38) Try To Justify The Things I Used To Do

"River?" Riddick knew usually when the animal rose in his mate, though he'd freely admit this had taken him a bit by surprise. That his core-raised, oh so civilized little woman had gone into heat at the sight of blood sprayed across his skin had been a pleasant revelation that couldn't be denied. When she'd said she got hot watching him fight and kill he'd thought River meant she just appreciated his skills. He really hadn't thought she meant that she found it physically arousing. But even with the stink of the mud in his nose he'd been able to smell the sudden swell of honey bursting through her scent when he'd found the sweet spot on Hessian.

Before he'd been able to blink his arms had been full of his woman and she'd been adamant that there'd be no waiting. Her animal had risen and her words had the husky growling undertone he associated with it when she'd demanded to ride him. And when he hadn't gotten the idea quick enough she'd used her legs to take his out from under him. Not that he'd objected, and now he had a better idea of what it was like for her when his animal took over. She'd been desperate and a little innocent still because she hadn't known exactly how to achieve what she wanted and the look of erotic shock on her face when she'd taken him was one he'd treasure for the rest of his life.

But once she got going, she'd ridden him hard, given him the ride of his life until he was sitting up and sucking on her pretty breasts, biting down over her ribcage when an orgasm had arched her back. He'd felt her teeth close on the skin near the base of his neck, felt when the skin had parted and that had been enough to unleash his animal.

Memory was a funny thing, he never forgot anything, no pain or pleasure was gone from his brain once experienced, but viewing and feeling with the animal at the forefront was always strange at first. The man wanted to fight for a control it had already lost while the animal reveled in the freedom it had taken. He'd lost track of how many times River had fallen around his body, felt an orgasm shake his flesh more than once and still hadn't been able to stop. When he did fall, finally and completely, it had been like seeing God, ecstasy filling every vein, staring up at River as she nearly screamed out her pleasure, feeling as if an earthquake had struck them both it felt that profound.

And now his mate, his měi nǚ , was tenderly licking the bite she'd given him, her eyes wide and starry with her night vision, bright silver staring back at him. She wasn't paying attention to her name, didn't give any sign that she even understood him. "River," He tried again, the animal stretching through him, "Mate? Nǚ ren , you feel all right?"

"Riddick worries he has hurt his woman," River's voice still had that growling undertone, a gorgeous husky sound that roused the animal's interest. "Foolish male, couldn't hurt his mate if he tried." She pressed kisses to his neck and scalp. "She wants him again, wants him to take her like wolves out in the air, his diǎo pushing into her."

He could feel his body quickening again in spite of his concern, "Want that." He agreed. "But we ain't got a lotta time 'til dawn."

"The leaf man will worry," River's animal appeared to be considering and she shook her head. "But not yet. Her mate will have her as she wishes or he will regret it." She snapped her teeth hard near his ear before the tip of her tongue laved the curve of it seductively. "He wishes this too…" She coaxed him, "Let his animal out to play with her. She needs. Needs open air. Needs her mate. Blood and body and seed."

Part of him was impressed that River's animal was so verbal, his wasn't over much. And another part was roaring awake at the challenge implicit in her tone and words. "No River," He began to argue when she undulated against him and his body, already quickening, came to full, abrupt and painfully hard life.

"Yes," She growled at him and snapped her teeth around his ear, a sharp nip to remind him that she got what she wanted eventually or right away, but she would win. Riddick growled, he was fast coming to believe that River's animal was smarter than his. Or else the two beasts were in collusion. "Yes," She nodded again, before she lifted her body off his and shifted back, her hands sliding down the open seam of her trousers and spreading her yīn chún for him to see her hot wet slit and blood flushed yīn dì before she slid her fingers over it. As he watched River's little fingers plucked and stroked her clit, lying on the ground in front of him she writhed under her own touch until the animal couldn't stand it and the man was no longer inclined to argue.

"Stop that now," Riddick growled back at her and smacked her hand away lightly before he buried his lips between her thighs and set his teeth into her clit gently tugging on it. Her gasping moan of pleasure sent every bit of blood left in his brain to his cock and he dragged her up onto her knees before turning her around and putting her on all fours. "You wanted it liàn rén," He growled into her ear and rubbed the tip of his cock over her táo huā yuán, feeling her moan and try to push back on him. "Now you're gonna tā mā de take it xiǎo láng."

