TITLE: "TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT"

CHAPTER: 45. Sequel to "THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE CRIMINALLY INSANE"

SERIES: HANDFUL OF STARS Series

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Simon/Kaylee Mal/Inara

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: "With the Captain finally on the mend

everything is beginning to return to what passes for normal."

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.

"TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT"

A "Firefly" Story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

It was kind'a wierd how his world had gone all gorram echo-y, like he was in some metal box buried deep. The dark was oddly comforting, it being something he had experienced too many times to not find familiar but it was the sounds that were unsettling. That and the occasional spikes of pain rousing him from that quiet dark place that had been cradling him. Was he dead? If so how come there were no glowy folk or that big ruttin' fire waitin' for him? Shouldn't his mama be there to meet him? Again with the oddly warped noise and a sharp sudden intrusion of pain. If his eyes had been open he would'a closed them. 'Course, in the dark could be they already were, he had no way of knowing.

A tide of weariness carried him on its' ebb and flow and seconds later he knew no more.

Above the operating table Simon Tam worked with great care, his evident skill enabling him to cut no deeper or wider than absolutely necessary. River stood close by, handing him his surgical instruments seconds before he could ask for them. It was automatic, intuitive and creepy as hell for Jayne watching bug-eyed from the corner. Gorramit, Mal looked more dead than alive. Thought Simon was supposed to fix him? But he didn't utter a word, nor did he take his eyes off the activity, as if to look aside was to let that fragile life slip away even though Simon ha