Finally a new story I hear you all cry...well maybe one person way at the back.
Relationships: pre-existing Rayne, implied Mal-Inara, implied Simon-Kaylee
Disclaimer: I own nothing, I just play here.
Please read and review!
Crying in the Night
Jayne Cobb was not a man you trusted with anything important. Which is what made her plan so incredibly stupid.
Jayne Cobb was a man with a gun in one hand, a bottle of the strongest whisky in the other and a whore on his lap.
Only this time the girl didn't look much like a whore. She's younger than normal, with long dark hair and Jayne actually looks like he might care about her. But this is Jayne Cobb – he doesn't care about anybody but himself. He's with his usual partners in crime – Reynolds and Zoë, and Wash. Kaylee is nowhere to be seen. Their table is strewn with empty glasses. Obviously celebrating a job well done if they have the coin to be drinking this much.
Jayne wraps his arms around the girl's waist and says something in her ear. She laughs.
Lillia Govan feels slightly sick. She doesn't want to do this but she has no choice. She steps back and turns away. This is for the best. It's always got to be for the best. I can't do this, she thinks suddenly staring at him. I can't live my life in that way. I have to go back to work now. It would be better to speak to Jayne alone anyhow.
Jayne ponders the fruit stall in the market and can't remember if River prefers cherries or raspberries. So he settles on one small punnet of each and pays the man. He is just settling the brown paper bag in his hands when someone grabs his arm from behind.
He whirls, a hand dropping to his pistol. "Lillia?"
Then his eyes widen as she shove the basket against his chest. He fumbles to catch it before it drops to the floor.
"Take care of her," she manages to say brokenly before turning and setting off at a run.
"Gorramit!" Jayne struggles to hold the basket in one arm while trying to grab the woman. She dodges his hand and he nearly drops the basket. When he looks up again she is gone. He stares around at the crowds in the market place searching for her. She presses her back against the wall just out of his sight and feels her breath coming in ragged gasps. Lillia peeps back out from her hiding place. Jayne is peering inside the basket with a frown. When he realises what it is his face goes white as a sheet. He stares around again, a look of panic on his face. Then he sets off in the direction of the docks, and Lillia knows that she will probably never see him again. Never see her again either. She wipes the hot tears from her face with a grubby hand and wonders if she did the right thing.
The ship is quiet in the middle of the day. The rest of the crew are off in the town doing whatever it is they do all day.
Jayne runs up the catwalk steps cradling the basket in his arms. "Inara!" he yells barrelling to her door. Gorram let her be here. He bangs on the door with a fist. "Inara!" he bellows.
She opens the door frowning. "What is it Jayne?" she asks her voice more than a little frosty.
"I need help. Your help." Jayne shoves past her and sets the basket down gently on her bed. "Look."
"If this is something disgusting then I don't want to know," Inara says gingerly pulling back the blankets in the basket. She gasps. "Where did you get this?" she demands.
Jayne pulls the crumpled note from his back pocket and reads it aloud. "Please look after our daughter Jayne. You know I can't, because you know what I do. I can't raise a little girl into this life. I swear she's yours. Her name is Ellie. Take care of my baby girl. Lillia." He holds it out to Inara. "She was a whore Inara. I saw her last time we were planetside here. Before River. She thrust this basket into my arms in the market and disappeared." He sinks to sit on an ornate sofa. "I ain't able to raise a kiddie! What the hell am I gonna do? Mal is gonna kill me," he groans. "And what do I tell River?"
Inara lifts the baby girl out of the basket carefully and cradles her against her chest. Ellie makes a soft gurgle but remains asleep.
"Mal doesn't have to know. Nor River," Inara says slowly.
"What?" Jayne looks up at the Companion, surprise written all over his face.
"Next port of call is Fiyero is it not?"
"Yeah…"
"Well if you don't feel you can raise this little girl then I have friends there who can make sure she is cared for. She would be adopted into a privileged family. But think very hard about it Jayne. And I would expect your help for the days until we get there." Inara eyes the little baby a little sadly.
