TITLE: COMPETING FORCES"

SERIES: THE DEVIL'S CRADLE

CHAPTER: 40. Sequel to "DOING RIGHT"

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash Kaylee/Simon Mal/Inara

RATING: PC-13

SUMMARY: Jerrod decides to come clean with Mal.

The news finally reaches the Alliance about the loss of

Urquart, his ship and crew. Meanwhile River is torn

between unbearable excitement and absolute terror

the nearer they get to Lilac."

"COMPETING FORCES"

A "Firefly" Story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Not nobody nowhere could resist Kaylee Frye. The girl had a bigger output of heat and warmth than any sun in the 'verse and now she was shining that radiant charm, with all her innocent glory, at Jerrod Perkins. The man didn't know what to do or say but felt drawn to the sunny girl, a smile on his lips he could not fight when he met her gaily laughing eyes. How in the wide 'verse had a stubborn cuss like Malcolm Reynolds aligned himself with his own personal piece of the gorram sun? She looked too young to be away from home and too happy to be flitting around the black in this old rust bucket of a Firefly and yet he had to admit the craft was a sturdy beast and like to surprise you with unexpected turns of speed.

"Hear you an' your crew're gettin' off on Lilac."

He felt a twinge of guilt but the girl looked guileless. "We lost everythin' on Anaeron."

Kaylee nodded, her smile faltering with sadness and regret and Jerrod felt bad for dimming that sunny aspect. "*Wode duibuqi*. Ya know ya could maybe find a place for yourselves here if ya got nothin' on Lilac. Not permanent of 'course, barely make enough to keep ship an' crew flyin' so not much to spare, *dong ma*?"

Perkins nodded, he understood and was oddly touched to know he could find a place here on Serenity until he and his men cou