Title: "Bad Business"

Author: Annie M (trekgirl@blueyonder.co.uk)

Series: Firefly

Rating: R

Codes: Mal, Zoe, Crew

Part: 1/6

Date: June 3rd 2003

Summary: What do you do when you run out of options?

Notes: This is my first attempt at fan fiction in the Firefly universe, so feedback would be much appreciated.

I owe a huge thanks to HawkMoth and Maystone for proofing this puppy and to LJC for some of the translations.

The Pinyin translations used can be found at the end of this story.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. No infringement intended to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, or 20th Century Fox TV. (c) Annie M, 3rd June 2003.

This story also available on my webiste: http://www.mushy.freeserve.co.uk/anniesweb/ffly/tour.htm

~~/\~/\~~

The white-on-white glare of Persephone's daylight illuminated Serenity's cockpit like a mini explosion of suns.

Zoe sat in Wash's lap, her arms around him while she playfully nuzzled his neck and they swayed lazily together in the pilot's chair.

They had a little time to kill before Inara was due to have completed her docket and the captain and Jayne returned with the details of their latest job.

Wash's comfortable and familiar body was as a mite more appealing to Zoe than checking on what the others were up to while she'd been left in charge. No doubt Shepherd Book was keeping a watchful eye on River while Kaylee was probably trying to charm Simon into watching her work on the engines or some such.

Zoe lifted her head, giving Wash the opportunity to kiss his way along her throat and around the faithful leather that encircled her neck. Didn't matter where they were or how many times they'd been together, Wash's touches always sent little ripples of pleasure shooting up her spine, making her toes curl in reciprocation.

"You know," Wash murmured against her throat, "we'll need to make a fuel stop soon. We've only got enough to get us through to the end of the week."

"Oh, it'll be shiny," Zoe murmured, pulling her fin