He would have made her wait, would have teased her but the animal was more in control than the man and drove deep inside her without a pause. One long deep stroke and he was buried in her, balls deep and groaning over how River felt. She was hot, so hot against his flesh, so wet and smooth and from this angle extremely tight despite how hard he'd just fucked her. She wailed as he drove into her and Riddick stilled but he couldn't smell anything but honey and blood, steel and silk and the plums he'd always thought were just part of her until he knew what love smelt like on her skin. Plums and honey were his favorite now, two things he'd never take for granted on his woman, even as his mind automatically cataloged other scents to gauge her mood and forgot to even name her love.

"More, more, more," River moaned and tried to push back onto him only to be stymied by his hard grip. Her growl ripped through the air as she tried to rear up and take what she wanted, and Riddick held her tight before he plowed into her again.

"Mine," He growled into her ear. "My mate," He pulled out and pounded into her again loving how her body quivered and clung to his. Withdraw and snap forward again and she shuddered and wailed her need and he found the nape of her neck above her shirt. He suddenly hated the cloth that kept her white skin from his eyes and pulled on it with his teeth until it began to rip. Half of her spine was exposed finally and he set his teeth over her that slender curve, loving the skin between her shoulder blades. She was moaning, struggling, her body in his grip growing more desperate until he smelt cinnamon along with the honey.

"Touch," She finally moaned her need. "Touch her," And the animal couldn't tease anymore, let one hand move from her hip to snake around her body and plunge between her thighs, stroking and tugging on her yīn dì until she was meeting every thrust and the scent of honey surrounded him. Her fall swept over her and he cursed as her body tightened around his, began to fuck her in earnest, hard strokes that pushed deep inside her body, rubbing against his River sweet spot and farther.

The animal had left the man to simply watch and appreciate as it took River again and again to the precipice of pleasure and shoved her over. No finesse, no delicacy just his fingers pulling on her clit, his mouth biting down hard between her shoulder blades and his cock plowing her without mercy until she was screaming in her ecstasy and only her flesh between his teeth kept his roar of pleasure from waking any sleepers within hearing distance as his orgasm tore through him.

She collapsed, he ended up sprawled on top of her, still sheathed inside her body before he recovered enough to roll over and take her with him. "C'mon tiān shǐ," He noticed the animal had given the man back his voice once it got what it wanted and wondered if River would be the same or if he'd been talking to the animal the rest of the night.

"Her mate is pleased," The growling undertone was still in River's voice so he just nuzzled her and took it upon himself to put both of their clothing back in order as she spoke to him. "Her mate, her man, likes her animal, doesn't worry?"

"What? 'Bout never gettin' to talk to my woman again?" Riddick glanced at her as he tied the scraps of her shirt together in front hiding her breasts. At a glance no one would notice her trousers had been slit down the middle so they'd do to get back to the ship. Tucking the back of her tee-shirt under the weapon harness to keep it in place he thought about that when she nodded. "Guess not, after all, you ain't worried 'bout the animal takin' over the man. Love River, my mate, don't matter which part I see. Still you right?"

She nodded, that quicksilver gaze wise as she stared at him before a slender finger found a smear of blood and wiped it off his skin. Her fingers slipped into his mouth for him to taste before she sucked the blood off her own fingers, "She loves the blood. Revels in her mate's abilities, delights that he is a warrior, is her wolf."

Riddick looked down at her as the growling tone faded a bit though not completely, "If this is what happens when you watch me kill xiǎo láng I might have to get violent more often."

"It has always happened," She told him solemnly. "From the first, when he killed the man who would have raped her. Knew she had found her mate. The girl was afraid, remembered the pain too well, but she knew. Always knew the Riddick was her mate."

"Yeah?" Riddick zipped up his pants and ignored his ripped shirt in favor of making sure all his favorite bits of River were covered. "You feel like tellin' me 'bout that some more while we sneak back to the boat?"

