TITLE: "WHAT WAS LOST"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "RECOVERY".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "River tries to help the Captain but just

succeeds in confusing him. Inara takes on a new client

and the crew of Serenity have the offer of a lucrative job."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and "Firefly"

are the gift and property of Joss Whedon. No infringement

of copyright is intended.

"WHAT WAS LOST"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

They were going to Boros. Inara had business there and Mal had heard of a job going. Details were sketchy but then the whole 'verse was like a patchy line drawing not fully inked in. Some bits had pretty much no colour. Others blazed with it like the neon lights of some casino seducing the unwary to part with their money on the rigged tables for the illusive promise of sating their greed. Easy money. Or so they thought. Huh. It was early. He was first to rise. Probably because he slept in snatches. Couldn't remember the last time he had gone right through the night unless you counted the four days Simon had drugged him. He was still more than a little vexed about that though another part of him acknowledged the boy had saved his life. It had been his longest period of sleep in years. Least. Since the war. The war. *Wu de ma*. Why couldn't he leave that cross behind him? Was he destined to spend eternity with the gorram thing strapped to his back? He poured himself a coffee. It was hot, black and bitter but it sharpened the senses dulled by weariness. His wound had pretty much healed. Hardly hurt at all unless he moved too quickly from a moment of stillness.

He took his seat at the empty table and thought about Inara. Hated that she whored herself