Disclaimers : Everything belongs to Joss, except for one character of my creation.

**Mousing over the Chinese should reveal the English translations on most browsers. If not, translations follow the story.

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Mal may have had a good day, but that didn’t mean he was going to have a good night. It seemed no matter what happened during his day, when night fell, dreams of Niska and torture came calling. He had been hopeful that a decent job would help him get back to normal—but when he once again woke, sweating and heart pounding in the darkness, he realized that was not to be.

As he had done so many nights before, he climbed unsteadily up the ladder out of his quarters and made his way down the corridor to the galley, bracing himself against the bulkhead in case his rubbery legs gave out. He was so exhausted he felt waves of nausea rolling over him. This could not go on. He guessed he might finally have to ask Simon for some help.

But, for now, once again, it would be strong coffee and waiting alone for morning to come.

Unless, of course, Alex showed up. Having her to talk to last time had been sort of nice. He felt badly that talk of the war and her husband had been upsetting to her. Still, it was good to converse with someone who’d had some of the experiences he’d had. And he’d actually slept after she went back to her room. That was something new.

Truth be told, he found her somewhat intriguing—especially after today’s events. People surprised you. Every time you thought you had someone figured out...

She was there, in the galley, heating up water for tea.

“Hello,” she said softly at his approach.

Standing in her nightclothes with rumpled hair and stocking feet she looked like the last person in the world who would grab a gun and take on three armed men by herself. Mal almost laughed out loud at the incongruity. Then again, he figured, he probably looked very little like a warrior in