"Okay," she mumbles, but she uncurls a little from the protective hunch she'd been trying to assume in Wash's arms, since Zoe doesn't hunch like that and she wouldn't cry about Uncle Simon and Aunt Kaylee leaving either.

Wash kisses her cheek, sets her to her feet with a whispered, "Go ahead," and watches her scamper away into the belly of the ship. He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I swear, sharing of important leave-taking information did happen last night," he says.