TITLE: "SERENDIPITY

SERIES: THE DICHOTOMY SERIES

CHAPTER: 5. Sequel to "BABY STEPS"

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

PAIRING: Zoe/Tracy

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: "Malcolm Reynolds has a

plan but not nothing goes the way he

expects it to."

"SERENDIPITY"

A "Firefly" Story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

He was weary, his long lanky frame too lean to be healthy but still strong enough to carry him. It had been a stupid idea but seeing that compound had made him feel that here at least he could hide out for a while, lost among all the clutter in the boatyard. Climbing over the locked gate had been child's play but Jayne had not realised that he had been followed. Or, as he later discovered, hunted. The shot from the sniper's rifle had scared him good and proper but it was one of the folk inside the compound who paid the price, not him. He should have been relieved, instead he felt all manner of guilty. Shouldn't have come here but now he was stuck, at least for the night. Place all locked up and someone looking to get him in their gorram crosshairs. Best to stay put and hide.

* * * * *

The hotel was more hostel than a genteel place to stay. Everything was rough and ready, the rooms the old Lady had hired were spotlessly clean but lacked any refinement. Her carer cast a sharp eye over the place, noted the connecting door from one room to the other. Naturally she had the small bedroom next to this large plain but well appointed one. Looking out of the window she had a good view of the Southern end of the long linear town which wound and stumbled its' way along the banks of the wide muddy river below. They weren't too close though. Her employer wasn't one to get her feet wet even if she had someone paid to dry them afterwards.

"Girl, stop gawkin' out that gorram window an' run me a bath