Invictus In the Black

11 And Yet the Menace of the Years


Docking the skiff wasn't hard, the skyplex was set up for docking all sorts of boats. Riddick stood at the top of the ramp and waited while it lowered, three guards already at the foot. "You three back off, Niska's bounty was real specific 'bout alive. Ain't losin' my money 'cause ya'll got trigger happy."

Not happily the three guards backed up two paces and waited, guns lowered only slightly. River began to kick up a fuss again, cursing in several languages, one of which Riddick was pretty sure was Latin. Cursing right back at her, he pulled his knife and cut her loose of the bonds, his hand tight on her arm as he dragged her down the ramp. Sheathing the knife at his belt where he was sure she could reach it if she needed to, Riddick stood and glared at the three guards. "Well?"

One of them raised his voice so he could be heard over River's screeching. "You wanna gag her so we can hear ourselves think?"

"Didn't seem to be your strong suit so I figured why bother," Riddick shrugged but shook River's arm. "You gonna shut up or do I have ta gag ya?" He gave her a good glare. "Once Niska pays up you can scream all you want, you'll be his problem. But so long as I gotcha you shut your hole."

River gulped and shuddered under his glare, tears streaming down her face. "She will peel his skin from his bones and wear it as a coat!" She hissed in Mandarin. "She will make a sword of his bones and a bowl of his skull."

Riddick nearly grinned and turned it into a fierce scowl, growling to go along with the look. "Heard that before from bigger people than you little girl." He glared at the guards. "She quiet enough for you ladies now? Can we do business? Or is Niska's rep not solid anymore?"

"He'll pay if she's the girl he wants." The most vocal guard nodded. "Follow me." He jerked his head and began to move into the skyplex. Riddick shoved River in front of him and walked behind her, flanked by the other two guards. His gaze, concealed by his goggles took in every turn, camera angles, corners and hallways, lining up potential shots and attacks. River's scent had changed slightly, blood and cold steel, honey, apples and silk only a faint note beneath blood.

They were shown into an elegant room, with a door at the opposite end, the scent of death and blood coming from behind it. A small dapperly dressed man with wire framed spectacles sat at the desk, a guard with an ugly face and hulking body standing beside him. "Ah, it is good to have visitors," The little man rose, clasping his hands together in delight. "I am Niska, and you claim to have captured someone I wished to meet?"

Riddick nodded slowly and pushed River forward, brushing past the guard. The little man's accent was odd, as if he'd grown up speaking one of the old languages. "Can call me Johns," He spoke slowly, figuring Niska would appreciate courtesy to at least be attempted. "Heard you wanted this little girl. Figured you had a good enough rep it was worth the outlay without any up front pay."

"I do very much desire to meet River Tam." Niska nodded happily. "You have some proof she is who she says she is?"

"Took her on Persephone, she was with a tall dark woman, wore Browncoat gear." Riddick shrugged. "Had some trouble along the way, ship got hit, crashed on a planet 'bout two days from here. The other woman died. Figured this was the one you really wanted though. Matches the description and some a the stuff outa her mouth... Don't think there's been a mistake."

"Well my dear?" Niska looked at River, "What is your name?"

"She is not for him." River stared at the little man. "Tried to kill Captain Daddy, tried to break him. Made him die and brought him back. Cut off his ear. And then family came for Daddy. Made the little German run, run and hide in his hole." She tilted her head thoughtfully and imitated Niska's accent. "My wife's nephew; at dinner I am getting earful."

Riddick chuckled, "She's interesting to listen to when she ain't shriekin' at me in more languages than I got fingers."

"She will turn his skull into a bowl and use it to serve fruit salad." River hissed lunging at him and snapping with her teeth. Riddick growled back and grabbed her arm, holding her still in front of his body.

"I do believe you have actually acquired the girl I asked for." Niska chuckled his pleasure. "You must be rewarded appropriately." He gestured to the man standing beside him. "You may stand back now, I think."

The big bodyguard grunted and took one step back so Niska could move to the wall safe. Riddick waited, watching as Niska opened it and retrieved a bag. As the little man moved towards him, the convict noted the positions of everyone in the room, keeping his hands on River's shoulders. He felt the moment she broke the silk of her bonds and her hand wrapped around the handle of her axe.

Niska stood less than two feet away from River and smiled, "I so look forward to meeting the real you my dear."

River shook her head. "You are meeting the real me Adlai Niska." She smiled, a cold beautiful smile, all her steel and promise displayed. "But you haven't met someone else important."

"And who is it you would have me meet?" Niska was indulgent, amiable even, still believing he held all the cards. "Your captor here is a capable fellow, but to meet him would require him to go back on his word."

