Sleep Tight....(7) PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK*

At breakfast River noticed everyone was out of sorts, and she knew why. She had felt and seen their dreams as if they were her own. Zoe looked more rested then before. Inara only came in to get some water, but as she was pouring the water she glanced at River, trying to read her. Being a companion made Inara very intuitive, but River just smiled and thought ‘not hers to read.’

Kaylee came in chipper as always, and smiled at Zoe who was leaving the kitchen to take her shift on the bridge. Kaylee hummed as she made herself what was supposed to be breakfast, but really just a bunch of little different colors of protein. Simon walked in after Kaylee, and River tried not to hear his thoughts. Simon was the only one that she tried not to read. River watched as Kaylee gave him a kiss on the cheek, while Simon smiled and blushed. 'He's such a boob,' River thought to herself smiling as she left the room.

“It seems,” started Mal as he walked in the room, “that our lil' albatross is scared to fall asleep."

"I’ve noticed." Simon said disappointed.

“No notion as to why?” Mal asked.

Simone shrugged, “She still has trouble trying to decipher what is real and what’s not. It could be nothing. She might sort it out on her own in a few days, or it could be like what happened with Miranda.”

“Well, until we do know I think everyone should keep a watch on her. See if she says or does something that will give us a clue as to what’s going on in that brain of hers.” Mal said as he took a sip of coffee.

>>>>

River walked along the catwalk down to the cargo bay, and found Jayne lifting weights. River walked over to some crates and sat down, counting the weights. Jayne all of a sudden stopped when he caught sight of River.

"What do you want?" asked Jayne, sitting up on the weight bench and shifting uncomfortably. River just smiled at him innocently.

"I'll spot you," said River getting up and moving over to the bench.

"No. Now git outta here, moon-brain," said Jayne grabbing his towel.

"I'm bored, Kaylee still has to finish cleaning up the engine room, Simon is going to read up on some notes, Zoe’s flying the ship, Inar…..”

“Yeah, I got the point. Everyone’s busy.”

“…and I took this." River said as a peel of laughter came out. She put on the hat she was hiding that Jayne’s mom had sent him.

“Gorram it, give me back my hat.” Jayne said rising to his feet.

“You’ll have to catch me.” River said laughing as she ran around the cargo bay. Mal came out just as Inara came out of her shuttle, they looked at the funny display below them. River running wildly with laughter wearing Jayne’s hat, and Jayne heated up trying to get her. Inara laughed.

“And you tell me to grow up.” Mal said with a smirk on his face. Inara responded with a sly smile.

“Gotcha.” Jayne said as he caught hold of her arm. As he looked down at her and saw how much fun she was having. He smiled at River as he loosened his grip. Then her smile all but vanished. River screamed and hit the floor. Jayne knelt down beside her.

“River, what’s wrong.”

Mal and Inara ran down the steps to them.

“Two by two, hands of blue. Two by two, hands of blue.” River curled up in the fetal position and kept saying these words.

“Let’s get her to the medical room,” Mal turned to Inara, “tell Simon we’re coming.” Jayne picked River up and carried her to the medical room as Mal lead the way.

"River," said Simon, as he saw Jayne carrying her. “What happened?”

“I don’t know, she just hit the floor and started with that stupid rhyme.” Jayne answered as he laid River’s body on the bed.

"I don't want any more needles," said River not letting go of Jayne.

“River, it’s alright.” Inara said soothingly. River still looked cautiously at Simon.

“Okay no needles,” he said, “but I need you to tell me what’s wrong?”

“They’re going to come for me. Not now, but soon.”

“Who’s comin’?” Mal asked.

“Two by two….Hands of blue.” River said as she let go of Jayne and looked at her hands shaking.

“What, who, what are you talking about when you say “two by two, hands of blue.” River didn’t answer Simon. Sighing, he took her hand and held it as she started to calm down.

“River, why are you wearing Jayne’s hat?” Simon asked as he gave River a quizzing look.

“They were playing,” Mal said with a hint of humor. Simon looked at Jayne in disbelief.

“I wasn’t playin’. She stole my hat, and it’s my favorite hat my mama sent me.” Jayne said defiantly.

"Did River say anything besides that?" asked Simon as gave the hat back to Jayne and moved the hair that was on River’s face.

Jayne thought about the night of his dream, but didn't think it wise to tell Simon much less Mal about it. "Nope." was all he said.

"Well, it seems that something is going on in River's mind. I don't know if she is picking up on something, but...."

"Wait a minute. Picking up on something?" Jayne asked interrupting Mal.

"She came into my room last night," said Mal.

“Well, well,” said Inara.

