TITLE: "GIVE AND TAKE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13

STATUS: SEQUEL to "TOP THREE PER CENT"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The Captain learns something painful about

the past. Niska just learns something painful."

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.

"GIVE AND TAKE"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

She could not believe it was happening. That after everything she had been through it had come down to this. The pain was indescribable. Searing, sharp, invasive. A total breaking down of her self control from the inside out yet she didn't cry. It was too late for tears. Too late for any gorram thing to touch her beyond regret. In looking for revenge she had awakened the kind of monster that should have been left sleeping.

The last thing to cross Becky Trent's mind was that whatever armaggedon she may have triggered at least she would not be around to reap the whirlwind. But as darkness closed over her and bound her in its' deep formless chains it was just one more thing she would be proved wrong about.

* * * * *

His head was clearing fast now. The sharp antiseptic tang of the infirmary grounded him in the where but his head was still arguing with the nightmares over the when. "Simon?"

Simon Tam stepped away from his instruments and stood next to the infirmary bed. He had already released Johnny Carr with a clean bill of health. Frank Reynolds still had a little further to go before he would fully recover. Right now he was sleeping again after rousing for a few lucid hours in which the doctor explained the pathology of the infection. It seemed he would now have to d