I want to thank everyone for the reviews and for following this story. It really means a lot to me. I do not own anything and no profit was made.
It had been two days since River had been taken. Whoever this man was he kept her chained to the floor in a dark dirty room. Her ankle was raw and cut open from trying to remove the shackle he had placed on it. He came in once a day to give her water, but she had not eaten since she had last been on Serenity. The first day had been the worst, he was still upset about her killing two of his men and he had taken it out on her. She had fought him and now he only came in to give her water once a day. River was doing her best to try and pull her foot out of the shackle when she heard him opening the door.
"Well good mornin' little lady. How are you feeling this today?" He smiled at her and she felt her stomach drop. If she had any food in it she would have thrown it up by now. "Now I'm goin' to make you a deal. I want that shipment from your crew. It was worth a lot of money." She glared at him. She had no plans on helping him. "If you tell me where that piece f trash is parked. I'll let you go. I won't even hurt your crew." His smile didn't meet his eyes and she knew in an instant he was lying. She turned her face towards the window and he quickly grabbed her chin and turned her face back towards him. "I'm askin' nicely doll. So please tell me." She reared back and spit in his face. He growled for a moment before backhanding her across the face. "Now I'm not askin' so nicely." He shifted closer to her. "Tell me where. Is. your. Ship!" He yelled at her as he stood up. River took advantage of his straight legs to kick his knee causing him to drop to the ground as he screamed in pain. As he rolled on the ground grasping for his knee she grabbed his foot and yanked him in her direction. She straddled his hips carefully and looked him in the eyes.
"Now I'm gonna ask nicely." She sneered. "Where! Is! The! Key!" With each new word she smacked him across the face. He didn't answer, but stared up at her with terrified eyes. "Now I'm gonna ask not so nicely." She said grounding her knee into his groin. He groaned in pain and motioned to his pocket silently. She smiled for a moment before grabbing his face on both sides and slamming it repeatedly into the concrete floor. As the blood flowed freely from his head she ripped the key form his pocket and unlocked herself.
She ducked her head outside slowly making sure there was no one out there. She was surprised to find she was not at this man's hideout, but an abandoned shack in the middle of no where. That would explain why in two days he had been the only one to bring her anything. She opened the door slowly to reveal a mule waiting there. She smiled to herself and walked out the door.
"Time to go home." She whispered to herself with a smile. She looked around the expanse of nothing that surrounded the shack. "Except I have no idea where home is." She sighed climbing into the mule and starting it up.
"Two days!" Jayne yelled as he sat up on the bridge with Mal and Wash. "Two Gorram Days!" He kicked the chair.
"Calm down Jayne" Mal said sternly
"She's been gone for two days and you're tellin' me to calm down!" He yelled.
"Yes Jayne that's exactly what I'm telling you." Mal glared at him. "You don't think I'm concerned too! We've been searching this whole planet and we haven't found her yet."
"Maybe he's already shipped her off world?" Wash asked keeping Serenity low to the ground in case they saw anything on the ground.
"No she's still here." Jayne continued to watch the ground. "When he grabbed her he mentioned the cargo. He still wants it. He's gonna use her as a bargaining chip." He growled trying not to think about what was being done to River.
It had never been so quiet up here. The air was thick with tension and poor Wash was stuck in the middle of it. Mal was upset because he felt Jayne had allowed River to be taken and Jayne was upset that Mal wasn't doing more to save her. The silence was broken when they both heard Wash's sharp in take of breath.
"What?" Mal asked.
"Look." Wash pointed to a small person walking away from a mule. What made them all uneasy was the amount of blood that was covering the person.
"That's River!" Jayne cried out. "Take us down Wash! Take us down!" He yelled running towards the cargo bay so he can be the first out to see her. He felt Serenity settle and he slammed his hand down on the switch to open the door.
"What's going on Captain?" Simon said ducking out of the passenger dorms quickly.
"I think we've found her." He said not stopping to even look at him.
"River!" Simon yelled following Mal closely.
Jayne stands there silently looking at her. Her hands and dress are covered in blood and she seems to be favoring her right foot. When he looks down at it he realizes she got cuts from some type of restraint. He turns to see Mal and Simon with the same looks on their face, horror and concern. He crosses carefully over to her.
