Shades of the Past – Chapter Nine – Resolutions and Revolutions
Oh, that I owned the Firefly universe! But I don't, so I just play around with the characters for my own entertainment.
Jayne was in hell. That's all that he could figure. It had to be hell, there was simply no other explanation.
For the past ten days, he had been subjected to a near endless stream of flirting, touching, eye-batting, and chasing. He was being treed by a nineteen year old genius that he couldn't out think, out run, or hide from. She was everywhere.
Encouraged all the while by her 'advisors', Inara and Kaylee. Inara he wasn't surprised by. She couldn't seem to help meddling, especially when she saw it as helping someone else. But Kaylee. Kaylee he had expected more from. The engineer knew how Jayne felt about all this, and did it anyway.
No matter what Jayne did, where he went, River showed up soon after. She was a reader, so there was no way to hide from her. And Serenity wasn't all that big to begin with. So far the only place she hadn't pursued him was into his bunk. As a result that was where he spent the majority of his free time.
After ten days, he was going stir crazy. Cabin fever was a common problem in space, especially on long-haul, deep black missions. Add in the confinement of his bunk for hours on end, and it was worse. Much worse.
It would be so much easier to give in, he thought to himself, lying in his bunk, staring a hole in the bulkhead. But he couldn't do that. He was a hunted man. Book had been in a position to know, and Jayne had always suspected as much anyway. It would be the ultimate un-fairness to saddle the girl, (woman, he heard Kaylee's voice in his ear), with the added burden of his own past. She had enough troubles.
To make it worse, he was a perfectly healthy man with a perfectly healthy sex drive, and he had not been with a woman in over six months. That had been his own choice, and he didn't want to regret it.
But, and there was no denying it, River was attractive. Hell, she was more than attractive. She'd been a growing beauty before Inara had started teaching her how to be 'girly'. Now, after long sessions with the former Companion, she was stunning. Jayne was more attracted to her every day. He snorted in amusement at his 'dilemma'.
For once in my life, since I left from home, here I am trying to do what's right. And now, at the height of my efforts, I'm being stalked by a lioness, with her two trainers. There has got to be a rule against that, somewhere.
With that unhappy thought, he got up, and headed for the ladder. Maybe he could lift weights until he was ready to collapse, and then sleep a full night.
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"So, River, how's the campaign going?" Kaylee asked. She, River and Inara where shut away in Inara's shuttle, doing 'girl' things. Which meant hair, makeup, pedicures and manicures. All the things, Inara told them, that made women feel like pampered creatures.
"Wearing him down, the River raging against the Rock," the little pilot grinned. She knew she was having an effect on Jayne, and could sense his crumbling resolve. She knew she should be ashamed, practically stalking the man like he was prey. But she couldn't bring herself to feel that way.
"Yeah, he don't know what to do with his self," Kaylee snickered. She had not forgotten, exactly, what Jayne had said. She had simply decided that he hadn't meant it. Which meant, so far as she was concerned, that it wasn't important.
"Now, girls," Inara scolded playfully. "Let's not be nasty about this." Emboldened by River's adamant pursuit of Jayne, Inara had launched a similar campaign against Mal a few days later. Like Jayne, the Captain was often in hiding. Unlike River, however, Inara wasn't afraid to follow him into his bunk, crowding him in his personal space.
Though she suspected that River would soon cross that line as well.
"River, have you talked to Simon about this?" she asked, busily running a brush through her hair, while Kaylee was working on the pilot's toenails. "Things might go easier with Mal, once this is out, if Simon was on your side."
"Won't happen," River said, her voice unconcerned. "Simon will never tell me to go after any man I want, let alone Jayne. I will deal with him when the time comes." She looked up at Inara with a wicked grin. "I expect you to distract Captain Daddy for me."
"Well, I'll do my best, but remember what I said before. I can't make any promises."
"And I don't know 'bout Simon," Kaylee looked up from her own seat. "Seems Jayne had a little talk with him about him and me. Right after that Simon came to the engine room all mushy and apologetic. Simon has good reason to be grateful to Jayne," Kaylee added, then blushed as she realized what she'd revealed. River and Inara both giggled.
"Please! As if we didn't already know," River almost cackled with glee. "It's not like you two are subtle."
"I agree, mei-mei," Inara laughed cheerfully. "We're all aware how grateful Simon should be to Jayne." Kaylee's blush deepened, and she giggled.
"It's all so different," she admitted after a bit. "Simon is like I always saw him. Like he knew what I wanted to see, and made himself into that man."
"He loves you, dear," Inara said, smiling. "A man will do a lot for a woman he loves."
"Like hiding in his bunk?" River whined, and Inara laughed again.
"I told you, patience is a virtue, River. You can't make him want you. Not the way you want him to. He has to decide for himself. But the fact that he's fighting it means there is something there to fight. I think it's obvious that Jayne has seen you are a grown woman, now. And remember, Jayne isn't like he used to be. He's trying very hard to do the right thing. In his eyes, you are too young for him, and, I suspect, too good. He has to come to terms with that before he can move forward."
"Needs to come to terms sooner," River said flatly. "Tired of waiting."
"Hey, I can sing all twelve verses o' that song, honey," Kaylee giggled. "Trust me, if it's right, it's worth waiting for."
Mal frowned as he passed by the door to Inara's shuttle, the sounds of very feminine giggling coming from within. He shook his head. He didn't know what had come over Inara in the last few days, but she'd been a lot. . .friendlier, yeah that's all, friendlier. . .over that time. He was having trouble resisting her 'wiles'.
