TITLE: "THE NAME OF THE GAME"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: R.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "WHAT MATTERS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "While Atherton Wing savours his revenge the

crew go to retrieve their missing Captain. Zoe makes sure

that Jayne knows he is on probation. River waits for the right

moment to unfold for the real heroes to appear."

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.

"THE NAME OF THE GAME"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

River couldn't help it. It was a burden sometimes being the only one who could see. The others meant well but they weren't even reading off the same page. Not interfering had been hard but if she had told them what she knew, what she sensed, Simon would have given her a smoother and the only chance they had of getting the Captain back would be lost. The crew needed to feel they were doing something so she made no comment about the plan to go and get him out of that hole. River closed her eyes. The doorway had opened and shut again. They would come back empty handed but it would appease the ungrateful Gods that resembled the serpent in the Garden of Eden more than the architect of the 'verse. And while everyone was distracted she would do the impossible. It would make her mighty. Besides, the Captain was too gorram pretty to die.

* * * * *

The hand upon his bare skin was soft, the touch a gentle caress. Weary beyond words he surfaced slowly as if her movements upon him were drawing him up from the dark well into which he had fallen body and soul. As waking brought a surge of memories flooding back other hands impinged on his consciousness,