TITLE: "CRUEL AND UNUSUAL"

SERIES: THE DEVIL'S CRADLE

CHAPTER: 54. Sequel to "NOT FUNNY"

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash Kaylee/Simon Mal/Inara

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: "Titan Station gets ready to take action

against the Cold Harbour. The Captain tries to work

out what is really going on while Monty and Zoe set

out on a rescue mission."

"CRUEL AND UNUSUAL"

A "Firefly" Story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

It was like all her Christmases and Birthdays rolled into one. Kaywinnet lee Fry was grinning fit to bust, so full of happy that it was spilling out all over the place. Despite the predicament they were in Wash could not help but grin back. Nobody that lived and breathed could possibly be immune to Kaylee in bliss mode.

"Don't know how ya pulled it off 'nara but you prove miracles DO happen!"

Inara pinked prettily, not a full out and out blush but the more discreet lady-like kind that just added a rose tint to the already flawless perfection of her face. Wash wondered if she was taught how to do that in Companion school then immediately told himself off for even thinking it.

"When I explained our predicament he was only too happy to help, *mei mei*."

Kaylee hummed happily, watching like a mother hen as the two hefty men used a floating pallet to bring the new engine right up to Serenity's engine room. All the more appreciated as Kaylee and Wash had spent well over an hour getting the old engine out using the antiquated low tech lifting gear. Might not be as shiny and top of the line as the floating pallet but it could do things the pallet couldn't, just not very quickly. Right now Kaylee was in her seventh heaven and anxious for the men to lower it gently into the engine housing so she and Wash could get it all linked up and bedded in place. Inara t