Epilogue

The Good Wound

Serenity

Infirmary

Mal winced as Simon pulled the bandage tight around his torso, where the Operative's blade had pierced his stomach. He noticed that Simon had also grimaced at the pain of the movement, recalling that the Doc himself had a bullet hole through his own belly, courtesy of the Reavers.

In fact, everyone had been in and out of the infirmary ever since they'd gotten the word out. Jayne and his multiple battle wounds, Zoe's spine injury, Kaylee's darts to the neck.

"There is something of interest to me," he began, addressing Simon. "How could it be that your sister took on a whole roomful of Reavers all by her onesome – well, with some cyborg assistance - and is the only one of us to come out of that fight without a ruttin' scratch?"

Simon smiled coyly. "We all have our strengths. River's is… being strong."

Mal raised an eyebrow, which only caused his bruised eye to strain. "Now don't you be talkin' in riddles too, Doctor," he cautioned, wincing again. "All the drugs you got me on, I got no patience for it."

"I can imagine," Simon agreed.

"I got stabbed, you know," Mal reminded him, gingerly touching his stomach. "Right here."

"Yes, I can see that."

"I ain't gonna bleed to death, right? I just ask on account of I'm interested."

Simon cracked another smile. "No, you'll live." His grin faded as quickly as it had come. "Which is more than I can say for some."

Mal didn't have to ask who Simon was referring to. "Connor."

Simon hesitated. "I know he wasn't part of the crew, but—."

"Yes, he was," Mal replied firmly. He glanced away, his voice growing distant. "They all were."

.

Haven

Funeral Site

Cameron observed the three stone memorials that were set up for Mr. Universe, Shepherd Book, and for John. The entire crew was there, grieving.

Zoe and Wash.

Kaylee and Simon were holding hands. River was on her brother's other side.

Even Mal and Inara seemed to be acting civil.

And Jayne… well, there wasn't much improvement on Jayne's part but nobody had expected any.

Everyone had their happy ending.

Except Cameron.

"Don't worry," Mal said with a reassuring smile. "We'll get you back home. Just as soon as Serenity's space-worthy again."

Cameron looked down at the note she had written to John, just like he'd told her so long ago. Sometimes things happen and they are so bad that people just don't know how to deal with their sadness so they write it in a note.

All John had ever wanted was peace. But instead, he'd found Serenity. And it had killed him.

Cameron taped her note to the rocket and River came forward, handing her the flare.

"John has his own Serenity now," she said softly.

Cameron lit the rocket and followed it with her eyes as it disappeared into the sky. "No," she replied softly. "He'll be back."

.

Persephone

Repair Yard

Everyone had been doing their part to patch up Serenity. Wash had a sneaky suspicion that Simon and Kaylee hadn't been getting much progress done in the engine room, but everyone else seemed to be hard at work. Cameron of course being a cyborg had the ability to work day in and day out on anything and everything. Even Inara had made herself of use, repainting Serenity's symbol and name back on the side of the ship.

As Wash worked in the cockpit alongside their resident psychic genius, he still couldn't get their fallen comrade John Connor out of his mind, knowing that if he – Wash - had been piloting that day, he wouldn't be standing here right now getting electrocuted by loose wires.

"You're the reader, kid," Wash said, glancing over at River who was on her back under the co-pilot's seat, tweaking something under there. "Did you know? That John was gonna die?"

"Yes," River replied.

"Why didn't you try to stop him? You could have saved him from dying."

"John's not dead," River said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "He's lost in the past but he'll be back. She'll go back for him and it will be as if this never happened. We can't forget. We have to remember. It had to be him. Or it would have been you."

Wash looked away. It was a fact he already knew all too well. "He died because of me."

"No," River corrected. "Because Zoe needs to meet her child someday."

Wash stared speechless as River stood up and headed out of the cockpit, leaving him alone with his thoughts. He remembered the talk he and Zoe had had about having a child. Zoe had put her foot down that it would happen someday though Wash had tried to convince that it wasn't the best time to bring a little person into the 'verse.

Wash remained in the cockpit, working hard until he saw Zoe appear in the entry way. She apparently noticed his distant manner.

"Still thinking 'bout Connor?" she asked.

"It would have been me," Wash whispered.

Zoe stared at him sympathetically. "Baby…"

"He died… instead of me." Wash looked up at her. "But I guess being so close to death got me thinking. Do you remember a discussion we had about a certain young person we've not yet met?"

