TITLE: "END GAME"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: R.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "DREAMS OF HOME"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "The Captain wakes and finds out that Yen Mah

and the Shepherd are no longer on the ship. The *laoban*

takes Yen Mah's bait. River has one more secret to keep."

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.

"END GAME"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

It was the weirdest thing but a good weird. Dr Simon Tam could not quite get over the way the crew had settled down as soon as the Captain had been found. It was as if they could not function properly without him. Awake or comatose he was the centre of their little 'verse. Not that the man in question had any idea. He was unconscious and it was a good thing too. He looked down at the Captain's pale face. Blood all cleaned off it, little cuts and wounds already treated and healing. But the echoes of deep trauma still visible even as he slept. Simon was keeping him heavily sedated for now. Wished he could find a facility to do a brain scan but did not dare suggest they go in search of one. Knowing the current disposition of the crew they were likely to think the Captain's life depended on it and head off to the nearest Alliance run facility with no thought of the danger to the rest of them. But that was not being fair, he conceded. As he worked he was silently counting in his head. When he got to a thousand the head peeked through the door. Right on time. He had to hide a smile. It was Kaylee.

"How's Cap'n doin'?"

"About the same as he was last time you looked in."

There was no smile, no light hearted banter back. Simon glanced up