Jayne knew better than to listen in when people was talking, but he heard River say his name and that caught his attention.
It wasn't like she wouldn't know he was listening. She was always aware of the people around her, even when he was doing his best to distract her.
In particular, they hadn't been interrupted yet when they was acting all courting like. It had been days and he wasn't exactly hiding it, quite. He dreaded the finding out part, but having Simon in the dark was making his shoulder blades itch like he was in someone's crosshairs.
He thought he could count on Mal for support, but…
"He's a self-centered wall of muscle." Simon was saying. "What do you possibly find to talk about?"
"We have more in common than you would like to admit." River said.
"I will agree that he might be a little more intelligent than the average ape," That was almost nice coming from the Doc. "But you have to have noticed he can't come close to keeping up with you mentally."
Ouch, and that was true.
"Simon." Her voice lost some of its anger. "In my whole life I have known few people who can match me mentally. Frankly, I am uninterested in friendship with most of them."
"River."
"Simon" She mimicked his tone. "People as smart as I am are hard to deal with, temperamental, and rather annoying. I admire this whole crew for putting up with me. Two of me would certainly be too many."
"You aren't so hard to…" Simon tried to say.
She cut him off with a laugh. "Oh, ge ge, what will I do with you?"
"I just don't like how friendly you are with Jayne." Simon said crossly. "Can't you pull away from him a little?"
"No, so you'll just have to accept that Jayne is my friend, I like him." Her voice was low and tinged with anger again. "We are partners on jobs, we work together. We have to be comfortable with one another."
"Mei mei." Simon protested.
"No." She interrupted. "He has to be comfortable in my presence, comfortable touching me. You should come to morning training class."
"But I don't…"
"It would do you good." She said. "You could see how well we move together."
"You're changing the subject. River, what I object to isn't you working with him, although I'd rather you didn't put yourself in so much danger. This is altogether different. What you were doing yesterday…"
"Roughhousing in the kitchen?" She said wryly.
"Exactly." Simon agreed. "With a man like Jayne, that sort of rough play is likely to give him ideas. Dangerous ideas you didn't realize you were provoking."
"I'm a psychic, Simon."
Jayne could imagine the 'you're such a dope' look she must have on her face. He could hear it in her voice. He stifled a laugh.
They were quiet a long time. Jayne thought they must be staring each other down.
Finally River broke the silence. "Jayne doesn't have any ideas about me that I don't want him having."
Simon made a strangled, frustrated sound. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I would like you to please stop insulting my friend." River said.
"I doubt he sees you as a friend." Simon said bitterly. "I know how men think, River, especially uncouth rim trash like Jayne. There is only one thing a man like that wants from a woman and it isn't friendship."
Those words caused Jayne more than a little uncomfortableness. They seemed too true. Not that he didn't want her as a friend too, just…
"No." She said firmly and quietly. Jayne felt maybe she was talking a little at him.
"No?" Simon almost even raised his voice. "No what? No he doesn't think about having sex with you?"
Alright, that was far enough from true that it was funny.
"No, Jayne has more on his mind than sex." It was a simple statement, simply spoken.
Huh? That was news to Jayne. He was pretty sure at least every other thought he'd had in the last week or so had been about sexing. And Simon was right, he was thinking in particular about sexing River.
"And do not refer to my friend as trash." She added quietly after a moment.
Simon made a very undignified growling sound.
"Why don't you take your dirty male mind away and leave me alone?" Her voice was deceptively sweet.
Jayne heard a chair scrape and bang into the table. He had a worried moment when Simon's footsteps seemed to be heading for him. Then River spoke again.
"Simon." She said, the sugariness of her voice increasing, "Kaylee is that way." Simon's footsteps reversed course. "And shut the door, please. No one wants to hear you two having sex in the engine room."
Jayne sighed, not caught.
"Keep walking, ge ge." River added. Then the hatch banged shut.
"You can come out now, Jayne." River said, sounding calm.
