"The All Nighter"
Notes:This chapter was inspired by the song "On Your Porch" by The Format.
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The sun was beginning to set deep in the sky on world when Mal and River returned to Serenity. Two uneventful weeks had passed in the black. Jayne and Simon had moved out of the infirmary and back to a life of independence.
The Doctor had finally found a contact on Salisbury who was in possession of a 4D ultrasound machine at reasonable price. It was an older model, a hundred years to be precise, but it would do the job. So the captain and his little albatross had spent the day embarking on a mission that did not for once involve death and thieving.
The crew had gathered various chairs and boxes and sprawled themselves about the cargo bay ramp. They wanted to enjoy the orange and pink streaked sky and the fresh midsummer's air. Everyone was laughing and smiling.
It was probably the first night since the fateful day on Whittier that the entire crew felt at ease. Even Inara had come down from her solitude and joined in on the merriment. The topic of conversation drifted from this to that before Wash turned his attention towards River, who was playing with the loose material on her deck chair.
"What I don't get is how you two even got snatched up in the first place. From what I heard, you took out about half of them big, ugly xīng yù's."
"That's something I'm interested in knowin' myself." Mal said as he crossed his arms looking seriously at the girl.
River gulped and looked at Jayne, whose eyes were wide, silently pleading with the girl to rescue his self-image. She kept her eyes trained on Jayne for assistance as she answered.
"Well…there were five, ten, no, twenty of them. Really large, giants even. Oh, and dogs, of the rabid variety."
Jayne was now shaking his head franticly for her to stop, but she misinterpreted this as encouragement.
"Yes, rabid dogs, oh, and lasers. High tech laser weaponry."
"Ok, alright." Mal interrupted. "You need to refine your deception skills little lady. 'Sides, we ain't gonna harp on you none. Just interested in the truth is all."
River relented, hanging her head down in defeat. "I was high up on this rock…"
"What the hell were ya doin' that for?" Mal interrogated.
"That's exactly what I were sayin' to the girl." Jayne said pointedly.
River continued on, "There was a sting, right here." River reached her hand to her neck in recollection. "Then, all was black. I must have fallen…but…" River looked up at Jayne as a new realization dawned. "Jayne must have caught me."
Jayne held River's gaze for a moment before quickly looking away.
"Way to go Jayne! Bein' all heroic, that's so…so romantic! That's what that is!" Kaylee praised.
Zoë shook her head and vehemently stated. There's no way you're puttin' Jayne and romantic in the same sentence. Gives one chills just thinkin' on it."
Wash wheeled over to the man and patted him on the back. "I don't know about that, babe. Just look at him. He's as cuddly as a teddy bear."
Jayne shot Wash a look that could kill.
"Well, a big menacing looking teddy bear that may have been through the wash a few too many times, but he's our fuzzy bear."
Jayne growled, "Don't think because yer in that chair I will hesitate to take ya down, little man." He didn't like being the center of conversation, and certainly didn't appreciate being called a child's play thing.
Simon jumped into the exchange. "Well, I'm just happy River was unharmed. It really doesn't matter what happened as long we can all be here with one another." Simon turned and smiled at Kaylee as he put his arm around her. "I've asked Kaylee for her hand."
"That's kinda gross, whatcha want her hand fer? Sure she needs it." Jayne puzzled with a look of disgust.
"Silly Jayne, you were there. Remember, Simon and I are gettin' ourselves hitched. That is, if it's alright with you, Cap."
"This is becoming a regular love fest. First, I have to baby proof the ship for Wash and Zoë. Now, I have to be entertainin' another married couple on this boat. I'll tell you now, don't come to me for marriage counselin'." Mal said, exhausted.
Kaylee broke out in a grin and ran over to hug the captain. Inara stood up next and wrapped her arms around the mechanic.
"Congratulations, Kaylee. You're going to make the most beautiful bride." Inara rested her chin on Kaylee's shoulder, and looked up at Mal who was smiling tenderly in her direction.
As he looked in Inara's eyes, he wondered if the feeling in the atmosphere was contagious. Inara returned the look unabashedly.
The rest of the crew got up and congratulated the pair, even Jayne. They resumed chatting excitedly about the future, babies, and wedding plans, until one by one they all retired up to their bunks. Only Jayne and River remained under the open, starry sky.
