TITLE: "PRESSURE WAVE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: G.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "LEFT AND RIGHT HANDS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

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

SUMMARY: "Simon and River appear to have won but no one

can quite relax. Easy victories are hard to come by in the Black.

Meanwhile Kaylee and Simon realise it is time to be truthsome

with each other."

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.

"PRESSURE WAVE"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

For several minutes Captain Reynolds stared at Thadius Clay, his expression one of stunned disbelief. Slowly the working parts of his brain began to function again, albeit more slowly as he tried to process what he was hearing. His bunk suddenly seeming way too small to hold such a large revelation. Now he knew why Thadius had wanted this talk in private even though he had been intending to get the man alone his own self. Information was not always a blessing. "Why you tellin' me all this?"

Thadius was not smiling now. His steady gaze absorbing the Captain's reaction with a calm that was as soothing as it was creepifying. The dichotomy held an awkward truce in his mind. "Because the time is comin' when you'll have to do somethin' you don't wanna do. Somethin' the rest of us won't be able to do. An' for that to happen you need to have the facts. Facts we can't tell Simon. He isn't ready."

Surprise built on surprise, leaving the Captain feeling a mite light headed. Mal had no clue what Thadius was talking about but he aimed to find out. "An' I am?"

"*Qu*."

Malcolm Reynolds swallowed slowly. "You might wanna re-think that whole hero thing you got goin'. I lost one war Th