"River?" He whispered. "River are you okay?"
"My mule ran out of gas." She said quietly "I need a ride?"
"River." His voice was barely above a whisper. "River, it's Jayne."
"Jayne…?" She didn't look up at him.
"Yea." He took another careful step towards her. She finally made eye contact and promptly dropped to the ground. He picked her up and walked her to the infirmary slowly. Simon pushed both him and Mal out to wait until he could get her cleaned.
Mal and Jayne waited patiently for Simon to walk out the infirmary doors. They just wanted some news any news and they weren't getting any which was worse. They heard the infirmary doors open and they both looked up expectantly. Simon looked tired, but calm.
"How is she doc?" Mal stood up and took a step closer.
"She's dehydrated and whoever he was he did a number on her." Simon felt his throat beginning to close. "He obviously had her chained up because her ankle is torn up where she tried to free herself." He sighed deeply. "But most of that blood wasn't hers."
"Then who's was it?" Jayne asked. He immediately felt stupid. Simon would have no clue who's blood that was.
"Not a clue, but I imagine it was the man who was holding her." Simon shrugged.
"Well we're gonna go find him and then…" Mal heaved a deep sigh. "Well I'm gonna kill him."
"I don't think that's necessary Captain." Jayne and Mal looked at Simon as if he had spoken a different language.
"The hell it ain't!" Jayne hollered. "Did you see what he did to her?"
"That isn't what I mean Jayne." Simon pinched the bridge of his nose. "I found bits of brain matter on her hands and dress." Jayne and Mal looked at each other and then back to Simon. "Who ever he is whatever he did he's dead now. I think… I think she possibly smashed his head against something hard multiple times." Simon shuddered at the thought of River hurting someone let alone killing them.
"She did what she had to Doc." Mal clapped him on the shoulder before walking into the infirmary to sit with River until she woke up. Jayne stood there for a moment thinking about River being pushed to that point and then shook his head. It didn't matter she needed him right now and he was going to be there for her.
It was three days before Simon let her leave the infirmary and remove the I.V. but she was glad to be back in her room. She wandered around the ship aimlessly looking for something to do with her time. She heard Mal giving directions to Wash.
"Nah. Gotta go to Triumph." He said patting Wash on the shoulder.
"Triumph?" Wash raised an eyebrow causing River to laugh as she walked into the room. "Oh. Hey River!" Wash smiled at her cheerily and then turned his attention back to Mal. "What's on Triumph?"
"A job." River's ears perked up. Another Job.
"Doing what?" Wash said as he began to plot the course.
"Not exactly sure yet. Gotta talk to a fella named Gommen and then we'll know." Mal shrugged and went to exit the bridge when River stopped him. "Oh no. You are not going on this job with us. Do you remember what happened last time?" River rolled her eyes at him and lifted her ankle up to show the deep cuts that were still healing.
"Yea it's gonna be kinda hard to forget." She grinned. "And if I recall correctly you would be dead if I hadn't taken out two of his men." She smirked.
"She's got a point Mal." Wash called over his shoulder.
"You stay outta this!" Mal said sternly.
"What's all the yelling up here, sir?" Zoe walked in with Jayne and looked between River and Mal.
"River here is wantin' to go on the mission." Mal looked to Zoe for some backup.
"No ruttin' way!" Jayne looked at River like she was insane.
"That's what I said."
"Sir, I don't see the harm in letting her come figure out what the job is." Zoe shrugged. Mal's mouth dropped open.
"You can't be serious?" He said turning away from River.
"I am always serious, sir." She smiled at the girl before walking back towards her bunk.
"Alright." Mal sighed. "You can come to the meeting." River squealed excitedly and hugged him. For a moment Mal forgot himself and hugged her back.
"Thanks." She pecked him on the cheek quickly before darting out of the room.
The Elder told them all about the problems they were having with several bandits. They were stealing their crops and roughing up those that didn't comply. Mal told River he didn't want her going, which in turn caused her to become upset. As she sat to the side and started pouting that she wasn't a child and could take care of herself, Zoe began telling Mal that River should come. Jayne did his best to stay out of it, but agreed that maybe River should stay on the ship. Mal couldn't help, but laugh when River punched him in the arm.
