"No," he said with a small nod. "And I don't want to inflict the pain of losing me on anyone and hide away from them... just because I am afraid."

Because he couldn't be ruled by fear, he knew. Having to live constantly paranoid of the Alliance finding him and River back home was hard enough- being wary of an unfamiliar face, not ever feeling comfortable stepping off the ship, not knowing who to trust because a kind face could easily turn out to be a traitor.

"Living afraid of everyone is no way to be."