Title: Whispers in Nightmares

Author: YouCantStopTheSignal

Fandom: Firefly

Rating: PG-13 for language

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Firefly characters. Joss Whedon does. Thank him. I make no money from any of this.

Notes: I warn you now that this is not going to be a fanfic about the stupid mercenary named Jayne Cobb, who sometimes can’t even form a correct sentence.

This is set after “Objects in Space” but before “Serenity”.

There will be violence, language, etc. should the moment arise.

Yes, I know this part was short, but I will make up for it in the next one. Many, Many things are about to happen, so it will be quite a long chapter.

Would you like to talk more about the fanfic in a thread? Go here: Whispers In Nightmares: General Thread

This is my first fanfic ever, so excuse me if it’s not exactly up to par. I hope you will understand that I will probably have some spelling/grammar/ etc. mistakes. Hey, I’m not perfect. The beginning is a little slow, but believe me the action will kick in soon.

Any Comment/Criticism is definitely welcome. Have any ideas? Message me. Tell me what you think about the story. Tell me what you think about the characters.

Enjoy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He sighed heavily, reaching for the worn out cover on the dirty floor. He stopped, jerking his hand back under his stomach for continued warmth. Gorram thing didn’t even cover his whole body anyway.

He knew he was in store for another sleepless night on board Serenity. He reached for his rugged boots adorned with smudges of mud. His exhausted mind and weakened limbs pleaded with him to go back into the peaceful ecstasy of slumber, but he was set on the tightening of shoelaces on his feet. He stood, extending his aching arms above his throbbing head.

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An incandescent glow greeted Jayne as he stepped into the dining hall. The ship was deathly quiet tonight. He figured it was due to all the hard work they’d done; haulin’ boxes, gun fightin’ and such were just a small number of things they’d conquered in a few hours time. Any normal human being would want to sleep after such a ruttin’ day. He took a seat at the far end of the table, his head held in his large hands.

“Somethin’ wrong?” A man’s voice rang throughout the quiet room.

Jayne jumped a bit, startled by the strong voice. “Wu de tyen ah feng du, Mal! It ain’t healthy sneakin’ up on a man like that.” His fingers released the knife in his grasp, shoving the thing back into his pocket and weaving their way back up to the wooden table.

“Wasn’t sneakin’. It’s my ship. Why would I need to sneak?” The Captain retorted, pulling up a chair next to Jayne.

“Sure as hell seemed like it to me.” Jayne replied in an agitated tone.

“You’re not sleepin’ much these past few nights Jayne. Somethin’ runnin’ around in that head of yours?” Mal asked watching the mercenary closely.

“Ain’t nuthin’ Mal. Just can’t sleep is all.” Jayne answered. He knew the Captain was studying him intently, waiting for the truth to spill from his dry lips. He would not give in.

“You and I both know that ain’t the half of it. Dong ma? So you want to tell me what’s actually been botherin’ you?” The Captain’s brow was now uplifted, his face set in stone.

Jayne slammed his fist down on the table; the anger boiled in his veins. Why did Mal have to be so damned persistent? Another lie. It was what his life had boiled down to from the moment he made that damned decision, a decision that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

“Alright Mal. You wanna know? I’m thinkin’ ‘bout the drop off tomorrow. Got a couple enemies-” Jayne was cut off when Mal threw his hands up in the air.

“Whoa. Hold on. This ain’t gonna turn out like Canton is it Jayne?” Mal inquired hastily.

“Not that I know of Mal. Just a couple of guys wantin’ to take a pair of bullets to my heart is all.” Jayne whispered.

Mal sighed deeply, his hand running through his disheveled hair. “Alright Jayne. Just keep a close watch out. You should get some sleep. We’re planning to arrive in about three hours.” Mal stood, setting the chair back into place, walking off into the darkness.

Jayne gave a long sigh. It wasn’t hard playing the dumb mercenary; he could convince almost anyone. Lying wasn’t hard either; the crew believed his “simple” brain could only calculate in certain ways. Oh, how they were wrong. So wrong. Jayne sneered, standing from the table.

“Oh, and Jayne.” Mal’s head popped around the corner; his tired eyes landing on Jayne.

“Gorrammit Mal! What’d I tell you ‘bout sneakin’ up on me?” The knife that was once again in Jayne’s large hand found its home in an old, dirty pocket.

“You should get clean. It’s a big city, and you’ll stick out like a sore thumb if you look…and smell like that.” Mal’s head was gone once again. Footsteps faded from the room.

Jayne cleared his throat, his hand going to touch the unkempt beard on his chin. He would have to get a hold on himself. Guard his thoughts. Otherwise…He shook his head. He did not want to think of what would happen.

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The cool water sprinkled down on his nude form. He savored the feeling of the chilly droplets touching his bare skin. He had been standing in the same spot for over an hour in the showers, letting all his pain and suffering drown with the water under his feet. He groaned.

“An hour ain’t much sleep.” He told himself. His hands tousled his dark, wet hair. He turned the shower off; wrapping a tattered, white towel around his lower half, he walked through the corridors to his bunk. Closing the door, he walked to the middle of his bunk. Clothes were strewn about, all unclean, on his cluttered floor. He dropped the towel and threw it onto his bed. Sulking, he tried to look for a clean pair of clothes. He moaned. No such luck.

“Jayne? Capt’n says-” Kaylee stopped, her eyes going wide, staring at Jayne’s nude backside.

“Cap’n says to go to the cargo bay. H-he needs you there. We’re landing soon.” Her voice was shaky. His door closed, and the sound of Kaylee’s boots could be heard running.

He shook his head. It was going to be one long hell of a day. ---------------------------------------------- gorram – god damn or gosh darn wu de tyen ah feng du – dear god in heaven or hell dong ma? – do you understand

------------------------------------------------- Haven't read the second one? Whispers In Nightmares II- The Silent Pain Behind Those Eyes -------------------------------------------------