TITLE: "THIS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Mal/OC.

RATING: NC-17.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "WHY NOT?"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Mal is having trouble remaining conscious on

the journey to the Argent Penal Colony."

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.

"THIS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Mal drifted in and out of consciousness throughout the long journey to the Argent Penal Colony. Waking was a broad miasma of pain and bright relfections, his sight blurring and bouncing off the shiny chrome surfaces that assaulted eyes too swollen to open fully. It was all he needed to see to know he was on a rutting Alliance vessel. *Goushi*. He tried to remember how it had all gone south so quickly. Closing the narrow slit of his eyes was a blessed relief, the effort of opening them having exhausted him. Then he felt hands on him. Not the rough drag of hard fingers and still harder fists. This was stealthy and that stirred a part of his back brain that never slept.

"What'cha doin'?" He mumbled, voice low and rusty from lack of lubrication.

The hands slowed but did not stop. He must have drifted off again because the next thing he knew he could feel a slow slide of contact drawn across bare flesh. Skin on skin. It sparked off a whole army of little pains as all his cuts and bruises joined hands to have a party at his expense, only the hands weren't added to the tally. They were oddly soothing not yet erotic but near enough to key him in to their owner's intent. Mal realised he was naked. A groan squeezed out of his swollen lips. He had to stop this. Whatever *this* was. Then something wet slid warm and teasing down his