Riddick turned and shot all three of the guards behind him. Before the bodyguard could move, River had flung the knife from Riddick's belt through the big man's eye. Niska was now alone in the room with them. Riddick smiled. "You haven't met me," He said coldly. "I'm River's lover, Richard B. Riddick. Escaped convict; murderer."

River smiled again and hefted her axe, "Now you've met. So now you can die." The curved blade of her axe slashed down through Niska's throat, slashing through his jugular, trachea and vocal cords.

Alarms began to blare as other guards reacted to the sound of gunshots. Riddick chuckled and handed River her sword. "Well let's clear this place out and then we can come back for the money."

River grinned at him. "Ready for some fun?"

Riddick smirked, "It's like you can read my mind."


Riddick looked around and shook his head. The last room was cleared of men and they'd hauled every bit of money and more than a few small antiques onto the skiff. The guards hadn't known what hit them. Half the time the guards hadn't even gotten to draw before River's sword was slashing down, and he was either using a dagger or his gun to take out the rest of them. It had practically been a romp through the skyplex and the most fun he'd had with a woman that wasn't sex.

With subterfuge getting them into the heart of the station they'd simply worked their way out, cornering the guards when they tried to evacuate. River's genius had come in handy, locking the guards into the station rooms, overriding codes for the ones she'd inserted. The second room they'd taken had been the security center.

River looked up at him and smiled happily. "This has been an excellent date."

"Ain't had dinner yet," Riddick reminded her. "So let's have a look in the galley and see what we got."

"After dinner they will enjoy sex again?" River asked. "Richard was most unaccommodating last night." She reminded him.

"Richard wanted you to sleep and knew that if we got skin to skin last night you would have gotten absolutely no rest." He looked down at her bruised face and the blood splattered on her clothes. "It's why I slept on the floor, why I wanted our clothes on." He opened the door to the galley and began opening cabinets.

"And why he got up in the middle of the night and put her back into her bed." River sighed. "She needed to hear his heart beat."

"River," Riddick pulled a plate of roast beef and turkey from the cold storage unit. Real food, of course, only the best for Niska. He shook his head and put the food on the counter, grabbing plates. He looked at her but she was pulling out a plate of cheeses and another of tomatoes. Finally finding the bread he opened another cabinet and found a treasure trove of sweets.

Leaving the cabinet door open he turned and looked at her. "River," He took her hand off the counter and tugged her closer. "Maybe it wouldn't a mattered," Riddick wrapped his arms around her. "Maybe we could have spent the night havin' each other and everything still woulda gone perfectly. But I couldn't know that. I've never had a woman like you, how could I be sure a how everything would go?"

River sighed and kissed his neck and collarbone. "You couldn't." She shook her head, rubbing her lips over his skin. "But I didn't sleep well because I wasn't beside you." She pointed out. "Bad dreams and no Richard under my cheek to reassure me you were alive."

"All right, so next time we need to prepare for a job, we stay clothed, but we get in bed together." Riddick agreed. He hadn't slept well not being able to touch her either. He just wasn't certain of his control when it came to touching her. As it was right now he was hard pressed to not have her on the galley table.

"We must eat," River pointed out. "Loot sweets for family. And then sail away." She looked around the room.

"Sword dancer, not sure I can wait," He groaned as her lips touched his skin again. Looking down at her, hair tumbled around her shoulders, she was so lovely and deadly. He pressed a kiss to her lips, teasing little nibbles of her mouth, sipping of her taste.

"She has blood on her face." River moaned against his lips. "Richard doesn't mind?"

"You could be wearin' silk and lace and couldn't look better to me," He pulled her shirt up and pushed her bra out of the way, putting his mouth to her breast and sucking hard on the pink tips. She tasted perfect, hot skin and salt, a feast for his senses. He felt the moment she succumbed to his desires and her own, her hands slid to his cargos and snapped the waist open, unzipping them and sliding her hand inside. Her fingers were slender and warm and felt like heaven grasping the weight of his cock.

"Her Furyan is ready for his woman," River moaned, one hand fumbling with her cargos until Riddick found his knife and cut them off her. "Please, Richard, now."

He pulled her panties off her, slicing through them and pushed his fingers inside her, his thumb on her clit, feeling the heat of her with a groan. "River," He shuddered and put her on the table. "River I can't wait anymore."

River nodded breathlessly. "Can't wait," She moaned as his fingers left her and put her own fingers on her clit. "Richard, need you inside," She demanded. "Need you to fuck me now."

He looked down at her, slender fingers stroking her body, wet and ready for him, and growled his answer, the beast rose inside him, hot and demanding. Riddick took a deep breath, inhaled the scent of her, honey and blood, enflaming him. He fell on her, pushed into her, hard, implacable, and felt her cling, tight and sweet and hot around him. River moaned, her fingers still working on her clit and he felt her throb around his cock.

