure, but I think now she has more security, allows her to be herself rather than worrying about the consequences. Yup, I know. Don’t call me ‘Wash the Charmer’ for nothing. Ok… they don’t actually call me that, no. But they might!”

The T-Rex looked sceptical.

“Ok, they wouldn’t. But, hey! What would you know?”

I punched him affectionately. He lost his balance and toppled off the console.

“Ai yah!”

~

I found myself on the bridge more and more often. I’d sit listening to Wash most the time. Friendship was a good pretence to hide behind. This was what he wanted and I could go along with it. He talked a lot about flight school. I could tell it had been a defining time for him.