They head back out into the front hallway, Wash taking the small flight of stairs with care. Sloping ladders are spaced at regular intervals on either wall; since Kaylee moved into Simon's room, bringing her sign and Christmas lights with her, there's nothing to indicate they lead to the crew bunks.

Not until Wash braces a hand on the top rung of the second ladder on the right, kicks it in, and balances there for a precarious moment as he calls down, "Zo'? You down there?"

No answer. Wash waits a couple seconds longer, just in case she's waking up from another nap, then glances back at Tonks and says, "Aaaand that'd be a no. Okay, watch your step on the second to last rung, it got bent a little funny a while back -- "

And down he goes.