Author: BlazeorFade
Rating: K
Spoilers: Slight For Serenity and the episode Ariel
Summary: Jayne has been meaning to say something to River.
Disclaimer: No, Joss Wedon still owns them, I guess he didn't get my offer in the mail yet. Damn snail mail.
He pulled the brush through her long dark hair slowly while the rest of Serenity slept on. They sat in the empty kitchen with only whir of machines interrupting the silence. River would move her head into the strokes of the brush and smile like a cat being pet. Jayne liked brushing her hair, it calmed him down, the simple task gave him an excuse not to think. But he couldn't find his usual peace in their nightly ritual that he usually did. Something was bugging him, eating at his conscience. If he was honest with himself this had been bugging him for awhile even since before she first sneaked into his bunk one night months ago.
It started after Miranda, when he found a new respect for the moonbrain. He'd look at her think of what she'd had to live with in that head of hers and feel sharp pangs of guilt for trying to sell her to the Alliance back on Ariel. Not like what he felt just after the fact when he was asking Mal not to tell the others, that was shame, guilt's less painful cousin.
"Jayne." Her voice snapped him back to the present.
"What?" He asked sounding more agitated than he should have.
"She forgives you, she knows Jayne didn't mean it." River said in the disarming calm way she had that almost made you forget she just read your mind.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stay out of my gorram head girl." Jayne said without any really heat. He couldn't suppress the relief that filled him though. Sometimes it helped him find the words when he didn't really have to because his River knew what he wanted to say even when he didn't.
"She knows that too." She said smiling up at him, one eyebrow quirked up.
"We should be getting to bed, Serenity ain't gonna fly 'erself tomorrow." Jayne replied clearing his throat.
"Okay." River said not budging from her place in his lap.
"I ain't carryin you again River." Jayne sai rolling his eyes.
"Yes you will." River said in that matter of fact way she had.
"Oh really?" Jayne asked in annoyance she nodded resoutely.
"And why's that again?" Jayne asked feelign like he wasn't going to like the answer.
"Because I can kill you with my mind." River said dead serious. Jayne froze feeling a tremble of fear run through him.
"Kidding." River said breaking into a wide grin.
"Damnit girl. Don't be saying things like tat you'll give someone a heart attack." Jayne scolded. She just giggled and smiled expectantly at him.
"Fine but I don't see why you can't just walk, I know you ain't no delicate flower." Jayne said gathering her in arms as he stood up. She didn't weigh a thing it was just another nightly ritual they had, arguing over her legs not being broken. Jayne liked that almost as much as brushing her hair.
"Thank you Jayne." River said snuggling into his arms as he carried her to their bunk.
"Yeah yeah Bao Bei." Jayne replied.
-Fin