Title: Pushing Me Away
Series: Fic-For-All Fanmix
Author: Jmaria
Rating: FR-13
Disclaimer: Joss owns Connor and Zoe. Lucky guy.
Pairing: FfA #1965 Connor / Zoe (Firefly)
Summary: 20 songs, 20 pairings. Pushing Me Away by Linkin Park
Part Summary: Time enough for what is needed
A/N: Set in the same 'verse as Time. Second in a set. Set post Serenity (the BDM) So spoilers.

Pushing Me Away

His eyes were drawn instantly to the barefoot warrior on the catwalk. Her head was cocked to the left as if listening to someone. He knew he heard the voice as well, had heard it all along the portal trip that had separated him from Summers over two months ago. Seems they'd popped into this dimension just in time to catch the crumbling of a state body. His eyes didn't rest on the girl for long. He stood frozen, not sure if he was seeing what he was seeing as the Captain introduced his first mate to him.

"This here is Zoe, Zoe - "

"Jasmine?" Connor murmured.

"No, Zoe Alleyne, Mr. ?" The Captain seemed shocked at the woman's response, but merely nodded along.

"Connor, Connor Angel," Connor blinked back the memories. Jasmine was dead, killed by his own hand. She looked a lot like her, but Zoe was no Jasmine. He turned back to the girl on the catwalk. "Who's she?"

"No one of consequence," Zoe replied, her hand dropping to her gun. Connor smirked, she had good reflexes, and obvious training. Must be military.

"That's our pilot," Mal sighed.

"Your pilot's no one of consequence?" Connor said, speaking only to Zoe.

"We're private people."

"I'm getting that."

"Kaylee, here is our mechanic. Kaylee, show Mr. Angel to the passenger quarters?" Mal chuckled.

"Sure thing, Cap'n. This way, Mr. Angel." Kaylee smiled up at the man.

"Nice seeing you, Zoe. Captain," Connor grinned up at the girl on the catwalk, who waved her fingers slowly at him.

Mal frowned, watching both River and Zoe's reactions to their first passenger since the Miranda conflict. River grinned down at him, and Zoe crossed her arms.

"Well, is somebody gonna start talking?" Mal demanded.

"I don't like him, sir," Zoe said flatly.

"Why?"

"Something about him bothers me. Faster we get him off this ship the better." Zoe turned toward the stairs making her way up to the bridge.

"Huh."

"He's a warrior. She can sense it. Makes her nervous," River offered.

"That so? He make you nervous, lil' albatross?"

"Makes me excited," her eyes twinkled.

"Gah, I can't hear that!" Mal yelled.

"You've got a smutty mind, Captain!" River's voice trickled after him.