"Hm… she wants the Riddick's hands on her more, warm water and his hands," River's animal was still in charge, mostly anyway. He grinned and made sure that the pack with their clothes was still on his back, which amazingly enough it still was. Picking up the shiv he'd dropped in the dirt after slicing up River's pants he sheathed it and scooped her up.

"C'mon then," He smelt fresh blood on her and knew he'd have to make sure her bitemarks were clean before they put healing salve on them. "We'll see if the two of us can squeeze in that shower while we're still on the ground. Be plenty a water."

"Hmm…loves him," Her voice was dreamy, the growl fading out of it as weariness drew River's animal back down inside her. "You didn't mind?"

"What? Your animal takin' over an' takin' what she wanted," Riddick chuckled. "I keep tellin' you River, you're my woman and my woman takes what she wants. Guess your animal got the message before the woman did."

Her giggle was sweet even as she flicked on the earwig, "Wash, we're on our way back. ETA two minutes."

He could hear Wash's voice, "Takin' the scenic route are we?"

"Had a couple of stops to make," River admitted. "Anyone notice?"

"Nope," Wash's cheerful voice reassured her. "Mal and Zoe are still asleep. But Kaylee and Simon never made it back to the boat."

"Simon is trying to romance Kaylee," River told the pilot with a smile.

"Huh," Wash didn't sound like he had a lot of faith in Simon's probable success and Riddick chuckled. "Well to each their own."

"Coming up on Serenity now," River murmured tiredly. "Thank you Wash."

"Alarms are off, and airlock is…unlocked," Wash said after a moment's pause. "See you in a few."

"Shower first," River told the pilot via the earwig as the slipped inside the airlock and closed the door behind them.

"I hear Mal comin' up his ladder so you two had better hurry," Wash told her. "Alarms back on in five seconds. Over and out."

Riddick shut the second door and slid the latch down before carrying River to the head off of the passenger lounge. The pack was dropped inside the door and the shower turned on to heat up before he began to divest River of her ruined clothing. Searching out the pins in her hair and watching it tumble down in fat curls was another pleasure and he breathed in her scent as his sinuses slowly cleared of the smell of Canton. Shucking his own clothing was simple enough and though the shower was a tight fit it was worth it to run soapy hands over his mate and watch the woman come back fully into her eyes. Her blush made him laugh and he kissed her again assuring her he'd loved everything she'd done, including the biting.

Then of course he'd had to prove it to her and that had been a bit of fun. By the time they got out of the shower and he'd handed her the dress shirt from his suit to don dawn had come and gone. River shrugged as she buttoned the shirt up, "Work took us very close to dawn. Wash was beginning to worry."

"Work or the animals?" Riddick loved teasing her, her blush was so pretty.

"She was not the only animal playing in the dirt," River reminded him in spite of her blush.

"Yeah but I don't get embarrassed by it," He laughed at her before picking her up to kiss. "We'd better get upstairs and changed before Mal starts askin' questions."

River rolled her eyes at him and nodded, picking up her clothes and weapons. He'd just pulled his stained pants back on for the trip upstairs. It was only the outside of them that were dirty after all. Mal was in the galley getting coffee and raised an eyebrow when they walked in wearing very little clothing, "You two put somethin' on covers all the bits that ain't an' then come explain why you ain't asleep when you done yelled at me that you were bushed."

Riddick rolled his eyes and nodded before he followed River down to their bunk. It didn't take more than five minutes before they were dressed in fresh clothing and back out of the bunk, knives once more distributed about their bodies.

"Coffee my láng," River asked pressing a kiss to his exposed bicep before she went to the cupboard.

"Rather tea if you're makin' some for yourself Qīng Xiāng," Riddick admitted taking a seat and closing his eyes wearily. Opening them again he looked at Mal, "Your plan as it stood woulda gotten Jayne killed Mal."

"You cain't know that for certain," Mal objected. "Usin' Jayne's hero-y type status as a distraction is a new method but the plan is old as time."

"How many times you been shot with that plan?" Riddick retorted focusing his gaze on River as she made tea with graceful hands. How she contrived to make everything look so gorram graceful, like a dance was somethin' he'd never figure.

