TITLE: "COLLATERAL DAMAGE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: None.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: Sequel to "BIG DAMN RESCUE".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Hardy and Davy have a painful decision to

make. Meanwhile Lincoln James Petrie finds the tables

turned on himself."

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.

"COLLATERAL DAMAGE"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

He was getting weaker. Much as he tried to hide it, he was slowing them down. Hardy tried to gulp down more air than his flagging lungs could hold. It set off a bout of coughing that made his friend Davy pause. "We should rest."

Hardy shook his head, he could already feel shock setting in. "No, we need to split up."

Davy's eyes widened in alarm. "If you think I'm leavin' you, you're *cuode*."

"Davy." Hardy paused as his air ran out. Why were his lungs so gorram painful? "You stay with me you're gonna get caught, *dong ma*? Best we split up, double the chances one of us'll escape."

There were tears in Davy's eyes. "You can't ask me to do that."

"I can an' will. It ain't what either of us want but it's the only choice we got. Now go! I saw a cave off to the left a half mile back, you carry on an' find somewhere to hide up but make it good. Cover your tracks, *dong ma*?"

"Hardy..."

"Go! The more you argue the less chance we'll have. Just find somewhere to hole up, I'll do the same. Stay hidden a day, maybe too. We'll wait 'em out."

Davy gave a slow sorrowful nod, knowing he was not so much agreeing with his friend as saying goodbye. "You got enough shells?"

"Yeah, you?"

His friend nodded then without any fur