Title: Dodging Bullets

Author: Lady Taevyn

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Jayne/River (if you stand on your head and squint sideways at it.)

Summary: She moved around Jayne putting him between her and whatever it was that had spooked her. Several seconds later Jayne knew what she was hiding from.

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns 'em, I'm just playing in the sand box.

A/N: I love the idea of Protective!Jayne. Do let me know what you think.

River had finally calmed down some; well as much as a crazy person can calm. She still danced and twirled around Serenity; but she was starting to make more sense to the people around her. That's not to say she didn't still talk in riddles, 'cause she did that plenty, they were just easier to figure out. You just had to take a few seconds to think it through. Since she'd taken to spending most of her time around Jayne (though why she'd want to do that no one knew), he had become the most adept at deciphering what she was saying. They were in the cargo bay, Jayne was spotting her while she did a set of pull-ups when she suddenly stiffened and dropped from the rings onto the floor. She moved around Jayne putting him between her and whatever it was that had spooked her. Several seconds later Jayne knew what she was hiding from.

"Mei-mei, come on it's time for your med's. River please don't make this any harder then it has to be." Simon's voice echoed though the empty spaces. River grabbed onto the back of Jayne's shirt like she didn't ever plan on letting it go. This could turn very bad very quickly. She was making scared little whimpering noises in the back of her throat and Jayne knew he probably wouldn't have heard them if she wasn't pressed along the whole length of him. He reached behind him to run a soothing hand along her back, trying to reassure her that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. He had taken it upon himself in the days after 'Miranda' to act as her shield and protector. It was the least he could do for the girl-woman-weapon that had killed his worst nightmare.

"Did ya ever think that maybe she don't want the gorram drugs. That maybe they do more hurtin' then they do helpin'?" Jayne asked as Simon came to a stop in front of him.

"What do you know? This mixture of medicine is formulated to calm nerves, stop hallucinations and strengthen the emotional center of her brain. It will help her be, in your words, less 'moon-brained'." Simon responded jutting out his chin, wondering where the merc had gotten his medical degree from. At Jayne's back River stiffened, hoping against hope that he could stop her brother from giving her the medicine. It made her brain feel like a heavy wet blanket was wrapped too tight around it. She hated that feeling.

"I know that before you strolled in here with that thing," Jayne pointed derisively at the medical injector in the doctor's hand, "River had been working on beating my record for pull-ups. She was tellin' me a real nice story about before she went to the academy. Then when she realized you were on your way she went all twitchy. She's not botherin' anyone so why's she need those meds? Don't make a bit'a sense to me; she hasn't spouted 'crazy-girl' talk all day. So what's say you just forget about puttin' that crap in her and leave us to our workout?" Jayne said crossing his arms over his chest, a stance he'd been told made him look fierce-menacing. It seemed to work as Simon looked to be thinkin' over his options real hard. He realized that he would literally have to go through the larger man to get to his sister.

"You're saying that even though she hasn't had any medicine today she's been cognitive, and lucid? Well that is a big deal. I may have to rethink what I've been giving her." Simon mused as he walked away, current task at hand forgotten. When the doctor was a good distance away from them River darted around Jayne and practically climbed the man to grab him in a hug around his neck. He stiffened not wanting to do anything that would get him thrown out the air-lock, then slowly he patted one hand on her shoulder blade to let her know he understood her fear even if he didn't comprehend it.

"Ok girlie, how 'bout you get back up there and try again. You know I'm gonna have to start countin' all over again." Jayne said hoping she would get the point and let him go. It was too comfortable, too nice having her all wrapped around him; knowing he could protect her from one of her fears. River simply turned her head so she was facing into his neck where it curved to meet his shoulder, and planted a soft warm kiss. Just as quickly she let him go and for a split second he dreaded the cold as much as he had dreaded the warmth of her pressed up against him.

http://willow-fae-20.