The Nine – Chapter Twenty-One

Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended.

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The remainder of the trip home was uneventful. Blade kept her team away from the crew for the most part, and the crew returned the favor. As Companion drew near to Argo, Jayne waved Mal.

"Hiya, Jayne," Mal smiled back at him.

"Mal," Jayne nodded. "Got that shipment you ordered," Jayne said at once. "All five of'em. Might wanna come on out and pick'em up, since we'll likely have to head back right off." Mal's eyes narrowed slightly and he nodded.

"Thanks, Jayne. Just put'em on Serenity for now," Mal said pointedly. "I'll see to'em later."

"You got it." Jayne switched the wave off, and looked at River.

"Mal'll meet us at the field," he told her. River shot him a look.

"That isn't what he said," she pointed out.

"No, it ain't," Jayne smiled. "And if anyone's able to listen in on him, they won't realize he's comin' out, either."

"Ah," River nodded, returning her attention to landing the ship. Becca Phillips was in the co-pilot's seat, again studying every move River made. She would fly the next shipment, with River watching from the co-pilot's chair. Chelsa lingered behind River, also watching carefully.

"'Bout ready to fly, princess?" Jayne asked her, tousling her hair.

"Yes!" Chelsa beamed, at the same time River said;

"No!" Jayne chuckled at the look Chelsa sent at the back of River's head.

"I see that!" River scolded, and Chelsa looked startled.

"Eyes everywhere," River said mysteriously. Jayne laughed and headed aft.

Blade and her team were in the bay, lounging. Hog was talking to Liam.

"I'm tellin' ya, kid, you can do a helluva lot better with me, than you can with that over-grown, beef-headed. . ."

"Hog," Jayne said quietly from the catwalk, and the ogre stiffened, looking up at him.

"Leave 'im be," Jayne ordered. "He's got a job. Workin' for me."

"Right," Liam nodded. "Thanks for the offer," he smiled, and turned away.

"He's got too much talent to be wastin' it on a tramp freighter!" Hog objected, looking at Jayne.

"He's got talent," Jayne nodded. "And he's puttin' it to good use. For me. I'd rather we didn't have this talk again, either." Jayne's voice was friendly, but his eyes said something else. Hog nodded, silent. Blade smirked at him, openly.

"We'll be on the ground, shortly," Jayne told them, coming down the steps. "Sheriff'll be along, may even be there when we touch, though I doubt it. There's another Firefly on the pad, it's Mal's too. You can bunk up there, outta sight, till he gets there. I think he's got a place in town for you to stay."

"Good," Hog nodded. "And stayin' outta sight's a good plan. Can't be a surprise if ever'one knows we're here." Jayne nodded.

"Do you ever help Reynolds out with his Sheriff work, Shade?" Blade asked, and Jayne almost grinned when Hog's eyes narrowed. But he didn't.

"Nope," he smiled. "Ain't got no interest in the law, myself, 'cept the law o' the knife. Got a good job, a better woman, and I like life just the way it is."

"She's awful small for someone like you," Blade mentioned casually. "Figured you'd go more for someone like Zoe." Or me, she didn't add, but she didn't have to.

"Nope," Jayne smiled again. "Got the perfect woman, Blade. Couldn'a designed one and done no better. And don't let her size fool you. She's dynamite."

"Well, I'm happy for you," Blade's smile faltered a bit, but didn't die.

"Thanks," Jayne nodded. "Good luck to you all. Mal's a good man, so be good to him. He's a might prickly at times, but he don't mean nothin' by it."

"Long as he's payin', I don't care," Vail muttered. "Money don't come through, then. . ."

"Vail, try and keep your mouth closed," Hog snorted. "Drawin' flies."

"Can't hardly take him anywhere," Blade sighed, and Vail's face reddened.

"Mal's a friend o' mine," Jayne told her softly. "Like a pa to my wife. I'd hate for anything, untoward, to occur, if you take my meanin'." Blade might have paled just a little at that, but she nodded.

"We ain't like that, Shade," she assured him.

"Just so we understand each other," Jayne nodded.

"We get it," Hog nodded.

