TITLE: "RECOVERY"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Simon. Mal. Inara. Book.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "REPERCUSSIONS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Simon checks on Inara, Book jumps to the

wrong conclusion and River makes a disturbing offer."

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.

"RECOVERY"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Shepherd Book watched and listened in silence as slowly Inara Serra came to her senses. She refused to go with Simon to the infirmary but compromised by letting him examine her in the privacy of her shuttle. Book stepped out onto the walkway and stood there in thought for some time, his anger slowly building and boiling up inside him though little of it showed on his face. He knew the Captain could be a rough undisciplined kind of fellow but had never thought he would stoop this low. The man's opinion of Inara and her chosen profession was well known but Book had always hoped that genuine affection lay somewhere beneath the war weary and brittle facade. Now he knew it didn't and the knowledge sickened him. It was high time someone told their bully of a Captain what they thought of him. Obviously Inara was too much the lady to do it herself so the duty fell to him.

Not waiting for Simon to finish he made his way to the Captain's bunk. The ship was quiet as if the whole crew was holding its' breath. He knew the others were in the commons area probably talking and speculating on what had happened to Inara. He preferred to go to the seat of the problem. It was something of a surprise when he got to the Captain's hatch to find it was already open. He peered down expecting the room to be empty but