look: http://www.fireflyfans.net/showblog.asp?b=4320 i thought that song at the bottom kinda applied to this fanfic series quite well (especially after this episode) unfortunatly i dont think wash singin' would really be appropriate... but still. do you like?

this episode kinda came out a bit angsty... but we all like a bit of that right? right??

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“Want a drink, honey?”

Zoë couldn’t remember when he had started calling her ‘honey’. She hadn’t complained though and now it almost seemed normal, natural. Only about a week ago they were barely talking and now they chatted like old friends. Well, at least like new friends…

“No, thanks,” she said sitting tiredly at the table.

“Sure? I still have some of that whiskey from Persephone. Perfect remedy to land-weariness.” He grinned and got two beakers without waiting for her to reply.

She didn’t protest. “You suppose Bester will ever fix that engine?”

“Probably not. That would require work. ‘Sides you really think he has room for a brain under all that hair?”

Zoë smiled freely, taking the beaker of whiskey Wash offered her. “He was spoken very highly off back on Beaumonde.”

“Which speaks for itself.”

“So were you,” Zoë pointed out.

“Exactly! Wait…”

Zoë laughed just as Mal entered the mess. “Glad you two are havin’ fun doin’ nothin’ what so ever. I’ve got someone for you to meet.”

A girl in a short flowery dress stepped into the room, looking around her eyes wide and naive, a grin on her face. “Hi there!” She waved at Zoë and Wash who exchanged confused glances.

“This is Kaylee, our mechanic,” Mal explained. “Kaylee, this is Zoë, my first mate and Wash, the pilot.”

“Nice to meet you.” Kaylee smiled slightly timidly.

“Not to be negative, Captain,” Wash said slowly, “but don’t we already have a mechanic?”

“No,” Mal replied firmly, “Bester gets off here. What’s the use of a mechanic who can’t fix an engine? Kaylee here knows more about this boat while never having seen one before. Ain’t that a joy?”

“Good to have you aboard.” Zoë stood and offered her hand, smiling welcomingly. She’d never really liked Bester in the first place, too pretty. She felt sure this Kaylee would fit in much better and it was obvious the Captain had taken to her already.

“Wash, get us in the air. We got a job waitin’ for us.”

~

“So what do you think of her?” Wash asked a few drinks later. He was reclined leisurely in his chair, the stars reflected in his eyes.

Zoë relaxed against the console. “Think she’ll fit in fine. By the sounds of it she’s quite a genius when it comes to machines.”

“Uh-huh. She’s very cute.”

Zoë stared at him, her eyes mocking. “Cute?”

Wash’s gaze snapped up to hers. “I didn’t mean cute cute. You know, cute!”

Zoë just grinned.

“Here,” Wash picked the bottle of whiskey, swirling the dregs. “Want the last bit?”

She looked down at her empty beaker, trying to remember how many she had already had. When she couldn’t, she decided it was probably best not to have any more. “I shouldn’t.”

“It’s close to a week until we land in Paquin. Plenty of time to recover, I’d say. Go on.”

“The Captain…” Zoë began uncertainly.

“Do you always do what Mal asks?” For some reason Wash actually seemed surprisingly bitter. Zoë couldn't remember him being angry before.

“Hu?”

“Well, you just seem to follow him unquestioningly…”

“He’s the Captain! But I only obey him when I believe he’s right.”

“Clearly.”

He lifted the bottle and Zoë reluctantly held out her mug. What was it she liked about him? There didn’t seem to be one single thing, but he made her smile without trying, that was something. And he didn’t seem to see her as a soldier, he understood that wasn’t her. That was another thing…

Wash’s eyes meet hers and just stared at each other for a moment. Suddenly her brain registered what she was doing and she glanced hurriedly away. Please don’t let me do this, she pleaded with herself, don’t let me…

With one of his large hands he gently touched Zoë’s fingers, entwining them with his own. They were slightly rough where his skin had been worn by handling ships all day but warm and Zoë felt her heart leap. She turned to him, still fighting with herself. His lips were thin, but beautifully curved. She’d never noticed that before…

Wash was captivated by her. She was so beautiful. Her stunning dark eyes flickered over his lips and he smiled slightly, leaning slowly towards her.

Zoë closed her eyes, her heart in her throat, longing stirring in the pit of her stomach. Wash took her face in his other hand.

Their lips were inches apart when a crackling of the comm caused both their heads to snap round. “Zoë, could use your help down here, if you’re not busy.”

Zoë jumped to her feet, but Wash kept hold of her hand, spinning her to face him. “Stay,” he smiled, pulling her slightly towards her. “Mal can handle it, he’s a big boy.”

Zoë jerked her hand free, her eyes staring blankly at Wash.

“Right,” Wash said quietly, feeling a sickness rise inside of him. “Captain comes first. I get it.”

She left him with an angry frown of displeasure scarring his features. Could he have been wrong about her?

To be continued... (because how could i not?)