"Alright lit'l one." He grinned. "You can come." She let out another squeal and then sat there quietly while Mal and Zoe tried to come up with a plan. It was silent for a moment until River began laughing to herself. Everyone turned to see what was so funny only to be greeted by River's mischievous grin.
"I have a plan." She smiled. "Zoe do you think they'll let us borrow some clothes?"
"The settlers?" Zoe asked. River nodded. "Probably."
"Good. We'll need a dress." She turned to smile at Mal.
"Why's she smiling at me like that?"
"Think you're gonna be wearin' a dress." Jayne said smacking his knee in laughter.
"I don't know why you're laughing Jayne; He'll be your wife." River raised and eyebrow at him causing Zoe to burst out in laughter.
It was hot in the back of the wagon, but River wanted to embarrass Jayne and Mal and she didn't want to bandits to know they were there until it was too late. Zoe smirked at River as she tried to hold onto to keep from falling. They both looked at each other when they felt the wagon come to a halt. Zoe motioned for River to look out a little peep hole River had cut in the covering earlier. She could only see two men and raised two fingers to Zoe. Zoe motioned the same to her. Four bandits! That's all that had been terrorizing the town? Four people!
"Pardon me for intruding, but I believe y'all are carrying something of mine." River heard a man call out. Must be the leader.
"T' ain't your'n." She smirked at Jayne's stupid accent. He had been working on it all day and it was still awful.
"You talking words to me? You gonna mouth off after what you done? Did you think we wouldn't find out you changed your route? You're gonna give us what du due us and every damn thing else on that boat, and I think maybe you're gonna give me a little one –on-one time with the Mrs." River rolled her eyes.
"You might wanna reconsider that last part. I married me a powerful ugly creature." Zoe and River both looked at each other rolling their eyes once more. They just had to turn everything into a joke didn't they?
"How can you say that? How can you shame me in front of new people?" That was Mal. Figures he couldn't stick to the plan and stay quiet. This is why he always got shot.
"If I could make you prettier, I would." Jayne again. Really this was getting ridiculous. River slowly made her way closer to the back of the wagon. She could just barely make out one of the bandits. He was getting a little too edgy for River's liking.
"You're not the man I met a year ago." River and Zoe both jumped to the sound of guns being drawn, but River motioned to Zoe that it must have been Mal and Jayne because the bandit in the back of the pack hadn't drawn his weapon.
"Think very hard. You been birddoggin' this township a while now, and they wouldn't mind a corpse of you. Now you could luxuriate in a nice jail cell nut if your hand touches metal, I swear by my pretty floral bonnet I will end you." River reacted as fast as she could when the bandit she was watching pulled out his rifle. She wiped out on of her knifes and sent it flying into the man's chest. She heard several more gunshots and watch in awe as Zoe flew from the back of the wagon to firing a shot. When there was no more shots being fired and the area grew quiet River popped her head out from the wagon to see Jayne and Mal grabbing the bodies and heading to where she was standing.
"hmm." She smiled at them. "Seems like my plans keep people from getting shot." She grinned causing Zoe to laugh with her.
"So we head back to the town and go find another job?" Jayne asked heaving one of the bodies into the wagon.
"Nope." River answered from where she was sitting on the front of the wagon. "They're gonna throw a party. We're the guests of honor."
It was quite the party. Simon even managed to attend although it didn't take long for him to upset Kaylee about something, so now he was sitting by himself pouting. Zoe and Wash were cuddling watching the festivities. Mal was escorting Inara around the town, flirting. Jayne and River sat on a log next to the Elder talking quietly. Everyone, with the exception of Simon, was drunk. River grinned cheekily at Jayne and pointed out Mal and Inara.
"They're not fighting." She smiled.
"Yea that's new."
"They're flirting." She nudged him trying to get him to join the conversation.
"So…?" He shrugged. "not like it's nothin' new."
"Yea, but maybe someday they'll take the next step." She watched as Mal motioned to the other dancers. Inara politely refused putting up her hands and laughing while shaking her hands. "Or not." She frowned. Jayne laughed at her before wrapping an arm around her shoulders. They both turned to smile at Elder Gommen when he cleared his throat. He handed Jayne a rain stick which Jayne took with a quizzical look.
