TITLE: "HOPES AND PRAYERS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Kaylee/Simon. Mal/Inara

RATING: G.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "DETAILS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The rescue appears to go without a hitch but

Serenity's crew is never that lucky."

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.

"HOPES AND PRAYERS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Wash could not believe his eyes or their luck. "*Wode ma*, this is *yichang zainan*!"

The Companion stared, blinking slowly. "*Zhe shi xingshi geng fuza le*."

Wash shot her a look of disbelief and exasperation. "You think so?" When Inara just stared at him, Wash changed tack. They had to push themselves beyond the mind numbing shock and think of a way out of this pile of *goushi* quickly or none of them would make it out of this area of space alive.

"We have to warn the others, Wash."

The pilot looked as if he had swallowed a mouthful of poison. Hating what he had to do even as he shook his head. "Can't. Radio silence."

Inara stared at him in horror and disbelief. "But we have to..."

He cut off what she was going to say, a mite calmer now that he knew just how screwed they were. This was not about pulling off the rescue of the century any more but damage limitation. Survival. "We have to shut down, Inara. Run silent. No lights, no turnin' of the engine."

"Wash, if we can see them..." She couldn't finish the sentence.

"*Wo zhidao*, they can see us. With or without core containment you can bet the Reavers on that ship know we're here."

* * * * *

Only when Jayne and Book had carried the Captain to the shuttle did Simon put the rest of the plan into