A/N: I'll give a disclaimer that while nothing in this chapter is graphic, it may upset some readers. Angst and sadness are the order of the day ... but isn't it always fun to see how our BDHs bounce back?

Much thanks to Leiasky for the incomparable beta-ing.

And please continue to leave those comments - I take all of your feedback and suggestions to heart and it means a lot that people take the time to "drop me a line."

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A NEW BEGINNING, ch. 4: From Bad to Worse

***

“What’s the word, doc?” Mal was standing outside of the infirmary, watching as Jayne silently sat with his wife, her hand in his big one. When Mal had made it down to check on his crew, he had seen the swirl of activity and stayed out of range. Only after an hour had Kaylee, and then Simon, finally emerged, leaving a now sleeping River and Jayne to sit alone.

He looked to Simon now, and saw the weariness on the younger man’s features, the pain. Kaylee had wrapped her arms around her husband as soon as they had walked from the room, and they stood now, embracing each other, staring at their sister and brother-in-law. Sighing, Simon answered Mal’s question, not lifting his head from where it rested against Kaylee’s hair. “We wait.”

“For how long?” Mal asked, wanting answers. He didn’t like any of this, anymore than the other folks standing about, but everyone seemed perfectly content to keep him in the dark.

Finally, Simon turned, keeping an arm around Kaylee’s shoulders even as she buried her tear-stained face into his chest. “I’m not sure, Mal. Twelve hours should about do it.” Looking back to his sister’s still form, Simon felt the weight of those twelve hours pressing on him. It would be the longest half a day of his life. “I’ve managed to stop the bleeding, but until she stabilizes a bit more, I’m not going to be able to make any further diagnosis.”

“And the baby?” Mal didn’t want to ask, he actually hated voicing the words, but he had to know, and he knew that if it was as bad as they feared, they all needed to start dealing.

Sighing again, Simon looked down into Kaylee’s face. She had turned her wide-eyed gaze up at him, fresh tears falling down her cheeks and Simon wished he could cry right along with her. “I don’t know yet,” Simon said softly. “That’s another reason we need to keep close watch. The next twelve hours are going to be very telling.”

The three of them let the words hang in the air. It was inevitable and they all knew it. They were waiting twelve hours to pronounce the baby growing in River dead, not to hold out hope that there would be a miracle.

Sighing heavily, Mal was about to offer his support to the beleaguered doctor, when Jayne emerged, his eyes glazed over with sadness and tension. Looking to Mal and then to Simon, he asked roughly, “Now what?”

Taking a deep breath, Simon braced himself and said, “I already told you, Jayne. We’ve got to wait. There’s nothing else I can do right now.” Looking through the doorway to his sister, he added softly, “It’s all up to River and the baby now.”

Jayne hadn’t liked that answer the first time the boy had given it and he liked it even less now. Taking a deep breath, he felt his fists curl at his sides. He wanted to hit something, hard. But there was nothing, no one, who he could take his frustrations out on. No one he could think of to blame for his beautiful River’s suffering. And nothing for him to do.

Mal watched as Jayne tried to contain himself. Truthfully, the captain was a little surprised Jayne had managed to rein in his emotions for this long. Self-control had never been one of his strengths, but as Mal watched the veins in his arms and neck pulse with an unnatural heat and then slowly fade back into nothing, he knew the man was doing everything in his power to stay calm. And he was most likely doing it for his wife, whose pain he could not ease.

All four of them stood staring at one another, no one able to voice any of what they were feeling. Simon again wrapped both arms around his wife, grateful for her presence and her warmth. He felt his skin cooling, felt his body chilling at the thought of what these next twelve hours would bring. And the pain he felt, for his sister and his niece cast an icy pall over his heart.

Kaylee held him back, finally gazing back up into those blue, blue eyes. Simon had always told her that her eyes were the window to her soul, that he could take one look into them and know instantly what she felt, what she needed, what she wanted – but, what she had never told him was that his eyes were just as telling, and as she gazed into them now, she saw the pain he was trying to hide, his anger and his helplessness.

Biting her lip to keep more of her tears in, she pressed a soft kiss to his lips and then turned to the captain. “Are the kids with ‘Nara?”

Pulling the man from his intense study of River, Mal looked to his mechanic and answered, “Yeah, she’s watchin’ ‘em.”