"It makes the rain come when you turn it. The rain is scarce, and comes only when needed most. And such it is with men like you." Jayne looks to the rain stick and then to Elder Gommen. River smirks at the tears in his eyes. He was so obviously drunk, but River was in no condition to judge him.
"This is the most…you, friend. You're the guy." River couldn't hold in her laughter as Jayne wrapped both arms around Elder Gommen. "I'll treasure this." He said not moving his eyes from the Elder's face.
River smiles at Mal when he sits down to join them. She watches the dancers quietly as the flames grow larger and Jayne and male grow more intoxicated. She smiles and politely refuses when a young man come up to ask her to dance.
"What's wrong lit'l one?" Mal asks nudging her politely. "Thought you liked dancin'?"
"I do, but I worry about leaving you two alone." She teased him. Mal couldn't deny it Jayne, at the very least, needed someone with him to make sure he didn't do anything stupid. They're conversation stopped when a young woman came over and smiled at Mal. He nodded and shot her back a small smile as she laid a wreath upon his head. River giggles at this odd behavior, but thinks nothing of it. The woman hand Mal a bowl of wine and as soon as he drinks it she darts off into the group and begins to dance. River laughs and nudges him to join her, but Mal simply shakes his head. The group of dancers doesn't take no for an answer as a few people come and pull her, Jayne and Mal out with the group. River pays no mind to the captain and instead grins widely as Jayne wraps her up in his arms and spins her about the fire happily. She smiled to herself and thought that absolutely nothing could ruin this moment.
Zoe comes storming through the common area only to come upon a curious sight. Jayne is laying on the couch spooned behind a very tired River. She wonders if she should wake them. If she does they might be upset and embarrassed, but if she doesn't and Mal finds them like this they're going to be in a world of hurt. Against her better judgment she gently nudges River awake. River rubbed her eyes sleepily and Zoe smirked as she watched them go wide in surprise.
"This is not my room." She whispered to Zoe.
"And that's not a stuffed animal you're cuddling with either." Zoe raised an eyebrow as River rolled over to see who was behind her. She let out a surprised yelp and fell to the floor causing Jayne to wake up. He looked at her in horror and then up at Zoe.
"I didn't do anything!" He said raising his hands.
"I know Jayne. You're fine although I wouldn't let the Captain see you cuddling with his daughter like that." She smirked "he might get the wrong impression."
"YOU CAN'T PLEASE ME. YOU'VE NEVER MET ME!" they all turned to the sound of Mal yelling from the cargo bay.
"Oh… this should be good." River rolled her eyes as Jayne helped her up off the floor.
Zoe walked in first followed by Jayne and River. She immediately recognized the young woman from the night before who had placed a wreath on his head. Oh great a stow away! She thought to herself. Although she couldn't really blame he for trying to get off a planet where she was going to be forced to marry someone who probably would treat her like a dog.
"Zoe, why do I have a wife?" Mal turned towards them. River slapped her forehead. This was gonna set him and Inara very far back. Something didn't sit right with River about this woman though; she had spent almost the whole night with Mal and Jayne. She definitely didn't remember him getting married.
"You got a wife?" Jayne asked like he had been left out of something. River didn't like his tone.
"What's she doing here?" River asked probably a little ruder that she should have.
"All I got was that dumb-ass stick that sounds like it's raining." Zoe turned to look at River and Jayne. Jayne was watching the young woman like a hawk and River was staring at Jayne with her mouth hanging open. Please tell me he's not that stupid. Zoe thought to herself. "How come you got a wife?" Yes he really was that stupid. She grimaced.
"I didn't" He then turned to the woman. "We're not married."
"I'm sorry if I shame you..." The woman said quietly River really didn't like her. Jayne was watching her as if she were a piece of meat and River was really having a hard time not hitting him.
"You don't shame me!" He yelled "Zoe, get Wash down here." She smirked before walking over to the comm and turning it on.
"THIS IS ZOE. WE NEED ALL PERSONNEL IN THE CARGO BAY." River smirked at Zoe's sense of humor. Mal glared at her causing River to stop laughing. She was then forced to continue to look at Jayne who was staring at the woman again.
"All- I said Wash!" He shouted.
"Captain, everyone should have a chance to congratulate you on your day of bliss." River couldn't help it she started giggling again.
