TITLE: "FRIEND OR FOE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "TWIXT HEAVEN AND HELL"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Serenity gets an unwanted visitor. The

Captain has decisions to make and everyone is wary about what

might happen next."

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.

"FRIEND OR FOE"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Captain Malcolm Reynolds stared at the Sheriff. Behind him Zoe and Jayne stood like wary bookends framing the door. They were in the cargo hold. Everyone else had made themselves scarce, Kaylee taking Yen Mah with her to Inara's shuttle.

"Not followin' ya, Sheriff."

"Martin."

The Captain gave him a wary nod. The earlier cameraderie on the planet now pacing like a caged animal behind bars in the new cooler climate. He was not about to let it out real soon. This man was all kinds of confusing. "Tell me again why I should let you aboard my boat?"

"The two brothers who kidnapped Yen Mah and arranged your necktie party broke out of goal. Reckon they must have had outside help."

"And this is my problem why?"

"I figure they'll come here. Maybe try to snatch the girl. Even their score with you."

"Ain't got no score to settle. Now if you were speakin' the other way around that would be different. Either way they'd be fools to come to my boat."

"Even fools can be dangerous, Mal."

Jayne tensed behind the Captain but said nothing. "And you figure coming with us will do what? Apart from eat into our supplies some?"

The Sheriff smiled. Even prickly and suspicious as hell he enjoyed talking to the Captain. Mal wondered why he was be