TITLE: "HELL HATH NO FURY"

SERIES: UNFINISHED BUSINESS

CHAPTER: 3. Sequel to "COUNTING CHICKENS"

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

PAIRING: Zoe/Wash Kaylee/Simon Mal/Inara

RATING: PG-13

SUMMARY: "Even in the crazy world of Malcolm

Reynolds some enemies can never be anticipated."

"HELL HATH NO FURY"

A "Firefly" Story written by

Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

"What d'ya mean she's driftin'?"

"Not movin', *laoban*." Chung Li paused as if reluctant to go on. "Ship listin', *dong ma*?"

Rafe Connor felt his heart in his mouth. No, no, no - this could not be happening. "*Weishenme*?"

"Looks like it took damage."

"Need your exact location, *pengyou*. Maybe they got hit by asteroids or somesuch."

The Chinaman did not correct his boss and long time friend but gave the necessary co-ordinates. Rafe did not tell him not to enter the Firefly until he got there. Some things did not need spelling out. Both men were hoping for the best while mentally preparing for the worst.

* * * * *

The cell was small and Mal guessed it was also soundproof. Why would the Tamarind need a room like this? It was not a typical holding cell. He would have stretched out a hand to touch one of the walls but his handcuffs had been attached to a metal post in the middle of the room. No table, no chairs. It felt eerily like a torture chamber but without the blood splattered walls. Or maybehaps he was supposed to supply those. The only vaguely reassuring thing was that there was no drainage hole in the middle of the floor so why the post?

He did not hear anyone approaching and felt a jolt of apprehension go through him when the heavy metal door was unlocked. As it swung open he could see how thick it was, more like the kind you would find on a gorram vault. What