Disclaimer: Firefly: The Series and Serenity: The Firefly Movie and all related characters are copyright 2002-2005 Mutant Enemy, Inc., Universal Pictures, and 20th Century Fox. This is a work of fanfiction. No copyright infringement is intended.
No one saw it coming. In our daily lives, we are often blinded to what goes on around us as we focus on our own wants, needs, and problems. No one ever noticed the furtive glances, secret meetings, and under the table touches. If they heard music coming from Jayne's bunk more often than normal, no one seemed to think anything of it. So when the blast doors closed and they assumed she had sacrificed herself to save them, no one noticed Jayne's hand reach out as if trying to grasp the impossible, while a single tear rolled down his cheek.
Then the blast doors opened and they all saw her standing there, weapons in hand, with a killer's gleam in her eye and only Zoe and Jayne knew it for what it was. But everyone noticed when Jayne crawled as slow as could be allowed up to River and everyone heard when he started to quietly speak to her.
"I know you prolly got an awful fight goin' on in that head of yours about how you got a few more people you need ta' be killin', but I was hopin' that mebbe before yah did, we could sing our song one last time."
At this River said nothing, but locked her fierce stare directly on Jayne as he shakily began to sing, his low gravelly voice echoing through the space.
"Now I'm outta control
I know
There's gon' be casualties"
Much to everyone's surprise, River lowered her weapon slightly as her higher more unsure voice joined with his.
"And when I get goin'
Let them know
You're the only who can stop me (Help, help)
You're the only who can stop me, stop me (Help, help)
You're the only who can stop me, stop me (Help, help)"
"I love yah kitten"
And then she was hugging him, her arms wrapped around him tightly and it was the sweetest feeling in the verse. Their tears finally began to fall and intermingling as they did, made Jayne think that perhaps for once everything was going to be alright.