A/N: So here I am writing Wash-death again. How many ways can I do it? How many times must I make myself watch that horrible scene? How many times must my own writing make me cry as hard as the scene? Obviously at least this one more time. So here it is, Mal POV. Enjoy, er, rather cry. And don't forget to comment. Oh, and don't ask me about the title, it just kinda came to me... ****

Mal was elated. They had beaten every odd again. Another happy landing. Well, sure, she was a bit tweaked. She'd actually be beaten something fierce, perhaps even the not-so-flyable type of fierce. But his crew, his family was fine and dandy.

Wash began that peculiar phrase again. This one that Mal had been so incredulous and snappy about earlier. Mal now realized that it was perfect. It was perfectly true. Nothing could ever be truer in the 'verse. With any other pilot in that chair, they'd all be dead. Mal knew it. Zoe knew it. Wash knew it.

But Wash's words were cut short. A particularly large, pointy object crashed through Serenity's viewscreen and through the pilot's chest.

Mal could do nothing but stare. Zoe was all action. She called his name. Hastily unbuckled. Went to him. Shook him. Her voice was panicked, and that stunned Mal more than the sudden demise of his pilot and friend.

He always called Zoe up to the bridge when there was tough flying ahead for Wash. He knew that Zoe strengthened Wash just as she strengthened Mal himself. He didn’t know how she could suddenly be not-so-strong.

Slowly Mal stood. Then he remained standing. He could do nothing. No word would suffice. He couldn’t bear to break the moment, horrible as it was. It was Zoe's moment.

Mal knew Wash was gone. Had seen the angle of the weapon. Zoe knew it too, but still she shook him, pleaded with him to come along.

All of this happened in mere seconds, but Mal saw every detail. Saw Wash's expression changed from accomplished exultation to stunned pain. Saw the blood splat. Saw the pilots' head sag. Heard the desperation in his First Mate's voice. Then Mal saw the ugly ship settle in front of Serenity.

"Zoe!" he yelled and tackled her to the deck as more deadly harpoons crashed through his ship.

The moment was over. Back to business. They were much grimmer than normal, but they would act their respective parts.

Zoe and Mal left the cockpit at a dead run.

But the dead Wash was left behind, never to run again. Never again to soar like a leaf on the wind.