TITLE: "THE ROAD TO RECOVERY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: RIVER/MAL.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "COMING HOME".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "With physical wounds well on the mend the

Shepherd contemplates a confession that if made will rock

their new found tranquility. Inara Serra lets the 'verse make

her decision for her."

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 ROAD TO RECOVERY"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Shepherd Book had noticed from the outset that the Captain seemed to understand more of River's crazy talk than even her own brother. He had not thought too much about it at the time. His focus necessarily being on the girl. Now he found himself thoughtfully reviewing the deceptively simple moral rectitude of one Malcolm Reynolds and some surprising correlations hit him with all the impact of Divine Revelation. "Oh my."

The truth when it sunk in practically knocked the breath out of him and that had not happened in a long, long time. Like all good conjuring tricks it had been hidden in plain sight. Book also now realised why he had been so fascinated by the Captain from the moment they had first met. As if some instinct were guiding him. He had fallen so far. He recalled the Captain telling him not to make him his mission and he hadn't. He had found the girl but not for reasons any of them would suspect. He thought of the warrior poet Shan Yu and calmly considered whether it was time to reveal himself to Mal. Let him meet the real man.

* * * * *

Three weeks. Three long tension building weeks of sailing in the Black, steering clear of any planets with even the merest hint of an Allian