"Of course! Ship like this ain't a place to raise a baby without a mother."
"Then we'll keep her in here. I can dissuade the captain and crew from coming here. You just have to behave normally."
Jayne nods firmly and says two words that Inara swears she has never heard him utter. "Thank you."
"You know what the trick of a long life is?" Simon gestures at the captain with a forkful of protein. "Stay out of range!" His voice is exasperated. "There! Good medical advice, and free!"
Mal shovels protein into his mouth and grins round it. "Weren't my fault!"
Zoë rolls her eyes. "No sir."
"We got jumped!"
"I'm not picking buck shot out of Zoë's ass though am I?" Simon retorts archly.
Wash raises an eyebrow. "Wouldn't want your doctor's hands anywhere near my wife's ass Simon."
Kaylee giggles.
Mal fixes her with a look. "Don't think those thoughts at the dinner table Kaylee."
She giggles a bit harder and sneaks a look at Simon who is now staring very intently at his plate and going slightly pink.
Jayne is strangely silent throughout the whole exchange. That is very odd, thinks Mal. Normally Jayne has a smart alec remark for just such situations as these. Especially if it means he gets the chance to embarrass Simon. Despite River always trying to make him leave her brother alone, he still persisted. But not today. He sits silently beside River, shovelling food into his mouth. She glances at him with a small frown.
Inara stands and takes her plate to the sink. "Goodnight all," she says flashing that bright smile to them all as she leaves. Mal notices that it lingers a little too long on his mercenary. Jayne returns the smile for the briefest second and looks at the table.
"I…err...I'm tired." Jayne fakes the worst yawn ever, and shoves his chair back with a screech on the floor. "Night Riv," he says pressing a hurried kiss to the side of her head, and then disappears out the door after Inara.
Mal detects an unhealthy alliance between those two. That would not be good. And it would probably be at his expense. He shifts in his seat. Then winces. He doesn't realise he has grunted in pain until he glances up to see the rest of the crew staring at him.
"Told you, you needed a cushion," Simon says smugly and carries on eating.
"Probably ain't mine anyhow," Jayne rubs his nose and scowls at the basket.
Inara looks over at him a little reproachfully. "What makes you say that?"
"She was a whore that's why," he says aggressively. "I was just nearby. Easy man to blame."
"Really?" Inara's voice is calm and she keeps fussing with the baby's blankets.
"Don't look anything like me."
Inara sits back, satisfied that the baby is settled and doesn't respond.
"How come you know where to unload the kid?" he asks a moment later.
"It isn't the first time I've done it."
Jayne's eyes widen. "You…?"
She shakes her head. "Back on Sihnon one of the younger Companions fell pregnant by accident. The man didn't want to know. So we found some people who would help us. Its easy enough for a Companion to disappear for a few months." She shrugs and Jayne suddenly sees a different side to her. She seems more relaxed around him suddenly. Jayne has to think about if they have ever had a conversation and realises that they haven't. Not ever.
He looks up at her face as she coos over the baby and feels uncomfortable in her shuttle so he gets to his feet. "I gotta go," he says awkwardly. "Thanks Inara."
There it is again, think Wash setting down his t-rex on the radar screen. A sound from the front hold. A scuffling sound. Like little feet running about. He shudders. Maybe its rats. They'd had rats on Serenity once. Buggers to get rid of. Mal had rented three cats in the end, much to Kaylee's delight.
Wash stands and creeps to the top of the stairs. "Hello?"
There is a little more scrabbling. Wash picks up a t-rex and holds it by its tail so he can use it like a club as he descends the stairs. "Who's down here?"
He finds River sitting against the wall, crying.
"River? What's wrong?"
She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "Its Jayne."
"Scooch over," Wash sits himself on the floor beside her and slips his arm around the girl's shoulders. "Jayne's an ass. Surprised it took you this long to realise."
She punches him in the arm. "I'm serious."
"So am I," Wash says rubbing the feeling back into his arm. "That hurt."
