TITLE: "OPEN WOUNDS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "NO LONGER HOME"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Serenity's crew try to come up with a solution

without alienating the Captain. In the end the thing they fear

most has to be faced, none of them realising how much it will

change each and every one of them."

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.

"OPEN WOUNDS"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

"You lost the War," River said gently, a hand trailing down one tear stained cheek. "You don't have to lose the Peace as well."

Words choked him. Emotions too long held in check left him weak. The past rising up like some behemoth, his feet nailed to the gorram deck unable to run away. She gazed deep into his eyes. Saw all the broken pieces littering his soul like debris. Waiting for the wind of change to sweep him clean only she couldn't let him lose the pieces. They were too precious. Even broken it was all that was left of him.

Her soft words fell like a benediction, a wash of forgiveness and understanding that held his future redemption in thrall. Not a promise but an offer. A trade soul for soul, her breath sustaining the fragile beat of his stumbling heart. "Let me be your compass."

He was about to say he didn't need no gorram compass when she vanished. The shock of it woke him up. His heart thundering painfully in his chest until he forced himself to take deep calming breaths and allow the confines of the unfamiliar room to remind him just where he was and what had happened. He lay back with a weary heart-worn sigh as if he had slept not at all. Gorrammit