TITLE: "KITH AND KIN"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "NO CHOICE"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Frank Reynolds has a 'gft' for Mal. The

Captain has a deadline to make. Zoe knows something is

not right but cannot put her finger on it."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"KITH AND KIN"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

He had been reluctant to go inside. It was stupid. Made no kind of sense at all but suddenly he just wanted to stay outside. In the last of the light, head unbowed before a foreign sky. In the open air where the wide open spaces and the wind could find him. Maybe the air wasn't as clean and bracing as on Shadow but it wasn't recycled and the walls did not close in on him. Only the ones around his heart. Memories tormented him with their own harsh shadows. Heart burning to match his flaming skin. The heat flashing through him at odd moments reminding him of his promise. One more step and he would forget it all and no way could he bring that kind of hell down on top of them. Not before and definitely not now.

Zoe was worried about him. Frank Reynolds hugged him tight, rocked him gently. Knew this was hard for him and wished with all his might he could save him from this but it was life. Red in tooth and claw and a million times harder to endure. That's what his boy had done. Endured. Strong as a rock, like his father. But also like his father Mal had his breaking point. Frank's eyes were dry of tears as he held him. All cried out. Remembered how he had carried his brother John on his back for almost three days before he would accept that he was dead