And him? That's the million dollar question, isn't it. The one whose answer should be pretty obvious at this point.

"I thought I could handle it," is the quiet truth. "I don't think I really understood how bad everything is until I started talking to people, and I..." He shakes his head. "I'm not as bad off as they are." Which doesn't mean he's okay, but Chief's smart. He'll figure it out, even if Wash can't quite manage the words.