TITLE: "LOST AND FOUND"

SERIES: THE DEVIL'S CRADLE

CHAPTER: 37. Sequel to "NOT QUITE SMOOTH"

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash Kaylee/Simon Mal/Inara

RATING: NC-17

SUMMARY: "Suzie and Davie are stuck with the

dilemna of whether they can trust Lucy. Serenity

goes to Persephone to deliver the cargo, and Badger

finds himself facing some unexpected consequences."

"LOST AND FOUND"

A "Firefly" Story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

'Is she dead?'

It was a testament to Davie's fear that he automatically switched to non verbal communication. Suzie knelt beside Lucy's inert body, her hands fluttering uncertainly towards her wrist then the side of her neck looking for a pulse. For a few seconds she did not speak, then Davie saw her visibly relax. 'She's alive. Must have fainted."

Although relieved Davie did not look completely convinced.

'*Shenme shi*?'

'*Wo bu zhidao* but I think somethin's wrong.'

'*Cuode*?'

Davie looked at Suzie, drawn by the surprise in her voice. '*Qu*. I can't explain it, she just looks...ill'

Suzie gave the fallen girl a closer look, noticing how pale she was, her clothes hanging off her as if she had lost a lot of weight recently then it hit her. If Lucy's story was true she must have spent most of her time running and hiding, rarely able to forage for food. Too afraid to draw attention not only from the Hunter but also the Alliance. It was well known that the Alliance had spies everywhere and where they did not have spies they had sympathisers. Normally you could spot them a mile off but some were clever, wore the veneer of folk born free who wanted to stay that way, while all the time gathering information and reporting everything they saw and heard back to people higher up the food chain. Suzie risked a glance aro