TITLE: "PERCEPTIONS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: G.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "A DEVIL LESS BENIGN"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The Captain and crew have trouble getting back

to the surface. Jayne returns to Serenity and gets more than

a little spooked."

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.

"PERCEPTIONS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Jayne's head was aching by the time he was most of the way across the grassland and approaching the place where they had landed. Feeling weary but determined he plodded on, only realising there was no sign of the Alliance ship when Serenity herself came into view. Puzzled, Jayne stopped and stared at the Firefly. He had never understood the Captain or Kaylee's love for the scruffy transport ship until now. Seeing her sitting there all dusty and travel stained, familiar and solid, made him feel warm and happy inside. He no longer saw a *lese* scruffy vessel too ungainly to imagine in flight. Rather he saw the embodiment of Home. A place he had learned to love and respect, a ship he craved to carry him across the Black. Not that he would admit as much to anyone living.

Cautious and wary, the mercenary approached slowly. Just because the ship looked deserted didn't mean it was. Who knew what the gorram Alliance had done while they had been crawling all over her? For all he knew there could be a contingent of purplebellies - or worse still bloodsuckers - hiding and lying in wait for him to stick his fool head through the door. Or maybehaps they really had gone but left a parting gift, the ship rigged to blow up once anyone stepped inside her. Jayne wanted