"There's no bliss!" He shouted over River's laughter. "I don't know this girl."
"Then can I know her?" Jayne asked putting his hand on her shoulder. River immediately stopped laughing and felt her face grow red. She moved to stand next to Zoe who smacked him in the hand.
"Jayne…" She tried to get him to look at River. No such luck. Dear sweet merciful Buddha this kid is a moron! "Don't sully this."
"Zoe," Mal pinched the bridge of his nose and then dragged his hand down his face. A move that Zoe had seen River do a number of times. "You are gonna be cleaning the latrine with your face, you don't cut that out." Zoe smirks as everyone enters the cargo bay.
"Who's the new recruit?" Book asked recognizing the girl as well.
"Everybody, I want you to meet Mrs. Reynolds." Zoe said pushing the girl forward. River looked at the crew and saw Inara's face show pain for a split second before it was quickly wiped away and replaced with her normal calm demeanor. She looked at Jayne longingly and knew exactly how she felt.
"You got married?!" Kaylee squealed excitedly.
"Well, that's—congratulations…" Simon was so confused apparently he had missed a lot when he was sulking by the fire last night. '
"We always hoped you two kids would get together." Wash joked. "Who is she?"
"She's no one!" Mal had had his fill. He heard the girl start to cry which just grated on his nerves.
River tuned them all out as she listened in to book asking Simon for an encyclopedia. She then turned to look at Jayne once more who was paying a bit of attention to anything, but this new woman. She then saw Inara trying to hide her disdain for the woman as well. She crossed quietly to stand beside her while the others argued.
"We need to talk." River whispered. Inara didn't say anything, but nodded her understanding. River smiled at her and patted her on the hand before walking over and punching Jayne in the arm for leering at Mal's wife. Book walks back in carrying Simon's encyclopedia exclaiming for a fact that he did marry her. Mal thinks for a moment before crossing towards Mal and Jayne.
"How drunk was I last night?" River shrugged.
"I don't know. We passed out." Jayne whispered.
"Together?!" Mal looked between the two who wouldn't look at each other.
"Maybe you have more important things to worry about." River tried to calm down.
"Maybe you are a horrible babysitter." He glared.
"yeah well maybe an adult shouldn't need a babysitter!" She yelled as she ran across the room. Inara was hot on her trail. She made it to the shuttle first.
"What did you need to talk about River?" Inara asked gently.
"I don't trust her." River said quietly as she followed Inara into her shuttle.
"Well I understand that you and Mal just started bonding, but-" Inara was cut off by River's raised eyebrow.
"I don't trust her and you don't either." She accused.
"Yea. You're right." Inara sat down letting out a breath. "Something just doesn't seem… right."
"Exactly." River nodded. "I propose we keep an eye on her." Inara nodded. "also don't take this into account when you think of Mal." River winked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I think we both know you do." River smiled. "You have feelings for my father."
"River… I don't know what you think-" She was cut off by another eye raise.
"Look Inara. I am in no way capable of giving advice about love what with the idiot downstairs filling my head with nonsense, but you should tell him."
"I could say the same for you." River thought for a moment and then smiled. She was about to say something when someone knocked on Inara's door. They both turned to see Mal standing there.
"Can I come in?"
" I think I'll go talk to Jayne." River smiled as she glided out the door without saying anything to Mal.
"No." Inara said icily to him as he walked in anyway.
"See, that's why I usually don't ask." He smiled trying to make a joke, but quickly frowned when he saw Inara was not amused.
"What do you want?" She sighed. It was unusual for her to be annoyed and show it. He must have really upset her about something.
"I just needed to, um… hide." He sat down across from her.
"So I take it the honeymoon is over?" She grinned at the fact he was uncomfortable with this whole situation.
"She's a fine girl, don't misread- hell of a cook." Inara went back to glaring.
"I'm sure she has many exciting talents." She glared.
"Do you ever, um, wash your client's feet?" He asked almost as if he was embarrassed.
"It's my specialty." She seethed. "We'll be on Beaumonde at leas two weeks, right?"
"Can't be exactly sure, but-"
"Well, I need you to be exactly sure, Mal, I can't make commitments and then not keep them." She turned to glare at him. "That's your specialty."
