TITLE: "RUNNING THE GAUNTLET"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash. Kaylee/Simon. Mal/Inara.

RATING: G.

STATUS: Sequel to "OUTSIDE INFLUENCES".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Simon manages to stablise the Captain. Inara

makes a discovery about Badger's parentage. Wash informs the

crew that they have a ship on a fast intercept course and nowhere

to go."

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.

"RUNNING THE GAUNTLET"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Simon threw everyone out of the infirmary except Zoe. He needed someone who could remain calm and functioning, someone capable of the cold detatchment necessary to help him. Zoe watched as he placed the pads on the Captain's chest, her heart in her mouth, lips a grim line of not-happy but her tongue silent. The first shock lifted the Captain's torso off the bed but the tone did not alter. Simon keyed in a higher setting then tried again. It took four attempts before the flat line peaked, Zoe feeling as if she had taken the same journey as her Captain.

Then things got hectic for a few minutes while she helped Simon stablise her friend, anxious eyes raking over the Captain's body looking for any sign that he might crash again. Fortunately they had got to him in time. Only once Simon was sure the Captain really was stable did they pause and look at each other.

"What happened, Simon?"

He swallowed slowly, trying to find a way to relate what had happened without unleashing the terrible fury he knew the first mate was capable of. She had never aimed it at him but there could always be a first time and the crew had been under too much tension an