"Guess I should go ahead and get Blasto," Wash says with a shake of his head. They'd gone back and finished watching the one they'd started on his birthday, after the mess with the adjutants was taken care of, and though it had been patently absurd, Wash can't say they didn't have fun.

He looks York over again. He knows how she is. Knows she'd rather brush this all under the rug and forget about it. And maybe he should do the same, maybe he should let her get past it on her own, but the fear, the rush of horror when he'd heard is still too fresh to just let go.

He curls his fingers around hers, turning her hand enough to get a good grip.

"Hey," he says, meeting her single eye without the slightest hesitation. "I'm glad you're okay. I..." He swallows. Gives his head a shake. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

i've lost everyone else. i lost him twice. i can't lose you too.