TITLE: "A DEVIL LESS BENIGN"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: G.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "INSTINCT"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://unilelu.net/Alison/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Shepherd Book's explanation leaves the others

feeling more tense not less. Meanwhile things begin to unfold

that none of them could have predicted."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"A DEVIL LESS BENIGN"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Jayne thought he was dead, should have been dead, only he didn't imagine it would hurt this much. No. Pain of this magnitude was surely reserved only for the living. That being the case... Carefully and with great effort the mercenary managed to partly open his eyes. It was just a slit but enough to blow his former thoughts into itty bitty fragments. What the good gorram was this? Everything was white. Not just - white - but dazzlingly, unrelieved, wall to wall, ceiling to floor WHITE. Even that slight movement drained him, his eyelids sliding closed again like metal shutters. Almost he imagined them locking in place. Inwardly stunned he lay on the verge of consciousness, memory betraying every feeling and sensation from that last battle. Battle? Was that what it was? The effort to remember tipped the scales and the unremitting white faded to black, his body shutting down along with his mind. All Jayne Cobb felt was an incredible sense of relief then even that vanished.

* * * * *

Everyone was staring at the object in Shepherd Book's palm. The Captain now on his feet but not looking particularly steady, the panther anxious and sticking close to his side. Simon stared at the scorpion then looked at Kaylee. "Do y