Looking back up to her husband, she said, “I think I’m gonna go sit with ‘em for awhile. Fill ‘Nara in. Will you be okay?” She placed a light hand to his cheek realizing for the first time how cold he was to the touch – it really was bad.

Kissing her again softly, he nodded and released her from his embrace. “Of course, tell them I love them,” he instructed softly. Kaylee moved to go a sad smile ghosting her features. On her way out, she stopped by Jayne and reaching up on her tiptoes pressed a kiss to his cheek and then she was gone.

The three men stood regarding River’s motionless form for a few more moments, none of them certain what to say or what to do. Simon knew he should go back in there, and monitor his sister. He needed to start making additional preparations and he needed to be sure he’d exhausted every option. A thought occurring to him, he looked to Mal and asked, “Is it safe to send a wave?”

Studying the man with a quizzical gaze, Mal wondered why he suddenly had the urge to reach out and touch someone. “Yeah, safe ‘nough. Ain’t nobody been trailin’ us for awhile. Why? Who’re ya callin’?”

“Someone with a lot more experience in these matters than myself,” Simon called over his shoulder, moving into the infirmary to grab River’s chart and do a final scan of her vitals before leaving for a few moments. Looking to both of them, he asked, “I shouldn’t be long. Will you stay with her, please?”

Jayne nodded, his posture and locked gaze making it quite evident that he wouldn’t be going anywhere for quite some time. Simon looked between them once more and then he was gone, hoping that Millie might have some answers for him. As a trained midwife, she had to know more about all of this than a core-bred trauma surgeon.

That left Mal to stand with a grieving and angry Jayne and he wasn’t quite sure he felt totally comfortable with that. He had no idea what to say, no idea how he could possibly make any of this better by offering the mercenary empty words of solace. But he supposed he had to try.

“She’s gonna be all right,” Mal told him softly, noting how the other man’s body tensed at just the mention of his wife. Jayne’s eyes were still locked on her prone form, his love for her only burning more brightly; even his anger could not outshine it.

His voice rough from emotion he was not used to displaying, he finally said, “I just wish she’d wake up is all.”

Nodding, Mal could understand that. It would make this a lot easier on both Jayne and the doc if River would just open those pretty, big eyes and start annoying them again. But he doubted that would be happening any time soon.

Deciding now was as good a time as any to remind the man of what they’d come to Greenleaf for in the first place, Mal asked, “You gonna be ready in an hour?”

Turning a wide-eyed expression on him, Jayne asked, “Ready fer what?”

Sighing, Mal had his answer and he knew his next statement would send the man over the edge. “For the job.”

He’d been right. While Jayne had managed to control his anger before, he let it rip now, pounding his fist into the solid wall next to him. When he turned back to face Mal, his chest was heaving, his face flushed. “Are you ruttin’ kiddin’ me? Mal you’re cracked if you think I’m leavin’ this boat any time soon!”

“Jayne, we ain’t gotta choice,” Mal countered, stepping towards the man and allowing his tone to grow steely. “You met Stef. She’d just as soon sell us down the river than help us out an’ she’s feelin’ the pinch. Plus, we need the coin.” Glancing over the other man’s shoulder he watched as River stirred a bit and then settled again. Glancing back to Jayne, he noted that the other man’s blue eyes were cold and menacing and Mal decided he did not like it. “I know you don’t wanna leave her and I think that’s admirable, but we ain’t gotta choice. I can’t do this job without ya.”

“I don’t care ‘bout no gorram job!” His loud voice echoed off the walls. Jayne’s chest continued to heave and now he could feel his throat burning, the bile that was churning in his gut working as acid against his innards.

Stepping up, toe to toe with the man, Mal set his mouth into a thin line and allowed his most menacing expression to cloud his features. “Well, you better care. ‘Cause I ain’t askin.’”

“How would you feel if it was ‘Nara in there?” Jayne asked, throwing a hand back towards the infirmary. “Or even Kaylee? Would you be so god damn adamant that we gotta go risk our necks from some ruttin’ hussy you double-crossed back in the day?”

“Bi zui,” Mal bit out, his voice growing quieter even as Jayne’s rose in volume. The two men glowered at each other for a few more minutes, neither one willing to back down. Finally, it was Jayne who allowed his shoulders to slump forward, the fight leaving his body deflated and worn.

