TITLE: "WILES"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Kaylee/Simon. Mal/Inara

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "SERENDIPITY"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Recovering from his bout in the Alliance prison Mal finds out it is not all plain sailing at home."

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.

"WILES"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

It was days later. Fourteen hours out from Persephone. Captain Malcolm Reynolds was sitting in the co-pilot chair, his bruised and battered face showing signs of healing as well as the road travelled to get there. Wash was glad to have him back. Hadn't liked the worry and strain on his Zoe, nor the way the crew didn't seem able to function properly without him. Not that he would say as much but somewhere along the way between jealous husband and wary pilot the man had become a friend. Sometimes a grouchy pain in the *pigu* and stubborn sumbitch but a friend nontheless. Now here he was finding himself in the odd role of father-confessor. He squinted sideways at his Captain, glad that no one else was on the bridge right now.

"You sure you don't wanna talk to the Shepherd? No trouble to just call Book..."

The alarm on the Captain's face stopped Wash before his hand touched the com. "No, no. Ain't somethin' to bring up with the Almighty even if'n I was one to still believe in him."

Wash blinked slowly but held his peace. For a man that had supposedly stopped believing in God, Mal mentioned Him an awful lot. Could be there were more than a few unresolved issues there. Wash had a sudden flash in his mind of Mal as an altar boy, a white smock and innocent butter-wouldn't-melt-in-his-mouth look