River looked up at him, her Richard, Furyan, holding her by her hips and thrusting roughly into her, giving her the fuck she'd begged for. "My Richard, my Furyan, tiger, yes, yes..." She felt her fall beginning and screamed his name.

She felt perfect, wonderful, his woman, his woman, it was all he could think, all he could feel was the need to possess, to fill her, fix her with his mark and scent and keep her with him. She throbbed and flexed and fell around him, a storm of heat and honey and he groaned his need, pounding into her as hard as he could, driving deeper into her, pushing her to another peak relentlessly. River shrieked under him and he roared her name, shuddering over her as he fell, his seed flooding her body.

River giggled as she looked up at him. "Richard could not wait anymore either." She teased and her laugh became a moan as he began to move in her again.

"You're mine River Tam," he growled and bent to suck on her breasts again, pink tips tight in the air, ready for his tongue and lips. She moaned under his mouth and he felt her tighten around him. Deeper, he needed to be deeper inside her, he hooked her knees over his arms and felt her shudder.

River touched his shoulders and neck, awash with the feelings that nearly burst from his skin. He was absolutely determined to leave his scent all over her, and hers on him. His body worked in hers, ruthlessly building pleasure upon pleasure until she was clutching his body to hers. "Yours, yours..." She promised recklessly. "Swear it upon a thousand stars, belong to you until they all go out."

Richard groaned and felt her body clamp down on his, throbbing her release as she screamed and bucked hard against him. "Keeping you," He turned her head so he could see the lovebite he'd given her, pressed his mouth to the mark and groaned deep in his chest as he felt himself empty completely into her.

River stroked his back. "Richard need never doubt." She whispered. "She will never let him go."

Riddick pressed one last kiss to his mark on her skin and lifted himself off her body. "And I am keeping you until there are no stars left in the sky River." He looked at the food on the counter and sighed. "Lets eat, find you some clothes to cover your pretty pì gu (butt), and get off this floating cesspool."

River chuckled as she regarded her sliced garments. "This is what happens when Richard does not have the girl at night. He loses control after the job." She teased him.

"This is what happens when a man ain't used to bein' in love gets teased after controlling himself all night and day." Riddick wrapped her hair around his hand, loving the weight of it. "What'd you expect to happen?

She placed her hands on his cheeks and rose on tiptoe to gently kiss him. "She expected exactly what she got." River's lips pressed softly to his and she smiled up at him. "She is also messy."

Riddick took a look at her and whistled. "Well, let's find a towel or something, clean you up, though..." He inhaled and groaned. "Makes me feel good, having my scent, my seed in you."

She nodded her understanding. "Her Furyan wants her scent embedded with his." Her hair drifted out of his grasp as she tilted her head. "Theorizes that sleeping skin to skin marks her scent with his. Further data needed for complete analysis."

Riddick nodded. "If it helps, felt jumpy all day, put it down to what we were doing, worried about our job. Now I wonder if the animals in us need that...contact to keep us from getting distracted." He found a dishcloth in a drawer and got it damp, spreading River's thighs gently and wiping down her skin and mound. "And doing this...just feels...not right."

Her hands closed over his, taking the cloth away. "Then stop," She shook her head at him, "Don't need to have your scent and seed cleansed away. Happy to be marked." River looked up at him. "Animal in her feels right to be marked with your scent."

"But the woman feels a little messy." Riddick shook his head. "Lets make a few sandwiches, find you some clothes and we'll come back and eat some more." River nodded and cleaned her hands at the sink, flicking water at him playfully. Making the sandwiches didn't take long, and devouring them took even less long. He shook his head as River dropped tomato slices into her mouth as if they were a favorite snack. His woman was gorgeous, unique and perfect.


An hour later River had looted Niska's personal quarters with ruthless efficiency exclaiming over soft sheets and real wool blankets. She'd also found clothing sized for a woman only a bit bigger than her, and with a belt had managed to keep the pants she'd pulled on from falling off her hips. She'd made bags out of pillow slips and dragooned him into helping her loot, taking books, clothing and anything she could pack up.

"River, not that I mind carting all this around, but what will we do with it?" Riddick asked as he swung a makeshift bag over his back.

"Sell on different worlds." River grinned. "Lightweight. Easy to transport. What family can't use can be sold." She patted the pillowslip. "Keeping the sheets though, Riddick will like once we get a bigger bed."

"Yeah, though I don't mind the way you sleep on top of me," Riddick chuckled as he loaded her bags into the skiff.

"But Richard is wider than the bed." River shook her head at him. "They will pick one out together," she suggested as she looked at the skiff. "Perhaps when we reach Persephone."