"Mal takes risks, considers them acceptable, doesn't know all the variables, probabilities of success goes down," River said from the counter pouring tea into two mugs and bringing them over for she and Riddick.

"Then it's your job to tell me all the variables little one," Mal told her in the voice that demanded captainy respect. "I don't do things to get my crew shot on purpose you know."

"Assumes others are as honorable as he," River made a face at the captain and Riddick smiled into his mug as she lectured. "He says 'I do a job, I get paid' but does not figure in that others are reluctant to give up their hard won coin. Would rather shoot than hand over cashy money. Forgets that others don't think like he does."

"Are you sayin' that's the case here?" Mal frowned, "This is just the pickup; the cashy money isn't even on this rock."

Riddick rolled his eyes, "You're bein' too literal Mal." He told his captain, "You sent Jayne out to be a distraction without even thinkin' on how the Magistrate would react. Compound for sins they are inclined to, by damning those they have no mind to."

"And how's he gonna react then?" Mal looked at the two of them as if expecting answers.

River rolled her eyes, "Asks questions and then won't entirely believe the answers. The dà chóng does not explain itself, it merely pounces and bites."

"Dà Chóng," Mal pounced on that like a cat himself, "You two been engaging in sabotage?"

Riddick allowed himself an evil smirk, "Well I'd tell ya Mal, but then I'd have to kill ya."

"Rick," Mal had that warning tone in his voice. The one that said the games were real cute an' all but he needed answers.

"Yeah," Riddick sighed, Mal's tone always put his back up but it was better to play nice, safer for everyone concerned. "So back when Jayne pulled this job he had a partner. When they was unloadin' everythin' from the shuttle tryin' to keep it in the air, the other man pulled a knife on Jayne, was gonna shiv him an' throw him out."

River nodded, "Jayne…does not trust easily. Does not put his back to anyone without solid proof of intent. This man…was not trusted entirely but just enough. When he pulled the knife he went out the hatch. Jayne thought he might have survived the fall. Magistrate would surely have found him."

"So Jayne's old partner would most likely not be pleased Jayne's back," Mal groaned. "Jiàn guǐ, we'd better figure out another distraction. Jayne really don't care for gettin' shot."

"Magistrate keeps his ear to the ground," Riddick added another piece of bad news. "By the time we're movin' the goods through town, chances are the guards woulda surrounded the tavern. We'd never get Jayne out 'thout a bloodbath. Lotta folks could get hurt."

Mal might be annoying about his plans but it could never be said the captain was stupid, "Xuě shàng jiā shuāng." He began and then paused, "What did you mean 'woulda'? You an' River do somethin' to make sure that weren't gonna happen?"

"You might could say," Riddick smirked at the captain. "Magistrate has a kid, ain't much like his daddy. He'd run this place decent River says."

"All right, I'm just gonna ask flat out nǐ zài jiǎng shén me pì huà," The captain's dark eyes were staring at the two of them.

River sighed and Riddick looked at her, "You wanna tell him?" River shook her head and leaned against him and for a moment he just ignored Mal to take a deep breath of her scent. Some lingering honey, blood, the ever present scent of plums, silk and steel were fainter though and that pineapple of exhaustion was bleeding into her scent. "We're gonna hafta nap some after this Qīng Xiāng, I don' like that pineapple smell." Mal was irked at being ignored; he could smell it, his irritation rising the longer Riddick didn't answer.

"Hmm…" River yawned and leaned some more and Riddick sighed.

"Long story short, we took out about five, six," He corrected himself as River held up a finger, "Guards and that foreman before we got Stitch out of his box, killed him and rolled him into the bog," Riddick shrugged slightly as he looked at Mal's shocked face. "Made it look like Stitch had escaped and killed the guards. An' River gave Higgins a heart attack so he's good an' dead. The kid'll likely just let us leave."

"Good boy, will run the moon better and will not care about Serenity or the escaping folk hero," River yawned again. "Busy evening. A few hours until it's time to move the goods. Sleep now my Riddick."

"Yeah," Riddick nodded his agreement and pulled her into his lap. "Any questions Mal?" He was vividly conscious of Mal's astonishment and more than slight unease over what they'd done.

