Seeking Solace

River Tam's ship had changed.

The hair was gone. That was a positive. But her constant was different. And if it was a variable, then anything could change. Like her.

Preacher Man and the Lady With The Dresses were gone now. Who next? Her ship was slipping away. Would she slip away with it? No ship, no River. All gone. All of it. Her ship, her constant, changed.

She was crying in Simon's bunk and Simon's hug. Simon would slip away too. She knew it.

"River... shh..." "You're going to slip away... it's all going to slip away... one by one, my ship gone... and you... no constant, no River." "River, just because Book and Inara left doesn't mean we all will..."

"All slip away, and River goes after..."

"No. River, I am going to stay with you, and I am not going to let you go."

"River's fluid. Ship is constant. Constants have to stay the same. Ship's not the same anymore. Ship's fluid. Slipping away, like me."

"River, I am not letting you slip away."

"You're a constant." "Yes. Yes, I am a constant. I'm your big brother."

"Simon. Always Simon." "Always."

Malcom Reynolds was watching the video Kaylee had made over and over again.

Maybe he should have told her.

Maybe that was why she left.

Maybe she was gone and he should get over it.

Maybe Inara had been a constant.