Disclaimer: They all belong to Joss

Rating: PG-13

Beta: Huge thanks to Ceslas she has the patience of a saint!

http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=13724>Back to ch 5 - Battles Won Battles Lost

Voices And Visions

By

Lattelady

Ch 6/12 - Caught In The Moment

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River wasn’t quite dreaming, but she wasn’t awake either. She could feel herself floating. It was that wonderful time of day, when sleep and reality met on common ground.

“River,” a voice called to her. “River, wake up.”

“Daddy?” she smiled unsure if she whispered the name or if it was pure thought. As reality stepped to the foreground and sleep vanished, she nodded, recognizing the timbre and cadence of the man’s words. “Daddy,” she mumbled and patted the hand that was gently trying to waken her.

“No, Little Albatross, I’m not your pa.” Malcolm Reynolds gripped River’s fingers in his. The child was obviously still sleepin’. “Wake-up, Little Witch, you got some pilotin’ to do. ‘Sides ‘Nara’s almost got breakfast on the table.

“Good morning,” she yawned and stretching her arms above her head. Her movement sent something sliding to the floor with a plop. She blinked at her surroundings and realized she was still on the couch in the lounge. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep here last night.”

“Jayne’s gun magazines will do that to a person.” Mal leaned over and picked up the fallen item. “It isn’t your usual readin’ material.”

“Huh,” she blinked at him and shook her head. The last thing she remembered was Jayne sitting beside her, holding her tightly. When he’d run his large hands through her hair and over the skin of her shoulder and arm, it had unlocked something inside. She’d leaned into his touch and for the first time in almost three years relaxed enough to let her guard down completely. She must have fallen deeply asleep.

When Mal straightened and dropped the fallen object onto the end table, River was sittin’