Zoe seemed surprised. "Hmm?"

"I think I'm ready to meet that child, too."

.

Persephone

Serenity

"Sir, we have a green light," Zoe announced as Mal entered the cargo bay. "Inspection's pos and we're cleared for up-thrust."

Mal gave her a brisk nod. They had a long trip to get to Earth-That-Was, after he dropped Inara back off with her girls – if she still wanted to go that was. And he could debate that all the long day but he was almost certain Inara wouldn't want to stay – not with Serenity and not with him.

Zoe was still waiting for an order and Mal finally pulled himself back to the present. "Make sure everything's secure," he said. "Could be bumpy."

Zoe nodded her agreement, striding away, remarking, "Always is."

Mal headed up towards the cockpit, running into Inara along the way. "You ready to get off this heap?" Mal asked her as he passed by, continuing towards the cockpit. "Back to civilized life?"

"I…uh…" Inara hesitated and Mal turned back around, staring at her curiously. Hopefully.

"I don't know," she finished.

Mal smiled. "Good answer."

"But Mal," she continued before he could depart. "If I stay, it has to be for the right reason."

Mal took a few steps closer to her, staring down at her with an intensity he'd rarely used with her. "Stay because…because I…I love you, Inara. I think some part of me always has. I couldn't stand it if you left again."

Inara smiled softly. "Good answer."

.

Serenity

Cockpit

River was sitting in the cockpit, co-flying with Wash. Kaylee and Simon were behind her, holding hands and sharing a special smile, as if they were a normal family.

River had the controls at the moment and Wash had taken advantage of the distraction to play with his dashboard dinosaurs.

"He's got you roped in tight, huh?" Kaylee joked. "All work no play?"

River turned and smiled back at Kaylee, all the while continuing to fly without looking. "I can win anything we play."

Kaylee grinned. "Is that a challenge I hear? Alright, genius, let's do it!"

River looked over at Mal questioningly. "Captain?"

Mal sighed. "Alright, you two have fun." River jumped out of the co-pilot's chair, letting Mal take her place. Mal watched as Kaylee and River started running towards the galley.

"Keep out of trouble, now, you hear?"

Simon shrugged in a "what can you do" manner, turning to follow his sister and girlfriend, the sounds of their laughs echoing up through the cockpit.

.

Earth-That-Was

Zeira Corp Site

2517

Cameron had led Serenity's crew back to the former Zeira Corp where she and John had first mistakenly arrived in this future. There, the entire crew – even a reluctant Jayne – had helped Cameron and Kaylee rebuild the TDE.

It was a long process, but with the whole crew working together – and especially Kaylee's mechanical genius and River's affinity for just about everything – they had completed it quicker than any Cameron had seen built in the future.

"Well, it may not look pretty," Kaylee said with a grin, "but it's runnin'. I hope you find him."

Cameron smiled slightly. "I will."

Kaylee powered up the machine and Cameron stepped forward into the circle. She locked eyes with the Captain. Mal inclined his head at her, smiling ever so slightly as the bubble formed around Cameron.

The room was filled with blinding white light.

.

Connor Residence

LA, California

2009

Cameron stepped into the Connor's house, instantly spotting a very much alive Sarah Connor.

"Tin Miss," Sarah greeted. "Where have you been?"

"If I told you, you still wouldn't know," Cameron replied.

Sarah raised an eyebrow, frowning at the cryptic statement. Derek came in from the kitchen, holding a plate of pancakes.

"Where's John?" Cameron asked.

At that moment, John came downstairs. He met Cameron's gaze but quickly looked away, walking towards the door. Cameron followed him, watching impassively as he opened the door, revealing Riley standing on the porch.

"Hey, John," she said cheerfully. She saw Cameron standing behind him and was quick to greet her too. "Hey, Cameron."

Cameron remained silent, staring at Riley. John sent Cameron a glare and moved out the door. "Let's just go," he said irritably.

Riley shot Cameron a sickly sweet smile and tugged John out the door. Cameron watched from the window as they walked down the sidewalk together. John must have known she'd be watching him, for he sent a quick glare back towards the window before he disappeared down the street.

Cameron followed him with her eyes until he was out of sight, remembering the words he'd spoken as he lay dying inside Serenity's cockpit.

I love you. I've always loved you. Never forget that.

And Cameron smiled.