As they approached Hera over the next two days, the tension began to mount. Life went on, of course, with Simon and his father spending time together, the young man telling carefully edited tales of their exploits until Gabriel professed he must be making these things up. Regan, never too far from her husband’s side, found the women of Serenity visiting her every so often, bringing tea or, in Kaylee’s case, the cookie tin. She knew why they were doing it, and was grateful, but found the odd moments with her daughter the most rewarding.

However, the stress levels became much higher after River’s episode.

She’d been sitting in the cargo bay watching Jayne and Alex working out together, smiling slightly at the unlikely friendship that appeared to have grown up between the two men from opposite ends of the ‘verse. Her sketchpad was on her knees, and she occasionally drew an image. Nothing much, just an impression of an arm, lifting a weight, or a hand grasping the pull-up rings. Neither man was speaking much, just a low comment every now and again to encourage or caution.

She let the voices wash over her, not even looking at the paper, her pencil moving without intervention of conscious thought, until she looked down at what she’d drawn.

Reaver. Worse. Jayne as Reaver, skin peeled back from his cheeks above his beard, one eye marled and scarred, teeth sharpened to fine points. She screamed.

Jayne was immediately on his feet, hurrying across to her. “River?”

She lashed out at him, her fist catching his jaw and knocking him to the deck. Springing from the crate, she ran from him up the stairs towards the galley.

“River?” Freya was at the doorway, having heard the shriek, while Mal, Zoe and Hank were rushing down the bridge steps. “What is it?”

River glared at her, and she felt it like a physical force in her mind. All the colour fled from her face, and she staggered back against the wall.

“What’s going on?” Mal demanded, coming up behind the young woman and attempting to