Killing Me Slowly - Part Four (of Five)

[chosenone.livejournal.com]

Title: Killing Me Slowly
Part: 4 of 5
Author: chosenone
Summary: “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Entire Crew
Pairing: Gen, some Mal/Kaylee
Spoilers/Timeline: after end of series, before the BDM
Word Count: 9,800+
Disclaimer: The story is mine, the ‘verse and its characters are not.
Author's Note: I started this story way back in March, intending to finish it for April’s Shakespeare Quote challenge. Unfortunately, life got complicated and in the way and it took me until now to finish. Hope you enjoy it anyway.
Author’s Thanks: Big thanks to my betas, browncoatrebel and hopemadeflesh for the once-over and the advice. All remaining mistakes are my own.

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Read all previous parts first!

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

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Mal’s return to consciousness was hard and fast. One moment he was blissfully unaware of anything at all and the next, a bright light was staring him directly in the face, making his eyes burn.