"Sorry. Just Jayne is never around! He's always with Inara. I don't think he loves me anymore."
"Don't be silly," Wash says but hugs her extra tightly against him, because deep down he isn't so sure.
"Hold her."
"What?"
Inara pushes the baby into Jayne's arms as she fusses over something. Jayne stares down at the tiny bundle he is clutching between his hands in horror. He doesn't know anything about babies. Sure he's held them, his sisters-in-law made him. But raising them was women's work. Jayne adjusts her so she is laying along one arm. He pokes the baby in the chest.
"You stay quiet you hear!" he warns softly.
Ellie grabs hold of his finger in her tiny hand and gurgles at him quietly. Jayne can't help but smile at her. Maybe she does have his eyes just a little bit. She looks the littlest bit like Maddie did when she was born.
He glances up to see Inara smiling soppily at him.
"Don't," he growls.
"Wasn't doing anything," she says back but thinks secretly that maybe Jayne will come round.
"What in the sphincter of hell is that noise?" Mal demands, scrambling up into the corridor wearing just his under shorts and his boots.
Kaylee is standing in the corridor; her overall half-pulled on over her pink nightdress. She is rubbing her eyes blearily.
"Is that River?" she asks worriedly. "Sounds like crying."
Mal shrugs just as a hatch opens behind them. Wash and Zoë climb out into the corridor. Zoë is fully dressed although Wash is wearing only his boxer shorts with a bright Hawaiian shirt over the top.
"What is that?" Wash asks, sleepily.
Mal, despite his near nakedness, takes charge. "Zoë go wake Simon. I'm waking Jayne up. River obviously ain't with him tonight."
He goes to Jayne's door and kicks it repeatedly until he hears movement below.
Zoë appears at the end of the corridor, a sleepy bare-chested Simon trailing behind her. He runs a hand through his already awry hair, and looks at the captain.
"What's going on?"
"Don't rightly know my ownself at this moment," Mal replies. "Jayne! Get your ass up! Just trying to work out what this noise is. Thought it might be River."
Simon shakes his head. "This isn't River."
Just at that moment, Jayne emerges from his bunk, looking guilty as sin, wearing combat trousers and boots. River is behind him, shivering in her nightdress and bare feet, and looking confused. Mal notes Jayne's guilty look.
"Jayne?" he says firmly.
Jayne stares resolutely at the floor.
"Jayne." There is warning in his voice. "Do you know what that gorram noise is?" Mal growls.
Jayne looks at River and takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry," he mutters to her.
"What?" she looks perplexed.
Jayne looks back at Mal. "It's a baby."
"A what?"
Jayne sighs. "Follow me." He leads them to Inara's shuttle, the wailing sound getting louder. He bangs on the door. "'Nara? Its me."
Mal frowns at the over familiarity in the merc's voice. River looks unhappy and Simon slips an arm around her shoulders, all the while glaring at the back of Jayne's head.
The door opens, and Inara is standing there with a screaming bundle of blankets in her arms. She looks tired.
"Ssshhh ssshh," Jayne murmurs in a most un-Jayne like way and carefully takes the bundle from Inara. He rocks it gently until the crying subsides.
Everyone else is standing there staring at him in various states of shock.
Then Mal speaks, "What the name of good gorram is a baby doing on my ship?"
"Mal…" Inara starts softly.
"Where did you nick it from?" He demands of Jayne.
"Nick it?" Jayne's eyes go wide. "No, I ain't nicked her. She's mine."
"Yours?" Simon's voice has frosted over. "And you were going to tell my little sister about this when?"
Wash glances at Zoë and mutters out of the side of his mouth, "Don't Jayne eat babies?"
Zoë kicks him in the ankle. Wash yelps and gives her a reproachful look.
River stares at Jayne wide eyed. "A baby?"
He nods. "Ellie. Her mother thrust her into my arms in the market on Blackbird. Never knew she existed 'til then. Baby girl I'm so sorry."
River steps forwards and carefully pulls back the blanket over the baby in Jayne's arms. Ellie stares up at her with big blue eyes.
