Title: I Say A Little Prayer

Author: AgentOmega

Genre: Drama.

Rating: K.

Pairings: Mal/Inara.

Location on Firefly Universe Timeline: Undefined, but sometime after Mal and Inara have met.

Spoilers: “The Train Job”.

Summary: Inara prays for a safe return.

Disclaimer: The people, places, and plentiful paraphernalia you know and love/hate are the property of their respective owners, namely Joss Whedon, his associates, and any groups which control or are controlled by said individuals. No profit is made by the author of this work of fiction from the creation or distribution of said work, nor is any infringement intended. Plagiarism is considered a serious criminal offense, and punishable by law. Please ask before redistributing this work.

Length without header: 1 page(s) at 12-point Times New Roman font; 196 words; 1,083 characters including spaces.

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Notes: Inara is Buddhist; I am not. Thus, I was intentionally vague as to what her prayer entails. No offense is intended to any Buddhists in the audience.

It is her own private ritual; not so ancient as the tea ceremony, but important nevertheless.

She never tells him, for he would despise the effort if he knew.

Closing the door to her shuttle, she kneels at her altar, lighting a stick of incense.

As the smoke curls upwards, she silently repeats the familiar litany.

Merciful Buddha, watch over him.

Lend him light, that he may see the path before him in the dark places where he must walk.

Lend him strength, that he may overcome the obstacles he must face in his trials.

Lend him wisdom, that he may know the hearts and minds of strangers.

Free him from fear, from confusion, and from doubt.

Protect him from evils that wear the face of man and the dress of civility.

Leaving the incense to smolder, she rises and makes her way to the door.

Upon the threshold, she pauses; casting one final glance to her altar, she concludes her unsolicited prayer.

Bring him safely back to me once more.