TITLE: "NO HIDING PLACE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "BITING BACK"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Simon announces his decision to the crew but River has a surprise for him."

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.

"NO HIDING PLACE"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Three weeks later the last of the repairs had been completed on Serenity. A kind of lull had descended on ship and crew. They all knew they were lucky to have come through this but no one was celebrating. Each of them only too aware of what they had lost. It was time to go, back to the Black and the life left on hold while ship and crew healed. Recovery would take a mite longer. Kaylee stared at Simon as if he had sprouted three heads. "You're what?"

"I'm leaving."

They were all there. All that were left after Miranda. Captain Malcolm Reynolds sat on the edge of the table in their newly refurbished and shiny commons room, Inara standing next to him but not touching. An ease between them as if they had come to some kind of truce. One they could both live with. Jayne looked as if someone had stolen his favourite gun. He couldn't see what all the gorram fuss was about. If Simon wanted to leave, let him. Wasn't as if they couldn't get along fine without him. Zoe's eyes narrowed but she did not speak, prefering to keep her powder dry until she knew which target she was aiming for. She didn't like to see Kaylee hurt even though personally she liked the doctor well enough. There was just something about him and the tension between him and the Captain that was making her feel ansty. Perhaps it was