TITLE: "COUNTING CHICKENS"

SERIES: UNFINISHED BUSINESS

CHAPTER: 2. Sequel to "GIFT HORSE"

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash Kaylee/Simon Mal/Inara

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: "The Captain needs to get Serenity

out of sight while they figure out exactly what is

going on and why."

"COUNTING CHICKENS"

A "Firefly" Story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

The Shepherd smiled as he thought about the crew and how much merrier everybody seemed with all the good food they had been eating since picking up the crate a few days ago. The only one still as wary as a cat on a hot tin roof was the Captain and while it was sometimes frustrating how suspicious Mal could be about any unforeseen good fortune that came their way, Book had to admit that the unexpected delivery was more than a mite suspicious. After all, the crate had followed them through the Black for more than six months. That was an expensive and unprecedented thing to happen. Yet they had found no tracking devices, nothing that was set to explode in their faces on opening the crate, but also no note or message identifying who had sent it or why. Watching the Captain from his position up on the catwalk, Book could find no way to untangle the mystery. He was reminded of the ancient saying about not looking a gift horse in the mouth but what if this one was going to bite them? If this was some kind of bait where was the hook and who had loaded it and why?

"Ya look awful serious, Preacher."

"Just thinking, Jayne. I notice you and the Captain have the cargo ready for the drop off on Demeter."

The mercenary grinned, happy because it meant a payday was near. "Yeah, should land in the next hour."

The Preacher raised an eyebrow. "I take it you are already planning what to spend your share on?"

"Gonna scratch an itch that