He peeked around the corner. "Sorry." He said. "I didn't…" She was standing next to the table, fists clenched, face flushed. "I was looking for you."
She nodded. "I should have left off the comment about the engine room." She said calmly, chewing at her lip.
"Naw," Jayne smiled. "That part was pretty funny."
She smiled wearily and sighed. "He takes so much looking after."
He entered the room. "You alright?"
She nodded. "Shiny." She said weakly, swallowing.
Gorramit, she was gonna cry. Jayne crossed the room quickly and folded her into his arms.
She inhaled sharply, laying her head against his chest.
Not knowing what else to do, he just stood there and held her.
She relaxed slightly, then after a moment, her shoulders started shaking.
It took Jayne several panicked moments before he remembered to run a big hand down her back in what he hoped was a soothing manner.
It took even longer to realize she weren't even crying.
"Are you laughing?" He asked, confused.
She nodded against his chest, a few audible giggles escaping.
His chest shook once in surprised laughter.
"He ain't too wrong, you know." Jayne said, expressing his own worry.
She nodded again, pushed back and wiped her damp eyes.
"That's part of what is so funny." She smiled wetly up at Jayne. "By the way, for future reference, panic is an incorrect reaction to crying fits."
She kissed his jaw.
"I'm still angry with Simon." She said. "He doesn't trust my judgment. He assumes I am unaware of what I am doing."
"He assumes you wouldn't want anything to do with me." He countered. "Not totally unreasonable. He's trying to protect his sister, and he's right not to trust me."
She scowled up at him.
"I'm a big bad wolf, sweetheart." He said, leering suggestively. "Better hide the lambs inside the barn."
She rolled her eyes at him.
He traced a tiny pattern on her neck with is thumb. "Ain't no denying I've got amorous intentions." He added, smoothing her hair back from her face.
"You had better by now." She said fiercely, smiling slightly. "I'd have to take drastic measures if you didn't."
"Drastic." He said. "Hmm, I like the sound of drastic."
She giggled.
"So, what'cha doing now?" He asked.
"Besides fighting with my brother?" She joked. "No plans for a few hours, dinner is easy tonight."
"Hmm, you mean besides defending me to your brother." He corrected. "Makes a fellow feel a mite guilty for all the wrong he's done to hear you say such nice things about me."
Her face took on that questioning look.
"I don't mean it as a bad thing." He said quickly. "Hearing you get all defending makes me try to look at what good I might have done. Maybe even be better later, too."
The questioning look was replaced by one of approval.
"So," River drew the word out, "Care to step into the pantry? I have some." Her hands caressed his chest as she spoke, "work in there needs doing."
"This wouldn't involve kissing the cook, would it?" Jayne asked, tangling his hand into the hair at the base of her neck.
"I suppose maybe it might." River agreed.
Jayne kissed her lips gently. "Then how about we go down to the cargo bay instead." He suggested.
"What for?" River scrunched up her nose. Cute.
"Oh, nuthin, just might could do that working thing down there for a change." He licked his lips, staring down at hers. "It's pretty quiet-like down there."
She eyed him warily. "You're hiding something." She accused. "What?"
"Shh," He grinned. "You like surprises, remember? You said so."
Her mouth dropped open.
"No fair peeking." He tapped the side of his head.
She snapped her jaw shut. Damn he liked this girl.
"Come on, before my head shouts it so loud you don't have to peek." His excitement came thru in his voice as he guided her towards the foredeck stairs with an arm around her waist. They entered the cargo bay and walked the length of the dojo.
"Do you like it?" Jayne asked hopefully, pointing.
'It' was a porch swing rigged up out of bits of spare paneling and parts. 'It' was hung from the catwalk on lengths of sturdy cable. 'It' was meant as a present to his girl.
"Might could use some pillows to cushion the seat, I guess." He said uncertainly when she took a few seconds too long to respond.
River looked up into his face, he couldn't read what she was thinking.
