(A/N: This is now where it becomes a Firefly/Stargate fic. I didn't mean for it to happen. But, that's just how the story progressed. I hope that you guys, at the very least, find it entertaining.)

"New Order"

Ch. 10

(SGC, Briefing Room)

"A Stargate?" Wash asked. "But, how does it work?"

"In simplest terms: it transports humans to other planets by artificially producing a wormhole between two Stargates. Once you've passed through the Event Horizon, your molecules get broken up and then rematerialized once you exit the other Stargates Event Horizon," River explained, a mater-o-factly.

Everyone looked at her, except for Abby.

"Good girl," she said softly, grinning.

River returned her grin with a sweat smile. The others looked back and continued to gaze down at the Stargate.

"There were a bunch of Stargates out there, in the galaxy. But, we've only managed to travel to a handful. Our goal, besides to make the Alliance's life a living hell, is to check every Stargate in this galaxy that's in our database and see which ones were buried," Abby continued.

Suddenly, the Stargate activated.

"Unscheduled Off-world Activation," a female's voice sounded.

"Thank you, Jess. I can see it from up here," Abby responded through the radio. "Close the Iris and Blast doors."

Abby and the others stepped down the spiral stair case and landed themselves in the Control Room.

(SGC, Control Room)

"Earth Base," a man's voice rang. "This is Dr. Johnathan McKay. The Wraith are on their way to Atlantis. We need to evacuate the City."

"John, this is Abby. We read you. We're prepared to take on your people as soon as you're able. When will the Wraith reach the city?"

"A mere hour and a half," he told her.

"Why didn't your sensors pick up anything sooner?"

"They've been down, ma'am," he told her.

She could sense his tiredness in his voice. "Get as many people out as you can and then meet me in my office once you've settled. Reynolds out."

Abby sighed and ordered, Jess, "Open the Iris and maintain the Wormhole until everyone gets through that Stargate." she then turned to Mal and the others, "We'll have to continue this later."

They all nodded in understanding. She added, "Under the circumstances, I would invite you to stay in the base. But, seeing as how were in the middle of a crisis now, it would be more comfortable on Serenity."

"We understand," Mal said. Inara gave a nudge and offered, "If you need to, we're more than happy to take on people on Serenity, if you run out of room here, on the base."

"I'd appreciate that, Mal. In return, you'll be properly compensated, of course," she promised him.

Mal nodded. The group split up and headed to the ship. Mal, however remained with Abby. Abby turned to Jess again and said before she left with Mal, "Dr. McKay will be wanting a word with me. Let him know, I will be with him as soon as I am able."

"Of course,"

Abby placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Follow me."

(SGC, Abby's Room)

When Abby closed the door behind her she fell on the bed with a thump. She put her hands over her eyes and sighed. Mal watched her with interest. He leaned against the cement wall behind him and crossed his arms.

"The moment I return, the Wraith decide to gather all of their forces and attack as a collective," she said to no one in particular. "Their Civil War didn't even make much of a dent in the long run," she looked up at Mal from the bed. She motioned to his hands. "I see you've gotten rid of your ring."

"Not really," Mal dug into one of his pockets and produced the gold band.

"I thought that you would have pawned it off," she said.

"I thought about it," he confessed. "I guess I held onto it, the same reason you kept yours," Mal indicated the long, gold chain around her neck.

"Hope always kept me going through the hard times," she told him.

Abby sat up on the bed and didn't take her eyes off Mal. She watched as he played with the ring in between his fingers.

"After the War, I returned to Shadow," Mal said, softly. "Your parents told me you were dead."

"The Alliance lied about that too, Mal," Abby told him, equaling his timbre.

Mal stepped over to her and sat next to her on the bed. He raised the ring at eye level.

"Is this what you want?" he asked.

Abby stared at it. She wanted some fragment of their old life back. That's for sure.

"I know, I want this," she spoke firmly, but not raising her voice. "But, I want to know, that you're not doing this just for me. Is this what you want, Malcolm Reynolds."

"It is," he told her simply.

Abby took off the chain around her neck and held up her ring. He put the ring back on her finger. Abby took his ring and slipped it on his finger. Mal leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. When he back a way, she pulled him away, into a much more passionate kiss.

To be continued . . .