Joss is Boss. I own nuthin'! edited 6-12-13

Howling wind, driving rain and deafening thunder battered and tore at River as she tried to raise herself for the final leg back to Serenity. Her small dancer's limbs felt heavy as she brought her feet forward for another shuffling step. She could not recollect how she got there; she knew that Captain Daddy had been at her side, along with Zoe. But now she couldn't suss out what happened after the fight.

The drop had gone south from the get go, there had been an attempt at a double cross, she had sensed it and had been about to warn the others but had been too late. Shots started to fly and the weapon cracked through the fragile walls she had placed around it and preceded to take her over. She had separated from the captain so as not to harm him, but in doing so had cut herself off from help of any kind. Jayne could not reach her in time as the enemy over powered her and he screamed as his albatross was pushed over the side of the cliff. He knew, despite everything he felt she would not be flying out of this one.

Now some hours later, she was trying to get back to her family. She knew that they were looking for her even in this storm. She felt their fear and dread washing over her like the rain as she tried again to stand and continue to where she heard their thoughts coming from. Captain Daddy and Zoe were the calmest. They had slipped into soldier mode, methodically going over their respected sectors looking for any sign of her. Simon and Kaylee were next to useless such was their panic. In turn they were slowing down Book as he tried to calm them down and pray for her safety.

That left Jayne. She could feel that he was close, heard his yells for her resounding through her mind. Leave it to him to know his voice was useless, he just kept repeating her name in his head over and over. The man-ape gone wrong was steadily moving over the terrain of the valley heading for the spot he had watched her fall off the cliff. She kept her focus on him, taking shelter in his mind and finding a little comfort in his familiar presence.

The squall, all the while had kept up its relentless movement against her body robbing her of what little heat she had from her tattered dress. Her dual Kris blades, Binky Jr. and Mable, whom she had managed to hold on to, were back in her thigh holsters. The reaver ax, which she and Jayne had agreed not to bestow a name to, was strapped to her back between her shoulder blades; however, in the fall she had lost Emily, the pistol that Mal had given her after the fight on Miranda.

As her brain cataloged the damages to her arsenal, Jayne moved steadily closer to where she was. He didn't know what or how he knew that was the area where he would find her, but he kept going with his bull-headed determination. He knew where his witch was and no hell could stand in his way getting to her.

All his tracking skills were in play, every movement of the world around him was taken in, every smell besides the rain-soaked earth was analyzed for any aroma that maybe her. His muscles were tense under the shirt that the weather had plaster to his body like a second skin. Upon making it to one of the black granite outcroppings that the rim planet was known for, he paused to rest and took a wide look around.

Please hurry Jayne-man; it's getting difficult to retain consciousness.

Feng Le Woman, I ain't never lettin' you off'n the gorram ship if'n you gonna insist on gettin' your shiny pi gu inta so much go se.

She opened up her eyes and moved her head to look up through her rain-soaked hair. Right above her little hiding spot stood the merc. His head was down, eyes searching all the small crevasses around him to see just a glimpse of her, to find some proof that he is right and he would find her alive. She watched as his eyes systematically move over the ground and saw the glimmer of recognition when he spotted her combat boot that poked out from under her clothes. Her heart sang as she witnessed his blue eyes move up her leg as if physically touching it. She could also sense his hesitation in what he may find. As his gaze came up to settle on her face, a flash of lighting, blinding white light blazed behind him and thunder crashed over head as relief could be seen spreading through every fiber of Jayne's body as he locked eyes with her over the rocky edge.

Giving a half smirk at the giant merc, her body sagged and her eyes rolled back in her skull. Vaulting down from the outcrop, Jayne rushed to River's side. Without moving her he checked her over, noticing her ankle was swelled and the skin peaking through the tears in the side of her dress showed deep bruising. Jayne slung Vera across his back and carefully grabbed the little assassin up in his arms, cautious not to jar her even more. As it was the movement still caused her to groan in her sleep. Moving as quickly as he could with his cargo, He headed back to Serenity.

"Jayne! Ya gorram qing wa cao de liu mang! - answer the com!" (frog humping son of a b-)

Mal's voice sounded desperate as the communicator on Jayne's hip squawked to life. Half sighing, half grunting Jayne shifted River in his arms so that he could reach the side pocket of his cargos for the com as the captain's voice continued to berate him for not checking in at the appointed time.

"Don't go gettin' ruttin' tetchy at me Captain, I was plumb outta range. I found River-girl and we are headin' back as'in we speak."

The relief was pliable through the com as those words were spoken. On the other side Mal sagged into the pilot's chair, not realizing until that point just how worried he got having his little Albatross, the girl who looked to him as a father, separated from the rest of the crew.

"What are your coordinates Jayne? Can ya get here on your own or should I be sendin' Zoe with the shuttle?"

Seconds later Jayne replied,

"we're 'bout two clicks south of where we run afoul o' them gorram yokels on the cliff, headin' towards ya guys now, but ya better be sendin' the Doc with Zoe, Riv is passed out, beat ta hell. So send em fast."

"They're a comin' Jayne, just stay put, been some chatter on the cortex of some not so friendly local color in that area so git ta findin a foxhole."

"Will do Cap."

"Just get your selves home."