(no subject)

[flybywash]

When he hasn't been sleeping or reading through the enormous stack of comics Tonks left for him, Wash has been practicing. Even with the crutches, he can't get too far from the bed before his good leg starts quivering from overexertion, and each attempt's been punctuated with a long, bone-tired nap.

At least he can keep his balance now, though.

Mostly.

Currently he's glancing at the crutches over the top of Martin Miggs the Mad Muggle #12, Petrie snoozing on the pillow next to him, and debating whether or not to give it one more try today.

Comments

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

From the sounds coming from the other side of the door, it wouldn't be utterly out of the question to suspect a herd of elephants stampeeding through Faith's apartment.

Including one elephant with a cheerful London accent, talking approximately a hundred miles an hour. Suddenly there isn't just banging outside the door, there's banging on the door. Loud, forceful, 'I've got entirely too much energy now' banging.

"Oy! You've got 'bout two seconds t'get decent!" Ace hollers, and then goes back to beaming like an absolute nutecase at the poor confused Zoe.

[flybywash]

Wash jumps a little at the sudden noise. Next to him, Petrie jerks awake and flutters to the nightstand.

"Okay, why does everyone assume I'm running around in here pantless every time they visit?" he complains, good-naturedly, as he drops Martin Miggs back onto the comic book pile. "I'm decent, Ace. Come in."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

At the sound of the voice, Zoe freezes, going pale.




...No. Can't be. There's no way.

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Ace is suddenly glad she didn't think to tell Zoe what this was all about earlier. Keeping a firm grip on the Zoe-arm in her possession, she flings open the door and practically man-handles Zoe inside.

And then takes up position in the doorway to prevent fleeage.

[flybywash]

Wash shifts around to get more comfortable, looks up --

His mouth falls open.




Somewhere along the line, he remembers to start breathing again.






"....Zoe?"

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Every fiber of Zoe's body is tense, rigid. Her hands are clenched into fists at her sides.

For a long moment, she doesn't move. Doesn't even breath.




And then she shakes her head, very slightly.

She opens her mouth, and what she's planning to say is I saw you die--but that's not what comes out.




"...Wash?"

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Ace stands rather solidly in the doorway, watching first Wash, then Zoe, then Wash again...

While she's intimately acquainted with how this sort of reunion feels...
I'd move heaven, hell, and Milliways to be with you again
She kinda wants to shake them both until their teeth rattle. Thankfully, she's learned a little bit of restraint, where important things are involved, and stays put, hanging about to make sure no one does anything irreparably stupid.

[flybywash]

"Oh my God -- "

He can't scramble out of the bed, not even close, but he does his damndest. One hand's reaching for the crutches, the other trying to push his right leg along, and both hands are starting to wobble as his vision blurs.

And yet he sees.

"You're okay," he whispers, voice choked.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

It's seeing him try to get out of the bed that nails it home, for Zoe. Because he's hurt, she can tell--the fact that he's here at all is shoved aside for the moment--and what is he thinking, trying to stand up right now?, and she's halfway across the room, one hand reaching out to keep him from rising, before she realizes what she's doing--

--And then, it's a fair bet that Wash isn't making it to his feet anytime soon, because Zoe's sinking down on the bed next to him, both arms going around him and just clinging, face buried in the curve of his shoulder.

"Ohgodohmygod, Wash--"

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Ace has gone back to grinning like a loon. Good. This is good. And it's about time she left.

Boots that were so noisy coming in are practically soundless as she tiptoes out.

The door makes the barest click as it shuts.

That muffled squeaking sound? Ace, as she bounces around outside, fist stuffed in her mouth so she can cheer victory without disturbing them.

[flybywash]

"Shh, oh, God, băobèi -- it's okay, I'm okay -- "

He cradles the back of her head and wraps one arm around her waist, and she's okay, she made it, everything's going to be okay, and it's that thought that makes the tears begin in earnest as he holds his wife: they're all right.

Just like she said.

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Zoe finally lifts her head to look at him, drawing in a shaky breath.

"You--you're here. An' that's enough, even if--"

She can't say it.

[flybywash]

"Shhh."

Wash cups her face in both hands and touches his forehead to hers, kissing her, thumbs tracing small lines across her cheeks.

"I'm here. I'm fine. I didn't -- they found me. Raven and Lilly found me and brought me back here." A trembling smile. "I'm okay."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

"You--"

Zoe closes her eyes and draws in another slow breath, tension flowing out of her.

"You're okay? Really?"

One hand moves toward his chest with un-Zoe-like hesitance, as if touching where the harpoon hit might somehow undo whatever was done to save him.

[badinlatin]

Mal has retrieved his present from Bar, and practically sprints to Faith's apartment.

He does manage to knock politely. Zoe is in there and all.

[gonna_live]

There's another knock on the door.

And a small -- familiar -- voice.

"Wash?"

[flybywash]

He takes her hand and guides it the last few inches, settling it against his chest.

There's a thick knot of scar tissue there, tangible through his shirt.

There's also a steady heartbeat.

"Wasn't, for a little while. But death's kinda boring. I like it better here."

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

If Mal had come knocking a bit earlier, he might not have gotten any response.

As it is, there's a quick "Just a sec!" and then what might be the sounds of two people dressing in a hurry--one of them without the full use of his limbs.

And then, the door is flung open.

Mal hasn't seen Zoe looking this happy in a while.

[flybywash]

His eyes go to the door as he hitches in a small, quiet breath.

"Kaylee?"

[badinlatin]

Mal may also be looking far happier than Zoe's seen him for a spell, too.

"Is he up for a visitor?"

Even with the smile on his face, he would still accept a no.

[gonna_live]

There's a soft thunk. Kind of like somebody's head falling against the door.

Then:

"Ow." It's tremulous. "I -- yeah. It's...it's me."

Pause.

"Is it you?"

The reason the door is still closed is that Kaylee is rather...nonsensical, right about now. Just like Wash coming back from the dead.

[flybywash]

"Oh, God, it's Mal," Wash groans from behind Zoe.

Any hints that this just might be sarcastic are confirmed by his grin.

"Hey cap'n. Um. Boo?"

[righthandwoman.livejournal.com]

Next to Wash--she's probably not going to be too far from Wash for a while, if she has her druthers, Zoe smiles.

There's probably going to be a lot of that for a while, too.

"Quickest way for you to find that out is to open the door, honey."

[badinlatin]

Mal's grinning so hard it hurts. He would laugh, but that might actually hurt, so he refrains.

"Nice to see you too. I brought you a present." Mal reveals a black laquer cane with silver scrolling along the shaft.

The handrest is a pterodactyl.

"Faith said," Mal hands it to him along the bed, finally coming in the room, "that you might be havin' some trouble with the movin' around, so."

[gonna_live]

Of course the first glimpse that Wash will have of Kaylee since it happened will have the mechanic at hand in tears.

The door swings open. Kaylee's resting a hand on the doorjamb.

"Wei."