TITLE: "DAMAGE CONTROL"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: None.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: Sequel to "PICKING UP THE PIECES".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "As things start to settle down River has

words with Book and Jayne becomes a Big Damn Hero."

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.

"DAMAGE CONTROL"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Waking was something of an oddity considering he hadn't rutting closed his eyes. Painkillers, Simon had said. Simon. Malcolm Reynolds blinked slowly, his eyes feeling all manner of dry and disused. Huh. What the good gorram? The infirmary was empty but at least the horrible sea saw inside his brain pan had gone along with the double vision and violent flashing headaches. So where was his shiny doctor? And why did everything that had been feeling so right suddenly feel so wrong?

The noise was small, almost furtive if he was any judge. In the uncanny silence it set off every alarm he had, the hair on the back of his neck rising. It minded him of a quote he had once heard River use, 'by the pricking of my thumbs something evil this way comes'. He wanted to shake the memory out of his mind, didn't need no fanciful imaginings to distract him from keeping things straight in his head only he couldn't seem to stop the sense of wrongness getting stronger. Wasn't gonna panic. Next he'd be jumping at gorram shadows then where would he be?

* * * * *

Monty was grateful but really all he wanted was to board his ship and shake the dust of Cheverell off his boots. Hopefully forever. Old Man Ellis had a way of being insistent without raising his voice.

"Don't mean to b