TITLE: "SUSPICIONS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing

RATING: PG-13

STATUS: SEQUEL to "BROTHERS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "River plans the evacuation then gets a shock.

Meanwhile Inara convinces Simon to turn detective. Mal is

in a tight spot but Chung-li is determined to change the odds."

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.

"SUSPICIONS"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Inara Serra stared without seeing. Silent for so long that Simon was getting anxious about her. It had taken him hours to go through all the tests in order to find out the true cause of death. The fact that Thomas McCardy had so many ills did nothing to assist his medical detection. In the end it wasn't a poison or anything invasive that had killed him. "Are... are you alright, Inara?"

It took her forever to bring her focus back on the only other living and breathing occupant in the room. The brightly lit, state of the art surgery was as cold and impersonal as any tomb. Forcing back the temptation to throw up she managed to give a slow nod. Simon had a thousand questions but sensed now was not the time to ask them. The Companion looked in shock and that seemed fitting given what she had asked him to do. After several long minutes that stretched like hours she blinked at him like a diver forcing herself to come to the surface slowly to avoid the bends. Her breathing slowing down to something approaching normal as she spoke. "An overdose?"

Simon nodded. "*Qu*. I wouldn't have found it had you not been so insistent. After everything else had been ruled out by means of foul play I then did a critical reassessment. Tissu