TITLE: "THE WORLD BETWEEN"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: RIVER/MAL.

RATING: NC-17.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "GRAVITY".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Simon pulls out all the stops to stabilise the Captain's condition but has the sinking feeling that it is not enough. River refuses to leave him and the Shepherd plays

his trump card."

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.

"THE WORLD BETWEEN"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Simon was gentle. His movements tentative, tone quiet and reassuring. "River. You need to rest."

She sat next to the Captain's bed in the infirmary, her eyes gazing like distant orbs as yet another donor settled on the other side and was hooked up to the Captain. There seemed to be an unending procession of them, each quietly taking the place of the one before. All bound by the same sense of urgency. The same need to do something to help. Each one a very visible lifeline. On an emotional level it touched her but her concern was so deep and pervasive that her mind and soul could know no calm, no relief, until the Captain was out of danger. She did not sense any certainty in her brother's sharp and orderly mind. It made her retreat deeper into herself, more determined than ever not to leave Mal for a second.

"River..."

"She hears, she comprehends, but cannot comply."

He blinked. The man now in the chair on the opposite side of the Captain's bed, Lenny Goss, looked a bit uncomfortable watching the odd parade of expressions flicker across the crazy girl's face like an old movie reel from Earth-that-was. Simon placed a short fat bar in his right hand, the line attached to a needle in the crook of his right ar