"Uh, no, no go on an' get some rest," The captain waved them off towards the bunks. "I figure four hours'll be enough time for folks to be good and tipsy. I'll wake ya then."

Riddick stood with River in his arms and carried her back to the bunk, rousing her just enough to get her down the ladder and into bed. They didn't even bother to undress, sleep being more important though he did take a minute to pull off their boots before they stretched out on the bed.

River tried to erase her frown as they left the ship again, she and Riddick had taken care of most potential problems last night, and the only issue remaining was Jayne's reaction to the Mudder's worship. Given how he'd spoken with them the day before she doubted that he'd act like a complete idiot and take it as his due. She was more worried he'd offend them somehow and they'd lynch him.

"What're you worryin' on Qīng Xiāng," Her mate's delicious voice rolled over her skin and she shivered in reaction before she answered.

"Jayne is the only unknown variable remaining," River explained. "Doubt that he will encourage worship, concerned he will go too far in trying to prevent it."

"Don't think you gotta worry none on that," Mal assured her sunnily as they strode towards the bar. All his wor "Jayne's got a strong sense of self preservation. He's still alive ain't he?"

River nodded and concentrated on the crowd most of whom were scurrying around trying to get a glimpse in the bar before their shift. There were fewer guards thanks to she and Riddick and the foreman was conspicuously absent but the Mudders were still going about their business.

The bar was extremely crowded, Jayne was at the bar sipping at a mug but not nearly as intoxicated as his audience, he was talking with a Mudder, an earnest looking young man maybe about Simon's age, "So, the magistrate, he let you folks keep all that cash?"

The Mudder nodded, "He did. And it pained him, that's for dead sure. When he found out, he sent his prods in to take it back from us, but the workers resisted."

"Fought the law, huh," Jayne seemed a both disturbed and pleased by that.

If the Mudders are together on a thing, there's too many of us to be put down," The young Mudder explained. "So in the end, he just called it a bonus."

Jayne's laugh was rueful, "That's one hell of a bonus."

The Mudder nodded enthusiastically, "And then, when we put that statue of you in town square, he rolled in, wanted to tear it down. But the whole town rioted."

River smiled when Jayne appeared genuinely touched, "You guys had a riot? On account of me? A real riot?"

The Mudder man smiled, "I can't believe you're back."

Jayne's blue eyes darkened, "How many folks got hurt, when ya'll rioted? Nobody got killed did they?"

"Nah," The Mudder assured him. "Few folks got rattled an' one fella he got his arm broke but he got fixed up good. Higgins' kid, Fess, he came by and checked on alla us folks, got the fella's arm bound up an' put him on store duty for a good two months 'til he healed up." He grinned, "More of us was wishin' we'd got hurt once't we saw that."

Jayne chuckled a bit and shook his head, "Glad to hear that. Wouldn't want none a ya'll hurt on account a me. Riot's real flatterin' though."

"I just can't believe…you're here, you're back," The Mudder told him his eyes bright with hero worship.

As River watched Jayne's eyes darkened again and he shook his head with a sigh, "Ya know I cain't stay. I'm lucky my cap'n he let me off work this long. An' if I stay sure's my eyes are blue the guards'll be gunnin' for me an' anyone with me."

There were some annoyed mutterings at that and River slid up to Jayne silently. Standing at his elbow she had a good view of Riddick and Mal approaching Kaylee and Simon, both of them asleep on a bench in the back of the bar.

Riddick folded his arms and gave a very good big brother glare down at the two of them while Mal poked Kaylee's foot, "Hey, Captain." Kaylee's voice was very sleepy until she woke up a bit more. Sitting up she dislodged Simon's head from her shoulder, her voice much more awake, "Captain!"

Riddick leaned down and spoke almost in Simon's ear, mischief in his mind, "Awake, arise, or be forever fallen."

Simon woke up with a jerk to see Riddick and Mal standing over them, Riddick with a very displeased expression and Mal trying manfully to not laugh in the face of the doctor's obvious panic, "Hey...Mal, uh, Rick... No, nuh-nuh-nothing happened. No, there was, uh, there was some drinking, but, uh, we, no we certainly didn't. No, I would never! Not with Kaylee..."

River rolled her eyes as Kaylee took exception to that, "What do you mean, not with me?"

