TITLE: "REALITY BITES"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "FLESH AND BLOOD"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Simon and River refuse to return to their

childhood home but not all questions are answered and

that unsettles the Captain most of all."

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.

"REALITY BITES"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

The silence was almost a physical thing. Heavy and filled with such a volatile mix of emotions that Inara wondered that the very air did not ignite. Gabriel Tam looked as if the last remnant of sanity in his head had vaporised along with what little sense the man had ever had. By contrast his wife looked calm and composed until you looked deep into her eyes. Inara had been a Companion for too long not to read what was written there and the information did nothing to reassure her that all was well or would ever be so again. As Kaylee would say, sometimes a thing got broke and couldn't be fixed.

Next to the Companion the Captain sat mute and immobile, his face a blank mask, eyes distant and haunted. His breathing too much on the ragged side of good. Inara frowned slightly, unable to put aside her concern though she did not want to say or do anything to make things worse. Electric. Combustible. The atmosphere thick enough to cut with a knife. At least the ranting between father and psuedo son had stopped. A movement caught Inara's eyes and she watched as River moved to the Captain's chair and knelt beside him. Gently the girl took the Captain's hands between her own and cradled them, her head tilting to one side as she gazed intently into