“I can’t handle it if somethin’ happens to her, Mal,” he admitted quietly, his eyes intently studying the decking. He could again feel the tightness in his eyes that meant he would cry and he had to fight it. He did not cry, it just didn’t happen.

Reaching out, Mal risked placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I know that. But we gotta do this. So let’s go, get the goods and get the hell back here so you can be with her, dong ma?”

Jayne nodded once and then sullenly turned back to enter the infirmary. “Come get me when it’s time,” he muttered.

Mal watched him sulk back to River’s side, again taking one of her tiny hands in his. He stood there for a few more minutes, noting how the big man gently kissed his wife’s forehead, leaning down to whisper in her ear while he stroked her hair and caressed her cheek. With a heavy heart, Mal sighed and walked away, heading back to the shuttle and his own little corner of chaos. The next twelve hours indeed.

***

Five hours later, Mal and Jayne were again waiting in the shady dive for Stef’s imminent arrival. The bigger man had already downed three mugs of ale and Mal watched with a wary eye as he reached for a fourth. He knew what Jayne was trying to do, knew that he was hoping to dull the pain and heartache welling in his chest, but Mal also knew, they had a job to do and he would need his full attention to be sure no one else on his boat showed up injured.

Clamping a hard grip on his arm as Jayne brought the drink to his lips, the larger man turned a startled gaze to him as he said, “You think maybe you wanna slow down?”

Shrugging off his hand, Jayne swigged the drink with a vengeance and glowered at him, his blue eyes burning through the haze of drunkenness he already felt. “I’m fine, jus’ keep yer hands offa me.”

Mal thought about taking the man to task and scolding him for his attitude and his insubordination, but his insult died on his lips as Stef approached them, a large, burly-looking man in tow. “’Bout time,” he bit out, downing the last of his own brew and rising to face her. Jayne noted their arrival and continued to drink, his eyes simmering with annoyance.

“Patience, Malcolm,” Stef intoned, throwing him a glaring look that told him to keep his mouth shut. “Malcolm Reynolds, Jayne Cobb meet Igor Ming.” The big and burly man grunted in Mal’s direction, barely giving Jayne a second glance. “Are you ready?” she asked throwing a cursory look to Jayne’s bobbing form.

Mal gave Jayne his own frustrated look and then sighed. “Yeah, we’re fine.” Moving forward, he forcefully pulled the man to his feet and pushed him towards the door. “Let’s go.”

The trip to the drop point was uneventful, although Mal’s unease was growing at an exponential rate. He did not like Stef, in fact he was sure that hate would not be too strong a word, but Igor he vehemently wished to see jump off a cliff. The man’s demeanor had not improved since he’d greeted them and now as Mal watched him drive the mule with reckless abandon, his eyes darted over his shoulder at every cross street, looking for trouble. Not that that was strange and truthfully Mal was doing the same thing, but he still did not like it – they were supposed to be in charge of this little operation, not worried about reprisals.

Looking to Jayne, Mal knew he’d be no help should they encounter any trouble. The man could barely sit up straight the ale he’d imbibed and his empty stomach making a deadly combination. Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Mal turned back and leaned forward in his seat, shouting in Stef’s ear over the roar of the vehicle, “You sure ‘bout this? I ain’t exactly feelin’ rosy.”

Grinning tightly at him, she turned, her red-gold hair blowing around her face in the wind. “Sure ‘nuf, sweetness.”

Grunting, Mal sat back and tried to quell his growing discomfort. In moments they had arrived, the abandoned warehouse looking like a half a dozen others scattered throughout the city. With an appraising eye and cautious step, he disembarked, following Igor and Stef as they bounded forward. Looking back to Jayne, he noticed the mercenary having trouble getting to his feet. Frowning, Mal called back, “Why don’ you just stay righ’ there?”

With a drunken wave, Jayne fell back into his seat, his head lolling to the side. Grimacing again, Mal turned and entered the dark building, and wished he hadn’t. He was faced with crates of an aromatic herb, stacked floor to ceiling, and the grinning faces of both Igor and Stef.

“How the hell you expect to get all this back to my boat unnoticed?” he asked angrily, having thought before this very minute that they were talking about just a few small containers of the goods, not a warehouse full. “And how in the ruttin’ hell did you keep this all hid?”

“Would you relax, you big baby?” Stef frowned in his direction, even as she crossed the space to get in his face. “And would you shut up?”

