TITLE: "CRY BABY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: RIVER/MAL.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "KEEPING FAITH".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Shepherd Book tries to stabilise the Captain so

he can help Inara. River orchestrates her plan. Meanwhile

Jayne loses himself to his greatest fear."

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.

"CRY BABY"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Shepherd Book looked down at the Captain. Knew that if he delayed it could cost the man his life. He was kneeling beside the prone body, his loyalties stretched, his options choking him like a gorram noose. It was weird how images from the past kept bubbling up in his mind and blurring his vision of the Here and Now. He knew what the Captain would say if he could hear his thoughts. The Captain. Was there ever a more *wangu chunren* in the whole 'verse? Yet he found himself drawn to the man, as he had from that first day on board Serenity. It had made him falter in his resolve knowing he could not afford to become attached to any of them. He had come for River Tam. Not her brother. Not the Companion. Made no difference whether she was guilty or innocent. No other member of Serenity's crew had the hold over him that she did. Even though he had to bolster his mental defences, keep his mind shut tight and sealed around her so the adaptive little genius could not bypass the mental security that kept him sane. One glimpse into his mind and her truth could kill him. Not in the physical sense but worse. Oh yes. Far worse.

He stared down at the man whose life's pulse was throbbing slowly and erratically beneath his thumb and forefinger. Silently he counted off