I own nothing these are other people's characters that I am toying with because . . . . . well . . . . . they didn't get enough episodes.
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Chapter #3: Simon Says
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Simon watched Jayne lifting below as he crossed the catwalk toward the mess. The doctor in him cataloged the physical data which indicated that Jayne had been hard at his exercise for quite some time. He saw the stoic look on his face and the quick almost sloppy pace of his lifts. The whole scene struck him as wrong. Jayne usually only worked out for short stints with a feral animalistic grin of joy and a methodically slow pace for maximum effect. There was no River doing something quietly to the side or hovering close by talking to him. There was no Zoe watching Jake play while Jayne lifted. There was no Mal going over the next job or some chore with him while he worked. Jayne never lifted by himself for extended periods of time. Something was not right and it seemed the rest of the crew had taken notice and left Jayne alone.
The odd vibe continued as he entered the mess. He registered no Mal or Jake and remembered naptime. Then he took in the weird array of the women and figured Mal was avoiding whatever it was that was happening. Inara looked to be making tea but on closer inspection she was tinkering aimlessly at the counter with a thoughtful expression adorning her features. Zoe was sitting very close to River, unreadable as ever while she listened. Kaylee had her hopeful cheerful smile in place and seemed to be trying to engage River as she read through a book of possible children's names. River's pose was a picture of perfect posture, shoulders square, back straight, chin up and hands folded over each other on the table. That in itself was telling, add the fact that she hadn't noticed him and it was clear that although she was looking at Kaylee her mind was occupied elsewhere. Simon cleared his throat gaining all four women's attention. "Does anyone know what's going on with Jayne? It looks as though he's been lifting by himself for quite some time." Kaylee looked slightly nervous, Inara went back to her tinkering, Zoe looked away from him to River who looked down at the table before speaking. "Making a big decision." The thought of Jayne leaving jumped into Simon's head which his brain registered as a very bad thing. "Did something happen? If he's upset or needs help, maybe I should talk to him?" That idea was short lived as all four women gave him an almost choreographed "no" followed by Zoe's "Best to give him his space." The last part was delivered as an obvious order.
He'd done as they said but when dinner came and went with no Jayne and he was no longer lifting weights Simon felt a small bit of panic building inside him. He knew it was mostly the thought of River not having Jayne around. Still it was more than that, it was the possibility of losing another family member and they'd all lost too much as it was. The infirmary was spotless so rather than clean he'd decided to take inventory. It usually helped but he found himself having to count the same things three and four times. He was about to give up when he saw the man in question walk into the longue and through the infirmary doorway. "Doc, gotta talk ta ya" Simon's worry got the best of him as he saw Jayne standing there holding a bottle of whisky and looking more thoughtful than he'd ever seen the mercenary. "Yes, of course. Jayne if River has done or said anything . . . you have to understand if you leave she will not take it well. None of us want you to leave and" Jayne held out the bottle as he interrupted. "Slow down Doc, have a drink. Ain't goin nowhere, River didn't do nothin." He took Jayne's advice and handed the bottle back after taking a generous slug. "That's a relief. Should we sit? What was it you wanted to talk about?" Jayne nodded and headed for the lounge.
Jayne set the bottle down on the table and took the chair while Simon settled in on the coach. "Thing is Doc, I just sussed out that me and yer sis been courtin." Yes of course they had. There it was the piece that connected everything for Simon. Jayne and River being together made such perfect sense as he examined it. He took another large slug of whisky as he waited for the revulsion to wash over him. It didn't happen instead he found himself looking at the man who made River happy and took care of her. Jayne and the women must have been worried about him objecting very strongly and possibly causing a rift in their happy family. That had to have been what was going on all day. "I guess you want my permission?" Jayne's eyes widened slightly as he continued. "You may be surprised, I know I am but I can't think of any reason to object." A deep chuckle from Jayne stopped him from continuing. "Hell Doc! People still askin permission? Hadn't even thought a that." Simon wasn't quite sure what was going on. Jayne's face changed from amused to almost nervous as he watched him. "Ya stumbled round ta start, but ya had River ta look out fer and ya got Kaylee plenty happy these days." Simon's ego went soaring. "I wouldn't have thought you would want my advice in this area, thank you Jayne." Jayne took note of Simon's pleased look and decided not to mention that Book and Wash, had they been here would have been his first choices. He squashed the stabbing feeling of loss that their memories still caused and tried to get to the point. "Mal's as lost with motional stuff as me. I need to know how ya was sure ya loved Kaylee." Simon was formulating his response when Jayne continued. "See soon as I figured it out taday I wanted it, River bein mine, kids n all that. River and I had this talk once, guess it's what started ta whole thing. What she wants is the real thing. She don't want it cause it'll work, or cause it makes sense, or cause I want it. If in I don't love her it ain't right." Jayne seemed to run out of gas with that last line and Simon now understood what he was looking for. "I could tell you how and when I knew with Kaylee but I don't think it will help you. I think it's specific to each relationship. Wanting to be sure you love River before moving forward is enough for me to believe that you do. I can't tell you for sure how you feel but I assume that River could." Jayne seemed to perk up at that suggestion. "Whaya mean?" Simon felt like he was in some alternate universe. Jayne was actually listening to his advice when it came to a romantic relationship with his sister. "She has seen and felt what Zoe and Wash shared, what Mal and Inara have and the whole process of Kaylee and I from the beginning. While I don't think any are the same I would think that all are the real thing, as you said, and she should be able to tell what your feelings are in relation." He watched as Jayne seemed to consider his words. After a moment Jayne grabbed the whisky, took a large swallow, set it down and said "Guess ya weren't top three percent for nothing Doc!" And with that he was up and on his way.
Simon took one more sip of whisky before capping it and staring at the bottle. Jayne had left his bottle of whisky behind to go after River. The verse really was a strange place. Still Simon felt very satisfied however out of character what he'd just done was. As he considered he realized that he was no more the character he once was. He'd done his own changing right along with the rest of his family. He sighed, considered the bottle again and decided to stash it in the infirmary. You never could tell when one of the men would be seeking his romantic advice. Laughing at his own thoughts he added the whisky to his inventory list before hurrying off to see his wife.
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Author's notes:
It was actually the idea of Simon and Jayne having this conversation made me extend this story. I just like the idea of both of them being out of their elements but essentially being on the same side of something.
Thanks as always for reading and all feedback is welcome.