"Nothing happened." Mal said in a give-me-a-break tone and Inara couldn’t help but give a little smile. "It seems like she's having bad dreams and can't sleep. The last thing she said was her favorite phrase."

"Does anyone know what it means? It’s not something that you guys used to play as children or have any linkage to your past?” asked Inara to Simon

“No. I can’t think of anything. The first time I heard it was when she woke up after we boarded Serenity.” Simon answered.

You know that stupid rhyme really gets under my skin. You think Alliance is coming to get her?" asked Jayne.

"I don't know, but maybe if she gets some sleep she'll be more alert and it may become clearer to her what's going on in her head." said Simon as he watched River’s eyelids get heavy.

"Hopefully, then, she'll be able to tell us what's bothering her and clarify what two by two means." said Mal

"So what do we do?" asked Jayne

"Well, seein' as how she's sleeping right now, all we can do is get back to work." said Mal.

A couple hours later….

"Have you seen River?" Kaylee asked Inara, entering her shuttle.

"No, why? Is she missing?" asked Inara, worried.

"Well, Simon went to check on her in the medical room and she wasn’t there. I checked her room but she’s not there either. So, I just thought I’d check here to see if she was painting with you." said Kaylee.

"No. I haven’t seen her since I left the medical room. I'll come and help you find her, okay mei-mei." said Inara, reassuringly.

"Thanks," said Kaylee with a smile as Inara linked her arm in Kaylee’s.

30 Minutes Later....

"Mal," said Zoe.

“Yeah?” Mal asked as he looked at Zoe. Zoe looked to where Jayne was. He was standing on the sky grasper. Mal went over and looked inside. There was River curled up in the seat sleeping.

"Should we wake her?" asked Jayne, looking a little worried.

"Nah, let's just get her to her bunk." said Mal. He stood in the seat next to where she was sleeping, and lifted her up. Jayne helped balance Mal as he came down off the sky grasper.

"You found her," said Simon, running over to Mal looking relieved.

"I found her," said Jayne correcting Simon. Mal gave Jayne an annoyed look as Zoe smiled. "Well, it's true."

"Good job, Jayne," said Kaylee with a huge smile on her face.

"Thanks." said Jayne with a proud smile.

"Is she okay?" asked Inara

"She seems to be fine, just sleeping." said Simon as he looked over River.

Mal started to walk when....

"AHHHHHHH!" screamed River straightening her body. "River," said Mal as he tried not to drop her. He put River down as he saw her open her eyes in fear. "River, it's me, Mal. It's okay, your okay."

"No....they'll come....on the run....always....trouble....I'm trouble...." River said standing up straight and looking with fear. She put her fingers to her mouth nervously.

"River, it's okay, I'm here." said Simon moving towards her.

"No....they'll kill you....I'm dead," River said looking at him, with her fingers still by her mouth, shaking.

"Jayne, you want to get behind her and see if you can hold her still." said Mal moving cautiously toward River.

"No. Don't ya'll remember what happened last time?" said Jayne staying put, but wanting to help her.

"You’re scared...." River said as she turned to look at Jayne. “Yeah,” said Jayne, “If you had your particulars crushed, you would be to.”

She started walking but couldn't walk without stumbling. "Too many thoughts....crowded...."

"River, just calm down," said Inara in a calm voice. River started stumbling toward Inara, "I can't....too many sights...." River continued stumbling. In her mind she wanted to stop what she was saying, knowing everyone was afraid. She wished she could stop, but it's hard for her to gain control. River stumbled toward Simon who reached out to her.

"Nooo...." She screamed and Simon quickly put his hands back down, trying to think what he could do.

"Hey, lil' albatross," said Mal getting closer to her, but River lunged out toward him and grabbed his gun. Zoe withdrew her gun from her holster, but River already had her gun pointed toward her, "Drop it." said River, with determination, Zoe dropped it and River picked it up.

"I'm trouble....I see things....I can't stop....I get better....but always get worse...." she said sadly. Then she started to point one gun to her head, when a big hand came from behind her and took hold of her hand.

"Don't you dare do it." said Jayne, trying to pull the gun out of her hand. Tears fill down Rivers cheeks as her body leaned against his, everyone watched in awe as River became motionless. Just leaning against Jayne's body looking exhausted. Jayne started to move away as he tried to get the guns out of her grasp but River started to convulse. Jayne put his arm around her again and leaned her back into his body, and she stopped, becoming numb again. Mal came up to them but River looked up at him.

"Please...." She said still fighting Jayne weakly with the gun. Everyone looked at the sadness in her eyes, as she said that.

"Let go," said Jayne, Mal reached out for the guns, but River with her free hand pointed the other gun at him. He put his hands up and stopped moving.

