Chapter 2

Jayne watched as River fell to the ground in a heap, his mouth went slack jawed and his first reaction was to close his eyes and reopen them, just to make sure he wasn't dreaming. However when the initial shock wore off, he sprinted forward, throwing the dead Reavers to the side to skid to a stop beside her.

"River girl?" he asked, lifting her shoulders off the ground. "You come on back to the land of the livin' you here?" he said gruffly, bundling her in his arms. His head quickly darted around to Mal who was already on the com, yelling at Zoe to git her butt down there quick smart. He sighed in relief, thankful that Mal had finally taken charge once again, and hadn't gone into a full blown relapse.

Once Mal had finished yelling her came to a stop beside his lil' Albatross. "Apply pressure to that wound..." he said in an almost creepifying clam voice.

Nevertheless Jayne did what he said, and put a large hand on the girl's chest wound, pressing down hard. "How far away are they?" Jayne asked, his voice slightly shaking.

Mal's expression lightened slightly. "Not far away, Zoe said that River ran off in the middle of the market tellin' them that Reavers were coming, they followed as best as they could, but couldn't find her in time. Apparently Simon's a wreck!"

Jayne snorted. "I bet he is." He said, just as he heard a frantic pussy little voice come from his left.

"River!" Simon yelled. "Mei Mei!"

"Doc we need to get her back to the ship quick smart." Said Mal, turning into the grumpy Captain they all know and love.

Simon nodded, franticly, trying to grabbed River out of the big Merc's arms. "It's all right Doc I got her."

Zoe was the next to enter the building, riding on their new mule, Kaylee and Inara on the back holding on to dear life. They leapt off as soon as Zoe skidded to a halt. "Jump on!" she yelled.

Jayne and Simon complied, leaving Mal to take the two girls back to he ship. "How many Reavers are out there?" asked Mal, as the mile sped away into the distance.

Kaylee, had small tear running down her face as she replied. "Looks like most of em' were in here Captain." She spoke, her voice cracking. Inara placed an arm around her, trying to maintain her composure. River was like a sister to the both of them, and to see her lying bloodied in Jayne's arms, made them feel like it was Miranda all over again.

Mal looked at the both of them, realizing that they probably couldn't handle another death in their family. "Hey now." He said soothingly. "Every things going to be alright you hear." He said smiling at them both compassionately. Kaylee sniffled and wiped her hand across her nose.

"I know, Simon will fix her." She said a little more confidently.

--

The Mule pulled up onto Serenity's cargo bay, skidding to a stop near the stairs. Jayne leapt off and sprinted towards the infirmary, Simon hot on his heels.

Zoe watched from afar as the Merc carried the small girl and placed her on the infirmary bed. River wasn't one of her most favorite people after Miranda. She knew it wasn't Rivers fault that Wash had passed. More than anything it was the Reaver's. Still she couldn't help but feel that she could have warned them.

Zoe stepped forward to the door of the infirmary. Her gazed looked on Rivers chest. The poor girl was dying. That weren't no bullet wound, looked more like a rusty sword incision going straight through.

Jayne looked up from River momentarily to look at Zoe's face. He didn't like what he saw. He felt an emotion in him that never thought he would have when it came to River…Moonbrain."

"Don't start thinking like that Zoe, ain't no way she could have warned ya." He said, knowing exactly what that expression meant. He'd been seeing that look for the last six months and now he was gorram sick of it.

He looked back at River, her face paling rapidly. Simon pushed him aside, stabbing a needle straight into Rivers heart. "Please wait outside." He commanded. Jayne obliged willingly, not wanting to see him cut into her. He walked out and just as he did Simon closed the doors behind him, getting to work. Jayne fell on the couch, looking down at his blood stained hands, not bothering to wash them.

It took Mal near to half an hour for them to arrive back on the ship and Jayne still hadn't moved. "Jayne what's happening." Asked Mal running to a stop outside the infirmary.

"Don't know, Doc wont let us in."

Mal frowned inside, watching as he began to dig around Rivers chest. He turned his attention back to Jayne, changing the subject. "Looks like the Reaver's have gone, lil' girl saved our lives again."

"Two times saved." Jayne muttered, watching intently in the infirmary window. If… no When she woke up, he was going to have a good long talk with her. It weren't right that someone so little could save his life on two occasions. It weren't right that he didn't even have a say in it. And it weren't right that he was feeling as if losing her was going to be the biggest and worst event in his life. He'd tell her that, but maybe in fewer words and more actions.