The dreams always came when her body was at it's most vulnerable, tension, stress, fatigue…most of all fear…no control, she held no control of them and she hated it. Little slices and drips of blood…and the color…crimson. She had been dripping…looked like she'd been shoved through a shredder when he was done slicing her…the cuts where small, cuts that would heal…but wounds he'd said that would never show, however they'd be burned in her memory. His laughter was there too…in the dreams it always started with the sound of his laugh…it made her skin crawl.

"You will live, I will see to it. You will tell others of this and my reputation remains…solid." He'd smiled at her…and in her memory, she always saw his teeth in that same crimson color, like he'd taken a bite of her. He'd made sure she was awake enough to watch him slice Nirra…as she'd screamed for her life while Jordona could do nothing. Jo'd been helpless and he knew it. He'd turned to her as he'd raised the knife and let it play slowly along Nirra's neck. "Should I let her live? Maybe we flip coin again and see who fate chooses this time…will it be you…or her?" He said pressing the tip a little harder this time. A slow trickle of red, his smile got wider as Nirra whimpered…or had that been her? She'd begged then, "Don't…" it came out a whisper.

"Why not? You care that much, you prefer your life sacrificed instead of hers…it can be arranged Ms. Macleod." He'd watched her then as he'd walked toward her, the knife turning ever so slowly in his grip, "Maybe I kill you both…hmm? Maybe we not need you alive to send message."

She was almost certain she had stopped breathing for a minute. She swallowed as he stepped up beside her and gripped a fistful of her hair in his free hand. "Maybe I leave you alive but not so pretty…I take an eye, or maybe I carve your face up like pumpkin." He'd seen the fear and laughed as he'd let her go with a shove that had sent her body swinging by the chains that held her up. She'd moaned as she came to rest again. When she'd been able to refocus, he was standing again beside Nirra, the knife placed along her throat. His hands where steady as he stared at the other girl eye to eye. "I want you to know as you die, that it was all her fault that you find yourself here…" He said raising a finger and pointing it at Jordona. "No…" Jo had whispered as she watched his smile grow. He'd looked at her then and in one swift motion he'd cut Nirra's throat.

It was with that picture still clear in her mind that she woke up screaming. The screams ripped from her throat and left her breathless. She fought to breathe and then started to sob. She was on one of the couches across from the dining area and she was shaking so hard she couldn't move. As she lay there, she heard footsteps pounding along the corridor, and voices calling to each other…and to then to her through the doorway. Mal was first to her side followed closely by Simon. "Is she alright?" she heard Simon ask Mal.

"Jo…" Mal had said softly brushing hair from her face. She saw Simon reach for a towel, "Here…press it against her nose, it should slow the bleeding…bring her to med bay and I can get her cleaned up."

It was the word blood that made her look down, she saw it on her hand and as she got a look at the color she screamed again, shoving away from them both startling them as she scrambled as far as she could get. Mal grabbed her before she got far, he was talking to her but she couldn't understand what he was saying…it was like everything was slow motion and as she raised her hand to fight him off she saw again what haunted her dreams and she slid into darkness with a whimper.

Aboard Niska's Space Station

Niska sat fingers steepled under his chin as he stared silently out a window into the black. The man standing behind him stood patiently waiting.

"And you know this is certain?"

"Yes sir, from those that saw her and the other woman they boarded a firefly…we checked around…it was definitely Serenity."

Niska felt a smile spread slowly and he chuckled. "I have been waiting for chance to finish little talk with Captain Reynolds…now is as good a time as any. Find them."

"Yes sir we're already doing that. Sir there is something else we found while we where planet side."

"Oh….and that is what?"

"Captain Reynolds is newly married."

Niska's smile was now full fledged. "This is getting better by minute."

"That's not all sir, you have had past dealings with his new wife."

"Oh? And who is Mrs. Reynolds?"

"Jordona Macleod, Sir."

Niska laughed out loud…."The gods have been kind to me today and you have done good job. Notify me when they are located."

"Yes sir."

Niska watched as his man left. He couldn't have wiped the smile off his face if he tried. He picked up the long blade on his desk and turned it in his hand. "This will be great fun indeed."

Serenity's Med Bay

Jo came to with a jolt as Simon waved smelling salts under her nose. Mal was standing beside her fear pulling his face tight as he watched. He spoke low making soothing sounds and running a slow hand through her hair. She sucked in a shaky breathe and sat back as she fought to recall why she was where she was. It came back with frightening clarity, "Bad dream…" She muttered in explanation bringing a shaky hand to her nose.

"I cleaned it up…" Simon told her touching her hand in reassurance. She nodded and looked around her the entire crew was present. She felt heat steal over her cheeks as she realized that she'd woken the whole of the ship with her screams. "Oh god, I'm sorry…" She said sitting up.

Zoe smiled at her, "It's ok…we figured it was just River's piloting skills."

"Hey…" The girl in question said with a slight scowl at Zoe.

"Joke Mei Mei…" Simon said to River.

"Yeah, but not a good one." River said defensively.

"Sorry…" Zoe said with an apologetic glance at River.

"It's okay." The girl said with a shrug.

Jo smiled at the banter and sighed as she glanced up at her husband. He was watching her closely. "Sorry…" She said low.

"Wanna tell me what happened?" He asked.

She looked around and realized that everyone was watching her. "Um…"

Mal looked away from her and around the room. "Everyone can see she's gonna be ok, back to bed with the lot of ya. We have a long few days ahead of us." He watched as they slowly scattered after letting Jo know they where glad she was ok. Simon stayed behind and said, "You let me know if you need anything else…" Jo nodded, "Thanks Doc." He nodded as he headed to his and Kaylee's quarters.

She was looking at her hands intently trying to not let them shake. She sighed and closed her eyes a moment before she glanced back at Mal. He was watching her again with that intent look that always made her think that he could see through her. She gave a small smile, "I'm sorry?"

He shook his head with a sigh, "Spill…" He told her as he ran a hand through her hair again.

She nodded, "I've had the same dream on and off over the last few years since my run in with Niska…it's always the same and it always scares the hell out of me. This time it was just more intense then I can remember it ever being. It's normally like I'm on the outside looking in, but this time It was like it was happening to me all over again. I think it's why when I saw the blood I tweaked so badly."

"Do you normally get a bloody nose afterward?" He asked her.

She shook her head, "No…that was new too. Really Mal, I think it's just…" She shook her head, "I don't know how I'm gonna handle seeing him again up close and personal."

"Your not….not if I can help it." He told her.

She swallowed, "Have you ever heard the tale to slay a dragon you have to face it head on?"

He shook his head, "Niska is no dragon. He's a sick, twisted old man. One with a fair penchant for a love of blood. No Jo, final answer."

They stared at each other, Jo wasn't certain she wanted to argue with him but in her heart she knew she'd never get over what that freak of nature had done to her unless she faced him at some point. She sighed; they had a few days to work things out. "Can we go to bed?" She asked him.

He nodded and helped her stand up. He pulled her into his arms then and held her inhaling her scent. Before letting her go he bent and kissed her. As they pulled apart, he told her, "After nine years I got you back and I don't plan on lettin' anything bad happen to you if I can help it. Dong Ma?"

She nodded deciding to let tomorrow take care of itself and wanting only to sleep the night in her husband's safe embrace. She let him lead her back toward their quarters uttering a silent prayer for a dreamless sleep.