TITLE: "THE FOREST FOR THE TREES"

CHAPTER: 39. Sequel to "OTHER ANGELS"

SERIES: HANDFUL OF STARS Series

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Simon/Kaylee Mal/Inara

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: "Zoe and Mal are out of the hands of

Blue Sun but they aren't out of danger yet. River tries

to explain but ends up confusing and alarming her

friends. Meanwhile Brooks is working on a way out

of his confinement."

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 FOREST FOR THE TREES"

A "Firefly" Story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

His skin was crawling as if eyes were all over it. Eyes with creepy spikey claws. The sensation faded as he grew more cognisant. For a long time he did nothing, tried to keep his breathing as even as possible. He could not sense anyone around him but that didn't mean anything. If River Tam was in the vicinity he could not afford to give away the fact that he was awake. Brooks did not know how long he kept the ploy up. He could hear the hum and steady beep of the monitoring equipment but it did not sound as if the doctor was there. What about his sister? Carefully he tried to stretch his senses. Nothing. Did that mean he was finally alone or that she was still blocking him? And what about the big ape, Jayne? Where was he?

* * * * *

Getting out was easy, it was doing so without being observed still less tagged. He removed the white coat and used the spare net carefully hidden in the pocket, the tech sparkling briefly as the current flickered and connected in a broad wave as he adjusted it. Anyone watching would have just seen a tiny flicker on the screen and not thought anything of it. Now that he and his burden had a net each things were both simpler and more complicated. He paused in the corridor down from the room he had