(no subject)
An hour or so later, she asks everyone to meet her in the kitchen. She doesn't say anymore over the comm, but her tone of voice gives away much more than her words, and they all have warily expectant looks as they make their way in. (Except River--River, unsurprisingly, looks like she already knows.)
She tells them he's gone, and that's all. Nothing about the way he vanished, not about the hour she spent crying with a bewildered Naomi on her lap. Just what they need to know. That he's gone.
"Keep the candles burning," River half-whispers, arms wrapped around her stomach. "He'll remember the way home."
Mal rests a hand on Zoe's shoulder and squeezes for a moment; Inara holds one of her hands.
"Anything you need from us right now?" Kaylee asks in a small voice, and Zoe shakes her head.
"Thanks, but...just some time on my own, I think."
She goes back to Naomi's bunk, instead of her own. When she does go back to the other, much later in the day, it's only to get some clothes and other necessary things before heading into Milliways, and requesting a room key.
She tells them he's gone, and that's all. Nothing about the way he vanished, not about the hour she spent crying with a bewildered Naomi on her lap. Just what they need to know. That he's gone.
"Keep the candles burning," River half-whispers, arms wrapped around her stomach. "He'll remember the way home."
Mal rests a hand on Zoe's shoulder and squeezes for a moment; Inara holds one of her hands.
"Anything you need from us right now?" Kaylee asks in a small voice, and Zoe shakes her head.
"Thanks, but...just some time on my own, I think."
She goes back to Naomi's bunk, instead of her own. When she does go back to the other, much later in the day, it's only to get some clothes and other necessary things before heading into Milliways, and requesting a room key.