"Yeah, uh-huh. Where's my hero?" Mal wanted to know. Apparently he had not seen Jayne surrounded by people at the bar. River watched as Riddick nudged Mal and gestured over to Jayne.

River tapped Jayne on the arm as he was trying to explain that much as he liked all of them he couldn't stay.

"Why not?" One of the Mudder women had apparently been lusting after Jayne all night from what River could tell of her thoughts. "There's plenty you could do."

"Well I," Jayne was trying to explain that he had work of his own when Mal came over.

"Jayne, you got another coupla hours with these fine folks an' then I'm sendin' Rick back for ya. If you're lucky he won't bring his little nǚ ren to get you in line." He warned his merc.

River grinned up at Jayne, "Please do not let my gē ge drink anymore." She put her hand on his arm. "Perhaps any folk who need doctoring could come to see him? No medicine but treatments could be prescribed."

Jayne nodded and beckoned Simon over as Kaylee stalked out of the bar after Mal and Riddick leaving the doctor staring at her helplessly, "What'd I do?" Simon asked in a depressed voice. "All I said was that I wouldn't…"

Jayne rolled his eyes, "An' she took that to mean that you didn't fancy her." He explained roughly and told the barkeep to get Simon some water or something that didn't have alcohol in it.

"Simon, don't think on it too much," River told her brother kindly. "Hungover is not when you do your best deliberation."

Simon groaned his agreement to that sentiment and Jayne patted him roughly on the back, "Go on mèi mei Rick's gonna need someone to watch his back."

River nodded and left Simon in Jayne's more than capable hands.

Zoe and Wash had ridden the mule down through town and with all the fuss about Jayne no one noticed the crew walking along with it. River looked at Riddick and sighed slightly as they came to the sparse stand of trees. Zoe was frowning at Mal, "Do you really think we can get the stuff cross town without being noticed?"

"Got to find it first," Mal frowned back and looked around a bit more before finding the spot, "Here we go." River looked around to be sure there were no eyes on them listening with more than her ears before giving Mal the nod and watched as Riddick did the same, "Let's get it dug up."

River wasn't required to dig, she and Kaylee stood watch while the menfolk and Zoe used shovels and in Riddick's case cursing and a shovel to move all the dirt off the goods. It was a good hour before they'd gotten the cargo loaded onto the mule and another half hour before it was back on Serenity. Mal looked at Zoe, "Zoe, pack down the cargo. Wash, you heat up Serenity. We're blowing this mess inside half an hour."

Wash nodded and mounted the steps, "Already there."

Mal looked at his three remaining crew, well two and a half, River thought to herself with a smile, since she was still probationary crew. "Well we can't just leave 'em here," He shrugged, "Let's go get our wayward babes."

River tilted her head, "Smells like trouble." She looked at Riddick, "Too bad we can't bring guns."

"Got enough knives to do the job," Riddick gave her a wicked grin and River smiled back.

"Ya'll sure you want me along?" Kaylee asked worriedly looking out the airlock as though an invasion was due any moment.

"Yeah, sometimes a pretty girl is a good distraction," Mal nodded and with that they all trooped at a fairly fast pace back towards the bar.

The mood swelling up from the grimy building wasn't a friendly one. River winced slightly as the mob of minds hit hers, hostility and disappointment like fumes of onion and manure to her senses. They entered the bar to see Jayne standing with Simon in front of a crowd of Mudders, "Look, now I didn't mean to drop alla that money on ya. That were an accident, 'cause it were money I coulda used." He was saying flatly, "Since I couldn't keep it I'm glad as hell ya'll got it but I ain't no hero. I been sayin' that for half a day now an' you ain't gettin' it."

"But you—" A voice tried to argue angrily and Jayne was having none of it.

"But nothin'," Jayne snapped. "I ain't never claimed to be some kinda hero. I'm a merc an' a mean one. I got folks waitin' on me an' I'm leavin'. I been sayin' all along that I cain't stay." He gestured at Simon who was looking somewhat the worse for wear and River's eyes narrowed on Jayne's bruised and bloody knuckles. "An' you beatin' on me an' my friend ain't gonna change that."