"Take care, then," Jayne was friendly again. "Likely see you again, when it's over, give you a ride back to Astra." With that, he turned and went to help Liam.

"He ain't changed much," Hog said quietly.

"Nope," Blade grinned at him. "Just bigger is all. And his hair," she added, remembering the ponytail Shade had worn long ago. "He don't look bad with short hair."

"I'll be gettin' jealous 'fore long, you keep that up," Hog huffed. Blade laughed.

"Hog, if I ain't left you by now, I probably ain't gonna," she told him.

"It's the prob'ly that worries me," the shortened ogre replied. She bent and kissed his jaw.

"Get over it," she warned.

"Best get to the gear," he sputtered suddenly, and he and the others departed to pick up their equipment. Blade watched them go, then turned back to the bay door. She started when she found River standing in front of her, looking rather put out.

"He's mine," the little woman said quietly, her voice eerily soft.

"Who?" Blade stammered.

"Shade," River smiled suddenly, but it wasn't a pleasant smile at all. Blade looked down at her.

"I don't know what you're talkin' about," she huffed.

"'She's awful small for someone like you'," River mimicked Blade's words from minutes before. "'Figured you'd go more for someone like Zoe'," she finished, then leaned forward slightly, balancing on the balls of her feet, eyes burning like beacons.

"What you really meant was someone more like you," River accused. "So I'm warning you, fairly and formally. Stay away from him. You will not enjoy the consequences." Before Blade could say anything in reply, River spun and walked away.

Blade watched her go, deciding that she'd avoid Shade.

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Inara looked up in surprise when the small group appeared on the ramp of the ship. She was about to become alarmed when Goldie pushed his way through.

"Inara, this is Blade and Pistol," he announced. "They're gonna hire on for Mal, most like. He wanted'em hid out here, outta sight, til he could get out here."

"All right," Inara nodded. "There are four rooms empty in the passenger dorms, right now. Will that be enough?"

"Yes ma'am," Blade nodded. Inara was surprised to hear the woman answer. She looked at her, taking in the set shoulders and beautiful features. Then she noted the submissive stance of the men around her.

Interesting, Inara mused. She's in charge.

"Goldie will you show them down to the rooms, then?" Inara smiled.

"Sure will," Goldie nodded. "Let's go, guys. Same layout as the other boat."

"Who's the dish?" Inara heard one of the men ask.

"She's off limits, punk," she heard Goldie snarl. "In fact, just so you know, they're all off limits. Get that?"

"I usually make them decisions myself, there, Goldilo. . ." Inara heard the man's voice choke off. She couldn't see the wicked looking knife Goldie now held at Vail's throat.

"I'll just say this once, so listen," Goldie smiled, his voice friendly. "All. These. Ladies. Are. Off limits." Goldie's voice was almost a hiss over the last two words. "I see you even lookin' at'em wrong, they won't be able to find you with a bloodhound. You got that? And while we're at it," Goldie added, "you don't get to call me that. Dong ma?"

Inara smiled suddenly, realizing that Goldie, for all his innate charm and humor, was almost as deadly as Jayne. She heard the offensive party gurgling a response, though she couldn't make it out. It must have placated Goldie, though.

"Good," she heard him say. "Now that we got that all worked out, let's go on down to the rooms."

"Vail, if you fuck up one more time, I'll kill you myself," Inara heard the woman, Blade, hiss. "These two are not people you want to piss off. Dong ma?"

The reply didn't quite reach her, but Inara could recognize the submissive tone of voice. She resisted the urge to laugh. She'd wondered, more than once, about Butler Tarrant. Now she knew.

With that happy thought, she went back to work.

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"Jayne, how are your burns?" Simon asked, having walked down to the ship since he knew Jayne would never voluntarily come to the clinic.

"Not bad," Jayne smiled. "I been usin' the cream you gave me, and the blister's are gone." He held his arms out for Simon to inspect. Simon nodded in approval.

"I think I can call you well," Simon smiled. "Your face looks good, as well," Simon noted.

"Why, Simon," Jayne chuckled. "I never even knew you cared."

