Set six months after the BDM, with standard pairings: Simon and Kaylee, Mal and Inara angst.

If you haven’t read from the start, I would recommend going back to chapter 1 - http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=19146

Of course - Its Joss’s world and his characters, but I sure enjoy playing with them.

Thanks to Mal4prez for the wonderful beta type advice and thanks to my amazing husband for catching the many typo’s.

Thanks to all the folks who took the time to leave me fluffy comments.

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Chapter 4

Inara sat at the table in Serenity’s dining room surrounded by the rest of the crew, with the exception of River who was leaning against the hatch that led to the bridge. To all outward appearance it seemed as if Inara was calmly drinking tea and listening to the others, but inwardly she knew she was having one of her bad days.

Recent events were catching up to Inara. Her hands gripped the mug that she held so tightly it almost seemed like it would break. She couldn’t let go; if she let go, she would start to shake. Concentrating on the cup, she could control the terror that occasionally overcame her; she did not hear the hundred vicious Reavers coming after her, trying to get through the barricade. Instead, Inara listened to Kaylee and River talking, as they described Kaylee’s conversation with her friend from the work crew.

In the middle of the table lay a half empty plate of pink cookies, now forgotten by most of the crew, as was the holiday River had cooked up to improve the crew’s moral.

It had been a very enjoyable evening. Inara had even felt like laughing. Nevertheless, here they were again, sitting around the table, trying to decide how to handle yet another crisis. It seemed like someone was always after them. Would they never find peace? In her head Inara heard the Reavers start to break through the hatch.

Without warning, Inara felt a bump on her left shoulder; she reacted instinctively, striking out at its owner with her fist, defending herse