TITLE: "JOINING THE DOTS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

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

RATING: G.

STATUS: Sequel to "A CONFUSION OF LOYALTIES".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "New friends and old find themselves drawn together.

Badger finds himself dancing on a knife edge but enjoying the view.

Blue Sun and the Alliance try to discover who has upset their plans."

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.

"JOINING THE DOTS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

If the Captain had not been in so much pain he would have laughed, as it was anything that energetic would likely make him pass out. Again. The boy's face was a picture, so stunned that a fleet of Alliance dropships could land and he wouldn't gorram notice. The man at Mal's elbow gently eased him to the ground. The woman hovering but not helping, her attention divided between protecting the Captain and Simon and the people in the warehouse. Odd, as fuzzy-headed as he was, the Captain had assumed the new people must have arranged this.

Simon stared and stared and stared. His mouth flapping open and shut but nothing coming out but air. A flurry of movement and a rush of colours as a figure closed the distance between them and nearly knocked the doctor off his feet.

"Simon! I *knew* you'd come!"

The very real and solid apparition filling his arms brought him to his senses. "River! What the *guai* are you doing here?"

She was laughing, hugging him then pulling back to grin at his shocked expression. "The world is changing, Simon, and we're the prime movers."

Her words shifted a sliver of ice in his veins. River noticed him stiffen