Bedlam: Part Six

By Kaynara

It’s Joss’s verse--I just borrow it. Leave me feedback!

***

River shook with the convulsions, seeing it all, feeling everything. Simon carried her to the infirmary, laid her on the table.

“River?” He held her shoulders, trying to make the shaking stop.

“Oh, God,” Kaylee whispered, near tears. “Poor sweetie.”

“What in the gorram hell’s goin’ on in here?” Jayne demanded from the hallway. “Girl’s hollerin’ loud enough to wake the--” He stopped short in the doorway, seeing River’s slim, shuddering body writhe around on the table. A strange sensation twitched in his chest. Suddenly, she sat straight up, smacking her head on the hanging lamp.

“You’re the one he needs. Go to him, go to Daddy now. Go!”

Jayne scrutinized the little witch, cheeks wet, eyes blazing, hair in disarray with damp strands plastered to her forehead. He looked at Simon who shrugged helplessly, already using gauze to dab at the spot where River had hit her head.

“Something’s wrong with the cap’n?” Kaylee asked. “Oh, and Nara! Jayne!”

“I’m takin’ Inara’s shuttle,” he muttered. “Stay on the gorram ship.”

He went to find Vera.

“What about Zoe?” Kaylee murmured, holding River’s hand as Simon bandaged her temple.

“Zoe don’t go,” River said firmly. Then, whimpering, she lay back down on the table, curling her knees up to her chest in preparation for the next wave of pain.

***

A bullet, tearing through flesh, muscle. Mal let Zoe wrap his arm with a strand of fabric torn from her shirt. And suddenly it didn’t hurt anymore. Actually, felt like nothin’ more ‘n a pinprick. And then he was slipping away again. The Valley faded into the background, the sky going gray, then white. In place of star light and gun blasts, he saw the warm glow of Chinese lanterns. The smell of death became incense, maybe vanilla. He sucked in air, so clean after the filth of the valley. Then he remembered.

“Just a few drops of the antidote, Mr. Reynolds.” A small, bespectacled face loomed be