"I'm sorry. Are you tetchy 'cause I got myself a bride or 'cause I don't plan to keep her?" He smirked
"No the only problem I had was you and River were just starting to bond and now this." She yelled. "What happens to her now?"
"River?" Mal was confused. "Did she say something? Is that why she was in here?" He asks worriedly.
"No. I just… am concerned." She smiled at his worry for River. It was almost endearing.
"Well then Maybe River will love her." He grinned at her. He didn't know why he was trying to upset her, but it was kinda fun. "Maybe we're soul mates."
"Yes. Great. I wish you hundreds of fat children." She rolled her eyes.
"Can you imagine that?" He laughs at the thought. River was enough to handle, but upsetting Inara had it's perks. "Me with a passel of critters underfoot? Ten years time, I could teach 'em to-"
"Can you leave me alone for five minutes please?" He yelled pushing him out the door.
Hmm he thought maybe I pushed it too far.
River knocked lightly on Jayne's bunk. He was cleaning a gun as she made her way down the ladder and smiled at him.
"Hey." He grinned and returned to his work.
"Where's Mal?" he looked around. "He was lookin' fer ya."
"oh he's arguing with Inara." She smiled at him sitting next to him on the bed. She watched him work meticulously on the gun.
"You have something to do with that?" He smirked not looking up from the gun.
"Maybe." She teased. "A Callahan full-bore auto lock." She whispered.
"What?" He was astonished that she knew what kind of gun this was.
"May I?" She asked reaching for the gun. He nodded handing her Vera. "Callahan full-bore auto lock." She paused looking it over. "Customized trigger and double cartridge thorough-gage." She grinned and handed it back to him. "She's beautiful. What do you call her?"
"Uh… I uh… Vera." He was absolutely dumbfounded and if he was honest a little turned on.
"Vera fits her." She smiled.
"How did you know all that?"
"Oh I studied books about guns so we would have things to talk about." She smiled as if it was no big deal.
"You studied so you could discuss things with me?" She nodded. He was awe struck. This woman was absolutely amazing. No one had ever done something like this for him. "I uh… have to go talk to Mal about something." He said standing up quickly. "But I'll meet ya in the mess play a game of cards?" She nodded before standing up and making her way to the mess to wait for him. Jayne thought for a moment before taking Vera with him to go have a little chat with Mal.
Mal began to walk back to his bunk. He couldn't understand why Inara was so upset. Alright, he could, but he didn't think she would be that upset. He sighed to himself.
"I wasn't looking for a fight…" he sighed again as he rounded the corner. What he saw caught him off guard. There was Jayne standing there with a huge weapon almost as if he was waiting on him. He did not look pleased as he cocked the gun. Yep, Jayne was definitely waiting for him. "I always do seem to find one though…"
"Do I have your attention?" Jayne glared.
"We're kind of going to extremes here, ain't we?" He raised an eyebrow. He didn't know what this was about and frankly he really didn't want to know.
"There's times I think you don't take me seriously. And I think that oughta change"
"Do you think it's likely to?" What the hell had Jayne so worked up?
"You got something you don't deserve."
"and it's brought me a galaxy a'fun. I'm here to tell you." Saffron? That's what this was about?
"Six men came to kill me one time, and the best of them carried this. It's a Callahan full-bore auto lock, customized trigger and double cartridge thorough-gage." He said hoping that Mal would agree to this, honestly he was hoping that Mal wouldn't punch him. "It's my very favorite gun."
"Are you offering me a trade?" Mal was very confused.
"A trade?" Hell, it's theft!" He liked River he really did, but Vera was a piece of art. "This is the best gun made by man, and its got extreme sentimental value!"
" 'What I got' –she has a name." What about River? Mal thought I could have sworn he had feelings for River? Mal seethed at the thought of his daughter being strung along by this idiot.
"So does this!" He looked at his weapon happily "I call it Vera."
"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." He rolled his eyes at the younger man.
"Dammit, Mal, I'd treat her okay…" He didn't understand why he was so upset about this.
"She's not to be bought. Nor bartered, nor borrowed or lent . She's a human woman, doesn't know a damn thing about the world and needs our protection."
"I'll protect her!" Of course he would protect River. Why wouldn't he?
