Quick enough for you? ;-)
As for what I'm doing to you all? I don't know what you're talking about! Please read and review.
Chapter 6: Dormouse in the Teapot
"Can you hear me?"
"Yes." Simon opens his eyes. Kaylee is leaning over him, her nose inches from his. He flinches involuntarily and she pulls back, her hand on his.
"Oh Simon, my darling," she says softly, but something in her voice doesn't sound quite normal.
"Huh?" Simon sits up sharply and realises that his side does not hurt. "Where am I?"
"You're safe now," a male voice says soothingly. "We're here. Right here. We're not going anywhere."
Simon looks to his right and sees Mal sitting in a chair, hands folded in his lap, looking at him. It is then that Simon realises he is sat on the dining table, his legs outstretched in front of him.
"He's my son," Mal says softly.
Simon stares at him as though he is having some sort of seizure.
Kaylee touches his forehead and Simon flicks his eyes to her. She looks as though she might cry. He wants to tell her not to, when Mal says, very calmly, "I love you."
Simon stares at him in horror. "What?" he splutters.
Kaylee strokes his forehead reclaiming his fractured attention momentarily. "What have they done to my beautiful boy?"
River appears in the doorway. "Time to wake up Simon."
Jayne opens his eyes, shuts them again and finally forces them open. His head is pounding. He fixes his eyes on the white ceiling. It's not the infirmary. He shifts his weight carefully and deduces that he is lying in a large soft bed. Typical, he thinks. The only time I get to lay in a bed this fine, I'm a prisoner. His shoulder throbs slightly. Jayne pulls back the cover and cranes his neck to get a look at it. There is a neat clean white square bandage. Someone has finished the doc's work. Jayne lifts his head warily. The room is empty. No Simon. No River. Jayne's stomach drops. He scans the room again. There are no guards, but there is a door, standing half open. He can hear the soft buzz of voices from the other room.
He sits up, throws back the covers and swings his legs onto the floor. Bare-chested he crosses the room to the door, his toes sinking into the thick pile of the expensive cream carpet. Giving the door a push, he steps cautiously in. He scans the room for River immediately. She's not here. Wash is resting on a large cushioned sofa, his neck still looking grazed and red. Zoë is sat next to him, looking on edge. Mal and Inara are sat in large easy chairs.
"Hello Jayne," Inara says softly, her feet all curled up beneath her.
Mal looks round and gives him a nod. "Any guesses?"
"Comfortable for a prison. Opulent…" Inara gives him a look that suggests that she did not think he knew the word 'opulent', "…surroundings. First guess would be that bitch Saffron."
Mal nods looking thoughtful.
"Where is River?"
Mal shrugs and Inara says, "We didn't see them Jayne. We woke up in these rooms."
Jayne's hands clench into fists at his sides.
Wash pipes up. "Do we think she knows who they are? Has she handed them to the Feds? Is that what we're thinking?"
Jayne's stomach leaps from his feet to his mouth and back again, leaving him slightly sick.
Zoë decides to speak up. "If the Feds have them…"
"Don't say it," Jayne growls. He looks around the room again critically. Then a realisation hits him. "I think I know where we might be."
"What have they done to my beautiful boy?"
Its warm, and he is lying on something comfortable. Behind his eyelids the light is yellow and soft. Simon feels someone stroking his hair off his forehead and the speech is muffled. For a minute he thinks its River. Then he opens his eyes and starts.
"Sssshhh," his mother murmurs still stroking his hair.
He tries to sit up, but sags back as a shooting pain goes through his left side. He groans through gritted teeth. He remembers getting shot. Then being in the infirmary patching himself up hastily then everyone else.
"Its alright Simon, I'm here."
"Where am I?" His voice is a dry growl.
"You're safe now," she says softly handing him a glass of water.
He sips the water carefully and eyes the room critically. He is lying on a clean white bed in the middle of the room. There is one door and no one else here. He hands the water glass back to her.
"Where is River?" And Kaylee, he adds silently to himself.
That moment the door opens and River sprints into the room. "Simon!"
She flings herself at him. Her arms around his neck so tight he can hardly breathe. He groans loudly.
River leaps away from him. "What's wrong?"
He leans up on his elbows gingerly. "Think I've opened the stitches again."
Simon looks towards the man standing in the doorway. His father stares at him impassively.
"Oh, juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean-jan…" Simon mutters sarcastically. "The whole family together again."
His father narrows his eyes. "You will not talk to us in that manner Simon."
River absently takes his hand in her left one, flashing the shiny gold band on her finger.
Their mother takes one glimpse and seizes River's hand, pulling it up in front of her. "What is this young lady?" she asks, voice going shrill.
River pulls her hand back and gives her mother a steady look. "It's a wedding ring."
Their mother looks like she might pass out. Simon can't wait to see her expression when she asks the next question.
"To who?" her voice is shrill.
Simon lies down and stares at the ceiling and tries to stifle his smirk.
"His name is Jayne Cobb. He's a mercenary." Simon can hear the satisfaction in his sister's voice.
"A mer…oh darling!"
Their father is still silent in the doorway. Simon can almost picture his expression. He tries to sit up again. His wound throbs painfully and he groans softly. His mother is instantly back at his side.
"Oh Simon."
He waves her away weakly. "I'll be alright…" He doesn't mention how hard it is to breathe right now.
River gives his hand a squeeze.
"So where are we?" Simon asks, although he is pretty sure of the answer.
"You're home darling," Regan Tam strokes her son's head. "You are pleased aren't you?"
Simon ignores the question and looks at River.
"Home?" she whispers in a tiny voice.
"Everything will be alright." Their father finally speaks and moves into the room. He steps towards River with his arms outstretched. She wants to believe him as his arms go around her shoulders. She feels like she is a small child again. Daddy has come for them. Everything should be alright. She looks at Simon and knows he sees how badly she wants this to be real. She can see it in his eyes too.
Their mother leans down and kisses Simon on the forehead. "My beautiful boy…"
They are family. If only for a little while.
Translation Notes
Oh, juh jen sh guh kwai luh duh jean-jan…"Oh, this is a happy development..."