"Long's you still keep sleeping on top of me," He grinned. "Think we've got everything? Everything we can move anyway?"

"Unless Serenity docks here so we can take the big stuff," River shrugged. "Let's space the bodies and get moving. I can encode the doors so we're the only ones who can get in." She looked around. "It might be good to have someplace no one knows about as a fallback position."

Riddick nodded. "Then lets do that," he agreed. "We can get Serenity to dock and get the rest of the perishables once we get picked up on planet."

River grinned. "Richard and River's first mutually owned property."

He grabbed another bag, tucking it away before wrapping his arms around her. "I am sure lucky my girl is a genius." He grinned at her. "Let's get those bodies spaced quick as we can. We'll send a wave to Serenity and meet them dirtside."

"Girl is a genius and Riddick is a criminal mastermind," The slender girl giggled, "Perfect pair."

He shook his head. "Lets get the dirty work done gorgeous, then you can seal it all up."

"Aye-firmative." River grinned.


The sail down to the surface didn't take long. River had talked Riddick into letting her fly and he'd sat back and enjoyed watching her. Something about a woman knows what she's doing, whether it was with blades, guns or piloting a boat, just got his blood going he thought to himself.

River laughed as she landed the skiff and send a wave in confirmation of their arrival to Serenity. "Riddick's blood gets going whenever he looks at his woman, not only when she's working."

"What can I say?" He shrugged. "I must be in love.

River sat on his lap and pressed a sweet kiss to his mouth. "So must she."


To say Mal was taken aback at what they'd accomplished and their takeover of Niska's skyplex was an understatement.

"You two are tellin' me that ya'll cleaned out the skyplex and locked it behind you?" The captain asked incredulously.

"Seemed wasteful to make it explode or somethin'." Riddick chuckled. He tucked a lock of hair behind River's ear. "Figured we could keep it running on minimal resources. Use it if we ever need a place to run."

"I'll leave it up to the two of you how you want to handle the skyplex." Mal shook his head. "Far as I'm concerned it b'longs to you two."

River grinned. "She can make enough coin with information trade to run the skyplex." She pointed out.

"Well ya'll understand it's where I spent the bulk of my time bein' tortured and I ain't overeager to revisit." Mal shook his head in amazement.

Jayne was shaking his head and chuckling as he handed Riddick a plate. "First when we find ya'll out in the desert you got the shuttle stuffed with things you insist are valuable. An' yer playin' a game ain't none a us understand." He grinned appreciatively. "Then you get the shuttle into the cargo bay and hand Mal a crate of sweets." He slid River's plate towards her. "And to top it all off you say you've taken over the Skyplex."

"Jayne should not underestimate the girl and Riddick and he would not be so surprised at their accomplishments." River shrugged as she applied herself to her meal.

Riddick grinned at her. "She was insistent we take as much as we could. And we thought if we docked Serenity there we might be able to get some of larger valuables onto it. Thought we could sell them, maybe make enough back to get Serenity fueled. Know you used a lot of fuel following River and Zoe."

"It's appreciated." Mal nodded, forking up some of his meal. "And I'm willin' to overlook visitin' the torture station iffen it means coin for fuel." He looked at Zoe and Jayne. "Reckon we could line up a buyer or three? Get a few things onto Serenity?"

"I figure we can find a few things worth carrying to Persephone or Beaumonde." Zoe nodded her agreement.

"I'm sure I can help you find a few buyers." Inara offered. "Some of the people I know are always interested in new or better equipment."

"Then we'll dock on the skyplex and figure out what we can sell offa it." Mal nodded. He looked at Jayne. "And I think it's 'bout time we heard that story of yours Jayne."

The big man looked as uncomfortable as River had ever seen and she could feel it was due to the nature of their attention. Jayne didn't mind folks looking at him, but he liked to be doing something crazy or rude or praiseworthy when they did. To have the entire crew simply waiting for him to speak...made him supremely uncomfortable. "Hell," Jayne muttered and got up to fetch a bottle from the back of a very high cupboard. "Ain't doin' this 'thout a drink."

Riddick's eyes grew wide behind his goggles as he took in the label. "Kerry whiskey?" He asked. "Damn."

"Jayne why ain't I ever seen that bottle before?" Mal asked with a slight frown. "Considerin' this is my boat and I generally know what sorta stuff I got to drink?"

"Hell Mal," Jayne poured himself a drink and tossed it back before bringing the bottle to the table. "Ain't yours. I bought this the day I started lookin' for Ciara. Ain't opened it."

Ciara watched as Jayne poured himself another glass and then passed the bottle around the table. "Maybe I should start," She offered quietly. "I've known the man you call Jayne Cobb, pretty much all my life." She put her hand over Jayne's and squeezed his knuckles gently. "And pretty much all my life Shea and I tried to watch out for each other. "A course I'm six years younger than he is, so my help tended to be playing lookout while Shea did something he shouldn't be."

