Joss is boss. Title is from an Alex Day song.
River wanders through Serenity after Miranda, after the battle on Mr. Universe's moon. Sleep isn't coming easy for any of them the last days. She knows that, without having to see and feel the glimmers of lights around bunk hatches
(in the dead of night cycle)
hear the quiet whispers from Kaylee's bunk where her brother sits with the mechanic
(and sometimes falls asleep sitting up, cradling Kaylee's head to his shoulder)
hear and feel the screams that surprise some of them out of dreams, see the blue-grey hollowed shadows under eyes
(deepest with Captain and Zoe)
She knows rocketing up in her own narrow bed, coarse blankets tangled rough and strangling around limbs, cold sweat pouring down between her shoulder blades, heart thumping painfully, eyes still seeing blood dripping down a blade. She knows staggering to the head to throw up, burning nightmare-induced nausea convulsing her body.
Kaylee's thoughts are the most optimistic, saying this'll pass. Simon and Inara try not to think about it. River, Mal, Zoe, Jayne – they know better. They've lived nightmares before.