TITLE: "PAWNS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: RIVER/MAL.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "DEADLY GAME".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Jayne goes snooping. The Captain finds himself

up to his neck in trouble. Inara's explanation is no explanation

at all. Meanwhile River is seriously beginning to worry her

brother."

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.

"PAWNS"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

There was no man alive lighter on his feet than Jayne Cobb. When he chose to he could pretty much pass unseen with all the fluid grace of a hunter. No tracker worth his salt would do less and he was not just good at what he did. He excelled. After finishing his ablutions he waved off the offer of breakfast saying he was feeling a mite queasy still from over-indulging the night before. Pepper seemed to accept his explanation with ease but Max kept looking across the table at him. The man's preoccupation with him gave the mercenary an idea. First though he needed to scout out the area, check all the points of entry and exit and get the lay of the land fixed in his head with all the detail of a gorram blueprint. Something else was going on here he just knew it and now he had a plan forming in his mind as to how he was going to find out.

"Hey Dizzy!"

Dizzy Doyle looked round at the mercenary with a look of faint surprise. "Yeah?"

Jayne grinned at him. "Think I'd like ya to show me around."

That surprised the man no doubt about it. He gave Pepper a quick look and Pepper smiled back. "Go on. Give me time to get cleaned up my own self."

Max watched them go with a thoughtful look on his face. Pepper noticed. "What's up,