Still huffing and puffing, Mal glared at her, waiting for an explanation. “The goods got transported here just an hour ago and by the time we’ve got them gone, no one will be the wiser.” With a nod to Igor, she signaled him to start the inventory and the big man lumbered out of sight. Turning back to her partner, she told him, “Now, get your pilot on the comm and let’s get the hell out of here.”

With wide eyes and a sinking feeling in his gut, Mal asked softly, “What?”

Throwing him a dubious look, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “What’s the problem? You’re right, we can’t transport this stuff through town without getting humped. So, your boat’s gonna fly overhead and carry it out.” Reaching into the deep pockets of his brown coat she fished around, a little too friendly for Mal’s taste and presented him with his own comm. “Now,” she said, shoving the device in his face, “Make the call.”

***

The sound of gun fire roused Jayne from his sleepy, drunken slumber. With a swimming head, he gazed around distractedly, trying to determine where the trouble was coming from, even as he reached lazily to unholster his gun.

“Jayne!” Mal’s yell reached his ears and he turned in time to see his captain darting from the building and towards the mule. Before he could even form a question, the other man whirled to fire a few more shots and then turned back to yell at his merc, “Get ‘er warmed!”

With a sluggishness that was quickly fading, Jayne hopped into the front seat and jammed the mule’s ignition, unlocking the parking brake at the same time. Revving the vehicle, Jayne swung it around haphazardly, almost clipping Mal as the other man raced to jump on board. “You okay to drive?” Mal asked hurriedly, crouching down in the passenger’s seat and keeping his gun trained on Stef and Igor as they raced from the building.

With a rev of the engine and a barely audible grunt, Jayne pushed the mule forward, speeding away. The wind whipped around them both and Mal cursed as the vehicle swerved a bit too much for his liking. “You maybe wanna keep it steady?” he shouted irritably as Jayne took another corner with too much speed.

“You shoot, I’ll drive,” the other man yelled tightly, his voice betraying the concentration it was taking him to weave through the small alleyways. Frowning, Mal looked back and breathed a sigh of relief as they drove out of sight of their double-crossed comrades.

Sitting heavily next to Jayne and keeping his gun at the ready, he yelled, “Let’s get back to the ship. We’re gonna need to light outta here pretty quick.”

***

Inara was just trying to get Mimi down for her nap when the comm in her shuttle sounded loudly. Cursing silently at the blaring noise, she hurried towards the cockpit, hoping to reach the machine and quiet the sound before her daughter awoke.

“What?” She hissed it in a whisper, annoyed although she didn’t really know why. Her breath caught in her throat though as she saw her husband’s tense face staring back at her. “Mal?”

“Hey darlin’,” he answered, really yelling in order to be heard over the gust of wind that was passing over the mule as Jayne drove it dangerously fast. “We got ourselves a bit of a situation here.”

Frowning at him, she sighed and asked, “How bad is it?”

Grinning at her with that stupid, lopsided smile that made her stomach flutter, his eyes sparkled for a moment as he said, “Same as always.” The sound of a gun shot sounded ridiculously close to the screen and Inara jumped back with fright. She watched as Mal whirled and squeezed off his own shot, before turning back to face her, ducking a bit in his seat. “Can you get the ship warmed? Soon as we’re on, I’m gonna need you to get her in the air.”

Her eyes widening, Inara’s hand flew to her chest. “Me?” she demanded in disbelief.

Shrugging slightly, Mal glanced to his side and she knew he was looking to Jayne. Focusing back on her, he said, “You’re the only other person on board who I know can at least get the ship off the ground. I’ll be with you in the cockpit by the time we gotta do anythin’ fancy.” Staring at her for a moment more, he asked quickly, “Inara, you got it?”

She nodded, her heart beating wildly in her chest. Mal had never, not once, let her pilot Serenity. The shuttle was another matter entirely, but for him to allow her to touch Serenity’s controls, even as a last resort, was a big step for him and for her. Rising, she said, “Just get back here in one piece.”

With another devilish smile, he said, “Always, darlin,’” and flipped off the screen.

Taking a deep breath, Inara headed out into the shuttle, making sure Mimi was still out and then quietly headed from the room and to the bridge. She hoped Mal’s faith in her piloting abilities wasn’t misplaced – she somehow didn’t think their marriage would survive if she crashed his ship.