He shifted uncertainly. "Well?"
"I like it." She said tightly.
He blew out a relived breath. "Good."
Jayne scratched at his chin. "I thought we might sit down here sometimes. And when Zoë sits out of training she won't have to sit on the stairs and…"
"Jayne." She touched his arm and he stopped babbling. She turned to him with her back to the swing. "It is really nice. Serenity needed another public place for two people to sit and talk."
He nodded. "Neutral place." He agreed. "Without getting in everyone's way, but not so private as…" His mind returned to the nest idea and his neck grew warm. "As a place you could be sexing in, since we ain't got there yet."
"Lets try it out." She suggested, watching him and not looking at the swing at all.
They sat together and set the swing moving.
Jayne got an uncomfortable feeling that River was trying not to see the swing. After just a moment, he stretched his arm out behind her on the back of the seat.
They sat quietly for a moment, then Jayne started noticing River was getting tense, really tense. A short time later, she was actually shaking, clinging to his side like… like what?
"What's wrong?" He asked anxiously.
"Nothing." She smiled tightly up at him. "I… nothing." She leaned against him and laid a hand on his leg as they gently rocked. She didn't get any more relaxed though.
"Gorramit, River. If you don't like it, just say so." He felt the bile rising in his throat.
"I…" She started to bite her thumbnail, but stopped herself. "It reminds me of another chair." She admitted, practically climbing into his lap. "It shouldn't but it does. I'm sorry. You had such a good idea." Her voice sounded like she was almost crying.
"A bad chair?" He asked, realization dawning. "From the Academy?"
"Yes." She agreed tightly.
"Damn." He picked her up off the thing and sat her down gently in the dojo. He lay next to her on the mat.
"Hey, it ain't your fault." He said softly. He propped his head on one hand and stroked her shoulder with the other. "We'll just have to change it so it don't remind you no more." He murmured. "It ain't no big deal."
"Yes it is." She whimpered. "You were so hopeful and there's just no reason for it."
She rolled onto her stomach and laid her chin on her folded hands. "I wanted so much not to give in. I wanted to sit next to you and talk for hours."
A fat tear rolled down her cheek. "I couldn't even last ten minutes." She sighed, and turned her head slightly so she could see him. She smiled faintly. "Sorry."
"Nuthin to be sorry about." As anxious as he had been that she like his idea, he was still sure of that. "So… No metal chairs, huh?"
"Apparently a bad idea." She agreed. "It is a beautiful chair." She said, twisting her body so she could see it again. "I like the way the pipes curl around forming both the back and the arms."
"You just don't want to sit on it." He said flatly, laughing at himself some.
"Sorry." She shook her head. "Not that I don't want to, just that I can't." She slumped into the mat.
"Hey, I know, could it help to fix it up some right now?" He had assumed he would pick up some trimmings when they hit dirt, but maybe…
"It could help to cover the metal." River agreed. "I really want to sit with you." She rolled slightly so she was pressed up against him again.
He kissed her briefly.
"Wait here." He instructed. He gently turned her head so she couldn't see the swing. "I'll be right back."
He ran up onto the catwalk and pounded on the door to Inara's shuttle.
"Hi, Inara." He said as the companion opened the door. "Do you have an old curtain or drapery or something I could have?"
Her mouth fell open.
"I can pay you for it if you want. I just need something kind of big." He measured the width of the seat with his hands.
"I…" Inara eyed him warily. "I might have something. Let me go get it." She looked at him questioningly for a moment longer and then turned. "Wait here."
He nodded. He didn't go in there if he could help it. Too… Companion-y.
Inara returned with a large, lush rectangle of blue and black fabric. "Will this do?" She shook it so the wrinkles pulled out a little. "It really doesn't match my colors, but…"
Jayne noted the flowers a little uneasily. A bit…
Then he grinned. River would like it.
"Could be just perfect." He said. "What do you want for it?"
