The Universe's Mixer

River's life was, comparatively, calm. She preferred it that way, actually. She had her chances to dance, she had time to see Hannibal, and Wash and Zoe were back. And Mal. She knew Mal was here, too. She could feel it.

Life was good.

She'd left the hospital, and her newly-returned friend who was in love with jell-o, with a smile on her face. And almost immediately, that smile cracked and fell.

Simon.

She felt a knot in her stomach. A big, hard coil of tension that was going to burn and burn until there was nothing left of her to feed the fire.

There was a really, really large truck. Huge. And it had come so close, so very close, to where her brother was sitting...

River stopped in her tracks and shuddered. She closed her eyes, but she still felt the burning, the uneasiness, and she still knew what had happened. A woman had died. A woman who sat near Simon. The nurse. The nurse! And... and...

Without realizing it, River's feet starting leading her right to her brother. Fast and faster, her boots hit the sidewalk.

Until she was running. And River didn't stop until she saw her brother coming toward her.