Disclaimer: They're not mine, though I wish Jayne was, and I'm making no $$$ off of this.

This fic is based on a dream I had a few years ago. It stayed with me long after waking so I wrote it down. I came across it while cleaning some files off my computer, and since then it's been nagging at me, so I adapted it to what you see below.

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As Mal and Jayne loaded up the cargo from their last job, a woman came up the cargo bay ramp. As she walked past the two men, Jayne shuddered.

"You OK?" Mal asked.

"Yeah, fine. Just a goose walkin' over my grave." Jayne shrugged it off, and they continued their work.

The woman climbed the stairs up to the bridge, and it was there she found who she was looking for. Wash was in the pilot's seat, slumped over the spike through his chest. She rolled her eyes.

"Wash?" No reply.

"Wa-ash!" Again nothing.

"WASH!" she yelled, and his head finally jerked up.

He smiled up at her, "Sorry Anya, I didn't know you were there."

"Whatever. You ready to go?"

"Can't. I seem to have a big stake through my chest."

She cocked an eyebrow at him, "There's one problem."

"What?"

"You forgot the part of the spike that's supposed to be coming out your back. Really ruins the illusion."

His shoulder's slumped, and the 'spike' disappeared, "You got me."

"Can't bullshit a bullshitter, Wash."

He looked at Anya with pleading eyes, "Just three more months! Then I'll be a good boy and go with you...I promise!"

She shook her head, "No can do, hon. I've already let you stay twice as long as I should have, and my boss is getting all up my ass about it. No amount of puppy dog eyes is going to win me over this time."

"How about charm? I can be all kinds of charming," he countered, waggling his eyebrows at her.

She sighed and squatted down next to him, taking his face in her hands. He winced, expecting them to be cold, but to his surprise they weren't. She turned his head so that his sky blue eyes were looking into her black ones.

"Wash, it's time to come home."

Tears filled those blue eyes, "I already am," he whispered.

She ran her thumb over his cheek, wiping away a lone tear that spilled over, "This isn't your home anymore, Wash. And the sooner you come with me, the sooner Zoe can begin to heal. You have to let her go."

"But she likes having me here."

"I know, but it's hurting her too. She needs to move on, and she can't do it as long as you're here." The woman stood and took his hand, hauling him to his feet.

"Book is waiting for you, he'll be your Guide."

"Aren't you my Guide?"

"No, I'm just a Collector. He's looking forward to seeing you again." Anya grinned at him, "Though he's a bit peeved with how long you're taking. He's already settled in four others while waiting for you."

"He always was efficient," Wash agreed.

"Yes, he's been one of our best." As they talked she began to lead him off the bridge.

"What will I be doing? Can I still be a pilot?"

She laughed, "We don't really need pilots...not when you can pretty much just think yourself wherever you want to be. But I know that we'll find something to suit your talents."

They reached the top of the stairs and paused, peering through the doorway into the dining area where the crew had gathered for dinner.

As Wash looked longingly at them, Zoe turned her head and he looked into her deep brown eyes for what would be the last time in a long while.

Anya put her arm around his waist, and led him down the stairs. About half way down, they began to fade, and by the time they reached the cargo bay floor, they were gone.