Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Maxine. She's mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

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A new story line to recharge my Muse. Set outside my “Allanverse.” Just to see what happens. Set about a year and a half post Serenity. Story line has the standard pairings of Mal/Inara, Simon/Kaylee. Also had River/Jayne. Zoë... we'll you'll have to read it.

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A/N: The plot bunny is still kicking me in the shins...

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New Blood

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Chapter Three

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Zoë's mind slowly switched itself on. She could smell the antiseptic odor of Serenity's infirmary first.

'Guess I'm not dead,' she thought.

With effort, Zoë forced her eyes open. The light hurt and she moaned slightly.

“Zoë? Can you hear me?”

“Doc?” she rasped out.

“Here,” Simon said,holding a straw to her lips. Zoë drank eagerly.

“What happened?” she said after a moment.

“You were shot in the leg. Nicked the artery. You nearly bled to death.”

“Probably explain why my leg hurts so gorram much.”

“Yes, it would,” the doctor agreed with a slight smile. Some of Zoë's sardonic humor was beginning to show.

“How...”

“River and Jayne found you. Jayne carried you back to the ship.”

“Looks like I owe him another bottle of the good stuff.” A slight grin showed on Zoë's face.

“How are you feeling, other than the leg?”

“Kinda woozy.”

“Some of that is the pain meds and the other is blood loss. I had to give you a transfusion.”

“Thought we didn't have blood for me?” Zoë asked after a moment.

“Someone else found you just before Jayne and my sister did. River brought her back to the ship. She happened to be type O and gave you a transfusion.”

“She?”

Simon nodded, “Red head. Her name is Maxine Sharpe.”

“Red? She was following me.”

“She was?”

“Her fault I walked into Badger's trap. Too busy checking my back, I didn't see in front.”

“Way she tells it, she saved your life,” Mal said from the doorway, “How ya feelin, Zoë?”

“Breathing, Sir.”

“Glad to hear it. Doc says you're