"She were right helpful too," Jayne chuckled. "Lost count a the times she warned me and kept me outa trouble."

"So you two grew up together?" Zoe asked quietly. "What changed?"

"Well Alliance stepped in and started ta throw their weight around when I's about twelve...that were before the War." Jayne offered with a grimace and a sip of his whiskey. "My da was a welder, did work where he could get it. Provided for me and my family as best he could."

"Maybe you could explain the name Ciara here called you?" Mal asked. "'Cause it don't have quite the same ring as Jayne Cobb."

"Shea Cobh." Jayne grinned at them. "'Til Ciara said it, ain't heard it in years." He shrugged. "That's the name I was born with."

"When Alliance started to push in, I was six or so." Ciara sighed, "And the year after the war started was the worst." She shook her head, "I was the oldest of three. Shea was the oldest of five."

"Started when Ciara's ma got sick." Jayne's voice grew subdued, "And they didn't have 'nuff coin for doctorin'." He lifted Ciara's hand in his and kissed the back of it. "They sold everythin' they had, ta pay for medicine."

"And she died anyway," Ciara sighed. "When they came to take our house away, Shea's da argued with the men. Bankers and guards, bullies and thugs with guns." She shook her head.

"They killed my da," Jayne said quietly. "They killed him while me and my little sisters watched, Mattie was only a baby." He shook his head. "Ciara's ma was dead, and they were takin' away the only place she had to live."

"What about your father Ciara?" Riddick asked quietly. "Where was he in all this?" River could feel the rage building inside him as he listened to the injustice of their childhoods.

"He'd died in a minin' accident not long after my baby sister was born." Ciara shook her head. "That was part a why we didn't have money." She gave Jayne a shaky smile. "Shea would hunt for us, taught me to use a gun so's I could hunt too if I needed, or defend my sisters."

"And after your father was killed?" Simon's elegant face was a study of concern. "How did you survive?"

Jayne chuckled. "Well Ma took in Ciara's little sisters," His voice broke and he took a deep breath. "Gotta understand, Ciara were, is, six years younger'n me, but...we always..."

"Shea was my best friend, my teacher, protector," Ciara said softly, "Our ma's, they'd joke Shea and I were born with entwined souls." She shrugged a little at the confused expressions on most of the crew's faces. "It's a Kerry thing, means soul mates or bonded or true love, whatever you want to call it. We just always knew...we were..."

Jayne shrugged. "She was mine...and I were always hers. Since she was born, had me wrapped 'round her little finger. Weren't nothin' I wouldn't do for her. She wanted somethin', needed somethin', I'd bust my pì gu (butt), 'til I found a way ta get it for her."

"Shea weren't never booksmart," Ciara leaned her head against his arm, "But he knew...how to keep family whole, and pretty healthy." Her eyes closed, "I'd try ta help him with his readin' and such, he was always pretty good at figurin', and he'd..."

"He was your best friend." Simon's voice was choked, "Like River was mine."

Jayne nodded. "Yeah, ya could say." He wrapped an arm around Ciara, his big hand stroking her shoulder. "An' then...they come for her."

"They what?" Inara's eyes flashed cold and dangerous. "What did they want with a seven year old child?"

"Family still owed." Ciara spoke painfully. "And they..."

"Gotta un'erstan'," Jayne's voice nearly broke again, "Kerry ain't got much. Got our music and our stories...but the planet... we had trouble gettin' the mines goin' 'fore the war." The big man abruptly rose and stalked away from the table. River could feel him taking his rage and helpless need down to the bay.

"He goes to punch something," The Reader explained softly, "Returns in a little while."

Ciara offered a painful smile, "Shea always hated to be indoors unless he was playin' with the kids." She murmured. "He'd hoist me up on his back an' we'd run the woods for hours. Ev'rytime he got too frustrated for school or angry 'bout somethin', he'd pace or run or...somethin' to work it off."

"Why he insisted on weights." River nodded her understanding. "Keeps body in tune, burns out his rage."

"Yeah," Ciara sighed, "Shea woulda had plenty to be mad 'bout." She picked up the glass in front of her and sipped at the whiskey. "Cobh's're a good family." Dark eyes regarded the crew thoughtfully. "Siobhan Cobh didn't have to take my sisters an' me, but she did. Didn't ev'n think twice't about it."

"Jayne gets letters from his ma sometimes," Kaylee smiled a bit hesitantly. "She seems like a right nice lady."