"What about River?!" Mal yelled. "Just having fun stringing the girl along until you found something you wanted more!" Jayne paused. He thought he was talking about Saffron!
"Mal I was talkin' 'bout River." Jayne said quietly. What the hell was he talking about. Trading a gun for River? Was he a moron? Alright he knew the answer to that question.
"Jayne! Go play with your rain stick!" Mal yelled storming off.
"Right…" Jayne whispered. "That went well." He sighed as he took Vera back to his bunk. As he dropped into his bunk he came face to face with Saffron. She was smiling at him through her eyelashes. Usually this would make Jayne very happy, but now it was making him all kinds of uncomfortable.
"you wish to trade your gun for me?" Saffron blushed.
"Uhh… look I don't know what ya think ya heard, but I wasn't trying to trade fer ya."
"You would rather have the teenager?" She looked almost upset.
"Look it ain't like yer ugly or nuthin', but I really like her and …" He was cut off when Saffron pressed her lips to his. He pushed her away. "Look I appreciate the interest, but…" He began to get light headed.
"Goodnight." She waved to him as she climbed up the ladder.
"Son of a" Jayne couldn't manage to finish his sentence as the world went black.
River had been reading in the mess waiting patiently for Jayne to show up and play cards. She wondered to herself what he had to talk to Mal about that was so important. Whatever it was sure was taking a long time. She leaned over in the chair to look down the hall. No Jayne. Just as she returned to her reading as an alarm starts blaring. She jumped up in a panic and bolted down the hall screaming out Jayne's name. Just as she made it to the crew's bunks she ran into someone. She looked up from her position on the floor to see Inara with a panicked look on her face.
"Jayne?!" Inara asked. River nodded.
"Mal?!" She asked her. Inara nodded and they both bolted for the bunks. River dropped down in Jayne's bunk without taking the ladder. She screamed when she saw Jayne sprawled out on the floor.
"GET SIMON!" She yelled up the open hatch. River raced back over to Jayne's unconscious body. "Jayne, Jayne!" She began to shake his shoulders. "Get up you big dumb idiot." She felt her face grow hot and the tears begin to roll down her face.
"RIVER!" she heard Simon drop down behind her. "Don't kiss him! Don't touch his lips." She gave him a confused look.
"Same thing happened to Mal." He smirked "Goodnight kiss."
"You idiot!" She screamed at Jayne and then kicked him in the side before storming up the ladder screaming obscenities.
River waited patiently for both of the morons to wake up. How could they be so stupid? How could they both kiss that horrible woman? River smiled as Inara slowly made her way into the mess to wait with her. She knew why Inara was acting so weird.
"I see I'm not the only one who panicked." River smirked.
"Don't say anything!" Inara said sternly.
"I knew something was wrong with her." River smiled. "What's going on with the ship?"
"Kaylee says she messed with something. Set us on a path to somewhere and now we can't steer or change course."
"Bummer." River frowned. They heard heavy foot steps and turned to see both an upset Mal and Jayne heading towards them followed by Wash and Kaylee. They looked to each other and shrugged. They remained in the peaceful silence for a few more minutes until the heard Wash yell
"YES!" They both jumped up and ran onto the bridge.
"You got it?" Mal asked excitedly.
"We got life. We got screens. It's a qualified "yes". A partial."
"What about nav control?" He looked hopeful. River noticed out of the corner of her eye that Jayne was staring at her longingly. "So where are we headed?" She tries her best to not pay attention, but she can feel Jayne's eyes on her back.
"Coordinates she entered… we're headed for something and it's not too far…" Wash says as he pounds on the screen.
"Did she signal anyone?" River can't keep quiet anymore.
"… she did. Same coordinates, no I.D." Wash looks over to the Captain waiting for another question.
"Who's out there…?" A shiver runs up River's spine when she realizes that Jayne is just behind her.
"Let me see if her signal wave can translate to a visual, there might be a… Damn!. Heavy ionization, electrical interference bouncing the signal all… look at that…" He points to the screen as they all huddle around it. "It's like a circle." Mal and Book look at each other worriedly.
"It's a net." River doesn't like the sound of Mal's voice. She reaches back for Jayne's hand. It calms her although she won't admit it. He gives her hand a gentle squeeze.