***

River was aware of very little. The drugs her brother had given her, coupled with her overwhelming fatigue and the pain that coursed through her, made it nearly impossible for her to focus on what was happening. She knew that she was currently alone, Simon having gone to sit on the couch across from the infirmary, resting his tired eyes and sore muscles. Jayne was no longer with her, out on some job, if her addled brain could be trusted to recall such information.

Even her baby was no longer there. River knew, in a way that only a mother could, that she was gone. Her brother, the doctor, would perform more tests and try other useless methods to try and make it not true, but River knew. And she wasn’t even sad.

She was numb. Even without the painkillers in her body, she knew she wouldn’t feel anything. Yes, the pain was still there, a dull, throbbing ache that clenched her gut and back and sides, but as she continued to cry, silent tears, it wasn’t from the pain, it was from the emptiness. And the knowledge that whatever had happened to her child, she had been powerless to stop it.

River knew it wasn’t coincidence or chance that had resulted in the loss of her baby; she knew that it was something else, something deeper that she could never have foreseen, but should have been able to prepare for nonetheless. She wanted to figure it out, wanted to know who to blame so she could stop being numb and start being angry – at least angry was an emotion. If her blood burned with rage and hate at least she would know she was alive. Right now, she was uncertain.

Sighing almost audibly brought Simon to her side. He hurried forward, placing his stethoscope in his ears even as he reached her. Pressing the cool, flat metal to the skin of her stomach she knew what he was looking for and that he wouldn’t find it. His furrowed brow just moments later confirmed that she’d been right.

Reaching down to touch her cheek and wipe away the tears there, Simon asked her, “Mei mei, does it still hurt?”

She nodded, just barely, but he saw it, and he immediately turned to give her some more medication. When he brought the loaded syringe back around and went to push the fluid into her IV, she brought up a shaky hand to stop him. “Doesn’t matter now,” she murmured tonelessly. Shifting a bit, so she could lay on her side, her hands automatically cradled her still swollen belly and she again closed her eyes praying for the darkness of sleep. “Doesn’t matter.”

Simon watched her, dumbfounded, for just a moment and then realized that his sister had just confirmed his worst fear. He rounded the bed so he could again see her face, and sat at her side. Taking her hand, Simon ran his other one through her hair and whispered to her, “Just get some rest, River. It’ll be all right.”

Her face devoid of any expression and her heart an empty shell, River simply closed her eyes against his words, against his love, against his concern and waited for sleep to take her again.

***

Mal and Jayne barreled into the cargo bay, their new enemies hot on their heels. It seemed Stef had radioed for back-up and just as he’d gotten a hold of Inara, the second mule had come screeching around from the shadow of a building, chasing them with a mad intensity.

Even as Jayne glided the mule inside, Mal jumped from the still moving vehicle and rushed around to the bay’s controls, pounding the release, as he hit the comm. “Inara, go!”

In seconds he felt his ship shudder just a bit and Mal steadied himself as he raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time. By the time he’d reached the cockpit, having only been thrown on the ground twice, Inara had them sailing through the upper atmosphere.

Heaving with exertion and relief, Mal watched her from the doorway for a moment, amazed at how sexy she looked at the helm of his boat – that was something he had not expected. Hearing his heavy breathing, she turned to regard him, that same annoyed light in her eyes that always sent him to tingling. “Hard day at work?” she intoned dryly, turning away from him to again regard the controls.

Mal crossed the space to her and had to control the urge to snatch her from the seat and take her right there on the cockpit’s floor. But there was still work to be done and he needed to be sure he got his family away safely.

“Oh, you know, the usual,” he answered her, matching her tone, and taking a deep breath, crossing the room to sit in the co-pilot’s station. Putting his own hands on the yoke, he slaved control for the helm to his seat and glanced to her. “We’re good, darlin’. You can let go.”

With an audible sigh, Inara leaned back, grateful. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Mal sailed Serenity up and out into the black, setting the ship for half burn as soon as they entered space. She saw him visibly relax when he again checked his scopes and realized they hadn’t been followed. Looking back out the canopy and to the stars, Inara realized she was trembling slightly and she didn’t like it. Sitting up, she raised her hand before her eyes and watched as it shook. Returning it quickly to her lap, she hoped that Mal had not noticed. But one look at his worried expression and she realized he had.