He wondered why he was resisting. Had to be something wrong with him, that's all. He couldn't believe that he was running away from the beautiful ex-companion.
Shaking his head at another round of laughter, he couldn't resist the temptation to peek. He eased up to the door, and chanced a look into the shuttle.
"He is worth the wait," River said firmly. He? Mal wondered. He who?
"I think you're right, mei-mei," he heard Inara agree. "I wouldn't have said that a year ago. Might not even six months ago. But now? Yes, he's worth it."
"I'd a told ya that a year ago, to be honest," Kaylee's voice entered the fray. "He may not appear all that civil, but I'm telling ya, 'neath that rough exterior is a gentle heart."
"Not all that rough, either," River giggled, joined by the other two women.
Rough exterior? Changed since a year ago? Even Six months ago? There was only one person on this ship who fit that description. And from the sounds of his lil albatross' voice, he and that person needed to have a talk. Right near the air-lock.
Gripped in fury at his having been hood-winked by Jayne, Mal set out to find his mercenary.
Jayne was on his bench, struggling to get the bar up for one last rep when he heard Mal stomping down the steps. He managed to get the bar into it's rest, and had just sat up when Mal's fist slammed into the side of his head. The blow was heavy, but other than snap Jayne's head around, it didn't move the big man much.
"What the hell?" Jayne yelled, holding his jaw. He looked up at Mal. "What was that all about?"
"You Gao yang jong duh goo yang!" Mal shouted. "I trusted you! Listened to you talk all that go se 'bout how you was a changed man! How you was tired o' being 'that man'! And now this! I oughta kill you right now, Jayne Cobb!" Mal's fingers hovered over the but of his pistol.
"What the hell are you talking 'bout, Mal?' Jayne bellowed back. "I ain't done a thing, 'cept whatever job you give me!" The big man stood, angry now himself. "And I don't take to gettin' hit for no reason at all, neither! Not even if it is you what's doin' the hittin'!"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about you yin hui hun dan! You been making advances on my pilot behind my back, and covering it with all that go se about being a changed man!"
"What?" Jayne asked, stunned. "I ain't makin' nothing with noone on this ship, Captain! You gone loco or somethin'?"
"You are off my ship, Jayne, next port we hit. Dong Ma? Off! And you had better pray to your dear and fluffy I don't get the urge to put ya off afore then!"
Mal turned and stomped away, leaving a bewildered Jayne in his wake.
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In the shuttle, River suddenly sat up straight. Inara stopped her brushing, and Kaylee looked up from her own perch.
"What's wrong, River?" Inara asked.
"Game is up," River sighed sadly. "Captain Daddy approaches. Fury." She closed her eyes, trying to blot out the anger rolling off of the Captain. Suddenly the door burst open, and Mal walked in.
"Do you ever knock? Maybe ask permission before entering a woman's quarters?" Inara asked scathingly.
"My ship. Don't have to knock," Mal replied shortly. He looked down at River.
"Got something you want to tell me, Albatross?"
"Other than you are a boob?" River snarled, not rising from her seat.
"I already put one man off this ship tonight. You ain't so valuable that you can't go too. I'm the Captain, and I expect to know what's going on around here all the time. Jayne was warned, in no uncertain terms, that he was not to have relations of any kind with any of the women on this ship."
"Put him off?" Inara was alarmed. "What do you mean, put him off? Mal, you didn't. . ."
"No airlock," River said, her head lowered. "Chose a coward's way, hit when his target was not looking, knew no wrong had occurred." She looked up. "Real hero, Captain. Alliance would be proud to have you." With that the girl ran from the room. Inara called after her but to no avail. She turned to Mal.
"Mal, what have you done?"
"Less than I should have!" Mal almost screamed, the girl's words stinging him. "Jayne's lucky I didn't blow him out the airlock!"
"For what!" Kaylee screeched.
"This don't concern you, little Kaylee," Mal shot her a glance. "Best you be off."
"I ain't leaving til I find out what you did, and why!" Kaylee shot back, furious.
"That wasn't a suggestion, Kaylee," Mal growled, trying to force her to go with his look. Kaylee wasn't budging however.
"I ain't scared o' you Captain," Kaylee said hotly. "You can fire me too, you think you can keep this ship flying!"
"Mal, what are you talking about? What is it you think Jayne has done?"
"Don't even try that!" Mal yelled, making both women jump. "I heard! I was right there," he pointed outside the shuttle door. "I heard the whole thing! Jayne made inappropriate advances toward River, and you two, you knew! Knew, and said nothing about it. I expect it from you, Inara, but I have to say, it hurt me to see you in this Kaylee" he turned to the mechanic.
"You were eavesdropping?" Inara demanded, red faced. "You have no right to listen in on private conversations!"
"My ship," Mal shot back bluntly. "Only one got rights is me."
"Well, you got the right to be a fool then, Cap'n," Kaylee said hotly, eyes brimming with tears. "Jayne ain't made no advances o' any kind on River! Fact is she's been trying to attract him, and he's running from her!" She stalked to the door, huffing all the way. She turned back at the door.
"You got the right to find a new mechanic, too! Cause once we hit dirt, I quit!" With that she stormed off. Mal gaped after her, eyes wide and mouth hanging.
"Well, Mal," Inara sighed, her anger suddenly gone. "Congratulations. For the first time in recent memory this ship was humming along nicely, everyone happy and getting along. I'd say that's over, as of now. And this time," she pointed out crossly, "you have no one to blame but yourself."
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