"River, give me the gorram guns," demanded Jayne. "You don't care....you don't like me....I'm a crazy girl that needs to be dealt with...." River said in a sad voice, as she struggled to maintain control. Jayne got the guns out of her hand, and handed them to Mal. River just stayed there motionless with now both of Jayne’s arms around her. One arm around her waist the other arm around her chest holding on to her shoulder.

"PLEASE!" she begged with tears coming down her eyes as she looked up at Jayne and then at everyone else. "No good will ever come to me....I'll just be the crazy one that everyone's afraid of....the one that brings trouble." River cried. Jayne just looked at her with pain. He knew she was crazy, but for some reason he, since he saw what she did to the Reavers on Miranda, didn’t think she was as crazy as anyone else, just different. Also, something about the dream he had made him think that maybe, just maybe she could get better.

"You still need to be dealt with," was all Jayne whispered to her, and gave her a sly grin. River gave him a little smile in return, and then leaned her head back on his chest.

"River?”

“I’ll be okay Simon. I just feel tired.”

“You want me to try a different shot?” Simon laughed as he saw River make a face like yeah-right.

“Well, lil’ one I think you gave us an exciting day. One that I hope never happens again.” Mal said looking at River.

“I have my moments,” River replied with a weak smile. “What are mei-mei’s for right, Simon?”

Simon scuffed and smiled, “Isn’t that the truth. River, no matter how much of a brat you are, I don’t want to see you die. I want you to know that I will always love you, you’re my sister.”

“He’s right, River,” Kaylee added, “No one here thinks that we would be better off without you.”

River looked at everyone in front of her and saw that they were all worried for her because they genuinely care, she smiled at them. Then she looked behind her at Jayne.

“All’s I know is that you better stay out of my stuff, as long as you do stay.” Jayne said scruffy, still not letting her go.

“No chance of that.” River answered as she pulled the hat from his back pocket in one swift move and put it on.

“You win this round, but don’t get used to it.” Jayne said.

That night….

River waited for Jayne in the hallway knowing that he was going to start his shift. As he came out of his bunk he looked at her. River smiled and handed him back his hat. Her smile vanished as she looked up at him with guilt.

"I'm sorry, I just get confused. I can't decipher what's real and what's not." said River looking sad. “I caused everyone a lot of trouble today.”

“No more than usual.” Jayne shrugged. He wanted to hold her in his arms again, to feel her smooth skin against his. River turned to leave.

"Hey, how come you stopped screamin' an' shakin' when I held ya?" Jayne asked as he watched River turn around to face him.

"Your mind is simple and true. You don’t get confused in the heat of the moment. The others have so many worries and thoughts that drown me, but you don't."

"Sorta of comes with the job," said Jayne. “Night Jayne,” River said with a smile and was answered by a nod from Jayne who just kept watching her until she was out of sight.

>>>>

“Hey, you think you can fall asleep by yourself.” Simon asked as he stuck his head in River’s room, then with a wicked smile, “or…?” he held up the needle.

"No more needles," said River quickly and determined. He pushed the injection to show that it was only water. “I can’t believe you think I’m the brat.” She said with a smile. "I'm sorry I'm such a pain." she said to Simon.

"That's what mei-mei's are for,” he sighed, “to get on their brothers nerves." said Simon starting to smile. River smiled back at him and covered herself as she got comfortable on the bed; Simon leaned in and kissed her forehead.

“Goodnight," said River as her eyes were getting heavy with sleep.

"Sleep Tight, mei-mei." said Simon.

River found herself walking on water, wearing a blue tank-top dress. She started to sway with the waters motions, and smiled. River looked up to see Simon standing a few feet away from her holding Kaylee's hand and the both of them smiling at her. River looked to her left and saw Zoe watching her protectively with a smile. She looked at her right and saw Mal and Inara smiling at her as they stood close to one another. She looked behind her and saw Jayne, who started to walk toward her. He started to stretch his hand to her as he gave her that wicked smile and she reached smiling back at him. Then fear came into her big brown eyes as the sky and water turned into a black hole behind Jayne, and two big blue hands came out and took hold of Jayne and pulled him into the black hole. She turned in fear to see the same thing happen to everyone else, one by one getting pulled into the black hole.

“NO!!” screamed River as she squatted to the ground covering her ears with her hands. Everything turned back to normal and she found herself alone on the water. She stood up slowly; tears fell down her eyes, as she looked around. With fear she looked down and saw that the water turned into blue hands reaching for her, she looked up and saw the two men standing in the distance....

River woke up sweating in fear and shaking. "Two by two....hands of blue....two by two....hands of blue."