TITLE: "LAST BUT NOT LEAST"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13. **SERIES CONCLUSION**

STATUS: SEQUEL to "SACRIFICE"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The Captain tries to adjust to life without Sarah.

Meanwhile his crew spring a surprise on him."

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.

"LAST BUT NOT LEAST"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

He could not believe they were having this conversation. Mal looked at the Companion in disbelief. "Only a Companion could make 'goodbye' sound like an act of compassion."

Inara realised she had already said too much and as often happened in her conversations with the Captain things never turned out quite the way she intended. "Maybe it was."

The Captain shook his head. "Just stay outta my business, *dong ma*?"

"And you'll stay out of mine?"

He reacted to the hard edge beneath the silken words. "Somethin' like that."

"Mal," Inara paused to reassert her composure. "I wasn't lookin' for a fight."

"But we always do seem to find one, don't we?" He replied in a soft pained voice.

Before she could think of a suitable response he was gone. Biting back her frustration Inara took a minute or two to calm down then stepped out of the tack room alongside the Frye's barn and walked towards the house. Her role had been simple. Keep the Captain distracted for half an hour, preferrably an hour. It had ended up being as painful as having teeth extracted - without anaesthetic. The small talk had quickly degenerated into a misplaced attempt to make him feel better after the departure of Sarah. Big mistake. Now he was hurt and angry and she was feeli