"I don't get it. Where are we headed?" he looked out into the black as if he might see something.
"The end of the line." River feels her heart stop for just a moment as she steps back into Jayne's body.
"It's okay." He whispered into her ear. "Everything is going to be okay."
"It's a Carrion House. Scrap shop, takes ships, pulls 'em apart or fixes 'em up." Book looks at the faces around the room and wonders if he should be telling them this.
"Doesn't sound that scary…" Wash rolls his eyes.
"That pattern you're looking at is a net. We fly into that we're more than helpless. It'll turn the ship into one big electrical conduit, burn us all from the inside out." River can't stand to hear anymore and bolts from the room. As if not hearing it doesn't make it real.
"Some of the newer ones'll just hold you, then the scrappers'll override the airlocks, pull the oh-two, or just gas you. They're not looking to deal with survivors." Book watches as Inara follows after River.
"One day you're gonna tell us all how a preacher knows so damn much about crime." Jayne teases. Book knows that it is just how he deals with these types of situations.
"Kaylee." Mal looked to her for answers.
"I'm trying, sir, but…" She feels her face grow hot. Mal knows she's having a hard time with the pressure.
"Well, you stay on it. We can't fall into that net." He turned to address Book and Jayne. "We need a plan B." He slammed his hand down on the comm. "ZOE, GET OUR SUITS PREPPED, NOW." He turns back to the others. "I figure we got one shot at this." He looks to Wash "Give me a visual as soon as we're close."
"Won't be long…" Wash calls to him as he heads towards the door.
"What do I do?" Mal pauses at the sound of Jayne's voice.
"You go get Vera."
River stands there watching in awe as Mal, Zoe and Jayne suit up. It made her nervous to watch Jayne load massive bullets into Vera. Simon is doing his best to help Book pull information up in the encyclopedia.
"WE ARE TWO MINUTES OUT…" River heard Wash's voice over the comm., but she didn't register what he said.
"This thing needs oxygen around it to fire, and we don't have a case." River wants to run to him and wraps her arms around him, but she knows that will disrupt his train of thought and they all need him to be focused right now.
"We're gonna use a suit." She hears Mal say
"Here. We got it." Simon waved everyone over. He angles the encyclopedia for Jayne to see.
"what am I aiming for. The window?" Jayne looked at Mal.
"That might kill some fold, but it won't disrupt the net. See these six points where it's brightest? Those're the breakers. Hit one and it should short it out."
"What do you mean should?" Jayne looked up at River and their eyes connect for just a moment. She smiles at him an nods. An unspoken message passes between the two.
"River why don't you go sit in the mess with Inara." Simon suggested just trying to get her out of the room.
They're quiet as Mal opens the door showing the Jayne where he needs to shoot. Jayne's still thinking of the panic in River's eyes before she left the room. He has to do this! He can't let her die! He holds onto Vera a little tighter as they approach the ring slowly.
"You see it?" Mal asked looking at Jayne.
"Clear as day." He nods. "You see Vera? You dress yourself up, then you get taken out somewhere fun." He smiles at the gun. An unspoken message passes between the two as they draw nearer to the ring. Another second passes and Jayne fires at the breaker. It explodes and Jayne, still angry turns his rage onto the office and shoots the window out.
Inara and River looked at each other as they hear Serenity spring back to life. They both heave a sigh of relief and Inara begins to busy herself making tea for the two of them. River nods a thank you and sips slowly.
"You know I spoke with Simon earlier." Inara said quietly as she sat down next to the small girl.
"Oh… yea." She smiled. She liked Inara she was so easy to talk to. "What about?"
"Jayne…"
"Oh and what did he have to say on the subject of Jayne." River laughed. It was a well known fact to the entire crew that both Jayne and Simon severely disliked each other.
"That the good night kiss was only on one side of his mouth." River gave her a questioning look. "that means he didn't kiss her, she kissed him. Most likely he pushed her off." River smiled at the thought. "Cut him some slack River."
"I will cut Jayne some slack when You cut my father some slack." River smirked.
"Deal." Inara nodded.
"Good you would make a much better step-mother than Saffron anyway." She smiled at Inara for a moment and then left to go find Jayne.
Alright let me know what you think. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Please read and review