Title: Spokes on the Wheel

Author: GoddessofBirth

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Nope

Spoilers: Yep

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Jayne knows he is dreaming. He knows this because while his rational mind tells him he is on a ship deep in the black of space, his feet are currently walking down a dusty country road, red sun hanging low in the sky, broken grass on each side reaching as far as he can see. Knows this because he has no weapons on him, and while in his waking state this would give him a deep seated uncomfortableness, here it is simply to be noted, not worried over.

He doesn't know how long he has been walking, and doesn't know how far he has yet to go. He stops and bends down to pick a long stem of brown grass. He stands and clenches it between his teeth. He'd rather it were a cigar, but his subconscious has failed to provide him with one.

Abruptly he is no longer walking, but standing at the center of a crossroad unlike any his conscious mind has seen. There are not simply two streets bisecting one another, but endless roads stretching out in every direction, with Jayne centered in the eye.

He hears a rhythmic thumping off to one side. It is familiar, but so out of place that it takes him a moment to name it. When he does, he looks down and sees Serenity's resident genius, crazy girl and assassin casually bouncing a ball and scooping up jacks.

'What the hell you doin' here girl?' She shrugs her shoulders and continues her solo game.

'You really here, or did I make you up?'

He feels this is a fair question, because although he has dreamed about River before, the dreams are usually disjointed and involve knives and betrayal and blood drenched angels.

River pockets the ball and looks up at him.

'Jayne's Morpheus called and the river flowed.'

Hearing this, he confirms she is really present, as his subconscious would never have put that sentence together.

He stands with the girl sitting at his side and watches as a breeze ruffles the grass and catche