Inara somehow frowned without mussing up her face at all. "What do you need it for?"
"I made a swing down in the cargo bay. I wanna cover it so it ain't so metallic like."
Inara watched him a while longer then handed the cloth to him. "Here, take it, I won't use it again. I just couldn't throw it away."
"Thank you, 'Nara. Its real pretty." He took the fabric from her. It was heavier than it looked. He grinned, wadded it around his arm and took off back down the stairs.
Inara followed him curiously.
Jayne draped the cloth carefully over the seat, then folded it back. It was real big. He was able to use part of it to cushion the seat just a little.
Jayne turned back to River. "What do you think now?"
River stood and smiled up at him, shaking her head slightly. "Much better." She climbed back into the swing, curling up on herself. She looked mighty comfortable. "My first reaction was irrational. I apologize."
"It's alright." He said gruffly. It was true now that she liked it.
River kicked with her foot, sending the swing moving again.
"The colors really suit you, River." Inara said. The Companion glanced between the two of them, curiously.
River grinned. "I have an irrational prejudice against metal chairs." She explained.
"Could still use some padding." Inara said, sitting gingerly beside the younger woman.
"I'll work on that as soon as we hit a decent world." Jayne promised. He shifted from one foot to the other. He wished Inara would go away again. You couldn't have a proper date if somebody else tagged along.
Something in the way River looked sharply at him made him think she'd caught that last mental comment. He smiled a little sheepishly.
"What a nice idea." Inara chattered on, unaware of the mental byplay. "Did you come up with this, Jayne?"
He nodded. "Zoë asked me to rig up a bed for the baby and that got me thinking and…"
"Oh, yes, it will be good to have a rocking chair for the baby." Inara agreed.
Jayne felt the tips of his ears grow warm as he nodded. He glanced down at River. He didn't do it for the kid. He did it for his girl.
River smiled at him. "I imagine it will get a lot of use." She agreed. "We'll all rock the baby here at some point."
Inara stood suddenly. "I left a candle burning." She explained. "I'll see you both at dinner."
Jayne sat beside River. The tension left his shoulders when he heard the shuttle door latch.
River cuddled up against him, nearly purring. "This really was a good idea."
"Glad you like it after all." He inched his arm off the seat and onto her shoulders.
"You did it so we could have a formal date?" She verbalized the thought she had pulled from him earlier.
He shrugged slightly. "Mostly." He agreed. "I been trying to think up ways to court you out here. I ain't too well prepared for it. Ain't got much to work with out in the Black. Not too many places to go either. I should'a thought about it before we left Mulberry."
"You're more romantic than I thought you were." She looked mighty pleased about it.
"Not really." He said uncomfortably. He could feel the heat all the way up to his ears now. "It's just that it ain't really courting to just hang out together. The man is supposed to plan stuff and make the woman feel special. I've just been having trouble thinking things up out here. I ain't got no flowers or nuthin."
"Just learning that you've been thinking about it makes me feel special." She smiled, it twisted his innards around. "Thank you."
He grinned and relaxed a little more. "I'll just hafta keep thinking on plans and surprises. You did mean it when you said you liked surprises, right."
"I may have been referring to me surprising other people, but yes, I liked having you surprise me." Her expression turned a little shy. "How did you do all this without me noticing?"
For some reason his embarrassment grew again. "I tried to think quiet like and then I covered with loud thoughts of other things. I figured since you try so hard not to listen in I might get away with it."
Her laughter echoed like bells. "Very canny. I am impressed with your manly cunning."
He blinked. She sounded just a little… mocking maybe?
She shook her head. "Shh, sorry, I meant it seriously. My tongue can be as faulty as Simon's sometimes." She gazed up at him solemnly.
"Oh, ah, well, just if you want to insult me, be real clear about it. I'll assume you don't mean harm when you talk unless…"
She laughed again. He leaned in and kissed the laughter. Made for an odd tasting kiss. He liked it.
He liked her.