The Casualty

Spoilers- None, this is pre-series. Disclaimer- own nothing, am broke, make no money from writing. Note- Kinda, sorta an answer to my dino origins plot bunny. xxx

“Get prepared, I’m gonna bank left!” Wash gripped the controls tightly as he poured every ounce of energy he could into steering Serenity.

“That other ship looks awfully close, husband,” Zoë warned nervously.

“Just a second, lamby toes,” Wash told her calmly.

Some of the men on the planet they just left had taken a disliking to all them on Serenity and decided to chase after them. Especially since Mal, Zoë and Jayne had just robbed the main ranch of all its worth. Odd how irrational some people could be.

“Wash!”

The other ship was headed right toward them. At the last moment Wash jerked the controls to the left, sending his plastic trees and dinosaurs flying to scatter over the floor and almost sending Zoë to join them.

Wash laughed as the other ship sailed harmlessly by and kept on going. Still, he kept his hands tight on the controls and eyed the sensors, waiting to see if the ship would turn and come after them again. After several minutes he relaxed, weren’t no way that ship could catch up to them now.

Wash punched in a few buttons. “Setting course for Anubis.”

“Ah, honey?”

Wash looked down to where Zoë had crouched to gather up his beloved dinosaurs. Zoë held up a half melted plastic figure.

Wash paled. “No, not my Bronte.”

Wash gently took the half melted brontosaurus out of Zoë’s hand. “What happened to her tail?” he asked running a finger the dinosaur’s stump.

Zoë placed her hands on Wash’s shoulders. “She fell through the grating and landed on some the machinery. It was just too hot. I’m sorry, baby.”

Wash smiled bravely and gave a small sigh. “It’s okay. It’s just a toy.”

xxxxx

Kaylee climbed up the ladder out of her bunk and stopped. Zoë was peering into the bridge. Kaylee quietly approached the woman. As Kaylee’s foot touched the bottom step Zoë’s head turned.

“Whatcha lookin’ at?” Kaylee whispered.

She peered around Zoë. Wash was sitting in his pilot’s seat. Half –heartedly he moved his one remaining dinosaur around the plastic palm trees. Wash sighed and put the dinosaur down.

Kaylee pulled back, “Oh.”

“He’s been like that since Jayne spaced his brontosaurus.”

“The one that was all melted and warped?”

“Yep.”

Kaylee frowned. “What are ya gonna do?”

Zoë tapped her cheek. “They have toy stores on this rock, right?”

xxxxx

Morosely, Wash went through the night auto pilot procedure. A small smile graced his features as he felt his wife’s arms slide around him.

“I got you something.”

Wash turned the chair around and pulled Zoë onto his lap. “Really? Is it black and lacy?”

Zoë grinned and shook her head. “Maybe next time.” She held out a small, wrapped box.

Wash took the box out of her hands and carefully unwrapped it. Still grinning, Wash pulled the lid off the box and stopped. “Zoë, I- thank you.”

Zoë reached into the box and pulled out a plastic dinosaur. “It isn’t much fun only having one dinosaur to play with.”

“And it’s a raptor,” Wash breathed. “A carnivore.”

Wash plucked the raptor out of Zoe’s hand and thrust the triceratops at her. “Here, you be Topsy.”

Zoe grinned and kissed Wash’s forehead. “Anything you want, baby.”

Wash walked the raptor along the console. “Arrgh, so hungry, arrgh.”

xxx

end.