TITLE: "HOPES AND FEARS"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: No specific pairing.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "BETTER ANGELS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Zoe performs emergency surgery and tries

to work out what in the nine hells is going on. Last but not

least is the worry as to which side River is on."

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.

"HOPES AND FEARS"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Zoe was so beyond mad she could hardly form words. Watching Inara hover over the Captain while she did her best to stop the bleeding was annoying her more than it should have, the thin trickle of guilt bleeding through from her back brain as if she should somehow have been expecting this. But who would have thought Simon would pull a gun on the Captain? *Her* gun of all things. There could be no accident involved, no sudden snap of the mind, for everything pointed to a level of premeditation that chilled her. Whatever the good gorram they were dealing with it left an itchy feeling between her shoulder blades. Simon and River were siblings. No matter the mess Regan and Gabriel Tam had made of their lives the children were the only two genuine kin. She supposed an argument could be made for Regan being their mother but who knew where all the genetic material had come from? None from Gabriel but how much if any from Regan Tam? And how might that affect the landscape?

Up to her wrists in blood, Zoe shoved the worry and disparate thoughts from her mind. Fortunately Jayne was hanging around the infirmary, whether to actually help if needed or to shoot Simon should he wake up was not clear. "Jayne, second drawer on