"Give ya the shirt offa her back iffen ya need it." Jayne said as he came back into the galley just as abruptly as he'd left. His knuckles were bruised and bloody but he seemed slightly more calm than when he departed. The big man took a seat beside Ciara and threw back his whiskey. "Sorry 'bout that...I 'spect Lil Bit and Ciara 'splained 'bout my mad?"

Riddick nodded. "Been there," He said in a soft growl.

Jayne looked at the convict shrewdly, his blue eyes wiser than anyone on the Serenity had ever seen. "Spect you have," he agreed. "So's they come for Ciara..." He looked down at the girl. "An' she's but seven years old...but if it weren't legal none a us had a way of knowin'."

Ciara shook her head, "Shea was hollerin', screamin' an'..." She took a deep breath, "Didn't know where they was takin' me, or what would happen."

"I tried ta," Jayne's voice was thick with unshed tears. "Tried ta fight 'em. The girls' all are cryin', I'm near 'side myself with mad and scared ta death I..."

"Same as me, scared we'd never see each other again." Ciara sighed. "Maybe help ta understand what comes next iffen ya know...Shea was always big for his age. When they took me, he's about thirteen and near's tall as he is now... only shy by coupla inches."

"An' Ciara, she's always been small for hers." Jayne's voice was still choked and painful to hear.

"They took me..." Ciara took a deep breath. "Technically I was indentured to pay off my ma's debt. But it...felt more like slavery."

"Yeah we got some 'sperience with indentured folk." Mal said quietly.

"They took her away... half the world away," Jayne cleared his through roughly and managed to get the words out. "An' then they took her off world," He looked down at Ciara. "I ain't ever stopped."

"I never b'lieved you would." She nodded. "Last words I heard were Shea swearing he'd find me."

"An' then they knocked me out." Jayne shook his head. "I didn't have the muscle then I got now. Didn't take much to beat the crap outa me." He shook his head, "Couldn't let Ma call the doctor. Didn't dare." He looked at Ciara. "Week later was all it took. She was gone, farther than I could go." He looked at Mal. "So I did what any thirteen year old lost his best friend, his girl and his da all in the space a three weeks would do. I joined the Independent Army."

"Lied 'bout your age I 'spect?" Zoe looked more amused than anything else. "If you had most a your height, coulda passed for sixteen...recruiters weren't looking at age too close."

"Yeah, an' a world like Kerry?" Jayne shrugged, "Didn't have papers er nothin'. I were big and could handle a gun an' that were all they cared 'bout."

"How'd you end up with a name like Jayne Cobb?" Simon wondered.

"Jayne is dyslexic," River said softly. "Couldn't make the letters stay still on the page, the cortex screens let them jump and move." She smiled at her big brother. "Progress is slow but certain."

"Yeah, weren't until River got sane and started teachin' me that I really started ta understand half a what I read." Jayne nodded. "But when I tried ta write my name...that's what the recruiter read, an' I were too embarrassed ta tell him I wrote it wrong."

Ciara smiled up at the big man. "I'm glad you're learnin' finally Shea. I always worried 'bout ya gettin' roped into somethin' because you couldn't read straight."

"Yeah well," Jayne ducked his head a bit sheepishly. "Ya ain't been wrong ta worry."

"Jayne you told me you didn't fight for either side," Mal stared at the big man. "So why the lie?"

"Weren't at Serenity Valley Mal," Jayne shifted uncomfortably. "Was at Du Khang, was on Hera... ended up on all sortsa worlds." He shook his head. "They figured out pretty quick I could shoot good, but as a straight up soldier, weren't so good. Put me in with a group that scouted positions, got intel or sabotaged the purplebellies."

"So you were with the scouts," Mal clearly didn't understand. "Still don't explain why ya flat out lied ta me."

"Guǎn nǐ zìjǐ de shì! (mind your own business)" Jayne nearly spat the words out. "I's thirteen when I joined up. I were seventeen when it ended. And four years a that were spent with folks could die in the next minute with the shit we were doin'." He shook his head. "I's a big dumb kid, but I knew I's as good as dead the minute I put on that coat."

"And he hadn't found me." Ciara reached up, touched Jayne's face gently, her slender fingers on his cheek. "In four years of hopping world to world, he hadn't found a sign of me."

"So from my point a view, 'specially since we lost, it were a huge waste a my time." Jayne shook his head. "Joined ta get off world. Hit at the hún dàns (bastards) had taken Ciara from me. And ta find her." He looked at Mal as if the captain hadn't been paying attention. "Why'd ya think they know me in whorehouses on near every world?" Jayne snorted derisively, "Ain't nobody got coin enough to pay for what you all think I been doin'."

"Looked for his girl, every planet we hit." River said quietly. "Asked me to teach him to read so he could search on the cortex more efficiently. Tracked a four year old trail when he got back to Kerry and kept hunting."