"I don't," Simon shot back, surprising Jayne. "But I like to keep my sister happy." Jayne laughed hard at that.

"Simon, that was great!" he slapped the smaller man on the back, nearly knocking him over. "And without even a pause, too."

"Thanks, I think," Simon nodded, trying to see if his back was broken.

"I'm sorry I didn't treat'em when it happened," Jayne said seriously. "I just. . .I really didn't think it was that bad, Simon."

"It's easy to overlook something like that, especially when you're tired," Simon assured him. "Just please keep in mind, Jayne, that my sister's well being is firmly attached to your well being. You could come around once in a while for a physical. Just blood work and the like," Simon added when Jayne frowned. "It would help her to know you're well, Jayne."

"I'll be by in the mornin'," Jayne nodded. Simon looked startled.

"You will?"

"Yeah," Jayne nodded again. "If it means that much to her, I'll do it. No problem."

"Thank you, Jayne," Simon told him.

"Sure. Gotta go help get things unloaded," Jayne said, and moved to where Liam and Goldie were already working to off-load the parts Kaylee had wanted.

Simon watched him go, shaking his head.

"Why are you surprised, Simon?" He almost jumped at River's soft question. He turned to see her smiling at him.

"About what?"

"You are surprised that he would take care of himself for my sake," River told him. "Shouldn't be."

"I'm not," Simon assured her. "Not really. Jayne and I have come a long way, mei mei."

"Yes," she sighed happily. "I'm grateful for that," she hugged him. "Makes me feel warm and fuzzy," she giggled.

"Warm and fuzzy, huh?" Simon rubbed her arm. "Well, that's good, I guess."

"It's very good, ge ge," River nodded. "Jayne thinks well of you, you know," she told him. "Not just as a doctor, but as family. There isn't much he would not do for you."

"I know that," Simon smiled at her. "And, if I'm honest, it's a good feeling. I never thought I'd ever say anything even remotely like that about Jayne Cobb, mind you," he added ruefully. "But. . ." He trailed off, shaking his head.

"Miss home," River said sadly. "I'm sorry, Simon. It's my fault that you are. . ."

"Hush," Simon hugged her closer. "It's not home I miss, River, so much as a sense of belonging. I'll be married soon, and my own mother and father won't even be there for the wedding."

"You can always invite them," she shrugged.

"No, I can't," he sighed. "See, that's what's so sad, River. I can't invite them, because I can't trust them. And no son, or daughter," he looked down at her again, "should ever be in that position."

"No, they shouldn't," River agreed.

"And there is nothing for you to be sorry for, either," he kissed the top of her head. "If it wasn't for our coming out here, I wouldn't have met Kaylee."

"Worked out for the best," River smiled. "I wouldn't have Jayne."

"No," Simon agreed. "Not that I wouldn't give all that up, to be able to say you never went to the Academy. Suffered like you did."

"I wouldn't," River surprised him. "Not for anything. My life is wonderful, Simon. I'm married to the most perfect man I'll ever find, one who loves me, unconditionally. One who will not desert me, nor 'trade' me when I grow older, nor discard me for a more attractive woman."

"He loves me," she stressed. "Flaws and all."

"Yes, he does," he said simply. "With all he has."

"To me, that is worth everything."

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"Kaylee, where ya want this stuff?" Jayne asked. Kaylee looked at the assorted parts, chewing her lip.

"Sometime today, mei mei," Jayne added. "This stuff's on the heavy side."

"I want everything that ain't covered in the bay," Kaylee nodded. "And the wire, too. Everything that's protected, we can leave outside, if we have to."

"All right," Jayne nodded, huffing his way up the ramp. Goldie and Liam followed with their own burdens.

"Kaylee, I need you to come over to the Companion with me," Jayne said quietly. "I got somethin' I need you to have a look at."

"Okay," Kaylee smiled. The two of them walked back to the other ship.

Kaylee watched as Jayne lowered the heavy crate to the floor of Companion. She gasped in shock when he opened it.

"Jayne, them looks like. . ."

