TITLE: "NIGHTMARES"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: Kaylee/Simon. Mal/Inara

RATING: G.

STATUS: SEQUEL to "HOPES AND PRAYERS"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://unilelu.net/Alison/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "Inara and Wash helplessly watch a nightmare

unfolding. Down on Argent the rest of the crew wait for River

to lift off."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"NIGHTMARES"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Inara and Wash stared out of the window and hardly dared to breathe. The Reaver ship was edging closer, taking its' time while a searchlight rotated until it could slowly sweep the length of the darkened Firefly.

"They're scannin' us." Wash whispered.

The Companion didn't speak. Was afraid to make a sound. Fear beat a tattoo in blood inside her head, the horror of what would happen to them if the Reavers boarded something she didn't want to countenance but was unable to block from her mind. Every story she had ever heard about them played out inside her head, splashes of crimson and inhuman cries so sharp in her imagination that they were almost real. A touch on her shoulder made her curse and jump. "*Wo de fozu*!"

"*Duibuqi*, Inara, I never meant to scare you."

Eyes wide, Inara looked at the pilot with no attempt to hide her fear. "What are we going to do, Wash?"

His lips were tightly compressed together, tension seeming to be the only thing holding him together. "We're doin' the only thing we can."

"What about the others?"

Wash swallowed with difficulty around the lump in his throat. "Pray they take their time."

"Wash?"

"*Zhen de*, Inara. If the shuttle takes off now we slip from dinner to supper."

"That's not funny."

H