Mal was on the bridge after checking on Sadie and rebandaging his newly reopened wound. He lets out a groan and a whince as he sits in the pilot's seat to think.
Mal pushes his lips together for a moment before, after a slight moment of hesitation, he pulls her into a hug. "K now, hue die. Stop cryin'. he says softly.
Mal turns and stands up straight to face the young man. He crosses his arms across his chest. "Son.." he says with a nod of his head in greeting. No hand shakes yet. He was still in "Father" mode. The boy had to prove himself for a handshake.
Those fey brown eyes looked at him, still sparkling slightly from his recent tears. "Never leave nobody behind. You were scared of losing the lady, so you shoved 'er away, but you're not runnin' anymore. Just startin' what my Cap's ending."
Sam made a little motion toward her, as though he wanted to comfort her, but then stood back again watchfully.
And Sam turned away so that this other Cap couldn't see him crying too.
Another sigh.