TITLE: "NO LONGER HOME"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "With the Christmas festivities in full swing Mal

and Monty can't help but join in. Tomorrow though is another day."

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.

"NO LONGER HOME"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Becky carefully brushed the matted hair from her bruised and battered face. Her hands shook as she looked in the cracked mirror at the nightmare reflected back at her in mute accusation. She had been a fool. An idiot. Believed lies so divisive and treacherous she had betrayed her brother. Yet he had escaped. Fled she knew not where nor did she want to know. And for a time she had breathed easy.

When at last the manhunt was called off she was foolish enough to believe - no hope - that he had been forgiven. Reprieved. It was only later that she realised they had called off the manhunt because they had found him. Now a new nightmare was beginning and her guilt and sorrow would give her no respite from a knowledge that was blazing its' unholy path through heart, mind and soul. Slowly Becky fell to her knees, the cold uncompromising floor an unnoticed altar beneath her. Such anguish gripping her that she could not move nor rouse herself to play this part any longer. She had done the unforgivable and what was worse, had lived.

* * * * *

If the Captain thought he could steer clear of Zoe he was much mistaken. Every effort to keep a sane distance between them vanished. She was in an implaccable mood, her sights set on cornering him. Wash knew