TITLE: "MEMORY LANE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Kaylee/Simon. Mal/Inara.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: Sequel to "THE WAR WITHIN".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "River tries to breach Brooks' defences. Mal and

Zoe end up in deep trouble while Marcus has to break the news

to Monty."

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.

"MEMORY LANE"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Dizzy. Was that even possible when there was no up, no down, no side to side? Was he alive in the true sense or was this the deepest pit of *diyu*? Nothing he had learnt in his long and varied life prepared him for what he was now experiencing. Or, maybe, he was not experiencing this but having a nightmare? All the introspection was tiring him out and that was another oddness. A prick of memory trying to filter through what was left of his brain yet confounded by who knew what. Had he been injured, brain damaged? As confusion muddied his train of thought everything began to fade, his mind seemingly closing down without any instruction from himself. It should have alarmed him, been creepy and scary but the relief of not having to puzzle it out won over that of self preservation. Had he been able to think clearly that knowledge would have alarmed him most of all.

* * * * *

"River, you should rest *mei mei*."

Simon was worried about his sister. She had not stirred from Book's bedside for hours now, not even tempted by Kaylee's promise of a shiny treat. Simon knew Kaylee intended to share the last of her precious strawberry cache with River and if he knew it was more than likely his sister had already plucked the information o