TITLE: "THE WAR WITHIN"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Kaylee/Simon. Mal/Inara.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: Sequel to "OUT OF SIGHT".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Brooks has to readjust to things not going

all his way. Nelson manages to surprise Mal and Zoe,

meanwhile Commander Rigden is not a happy man."

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.

"THE WAR WITHIN"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Derrial Matthew Brooks hated this. The feeling of helplessness growing like a canker, an insidious desease not of the body but of the mind. Of all the things he had ever imagined happening being trapped in his own mind was not one of them. The infirmary was quiet but he was not alone. Unable to turn his head or open his eyes he homed in on his other senses. Detected the occasional movements of Simon Tam. Reached with his mind but could not detect Simon's sister. What had they done to him and was it permanent? No. Whatever else their *baichi* Captain was, that level of cruelty was not Malcolm Reynolds' style. If a man like him could be said to have any style. If Reynolds had wanted him dead he would just kill him not subject him to this, this kind of living death. So either this condition was temporary or something had gone wrong,

It took an effort of will to overcome his momentary sense of panic at the notion of being trapped. Slowly he forced himself to calm down, no sense in letting the good doctor know the man they knew as Book was awake. Only he wasn't. Not exactly. Brooks inwardly grinned, getting a vicarious satisfaction out of knowing he was not the only one imprisoned. Book might be his current a