“What is it, ‘Nara?” he asked quickly. Setting the auto-pilot, he went to her, kneeling at her side. Covering both her hands with his, his blue eyes studied her intently. “You feelin’ all right?”

She nodded and smiled at him, knowing that the expression was weak, but having nothing else to offer. “Of course, I’m fine. I guess flying Serenity made me more nervous than I thought.”

Looking back to him, she saw that he did not believe her and truthfully, she wasn’t so sure she believed herself. She had been much too much on edge lately, snapping at Mal or any of the crew at the slightest provocation, yelling at Mimi for no reason, feeling dizzy … She didn’t like it.

Leaning forward, Inara placed both her hands on his arms, about to kiss him, when he winced slightly. Pulling back, Inara looked first to the dark stain coloring his shirt sleeve over his left bicep and then to her blood-stained hand. “You’re hurt,” she said quickly, moving forward to roll up his sleeve.

Batting away her hand, Mal stood and shrugged. “It’s just a nick. I’ll be fine.”

Rising with him, Inara ordered, “You’ll see Simon and he’ll determine if you’re fine.”

Knowing that he could fight with her on it, but deciding against it, Mal took her hand and kissed it. Heading with her towards the infirmary, he said, “All right, let’s go see the doc. I want to check on River anyways.”

***

By the time Jayne had stumbled from the cargo bay into the infirmary, they were already gliding through space. Simon looked up at his loud entrance, a hard look in his eyes. Seeing his uneasy state, the young doctor stood from his sister’s sleeping side, pressing a light kiss to her temple, before heading towards him. Placing a flat hand against his chest, he backed Jayne out of the room and shut the doors before turning to face him.

Eyeing him for a moment more, Simon crossed his arms over his chest and said, “You’re drunk.”

Shrugging slightly, Jayne’s speech was slow, but clear as he said, “Maybe.”

Wrinkling his nose in disgust, Simon swallowed down a cutting retort, knowing that Jayne was hurting and no amount of berating him would do any good, not at the moment. Waving him away, Simon turned to go back to his sister and said, “Go sleep it off. Come back when you’re sober.”

Grabbing the younger man’s arm, Jayne whirled him around fiercely, anger burning in his gaze. “You can’t keep me from her,” he shouted, spittle exploding from his lips as he got into Simon’s face.

Simon didn’t need this, not now. He’d had enough: enough pain, enough guilt, enough blame, enough sadness, for the day. He didn’t want anymore, especially not from the likes of Jayne.

“You stupid, under-developed ape,” he screamed back, ripping his arm from the other man’s grasp. “I am not keeping her from you. But what good do you think you can do her when you’re drunk. Get yourself together.” Simon turned again, wanting to dismiss him. Jayne didn’t take the hint.

“She’s my wife,” he yelled, the anger overshadowed by the pain in his tone. “She’s your sister, but she’s my wife.”

Simon again whirled on the man, his fist curled and ready to strike as Kaylee hurried out from their bunk to step between them. Her green eyes blazing, she looked between both of them, finally letting her eyes settle on her husband. “What is the matter with you?” At Simon’s wide-eyed gaze, she turned to look at Jayne. “With both a ya? Ain’t we gotta enough troubles on this boat without yellin’ at each other?”

At Kaylee’s words, Simon immediately regretted his own. This wasn’t about Jayne’s stupidity or his own uselessness, it was about his sister, his beautiful sister who had just lost a child. Backing away a bit, Simon cast his eyes to the floor and reached out to take Kaylee’s hand. She looked to him at the touch, and squeezed his fingers, before he moved back into the infirmary to be with River.

“Now as for you,” she said slowly, turning back on Jayne with her own angry eyes. “Go.”

Raising his gaze to regard her, Jayne thought about fighting with her, but truthfully, he was having trouble standing. Knowing that River did not need to see him like this, he skulked away, his head hanging low. Even as he past Mal and Inara on their way to see Simon, he did not lift his eyes.

Once in his bunk, Jayne stopped short at the sight of the bloody sheets still attached to the bed. With a vengeance, he stepped forward and ripped them off, pulling the thin fabric into his hands and shredding it into strips. By the time he was done, there was a pile of light blue and bloody material at his feet. Exhausted beyond reason, he slumped forward on the bare cot and fell into a dreamless sleep. ***

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