TITLE: "STRENGTH"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Inara/Mal. Simon. River.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "WEAKNESS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The Captain finds out what Simon has done.

Kaylee is distraught over the Companion's decision to leave."

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.

"STRENGTH"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

The realisation came swift and hard, an unexpected rush of emotion that hit him like a physical blow. His psyche huffed with the impact, his mind shuddered. A ripple provoking a deep swell of anger fueled by betrayal. It was River's soothing thoughts that muted his reaction to the pain. Her presence in his mind holding his emotions in check and allowing the fury to dissipate leaving nothing but a lingering sense of loss like a fading echo. Sorrow engulfed him. An aftertaste of disappointment so intense he was disturbed by the depth of it. River was sorry, tried to explain through the empathic resonance her mind had automatically forged with his. From the first moment they had met some non-verbal link had formed between them. A knowing that neither had been consciously aware of embracing but which had tempered their reaction to each other ever since. As automatic as breathing, as instinctual as souls that had known each other in some previous life meeting again. Consciously strangers but recognising one another deep within their souls.

When the Captain finally opened his eyes the knowledge shone in them. He knew now what Simon had done and the why of it. It did not make it right, nothing could do that, but Mal saw the reason behind the doctor's actions. Biting back the desire to