TITLE: "EQUILIBRIUM"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

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

RATING: G.

STATUS: Sequel to "ACCEPTABLE LOSSES".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The Captain wakes, Simon stabilises Badger and

Mistress Barbette is not the only one making a confession. Elsewhere an

influential figure is not happy."

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.

"EQUILLIBRIUM"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

He had to be dreaming. Really. Never had Inara looked at him like that in real life. Mal blinked slowly, only one eye operating on full automatic, the other a sluggish copy with blurry vision. Why was that? Oh. Yeah. He'd gotten beaten up. Again.

"*Ta xingle ma*?"

A blinding light hit the back of his eyes making him flinch so hard it hurt. The good eye and bad screwing shut a lot quicker than they had propped themselves open. A hand patted his shoulder but different kinds of pain were at war with his common sense. Never a good mix.

"Yes, he's awake, or rather - he was."

Inara shot Simon a look of frustration. "Was?"

The doctor shrugged. He had tried several times to caution her not to get her hopes up. It might be hours before the Captain woke again. "Between the drugs and his injuries I expect him to be surfacing for brief moments of consciousness but it's likely to be another couple of days before he'll be ready to sit up and have a conversation."

"Wo bu zhidao*, it's just..."

When the Companion trailed off and didn't continue Simon waited a moment before prompting her. "*Shenme*?"

"We nearly lost him, didn't we?"

Her voice, so soft, quiet and small, almost