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River felt her body tingle in excitement when she found herself left alone with Jayne. She really hadn't had a valid excuse to be around the merc now that he no longer needed a nurse. She never thought she could miss someone so much even though they resided on the same ship.
Turning her head to the side, she looked at him relaxed in a chair next to her and noticed he was staring off ahead into the night, perhaps lost in thought.
The man was wearing a sleeveless shirt and his smooth, tanned skin tightened around his muscles as he lifted his arm up and took a long swig out of a bottle.
River found herself wanting to reach out and trace her fingers up his arm, over the hard curves, but she quickly tamed the impulse and decided conversation would be the wiser approach.
"What are you drinking?"
"Whiskey."
"Why?"
"What's this, 21 questions? I don't know, suppose it makes me feel relaxed."
"You weren't before?"
"When you get my age, there's plenty tuggin' at a person. Can make ya a mite restless from time to time." Jayne answered honestly.
River smiled sweetly. "Can I try your distillate? I'm feeling a little tense."
Jayne laughed at this and then abruptly stopped when he spied the intent look on Rivers face. "Ya serious? Aren't ya a little young to be takin' to the bottle?"
"I'm old enough to kill with my bare hands but a drink is not appropriate?"
"Alright then, just don't go telling' yer brother." Jayne passed the bottle to the girl and watched her in amusement. She put the bottle to her lips and swung her head back, gulping its contents. Wiping the back of her hand across her mouth she shuddered as the liquid burned her insides. After she passed the bottle back to Jayne, he held the container up assessing the amount of liquor she had drained from within.
"Might want ta slow down a bit, else yer gonna be pukin' yer guts out all over the ship. Can't 'magine the captain bein' too thrilled 'bout that come mornin'. "
"I'm not going to have anymore. Just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. It tastes foul." River concluded as she frowned at the merc.
"It ain't 'posed ta taste good. Ah, never mind. Best ya don't get started on it anyhow. Innocent girls like yerself don't need ta be tainted." Jayne dazed off again into the shadowy night, the meaning of his words reaching deeper than what was spoken.
"I'm not as innocent as you would think." River professed.
"I know, I know. Ya kill people." Jayne surrendered.
"There is that." River looked over solemnly at Jayne as she spoke. "You shouldn't judge a person by their age or experience. Everyone's soul holds centuries of wisdom. Also, I've seen into your head."
Jayne's face reddened. "Ya got no business pokin' around in there. Them thoughts are private!"
River broke out into a fit of giggles. "Calm yourself, Jayne. I didn't look. There was no need. Well, there was that one night when you were lifting. When I thought…well, it doesn't work anymore. The door has slammed shut and all the voices have gone."
Jayne relaxed a little. "Good. Yer a little tool ain't ya?"
"As Simon always says. Was worse in my youth. Constantly evoked lividity." Reminisced the girl.
"Yeah, whatcha do?" Jayne questioned eagerly. He liked the sound of this. Simon had grown on him a bit, but torturing the guy was always going to be fun.
River smiled as her mind drifted back to happier times. "When Simon was in med School, he used to stay late at the university working on cadavers. He would remain after the rest had long gone, determined to perfect his technique. So, one night I snuck in and laid myself out on a table under a sheet. With the help of a little makeup, and false chest wound, I made the perfect corpse. I was a weird little child…"
"Was?" Jayne teased.
River rolled her eyes. "Want to hear the story or not?"
"Git on with it." Jayne chuckled.
"I used to practice holding my breath for vast amounts of time. You never know when that might come in handy." She defended when she spied Jayne doing the crazy sign.
"When Simon pulled back the sheet, he freaked. He didn't think to check my pulse. All rationale left the room. After he calmed down a little, he leaned in to get a closer look. That's when I grabbed his hand and opened my eyes. You should have seen the look on his face." River were dancing at the recollection. "He didn't stay late after that."
Jayne mused at the girl and her happy memory. He liked hearing her talk. The sound of her voice alone had caused him to forget his bottle of alcohol. He was content without it.
"So, ya were a little trouble maker. Reminds me a little of myself, growin' up. That is, me and Mattie. We were always gettin' ourselves into little scraps. You'd think after the first couple whippin's we'd have learned our lesson."
"Jayne? A bad little boy, you don't say!" River giggled. "How did you torment your parents?"