"And then she shows up on a skiff with you Lil Bit," Jayne unabashedly wiped a few tears out of his eyes. "You all kept her alive. I'd a never have seen her again iffen it weren't for you."

"What happened when they took you away Ciara?" Inara asked quietly. "You were too young for brothel work."

"That was exactly where they brought me." Ciara looked at the companion with a shake of her head. "Not as one of the girls, not at first." She shrugged. "I worked, and I learned. And when I was old enough..." She shrugged again. "They'd taught me enough so it wasn't awful, how to..." She shook her head. "But no one pushed into that life is entirely willing."

"Tell me where you were and I'll kill every single person ever hurt you Ciara," Jayne looked at her with gleaming blue eyes, hot with promise.

"I'll help." Riddick spoke quietly, a wealth of retribution promised in his dark voice.

"The girl offers her assistance as well." River nodded emphatically.

"Don't think that'd be a good idea," Ciara shook her head. "The girls there...they made sure I never got...well hurt. The woman who ran the house... she was as kind as she could be." She sighed. "Them's as choose that life, they...well they protect those of us as didn't."

"An' the ruttin' bastard that took you? Sold you?" Jayne's words were a growl of rage. "Am I 'llowed ta kill him?"

"The agent?" Ciara sighed, "If we could find him." She looked at Mal and around the rest of the table. "You wanted to know," She reminded the Captain. "Now that you know...what changes?"

Mal sat back in his chair and sighed. "Don't change much, 'cept if Jayne wants us ta call him Shea." He said slowly. "I 'spect what happens next is up to the two of you."

Riddick regarded Jayne thoughtfully before he looked at Ciara. "You gonna be all right with him Ciara?" He asked, his deep voice as gentle as he could make it. "Been a long time...you both changed a lot."

"We ain't changed that much ge ge (big brother)," Ciara sighed. "Shea's mine. Don't matter what happened 'tween then and now."

"Strictly speaking, that's not as easy to deal with as it is to say." Inara said quietly. "You both have to live with your pasts, not ignore them."

"Inara," Jayne sighed, "Know ya mean well. But we been talkin' since Ciara got on the boat. She's got the combination to my bunk. She knows everythin' I done. An' I know everythin' she's done. 'Cludin' a few things ain't any a alla ya'll's business." His hand rubbed over Ciara's short hair adoringly. "She's alive, she's here. I can finally send a wave to her sisters that we found her. I waited twelve years. I can wait twelve more iffen I gotta. Long's I can see her, touch her hair or face, hold her hand... don' care if I ever do anythin' else."

There was a blink of surprise and River could feel the varied reactions of the crew, disbelief, skepticism, hope, affection and derision. She stared at Jayne and smiled. "His words are from his heart. 'Do not forget love, do not grieve, for the heart is true and can't deceive. My heart and hand, I will give to thee. So farewell my love and remember me'."

Jayne nodded and looked at Ciara. "I remember ya always sang that to your ma, when she's sick." He searched his mind and came up with the next few lines. "Our ship is ready, to sail away, come come return to the stormy sea."

"Our snow white sails, they are unfurled, and soon we'll away in a watery world." Ciara finished softly. "Fare well my love, as bright as pearl. My lovely dark haired, bright eyed girl. And when I'm sailin', that stormy sea. I hope on Kerry you'll think on me."

Jayne bent and pressed his lips to Ciara's forehead before he looked at his crew. "Don't 'spect ya to think well a me." He said finally. "Worked damn hard to look like a bèn dàn (fool) an' a bad man. Don't much care 'bout your 'pinions a me. Ciara's the only one whose words can hurt me, 'cept maybe you Lil Bit, an' Kaylee, ya both're like sisters ta me." He shrugged. "But Kaylee ain't ever thought entirely bad a me. An' once Lil Bit got her brain runnin' proper, she an' I got 'long all right."

Ciara nodded slowly. "I guess ya'll are kinda surprised that your gunhand ain't nothin' but guns and knives." She took in the faces around the table. "Seems like ya'll don't really question what you see overmuch."

Mal shook his head. "Jayne ain't ever seemed ta worry overmuch 'bout makin' friends."

River rolled her eyes. "Daddy needs to reevaluate." She said with a sigh. "Ciara should come to the girl's bunk." She tilted her head. "Similar sizes. Ciara will feel better in different clothing."

Jayne grinned and rose from his seat, helping Ciara from hers in an example of courtesy no one had ever seen from him. "Lil Bit, you got my codes an' such. Ya'll order anythin' she needs." He looked at Riddick. "I still got a powerful urge ta hit somethin', ya wanna spar some whilst they play 'round with clothes and all?"

