A/N: Sorry for the long updates here. I had to find a new beta because my last one is having some things going in her real life so want to think all of my ever faithful readers and reviewers to being so patient with me. And I want to give a special shout out to Irishbrneyes for taking on the painstaking task of being my new beta she has been a real life saver.
Mal received a job from Badger taking some illegal cargo to a border world, Tanis, and, in return, take a few things back to Persephone with them. Jayne was jumpy; acting very irritated and on edge more than usual. Mal looked at Jayne. "We're not going to find another statue of you in the middle of town square are we?" Mal asked suspiciously. "Let's hope not Mal." Jayne responded as he walked over to his weight bench and started doing reps. "More like to fine a wanted power of me." He mumbled under his breath where Mal couldn't hear him.
Jayne stayed on his workbench for several hours. The repletion helped calm the nerves he was feeling. After he finished he wend down to his bunk and grabbed a few of his weapons that had not been cleaned in a while. Including a little piston that was too small for his big hands.
He carried his weapons to the mess area and began to strip them down and clean them. River drifted in and sat down reading a book from Earth that was. Jayne noticed the girl and he picked up the small gun he had brought with him. "Moonbrain I brought ya somethin'?" He said with hint of a smile in his normally rough voice. "This here is Trish. She too little for me and since yer goin' with us on this run ya need somethin' to protect yer self with." He handed the small silver pistol to her. It was almost like the Derringer from Earth that was except it had a clip of seven plus held one in the chamber, and the accuracy and range was much better. She smiled a blinding smile up at him. "Thank you! She will cherish this lady forever. "You're welcome Moonbrain. Ya know how to take care of her so she always works right?" Jayne asked secretly happy that she loved the gift so much. "I have never had a weapon to care for until recently. I was going to ask if he could help her keep Memory and Truth in working order." She asked shyly. "Memory and Truth? Them yer reaver blades?" He asked curiously. "Yes. Named them because of what they represent. Memory serves as a reminder of what I was put through at the Academy, and what happened on Miranda, and Truth is to show that as long as you t ell the truth you're free no matter what is happening to you." She answered sheepishly. "See yer takin' to namin' ya weapons, good idea Moonbrain. Long as ya treat 'em right they will protect ya." He answered proudly.
After finishing his weapon maintenance Jayne decided that he was going t o have a stiff drink before going to bed. He went to the cupboard and pulled out an old bottle of Sake. He walked into the lounge, plopped down on the couch throwing his arm over the back, and pulling the cork out of the bottle he began to drink deeply. River had gone to her bunk long before he had finished with his girls. He really didn't want to go back to Tanis.
It was his home world and shit had gone bad on that damned world. Soon Jayne was drunk and passed out. He dreamed that he was a fourteen year old boy again, and just finding out that his father had been killed in a mining accident. He was devastated by the news. His father was a good man who was always looking for ways to improve the lives of the miners, and their families. He knew that it wasn't an accident. He knew that the old bastard, Dug Spade had killed him. Jayne already had a temper, and a mean streak a mile wide. He remembered lowering his Pa into the grave and covering him with dirt. He carved his father's tombstone by hand it read: Here lies Jaynis Kaleb Cobb, one hell of a man. He had just found out that his Ma was expecting another baby, and that meant there would be another mouth to feed. Right after Mattie was his younger brother Jacob had died. Jayne had taking all he could handle putting his baby brother in the ground while his Ma and held little Mattie. He lost his temper one night while he was drinking whiskey, and walked to the miner's camp. He banged on the door with tears in his eyes, and when Ol' Spade opened up he pulled Roxie the LaMatt that's never left his side, out and emptied the clip right into the old man's face. That night he took off, and never once looked back. Sending credits to his mother as often as he could.
Mal walked through at the beginning of the day cycle and found Jayne passed out in the lounge. He woke him up by kicking the couch. "May I ask as to why my merc is sleeping on the sofa and not in his bunk. Mal asked with a voice that said that they sleeping merc had no choice but to reply. "Broke out the Sake then passed out." Jayne answered sleepily. "Jayne why is it your not wantin' ta stop on Tanis?" Mal asked. "It's personal like Mal." Jayne answered shortly. "As Captain I need ta know if this is gonna affect me gettin' paid." Mal said with his captainy voice. "It's my home world and I ain't too well like on it. Killed an important man, and that's all that needs ta be said." Jayne replied gruffly. "You're crew and I lookout for me and mine. Just try ta keep a low profile." Mal replied tiredly. He loved his crew like family, but sometimes their extra baggage was a little hard to handle.
