TITLE: "FAMILY VALUES"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Simon/Kaylee.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: Sequel to "NO GOOD DEED".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "As Serenity nears Carousel, Captain and crew

settle down for their meal but not everyone seems at ease."

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.

"FAMILY VALUES"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

The dust bowl looked nothing and everything like it had when she had first seen it. Only now the scouring sands lifted and patinated their gritty faces against walls made near invisible by being painted in the same muted shades of white and dusty yellow. The structures were sound, solid. Made of stone cut out of the little low mountain range to the North side of White Sands and cemented together into houses, out buildings and storage sheds. The last coat of paint was thick with the sand, slapped on the walls and covering even the roof tops and left to set and dry in the unremitting heat. Overall effect was the best gorram camoflage she had ever seen. The old woman turned her head and spit a plug of tobacco on to the ground then automatically covered it with the edge of her boot, not even needing to see where it had fallen to know it broke the uniform nothing she had worked so hard to achieve.

Her foreman didn't interrupt, just came and stood a respectful distance from her. He knew she was aware of him and waiting had never been an issue he could not surmount. The pay wasn't good, the living conditions neither, but she took in all his kinfolk as well. Gave them roofs over their heads and coin for food and necessities that at least kept body and soul together. Didn't ha