"Well, didn't go playin' dead or nothin'. Back home, when I were 'bout twelve or so, and Mattie was nine, we used to have ourselves some fun at the church. We was always so bored listenin' to the hypocrite prattle on about how we was all goin' to hell. The preacher used to git piss drunk and pass out 'hind the pew after a sermon. So me and Mattie would sneak in to the confessional and listen to people whinin' on about all their sin's and such. Heard some pretty juicy stuff too, till Ma found us out. Could never sneak one past the woman for too long before she caught on. Always seemed worth it 'spite our lack of cunnin'." Jayne paused as his features changed from lighthearted to somber. "That was before she got sick."
"Sick? Your mother is well now. I notice the post." River acknowledged.
"Ya, she's kickin'. Came pretty close. She was sick with the rot. Pa took care of her for all of three years. We alls thought she was a goner. Didn't know how he could do it. I barely could stand to be 'round watchin' her suffer like that. When she got better, I high tailed myself right off that rock. Never looked back. I write 'em and all, send some coin. It's just easier this way."
"I understand. It's hard for you to remain close, so you escaped into the black. You feel free from the constrictions of a regular life." River affirmed.
"Thought you was stayin' out of my head?" Jayne wearily questioned the girl.
"Don't need to be in your head to know what's in your heart. I bet you didn't count on finding the very thing you left right here on Serenity." River spoke tenderly.
"What's that, dust and hot sun?" Jayne tried to humor himself out of the personal direction the conversation was headed.
"A family. You are still here Jayne. You haven't flown away. This is you're home now."
"Mebbe. Mebbe I'm just tired."
River yawned and stretched her body along the reclined chair. "Yes, getting sleepy."
She turned her body to get an unobstructed view of Jayne, tucking her hands along the side of her face.
Jayne followed her example and reclined his chair, his head propped up by his elbow. She was staring at him now through heavy eyes and he suddenly felt warm, even though the night air had cooled down hours ago.
"Girl?"
"Um?" River felt contented as the big mans eyes washed over her. She lightly closed her eyes while she listened to Jayne's deep voice echo in her ears.
Jayne sheepishly averted his eyes while he spoke. "Ya know that night when you was goin' on about me wantin' ta git rid of ya?"
"Hmmm?" River hummed.
"Well." Jayne continued. "I know I've made me some foolish choices in the past, but I want ya ta know I ain't ever gonna do that again. Wouldn't be no better than those Slavers, tradin' up people like they was nothin'. And, well, you ain't nothin'" When he lifted his eyes back to River she was fast asleep.
"River-girl?" he inquired gently as he nudged her shoulder.
When she didn't move, he stopped and leaned back on his hand to gaze at the sleeping girl, admiring how beautiful her face looked illuminated by moonlight. Her thick black lashes and dark hair contrasted sharply with her milky skin and he wondered if her lips felt as soft as they looked.
Allowing his gaze to move down her body, he noticed her dress was loose around her chest, showing off the tops of her breasts. Moving his gaze down her slender form, his chest burned as he took in long, slender legs that looked like tangled porcelain.
The well defined muscles of her thighs and calves got him thinking on exactly the kind of damage she could do to the person between him. Putting the erotic images away for later, he stood up.
Leaning over, he shook her again, eager to get to his bunk. "Git up girl. Can't be sleepin' out here."
Nothing. Sighing, he bent down and easily scooped the slumbering girl up into his arms.
River instinctively wrapped her arms around Jayne's neck as she snuggled into his chest, letting out a soft hum. He froze for a moment, overcome with how good it felt for her to be hanging onto him. She felt so warm and delicate in his arms as he carried her through the ship to her room.
Laying her gently on the bed, he hesitated before deciding to carefully remove her boots. As he pulled the blanket up around her shoulders, he leaned down to smell her hair. She smelled like wild honeysuckle and it reminded him of home.
Taking in her angelic form one last time, he slid the door open, shutting it quietly behind him. He stopped and leaned against the door just outside her room.
This has gone too far, he thought to himself as he caught his breath. Can't be thinking on Doc's little Sis in no intimate way. No one had ever made him feel this out of control.
He didn't like that he couldn't shake the urge to go right back in there and cuddle up with the girl. He fought his whole life to avoid these situations, living on the run, and getting comfort with cheap, disposable women. He never had to deal with the ache for something he could never have. He had to do something to put his mind back in the right place. It was the way he always preferred things to be, uncomplicated and alone.
TBC
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xīng - ape
yù - creatures
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