Jayne knew River's nightmares were getting bad when she sent him to Simon for a smoother. She hated being drugged, and had been going to great lengths to avoid it, as of late.

Jayne drew himself up to his full height as he approached the infirmary door."Hey, doc?"

Simon looked up to see the mercenary standing in the doorway. "Not now, Jayne," Simon groaned. He had Kaylee in his arms, and she was giggling.

"Um, River wanted me to ask you -"

"Not now, Jayne," Simon said more firmly. "Right now I need to take my wife to bed. If no one's dying, it can wait 'til morning."

~*~

Inara grabbed River's hand and dragged her away from the melee.

"Simon!" River cried. "We have to help him!"

"Simon's fine," Inara lied calmly. "He's with Kate, they're fine. We've got to get back to the ship."

"No!" River sobbed. "It's all going to end in blood! It always ends in blood!"

"Stop it!" Inara snapped, her soothing voice becoming harsh. "Simon and Mal have more to worry about than whether you and I are all right, so we have to get back to the ship, ma shong."

River whimpered and followed Inara back to the ship.

"Where's Wash?" Inara asked Kaylee when they stumbled into the cargo bay. "Tell him to take a shuttle. Kate, Simon and Mal need an evac, now."

Jayne looked confused, taking the crying River into his arms. "We thought he was with you."

When Hannah saw River crying, she started crying, too. "Kaylee, take Hannah and River up to the mess and fix 'em a snack, wouldja?" Jayne said, a worried look on his face.

Kaylee looked doubtfully at him, but scooped Hannah up with one arm. "Come on now, girls, let's go have us a cookie or two."

"No," River said. "I'm going with you."

Jayne frowned. "'Nara can fly the shuttle, an' I can handle the cover fire, darlin'."

River gave him a look that reminded them all just how well she could handle herself, and Jayne shrugged. "Fine, then, darlin', let's go."

The sound of gunshots was all Wash could hear as he searched for Kate; his vision wa