Wash started walking listening both Bruce's comments and the Mandarin being spoken in his ear. He frowned as he led the way up the stairs to keep Bruce from seeing the majority of the interaction he was having with his surrogate daughter.
"Good to know about Timmy! Bridge is right up hear, follow us!" he through over his shoulder, still considering the seriousness to which Maxine had spoken to him.
A sudden look of knowing dawned on his face.
"He can't help that," he muttered into her ear quickly. "He's a good guy."
He hated talking about Bruce like this. He turned in the middle of the narrow staircase suddenly to face his new friend.
"Bruce!" he announced. Then he pointed to his charge, the long legged blond kid that he kept having to bounce back up to his side.
"She's very smart. I can't explain it! But I think she-um-can see what you aren't right now...but are sometimes and I was wondering if you could...maybe tell her about your...condition. A little? Pleasedon'tdestroymyship!" Wash said with his hand up defensively.
"I really like this ship," he continued quietly. "And you," he said. "And the..." he gestured around, "ship." He nodded then willed himself to be quiet with a finger to his own mouth.