TITLE: "COME WHAT MAY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

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

RATING: G.

STATUS: Sequel to "DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Mistress Barbette and Zoe talk, the Captain continues

to improve and Inara cannot wait any longer. Meanwhile other forces

are gathering, not all of them benign."

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.

"COME WHAT MAY"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Wash smiled up at his wife then glanced down at the sleeping Captain. Quietly Simon checked the monitors. Zoe didn't notice that Inara had followed them into the infirmary. Wash stood up as if to leave. Zoe's hand upon his shoulder startled a look of query upon his open face.

"*Tinglui*." Zoe looked across the bed at Simon. "Best wake the Cap'n."

A look of alarm flickered over Wash's face. "*Bao bei*, what's goin' on?"

"*Yiwusuoyou*, just need to speak to the Cap'n is all."

Inara wanted to say something but kept silent, knowing she was still on probation for her earlier actions and not wanting to do or say anything to draw their attention and be made to leave. Right now, being invisible was the best she could hope for.

Simon didn't use drugs to wake him, just a hand on his shoulder. Shaking gently but with insistence. It took a few shakes, each one a little harder than the last, before the Captain started to stir. With a soft moan his eyelids fluttered. Zoe leant over the bed and watched as he forced his eyes open and blinked blankly up at her. It took a moment or too for the sleepy drag on his mind and body to clear. "Zoe? That you?"

She smiled, a small ra