Riddick rose and tugged River to her feet laying a gentle kiss on her lips. He could smell her amusement on her skin and in her smile. "Might abandon ya in the middle of it, iffen I get the idea River needs me for somethin'." He warned the big man. "But yeah, be fun ta spar."

"No knives," Mal warned as he rose and left the room. "Doc ain't gettin' paid ta fix what ya do to yourselves."

Simon shook his head as he watched his sister leave the room with Ciara in one direction and Jayne go out with Riddick in another. "Jayne's spent twelve years looking for her," He mused. "He's only a year older than me."

Kaylee shrugged. "Jayne's always had more goin' on than he'd talk about. He never ev'n flirted much with me that first year he was board ship."

Zoe nodded slowly. "Doubt the man even thinks about sex except as an itch to be scratched when it can't be ignored."


River giggled as she slid down her ladder into her bunk, Ciara following her. "Simon is just now determining Jayne's true age."

Ciara shook her head, "Part a me always knew he'd find me." She said quietly. "But part a me couldn't believe it."

River nodded her understanding. "Learned to rely on yourself, depend on no one. Keep Shea a hope tight in your heart." She smiled slightly. "Took time for Simon to get me out. Just had to survive until then, but when he found me I was broken."

"Shea told me you went nuts and cut him." Ciara smiled.

"Blue Sun teeshirt was offensive," River shrugged. "Also tore Blue Sun labels off cans of food. Need Richard to smell them and tell her what's in the cans." She began pulling out clothes and tossing them on the bed. "Some are older, gowns, things ge ge (big brother) Simon wanted the girl to wear. So she could be the little girl he lost."

"Pretty." Ciara fingered a dark blue gown. "You don't like it?"

River shrugged, "Rather buy my own." She admitted, "Simon had no idea what I liked." She grinned at Ciara. "You should try it.

"Are you sure?" Ciara held the dress up against her body.

"Ciara likes it, should have it." River grinned. "Been disguised as a boy long enough that gowns are a novelty."

"Kinda," Ciara admitted. "So what does your captain really think of Shea?"

River sighed and sat on a chair, absently running a scarf through her hands. "Daddy is sad that he never saw Shea in Jayne. Never looked past the merc on the surface. Believed Jayne's lies. Sad that Jayne never asked for help in three years."

Ciara shook her head as she pulled the dress on. "Shea was always stubborn." She sighed. "He's being stubborn now."

River giggle as she read Ciara. "Shea will not give Ciara what she wants?"

"Got cleaned up, that part of my cycle is over and Doc put me on something suppresses it so it won't be a problem again," Ciara rolled her eyes. "And Shea just holds me all night. Even in the morning when I can tell he's...ready. He kisses me on the cheek and hits the head."

The Reader shook her head thoughtfully. "He...fears you will believe he expects intimacy." She recalled all she'd read in Jayne's mind, all she'd heard inadvertently and sighed. "He is...desperate for you to understand that he'll wait. That he only wants you. He hopes in time you will want him."

"He really is an idiot sometimes," Ciara sighed and tugged at the waist of the dress. "How does it look?"

River grinned. "Cosmetics to enhance Ciara's eyes and lips." She dug through her bureau and came up with a small box and a mirror. "Have not yet worn these for Richard...would like to see his reaction."

The other girl shook her head. "Don't think there's anything you could do to make him want you more." She pointed out. "The man wanted you when you were covered in gore."

River nodded happily. "Must dress up for Richard though," She pushed through her bureau and came up with a long shift in shimmering grey, the sleeves mere flutters of silk and the sides slashed open from beneath the arms to the hem.

Ciara blinked as River stripped off her clothes and pulled the shift over her head. A long black scarf wound carefully around her shoulders, breasts, waist and hips, bound the shift in place and held it to River's body in strategic places. "Uh, River, that's the sorta thing a Companion wears."

River grinned and began brushing out her hair. "Gift from Inara," She took a seat and began to buff her nails. "Want to look sexy for Richard. Make the males forget sparring and take us to bed."

Ciara grinned and looked at the gown she wore. "Well until I get a little more meat on my bones, I'll have to use the cosmetics." She began to make up her eyes so they looked huge and mysterious in her face. Her hair was dampened and curled with her fingers, giving the short locks a more feminine look.

TBC


Author's Note:

Quote sources for this chapter are as follows:

Do not forget love, do not grieve, for the heart is true and can't deceive. My heart and hand, I will give to thee. So farewell my love and remember me. - The Immigrant's Farewell - Irish folk song

Our ship is ready, to sail away, come come return to the stormy sea. Our snow white sails, they are unfurled, and soon we'll away in a watery world. Fare well my love, as bright as pearl. My lovely dark haired, bright eyed girl. And when I'm sailin', that stormy sea. I hope on Kerry you'll think on me. - The Immigrant's Farewell - Irish folk song