TITLE: "WALKING WOUNDED"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Zoe. Mal. Wash.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: New. Short standalone story.

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "As the Anniversary approaches the crew of

Serenity begin to plan their unexpected day off not knowing

what it really commemorates."

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.

"WALKING WOUNDED

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Speaking about it out loud would just make the pain visible and that was the last thing she wanted. An open wound that would fester and never heal.

It was that day again. Zoe needed no calandar. No news feed on the cortex to tell her what day it was. They both felt it. As the day approached Mal became more and more withdrawn. His silence an echo of a deeper emptiness that was slowly consuming him. He had always been a quiet man. In the way he moved on his feet, his spoken words, the way his soul whispered as he walked through life as if determined he would leave no footprints behind him. A ghost among the living. Yet he was never so still and silent as on this day when he became a dead man walking. A husk of a once vibrant man weighed down by the grief and losses of the past. The anniversary was not one they celebrated but it was never forgotten. Like a bullet they carried with their names on it. The day they lost the Battle of Serenity. Had been ordered to surrender. The day the dream of freedom had finally died.

Unspoken there was never a conscious decision but whatever they were doing, wherever they were, they would be inextricably drawn to each other. A need. A longing to be together. As if only their proximity to one another could hold the agony a