"They are," he nodded grimly. "One for each shuttle, Kaylee. The guy I got'em from says they'll work in the recess under the cockpit, so we can retract'em to dock the shuttle again." He handed her the heavy books. She took them.

"Where'd you get this?" she almost squealed. "This is a maintenance guide for Serenity and Companion!" Jayne shrugged.

"Just know some folks," he told her. "I need the shuttles on Companion done quick like, Kaylee. Reckon you can do it?" Kaylee snorted delicately.

"I reckon if it can be done, I can do it," she almost huffed, and Jayne fought down a smile.

"Well, we may have to head right back out, tomorrow, day after for sure."

"Give me a little bit to see 'bout all this," she was slowly flipping through one of the manuals. "I can tell you more after that. Say an hour or so."

"Good enough."

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Mal arrived at the field shortly before dark. Toby Bontrager had followed him with a panel van, one used to transport prisoners. Mal hated to haul the new people that way, but he wanted them kept a secret for as long as possible.

He made his way toward Serenity, but came to a jarring halt when he spied Kaylee working on a shuttle that had been detached and landed separately.

"Mei mei, what are you doin'?" he asked, eyeing the object she was wiring.

"I'm fixin' a pirate swatter, Cap'n!" she told him enthusiastically.

"Uh huh," Mal replied. "Where might you o' got that?"

"Jayne," she smiled.

"I shoulda knowed," Mal muttered to himself. He heard Baker snort delicately behind him.

Mal ignored it, and continued on his way. He saw Jayne on Companion's ramp, working to off-load a crate.

"Jayne? Get a word?" Mal asked amiably. Jayne looked up.

"Sure. Liam, take a break, I'll be back." The younger man nodded, disappearing into the ship. Jayne walked over to where Mal was standing.

"Got something you wanna tell me?" Mal asked, far calmer than he felt.

"About?" Jayne asked, frowning. Mal looked at Baker.

"Give us a little privacy, Kathy, you don't mind." The woman nodded, and walked to the ship, leaving the two men alone.

"Why is Kaylee hooking what looks powerful like a cannon on one o' my shuttles?" Mal asked. Still calm.

"She ain't," Jayne told him. "She's puttin' 'em on all the shuttles."

"Any particular reason?" Mal wanted to know. Jayne looked at him, then pointed to Serenity.

"Just one," he said evenly. Mal felt his tension ease at that. Some.

"You might have at least asked," Mal pointed out.

"I did," Jayne smiled. "Asked Zoe. She said fine."

"Zoe don't own them ships, Jayne," Mal huffed slightly.

"She runs the business, though," Jayne reminded him. "Ain't but a bitty rail gun, Mal. And a pair o' canister clusters. Somethin' to let us protect ourselves."

"How much they cost me?" Mal gave in to the inevitable.

"Nothin', yet," Jayne shrugged. "I bought'em. You don't wanna pay me for'em, that's fine."

"You bought'em?" Mal looked shocked. "With what?"

"Um, money?" Jayne said, as if it were a trick question.

"Where'd you get that kinda money, Jayne?" Mal demanded. "Seems like we had this talk a time or two over the last year or so, and I ain't never got a straight answer from you."

"Someone left it to me," Jayne shrugged.

"Left it to you, as in died?"

"Yeah," Jayne looked away. "As in died. Left me everything."

"And you didn't mention this because?" Mal asked.

"Didn't see no reason to," Jayne said honestly. "If I thought you needed to know, I'd a told ya."

"Huh," Mal was caught off guard by that. "I didn't think you had no family left, Jayne."

"I got all o' you," Jayne pointed out, again catching Mal off guard.

"Fair enough, Jayne," Mal nodded. "Give the bill to Inara."

"Okay," Jayne shrugged yet again. "Like I said, you don't want'em, I'll pay for'em."

"No, it ain't a bad idea," Mal replied. "And I did put Zoe in charge," he added.

"So we're straight?" Jayne asked, eyeing Mal closely.

"We been straight a while, Jayne," Mal grinned. "Just takes some gettin' used to, that's all."

Jayne's grin was all the answer he got, as the big man headed back to work. Mal motioned for Baker to join him, and continued on to Serenity.