badinlatin | Mal-Inara post departure

The door back to Serenity releases Mal facing the hatch to his bunk. After such a weary night, Mal is torn between crawling into bed in Inara's shuttle or just simply falling into his bunk.

Option Two is easier, so he climbs down his ladder slowly, only to almost fall off when he sees Inara asleep on his rough bunk - in the most raggedy shirt he owns, no less.

He can't help but smile at the sight, but grimaces once he sees her start to stir. She sleeps too lightly.

"Mal?" she questions, sitting up.

"I'm fine, 'Nara," Mal shushes her, slowly pulling off his boots after flopping in a chair. Next are his jacket and sweater, then gunbelt, changing his pants into black cotton ones he sleeps in while in his bunk.

"No you're not."

Mal sighs heavily, sitting aside Inara to give her a kiss. They don't speak again until they are both as close to each other as can be necessitated by a small bunk and a numbed heart, if only for the night.

Inara lifts her head again to look at Mal, straight into his eyes. They haven't gone back to blue yet.

"What is it?"

Mal gives Inara a smile, letting it break after a moment. "Susan...Bert, Alain...Sheemie.

They went home."