TITLE: "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

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

RATING: R. For violence/adult situation.

STATUS: Sequel to "FRIENDS AND OTHER ENEMIES".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Badger and the Captain come to an understanding.

The Hands of Blue investigate what happened to the device while

Paul is hidden and tended through his recovery."

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.

"STRANGE BEDFELLOWS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Badger hated this, hanging on the word of a man he despised even as a faint distant part of him respected the *hundan*. It was that spark of respect he tried to squash, grind into nothing time and again. Then Reynolds would say or do something to reignite that annoying little spark. Would have been easier to accept if the gorram man would wipe the rutting smirk off his lips or the teasing mockery from his mouth. Always looking down at him like he was better than. Well now he wasn't. Sitting up on the infirmary bed only because an army of pillows propped him up should have made Badger feel like the bigger man only it didn't. A sourness turned in his belly, an awkwardness seeped into every pore made worse by having a gorram audience. Even standing back to give him room to speak to the Captain, his mother's presence was like a black cloud looming ready to rain on him if he said or did anything of which she did not approve. He resented it. Almost as much as having to have this conversation in the first place. If the man had any decency he should have slipped into a gorram coma and stayed there. The Captain's lips twitched and Badger's eyes narr