Chapter 14

Next Morning

Jayne woke early and headed to the galley to find Lara already grabbing mixing bowls out of the cupboards. She turned to see Jayne and smiled.

"Have you come to stir for me again?" Lara asked as she rubbed her sprained wrist.

Jayne nodded and yawned as he entered the kitchen. Lara shook her head.

"How can you be tired with all that sleep you had yesterday?" she asked.

Jayne looked at her, "Wasn't sleepin the whole time, woke up and had somethin stuck in my head that wouldn't go away."

"And what was that?" she asked as she moved a pan.

"Not sure if I should tell you" Jayne mumbled quietly as he frowned into the batter.

"Glare at that batter too hard and I won't need an oven," she said lightly, "And no dodging."

Jayne mixed harder than he needed as he kept quiet.

She poked him in the side and said, "Oh come on, surely it wasn't that bad?"

He looked over at her with piercing eyes that made her breathe a little harder, "You."

He turned back to the bowl.

"Oh," she said unsure of what else to say, "Was I as annoying as I am now?"

Jayne stopped mixing and set the bowl flat on the counter with a thud. He turned silently towards her and pulled her into his arms, hugging her. She was surprised and held herself stiffly as his head rested against the top of hers. She slowly started to melt into his arms as she rested her head against his chest. He just stood there hugging her. He made no move to do anything else. He took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of her hair. She smelled faintly like River's flower shampoo with a hint of mint and vanilla. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed the hug.

After a few minutes he took a deep, shaky breath and slowly leaned back. He turned around and went back to quietly mixing. Lara just stood there with her arms empty. She felt a loss, but didn't understand it. She had no claim on this man. She felt unworthy of claiming anyone. She slowly moved towards the pan she had pulled out and they worked in a comfortable silence.

Jayne rubbed his left shoulder trying to work out the tension that had started to build in them since they had acquired themselves a cook. Lara peered over at him and her fingers twitched. She was unsure if a shoulder rub would be appropriate and felt herself blush as she turned back to the task at hand. Jayne peered over at Lara and saw her carefully measuring out a bit of this and that. He turned back to his space as Lara started frying up her flapjacks. He started on the dishes and soon she was next to him drying them off and putting them away while keeping an eye on her flapjacks.

Jayne set the table just in case the whole crew showed for breakfast as Lara started putting food on the table. The crew did start to trickle in after the breakfast they had yesterday. Before anyone knew it everyone was sitting down and eating while they rubbed the sleep from their eyes. Copious amounts of coffee was poured and consumed as bellies filled and the crew started to trickle away to their posts.

River peered sideways at Lara sitting next to her. She noticed the bruise Atherton had given her was still healing and there were black rings of sleeplessness around her eyes. Her forehead creased as she turned back to her plate.

Jayne, Simon, Lara, and River were the only ones left at the table. Lara pushed back her chair and started to stand and gather dishes. River's hand grabbed Lara above her sprain gently as she turned to look up at her.

"Shared the bad dreams," River whispered, "Didn't mean to. Popped into her head like a dirty joke. Can't keep em out."

Lara looked at River and smiled gently. She leaned forward as River released her wrist and their foreheads touched.

"Nothing of this is your fault," Lara stated firmly, "Nothing. Not now, nor before. You understand Lil Bit?"

River smiled at her use of the old nickname and Lara gathered a few dishes into her arms. She walked around the table as Jayne stood to help clean up. She headed to the kitchen as River stood and looked after her.

"It is," she whispered loudly, "The bad dreams that don't go away. The pain the Pixie hides each day. Stabs at the heart and makes her feel unworthy."

Simon and Jayne looked at River and back to Lara. Lara slowly set the dishes down on the counter and turned slowly towards River.

Lara said, "I want you to do something."

Lara pointed at her head as she walked back towards the table, "Read me. Dig deep Lil Bit. What truth do you find there?"

Lara put her hands on the table and looked at River in challenge. River echoed her movement and stared at her. River scowled as she concentrated. Lara continued to stare at River with an open look on her face. After a few minutes, River's face scrunched up as if in pain. Simon stood up quickly, but halted when Lara motioned for him to stop.

A few minutes later, tears slowly trickled out of River's eyes as her face relaxed and a look of shock and understanding over came her. She blinked a few moments and then nodded while a smile slowly formed on her face. She straightened and walked out of the room.

Jayne and Simon looked at each other before looking at Lara again.

"What just happened?" Jayne asked bewildered.

"She finally understands," Lara said calmly.

"Understands what?" Simon asked.

"It would take a long time to explain everything," Lara said quietly as she held up three fingers and slowly lowered each as she named something important, "But to summarize... I lay all blame on the Blue Sun Corporation which is who started this whole thing, I would do everything exactly the same even knowing the outcome before hand if it kept River safe, and some gifts we were born with."

"Born with?" Simon asked.

Lara looked at Simon, "She's not the only reader on this boat."

Simon and Jayne both raised an eyebrow and stared.

"I have to concentrate really hard to get any information," Lara said hesitantly, "Thats how I knew when to get those girls out when I did. River was born with it too, but it was like mine. We use to share secrets during class even tho we were in separate buildings. The Blue Sun Corp just sliced away her barriers. Its easier if you are close to someone. I don't mean in location, but feelings and memories."

Jayne crossed his arms as he shifted uncomfortably.

"You can read people's brains too?" he asked.

"If I want a migraine and a bloody nose," she stated.

"What?" Simon asked concerned.

"I have to concentrate to use it and it has consequences," Lara said as she turned back to the kitchen, "So if you two have heard quite enough...I'm going to clean up."

"Wait," Simon said, "You said it was easy to read River."

Lara turned back to Simon, "Because shes a reader. Its easier for readers to communicate with each other."

Jayne straightened and said, "Thats how she knew where you were."

"Yes."

Jayne quietly helped Lara to clean up as Simon went to find River. When all the dishes were put away he snuck off to his bunk to think.