TITLE: "FIRST STEP"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Book. Inara.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "FRIENDS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Shepherd Book makes an admission to

Inara which causes the Companion to make one of her own."

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.

"FIRST STEP"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Shepherd Book looked down at his hands. He looked uncomfortable. Guilty even. Whatever reservations Inara had in letting him in, they were pushed to one side by her concern for her friend. "You look troubled, Shepherd. Can I help?"

It made him feel a hundred times unworthy. "I came to apologise."

Her concern turned to confusion. "*Wo bu dong*, what for?"

He raised his head as if weighed almost too much for him to lift. "I may have jumped to a conclusion or two."

Now she was growing wary. "What sort of conclusion?"

"When we found you... distressed... I had the suspicion the Captain might be to blame."

Her eyes widened in surprise then horror. It took a second or two to compose herself again. This time he could not fathom the look in her eyes. "What did you think had happened?"

Now Book felt even more uncomfortable. He felt mean and embarrassed. As if his thoughts left black marks on his soul. "I thought he had taken advantage of you."

Dropping his head to avoid eye contact Book missed the expression on Inara Serra's face. She touched his shoulder, needing to be clear in her understanding of this oddest of confessions. "You think the Captain took advantage of me?"

The Shepherd looked up and nodded in misery.

"Advantage, how?"

He spoke as if he had a bad taste