TITLE: "SOME YOU LOSE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Mal. Jayne. Crew.

RATING: G.

STATUS: Sequel to "SOME YOU WIN"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: None. All Firefly stories archived at Fireflyfans.net

SUMMARY: "The initial success of their rescue mission is marred

by the fact that they can't save everyone and the continued silence

from Zoe, Wash and Book is beginning to make even Kaylee edgy."

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.

"SOME YOU LOSE"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

The end when it came was far less final than Simon Tam expected. The shock of not being corpsified numbed him until gradually it sank in that everyone was still in one piece. He blinked at his sister, his surprise like a man coming slowly out of a trance. "River?"

His sister reacted with laughter, too merry a sound for his current mood. "She fooled you! Thought the ship would break up and kill us."

Simon frowned. Survival was good, cruel tricks were not. "You could have explained, *mei mei*."

Instead of replying River rolled her eyes then turned to face the front once more, drawing Simon's attention to the fact that they could not see anything out of the window. Nothing but white. After the drama of nearly dying it was anticlimatic to realise their landing had been cushioned by a deep drift of snow. He unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up, leaning forward on the console as he tried to peer out, mentally calculating how deep the snow must be and whether or not they would have to find a way to dig themselves out.

"Won't have to dig, Simon. It's melting already."

He raised his eyebrows. "It is?"

"We came in hot even though I managed to slow our descent before landing