The Teaser Pony

By Mikelesq

Concept: The crew of Serenity provides passage for horse with an unusual talent, and a woman from Simon’s past.

Rating: R

Feedback: Please. E-mail Mikelesq@aol.com

Spoilers: For all episodes, including the three unaired episodes. Do NOT read if you’re remaining spoiler free until the DVDs. Takes place approximately three weeks after “Objects in Space,” and presumes that “OiS” was the final episode chronologically.

Legal disclaimers: "Firefly” characters and situations are owned by Joss Whedon and the producers of the show. The story is entirely fiction. Distribute if you like.

Part III

“You can just take a seat at the end, Doctor,” Mal said, gesturing toward an empty chair at the corner of the dinner table.

“Please, Captain, call me Amelia,” she replied as she entered the galley.

“Call me Mal,” he replied.

“That’d be right next to me,” Jayne said, scurrying behind Amelia and pulling her chair back, as he had seen Simon do for Kaylee.

“Why, thank you,” Amelia said, walking in front of the chair and turning to face the table.

“Glad to,” Jayne said, walking past her and taking his own seat.

Amelia stood for a moment, cast a puzzled look back at the chair left two feet behind her, then sat down and scooted her chair forward. She flashed a polite smile at Jayne, who grinned from ear to ear. Mal and Inara exchanged wry glances, Zoe smirked, and Wash rolled his eyes.

Kaylee kept her eyes cast down at the table.

“Dinner is served,” Book announced, walking to the table with a two large bowls and setting them at the table before taking his own seat.

“The brown protein’s got salt,” Mal said to Amelia. “The grey stuff the preacher usually throws a dash of pepper into.”

“I added a pinch of oregano this evening,” Book said. “In honor of our guest.”

“I’m sure it’s wonderful,” Amelia said. “A welcome break from the dehydrated mealbars we had at the clinic.”

Book raised his open hands, then brought them together. Amel