While they were on Persephone, they were able to pick up real food. Inara volunteered to cook; she made bacon, eggs, homemade biscuits and gravy. Simon and Kaylee walked into the mess holding hands and giggling like a couple of school yard children. Don't I have a rule about shipboard romances? Mal thought to himself. He didn't say a word since he had learned his lesson with Zoë and Wash. He realized that if his crew was happy than maybe he could let it go, as long as they thought it was his idea that is. "This was a great meal Nara. Ain't had anythin' this good since I was home." Jayne said honestly. Inara smiled to herself. Ever since Miranda, Jayne had made it a point to be nicer to everyone, and that included River. One could often find them sitting quietly next to each other just talking, and sharing secret glances. She wondered if anyone else had seen this new development.
They landed at the man docks on Tanis. Mal walked out of the ship with Jayne following right behind looking like the menacing mercenary that he was. Zoë had helped River dress for the meet. Her hair was slicked back in a ponytail. She wore a pair of low rise khaki cargo pants with a brown shirt that showed off her flat stomach with a pair of calf thigh leather boots. On her hip was the gun belt that Jayne made for her with Trish snug inside, and a hunting knife was strapped to her thigh. For a petite young woman she looked very dangerous. Jayne watched as she walked out, and grinned. She looked both deadly, and beautiful. He winked at her and she smiled back sheepishly. While looking down she went to push the hair that was normally in her face out of the way. Jayne saw the futile gesture and thought it was cute. Just when had he started thinking that moonbrained girls with reading abilities was something to be desired.
They were met by a man that looked to be a miner. "Ya must be the crew of Serenity. Badger said ya was comin' to pickup the ore we need to have moved, and to deliver the alcohol that we ordered." The man said looking around nervously. "That would be us. "I'm Captain Malcolm Reynolds. This here's my public relations officer Jayne, and my gun hand and pilot River Please ta do business with ya." Jayne recognized the man immediately. He was James Spade, Doug's brother and James had recognized him too. No one else seemed to notice the hatred that burned in the men's eyes as they glared at one anther. Except, of course, for River.
River walked over to Jayne and gently touched his arm. "She will watch your back." She said with a smile as she looked up at him. "Ya might just have ta do that Moony." He replied as he tried to look as inconspicuous as possible. That, in and of itself, is hard for a man to do when he stands at six feet four inches, and weighs just over two hundred and forty pounds of solid muscle.
Jayne had a gut feeling that things were going to spiral out of control fast. If he learned anything it was that his gut was always right, and to trust those instincts. The Jayne that existed before Miranda would leave as quick as he could, but, as it was, he had grown to love this crew. They were apart of his family now, and one thing a Cobb never does is skip out on your family. He may have left when he was still a boy, but he always made sure that his Ma and Mattie had money for medicine and food. He wasn't gonna abandon Mal and the rest of the crew on this job.
Mal had called a meeting in the mess, and everyone was seated around the table waiting for him to begin. "As you know we're on Tanis for a job, but now it's lookin' like it may take a few weeks to get done. Zoë, I want you to restock our ammo, Simon; you get what medical supplies we're short on. Kaylee, get engine parts and fuel. Inara, get what you need for foodstuffs. The rest of you enjoy your leave, and stay out of trouble. You're dismissed. Mal issued his orders and went to the local bar.
Jayne locked himself in his bunk. He was pissed, and he knew things were not gonna go easy on this job. They needed the money though. He thought about going to see his Ma. She lived just ten miles from town. Mal would most likely let him take the mule since he would be seeing his Ma and all. He heard a small knock on his hatch so he called "Come in." gruffly. He knew who was descending into his bunk before he saw her. "She wants to go with you." River said sheepishly. "And just where do ya think I'm goin' Moony?" He asked roughly with no real bite in his words. "To see Ma Cobb and Mattie." She answered. He didn't think she would remember that day when he had read his letter out loud. Back then she was still crazier than a bessy bug, and she was trying to figure out how to eat an ice planet to boot. He'd never let her know this but he thought she was so cute that day in her flowing light pink dress. Of course she was too young and crazy for those kinds of thoughts, then but she sure was easy on the eyes. "She may have been crazier than a nonexistent bug from Earth that was, but she paid attention." She rolled her eyes and laughed. It rang through his bunk, and to his ears it sounded just like tinkling bells. He had grown to lo….no….really like hearing it. Nothing was gonna go wrong on this job, and they would all come out of it unscathed. His arrival on Tanis would only bring good things. "That is very unlikely. Mal is planning the job so, in all likelihood, someone will end up shot." River said as she caught the last of his thoughts and laughed again. "You're right on that Moonbrain. Mal always gets somebody shot, and it's almost always him.
A/N Next chapter you get to meet Ma and Mattie and go a little deeper into Jayne's background with the Spade family. Hope you are all enjoying. Night Ashe.