"She's beautiful."
"Aww how cute!" Kaylee exclaims, leaning in.
Mal folds his arms. "Yes she's lovely. Don't explain why you and the Ambassador were hiding her on my ship though!"
Jayne pulls a face and glances at Inara. "Knew you'd be like this."
"Like what exactly?" Mal asks face dark.
"Like you got a burr under yer tail," Jayne says quietly. "I weren't gonna keep her."
"I know people. Good people, who can help us find her a home," Inara says softly looking at Mal.
"What?" Kaylee stares at Jayne. "You can't!"
Jayne looks at her sadly. "What do I know about babies Kaylee?"
"But her mama…"
"Knew she would never see her again when she left her with me," Jayne interrupts her. "Her mama were a whore." He turns his gaze to River. "River baby I never meant…"
Simon cuts in. "To get caught?"
River rests a hand against her brother's arm. "I understand Jayne. Ellie came before River." She looks at Simon carefully. "Baby needs to be checked over Doctor."
Simon raises an eyebrow then sighs and looks at Jayne. "May I?"
Jayne shrugs and holds the bundle towards Simon. Simon awkwardly takes Ellie from Jayne's arms. Kaylee is staring at him all gooey eyed as he jiggles the baby.
"There's a good girl," he is saying softly. "Just got to take you to the infirmary and get you all checked out haven't we?" He suddenly looks up and realises everyone is staring at him. "Umm yes infirmary." He starts walking down the catwalk. Jayne follows him, like a protective daddy bear.
"No ideas Kaylee!" Mal warns sternly wagging his finger at her. He looks back at Inara. "So you were just going to help Jayne unload this kid out of the goodness of your heart?"
"The child deserves a chance Mal. Jayne came to me because he thought I could help."
River suddenly hugs her. "Thank you for this Inara."
Inara blinks in surprise as River skips off after her brother and Jayne. Mal makes a sceptical grunt in his throat and heads after them.
After baby Ellie has been weighed and generally checked over by Simon who declares she is in perfect health, everyone drifts back to bed. Except Mal, and River, and Jayne who stands there holding Ellie and looking for all the 'verse like he is about to face the firing squad.
"Why didn't you tell me?" River asks softly, staring at Jayne, eyes wide.
"I didn't know how," he says. "How on earth do you tell your girl about this? It'll be over soon anyway." He looks down at the baby in his arms. "She'll have a proper family won't she? It'll be like this never happened."
He glances once at Mal and walks purposefully out of the infirmary. Mal sighs and looks at River who looks even more like a little girl than ever, her wide eyes staring sorrowfully at the now empty doorway.
"River…" he starts gruffly. She walks forwards silently and he just envelops her in his arms. He hugs her tightly against him and suddenly feels very fatherly towards her. He feels her rest her cheek against his bare chest and sighs to himself. The little slip of a thing he's holding ain't much more than a girl herself and now Jayne's gone and got himself a real live baby.
Simon corners Inara before he goes back to bed, he bangs on her door and she answers wearing a practically see-through Chinese silk robe. He folds his arms awkwardly across his bare chest.
"Why did you help him?" he finally says.
She gestures at him to enter her shuttle and waits until he is sat on one end of an ornate sofa before she answers him.
"Jayne needed help. Who was I to say no? You saw how the Captain reacted. I think that was rather tame considering the crew was standing there."
"But didn't you think about River?"
"Of course I did Simon." Inara sits down beside him and rests a hand on his arm. "I didn't want her to find out. She's fragile and Jayne was worried about their relationship. Do you really think she's ready to be a mother?"
Simon shakes his head and looks down her hand. He suddenly seems to realise that he is sitting, half naked, in a Companion's shuttle in the middle of the night, and flushes redly. "I err…had...better ummm." He stands. "Goodnight Inara."
"Goodnight Simon," she says softly. "Don't worry about River so much. I think she could surprise you."
He pauses in the doorway and looks back at her. He smiles a little sadly. "That's what I'm worried about."