Disclaimer – I own nothing. Should belong to Joss but I am pretty sure Fox owns the rights.
A.N. This story is a prequel to my other fic "Just the Way you Are" which means it is a Jayne/River story. Sorry, to those who don't like. I have an idea for another story in my series that focuses on River I just need the motivation to start another multi-chapter story as I am a bit burnt from my Stargate one.
Now, on to the story.
"Gorram it!" Jayne muttered viciously, pacing back and forth across the cargo bay.
They were docked on a core planet.
As in, a planet the Alliance ran.
As in, the Alliance that had sent an operative after them not six months earlier.
Not like their luck had been any better before that as far as the core went, but still. . .
Last time they'd been on a core planet the plan done gone run south . . . as usual, resultin' in a lot o' loss without enough gain, in Jayne's opinion. Never mind the fact that he was the sole reason the plan had gone south. If it hadn't been him, something would have gone wrong, just the way it seemed to be for the crew of Serenity.
Weren't nothin' in the verse that would be makin' him feel better until they'd hauled themselves off this piece of rock and were headin' back out towards the black.
Worst part about the whole gorram trip was that, for safety reasons, the Cap'n had "requested" the crew stay aboard, barrin some thrillin' heroics case the mission went afoul, again.
Even more creepifyin' than being docked in the core was the fact that, by some miracle, everything was going according to plan. Leaving Jayne Cobb lots of spare time to reflect.
Jayne hated reflecting.
Reflectin' made his head hurt.
Reflectin' meant think bout Miranda. Thinkin' on the day when they found Haven . . . dead. Sheppard may have been a preacher but, in the end, Jayne had found a strange camaraderie with the mysterious man.
Reflectin' meant rememberin' the battle where the crew had almost died. The day they almost lost Wash. Now, Jayne would be the first to confess not having any particular fondness for the little man but even he had to admit a strange feeling inside when he considered the luckishness which followed the odd pilot.
Serenity had been on final approach towards Mr. Universe's compound, and by default, his computers when it had happened. As Wash had been preparing for landing, a Reaver harpoon had launched through the cockpit, hitting Wash in the right leg, severing the limb. Only quick action from Mal along with some battlefield care from Simon had saved the man's life.
Building on the assistance the operative had given following Mal's thorough defeat; Inara had gone and pulled strings enabling the pilot to receive a week of specialized rehabilitation to get used to a new leg. Hence, sittin' on a core planet, twiddlin' their thumbs, waitin' for the whole thing to go south accorin to plan.
If some gorram reaver had tore off his leg, he wasn't sure what he would have done. At least after he'd killed the thing.
Jayne stopped his pacing suddenly as a new thought entered his head.
What kind verse was he in that had Jayne Cobb pacing back and forth like some sorta woman?
"A verse that has men who think. It's actually quite appealing you know but I understand how it would be a confusing experience for you." A small voice echoes throughout the cargo bay as a young woman's head slowly peered out from the catwalks, a smirk gracing her features.
"Gorramit girl!" Jayne exclaimed vehemently, flustered that the telepath had picked up his stray thoughts. "How many times I done told you? Stay outta my head!"
Rising from her perch in the catwalks with a single, fluid motion, the young woman began making her way down the stairs, her smirk firmly fixed upon her features. "It's not like a try to read your thoughts." She began with a quick grimace, her head quirking to one side as she sized up the man, now a mere ten feet before her. "You have a distracting habit of being loud. I'd far rather live in my own head but that is surprisingly difficult when everyone else keeps inviting themselves in and making themselves at home."
"What you goin' on about? You're crazy girl." Jayne said, as River continued to invade his personal space.
Taking no notice of his discomfort, River continued her invasion. "Do you realize that you increasingly use that as a term of endearment?" River queried, fascinated at the concept.
"A whatment?" Jayne blustered.
"An endearment. A sweet nothing? A label denoting affection?" River paused, momentarily, as Jayne tripped over the weight bench behind him before continuing with a slightly teasing tone. "I was surprised when I realized it too. It was unexpected on all levels, which is a pleasant feeling when you are a telepath. However, after much consideration I have decided to adjust to your feelings, at least when you're civil enough to keep them in your own head."
"I have what!?" Jayne exclaimed, desperately trying to keep pace with the young slip of a thing before him who was effortlessly running circles around him without moving an inch.
"I miss Sheppard too you know." River added bluntly, managing to throw the mercenary even farther into confusion. "I've always been capable of relationships, of feelings. Just with different expressions, they had to reflect the chaos within. Still cared though. Capable of relationships now too. Different types, even. Not as confused or chaotic. If someone was brave enough to chance." River continued, running her hands lightly over the weight set, which Jayne was now straddling.
"Relationships?" Jayne replied, long ago having given up any chance of gaining control of the conversation.
"I'm sorry," River said, stopping and taking in Jayne's state. "I should have gone slower. I assumed since you were thinking about it, that things would be easier if I brought it up. That way you wouldn't have to shout in my head so much."
"Speak about what?" Jayne asked warily.
"That you like me you boob," River supplied with a grin.
"I what! There ain't no gorram way in this or any other verse like you, you . . . you . . . crazy woman!"
River smiled serenely at Jayne's outburst. "Your words and your thoughts are out of balance. You should look into that. Kaylee and Simon are good at fixing things, but they're busy at the moment. Maybe you should talk to Inara instead."
River turned merrily and began skipping away, not bothering to pause as she called over her shoulder. "I'll be back in an hour to spar with you again. I quite enjoy our battles."
Jayne watched, transfixed, as the young woman danced out of sight.
Feelings?
It weren't possible. He didn't have feelings. He paid for feelings and relationships. So, why were the young woman's words echoing hauntingly in his head? How in the verse could a telepath know his innards better than him?
Okay, even he knew that was a stupid question.
Jayne's eyes widened as the reality of the girl's words hit home.
He had honest, true feeling for a woman and not just any woman. He had feelings for River Tam.
"Ai ya," Jayne muttered to himself, weakly slumping into the weight bench for support. "I'm humped."
