Mal heard a bang from outside his hut. He stuck his head out of the open window, just to see another bomb explosion in the distance. Mal sighed and rested his head against the wall. when is this ever going to end? he thought to himself. At that very moment Zoë flew through the door. “Sir” she said as she crashed into the far wall. “You look tired as hell” Mal said studying her. She tilted her head back and smiled slightly, “You are damn right” Mal laughed and lay his head down on the sacks of sand near by. He motioned for her to come lay down next to him. She did. Mal liked Zoë, a lot. Late in the night, Mal awoke but only slightly, he lay his arm over Zoë’s back and moved closer to her. She turned to face him. She smiled and then closed her eyes. * * * The sun shone in through the window. Zoë must have already have left because he couldn’t see her. were is that girl? man, she goes out early! Just as he thought that, he saw Zoë in the distance, she was dragging someone along with her. At first it looked like a woman, but as they got closer he could see it was a man. The man was the same height as Zoë and had blond hair. As they approached the door, Mal quickly got to his feet and threw the door open. the sooner this piece of [in chinese,crap] gets out of here the better. But when he got a better look at the man he smiled and sighed. He’s definitely not what Zoë’s looking for, We’re good. “And this is?” Mal said as soon as Zoë had closed the door. “Wash” He replied holding out his hand. “Hi” Mal said shaking it. Then he turned to Zoë. “What’s his story?” “Um, he was cornered, by reavers, saved him sir” “Alright” He said turning to Wash “You can stay here a while then your off, dong ma?” “Sir” Zoë said “What?” “Why don’t he come with us when we leave?, he’s a pilot. We need one of them, or that ship you want to buy wont leave the ground” “Yeah” Wash said “Maybe” Mal turned his head to glare at Wash “If you prove yourself useful these few days” “Right Captain” Wash said, grinning. what is this fool grinning for? Mal thought. “Were am I gunna sleep?” Asked Wash. “We only got, one uh, sorta bed” Zoë said. “I guess I will just sleep with you guys!” Wash said, a cheeky grin on his face. “NO!” Mal yelled. “AWWE!! why not?” “Yeah” Zoë said “Why not?” Mal felt as though his heart dropped out his stomach. “Uh” was all he said It took him a minute to gather himself up again. “Zoë, you sleep in the bed, I will sleep on the floor and you-” He said pointing to Wash “-will be sleeping over by the door, no arguing, dong ma?” “But...” Wash started but Mal cut him off “BUT IS NOT A SENTANCE, NOW DO AS YOUR TOLD BOY!!!” Wash stood there in shock. As did Zoë. “Wow sir” She said. “HUH? DON’T WOW, ME LADY!” Wash stood up and walked right up into Mal’s face. “You know her name” He spat “use it!” Mal stood the in awe staring at this stranger who had the nerve to stand up to him. ‘THWAK’ Wash hit the ground with a thud. what a dumb jackass. He thought. “Sir” Zoë said. She crossed the room over to Wash. She looked at him and then lifted him up and on to the bed. “Why would you do that? He just tried to do something nice for me. Maybe repay the favour” Mal, incredibly pissed off, left the room before he did something else stupid. I hurt the girl I love, some idiot stands up to me, and punch the bastard, and now I feel like and asshole. Is what he thought as he walked out into the sunset. * * * Back at the hut Zoe was sitting by Wash, waiting for him to get up. She placed a wet wash cloth on his bruised eye. Wash then sat up quickly, too quickly. He groaned. “Lay back down” Zoe said pushing him gently back down on the sand bags. “ How are you feeling?” “Alright” He replied “Do I got a black eye?”