DAY OF ARRIVAL

Mal moved slowly about the cargo bay and checked all the straps and safety nets for the umpteenth time, knowing very well that the he was only doing it because it gave him a chance to be alone. Not that he was still hiding from his crew; somehow their presence didn't feel like it was choking him anymore. But he knew this would be his last chance for some peace and quiet for a while. Their ETA was in less than five hours and once on Boros life would be swarming around him.

He smiled. Maybe that would be a good thing for a change?

But right now he appreciated the silence, and it wasn't heavy and laden with emotions like before. He was more in control of himself now than he had been in a long time. Still sad, still so gorram sad, but in control.

The good cry he'd had alone in his bunk a couple of days earlier had been the turning point, but not because of the crying itself, he was pretty sure about that. It had released the pressure, as River would have put it, but the reason for his feeling better was something else: Basically that he for the first time had allowed himself to admit the real cause of his grief. And even though he still missed her, and even though she would never come back, that admission had still taken the sting out of it, and he felt stronger, clear-sighted and ready for whatever fate would throw at him.

Life wasn't perfect, but it would have to do for now.

The sound of some commotion in the common area by the passenger dorms caught his attention and he went to investigate. He turned the corner by the infirmary and stopped to take in the sight, another smile spreading across his face. "Hey, look who's up," he said.

Jayne was in the process of crossing the floor on crutches, a little slow but steady enough. Simon hovered around him like a nervous mother watching her toddler take his first steps, and Book was watching the scene from where he stood next to the couch, with a smile on his lips and his arms folded across his chest. Mal also spotted River sitting on the stairs leading up to the upper deck, peering at them over the banister.

"Easy now," the doctor admonished. "It's alright to sit down, if you feel lightheaded or…"

"Will you just shut it?" Jayne snarled at him.

"Oh, by all means, don't listen to me," Simon sarcastically retorted. "I'm just the doctor, what would I know?"

Book turned to Mal with a chuckle. "I believe things are returning to normal here."

"Flap, flap, flap," River said, and they all turned to look at her, Jayne with a glare and the other three with bewilderment.

"Apparently so," Mal replied the preacher.

***

"We got visual," Wash proclaimed as the planet Boros came into view in front of them.

Standing next to his pilot seat his wife gave a heavy sigh of relief. "Aw, ain't that a sight?" she said. "God knows this is one trip I won't remember fondly."

"I'd say everybody got a little crazy this time," Wash agreed. "Except me, of course."

"'Cept you," Zoë replied with a smile. She was quiet for a little while, her eyes locked to their long-awaited destination, before she added, "Don't know what, but somethin' got the better of us this time around. Me… I felt so tense. I just wanted to scream and yell, you know."

He gave her a sideways glance. "Was that before or after you poked your nose into the shepherd's business?" he teased and laughed as she mock-slapped the back of his head.

"Well, it's the last time, I'll tell you that," she said. "From now on people can keep their secrets. Fine by me."

He chuckled. "Well, it's over anyways, we're here now. And not a minute too soon." He tapped the console with his finger. "We're out of fuel. Which means we'll be stuck here until we have the money to refill the tanks. Could be a while…" He frowned.

She smiled, draped her arms around his neck and planted an affectionate kiss on his cheek. "I'll keep you sane, honey," she said. "And, by God, take us down."

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