"I'm thinkin' you're gonna change your mind," A Mudder bigger than the rest stepped forward and let his fist fly toward's Jayne's jaw. Quick as a hiccup the merc's arm blocked it while his right fist plowed into the man's belly. Another man attempted the same trick on Simon who was more ready than he appeared though he did take a fist to the ribs before he aimed his own knuckles at the man's jaw.

"Enough!" River hadn't heard Mal so furious since she'd first been woken up from cryo. She and Riddick moved to flank him, her mate shorter than the captain but twice as intimidating. She didn't measure up to either of them in stature or muscle but the long blades she held in her hands were impressive enough to be menacing. "Jayne, you an' the doc are done here."

"He's ours an' you ain't takin' him," Someone from the middle of the crowd argued.

Riddick growled low and mean and River let a feral smile curve her lips, "Like to see you stop us." She snarled and stepped forward with her mate. "My brothers. Only lent to the Mudders for half a day. Gave you more than you deserved. Who thinks too little, and who talks too much."

"He done owes us," Someone else had a demanding and distinctly whiny tone and Riddick growled in that direction, his voice sounding more and more like a wolf in a man's body.

"My brothers owe you nothin'," Riddick's voice was low and mean and filled with imminent violence. "Now if you wanna see how well your blood mixes with mud then you just try to come at us. Me an' my woman got no qualms 'bout killin'. Jayne's got a woman of his own indentured somewhere and he owes her. Not you bunch a fools call themselves men and turn on a man ain't ever wronged ya."

Someone attempted to take issue with that and shoved Simon, predictably enough Simon shoved back. Jayne was dealing with an interloper of his own and the brawl that erupted was more organic than organized. River exchanged a glance with Riddick and they wordlessly sheathed their knives. River just had time enough to tell Mal to keep Kaylee out before she and Riddick were drawn into the fight.

Working their way over to Simon and Jayne wasn't too difficult, though River found herself constantly grabbed and hardening her mind against the thoughts that drove like spears into her psyche given half a moment's lapse in her guard. Anybody who thought she was a helpless little thing was soundly disabused of that notion and she was more and more appreciative of how much instantaneous damage a fist to the throat would do. Her brother and Jayne weren't doing badly but Simon was looking very beat up because everyone seemed to think he'd be an easy target.

Jayne was looking a bit worse for the wear and muttering angrily about ever coming back to this god forsaken lè sè moon. River grinned at him, "He that complies against his will is of his own opinion still." She kicked a particularly grimy Mudder in the balls and grabbed Simon dragging him down to duck a wild swing while Riddick began to hustle Jayne out.

Fighting their way to the door was time consuming and more than once she and Simon had to let go of each other to fend off interlopers but eventually they made it. Mal was guarding the exit and keeping too many people from leaving and alerting the other Mudders that their hero was taking off without them. "We near done here," The captain asked as if it was simply a matter of curiosity.

"Yeah Mal," Jayne's weighty fist hit someone's jaw hard enough to crack bone.

"Simon, get out the door," Riddick commanded mildly and River gave her big brother a push towards daylight. One by one the rest of them followed until she and Riddick were last, neither willing to go without the other. Standing back to back they took on anyone who approached until Mal grabbed their collars and jerked them backwards and out of the bar.

"What were you two gonna do? Go down swingin' until there weren't no one left to fight?" Mal demanded to know as he slammed the door shut and dropped a bar down across it. River took a moment to consider why the door to a tavern would need to be barred from the outside and then decided she didn't need to know.

"He which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart. His passport shall be made, and crowns for convoy put into his purse. We would not die in that man's company that fears his fellowship to die with us," River shrugged and leaned against Riddick craving the clarity of his mind.

"This ain't St. Crispian's day River," Mal remonstrated and River grinned her appreciation that her captain had recognized the quote.

"Eh," Riddick had wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "The fewer men, the greater share of honor."

"You ain't Henry," Mal argued and took a look at his senior gunhand and his medic. "And this can wait. Everybody get back to the boat. Inara's appointment should be just about done and we should get goin'."

River nodded, "Shuttle docks soon." She nodded towards the sky and everyone heard the faint thrum of Inara's shuttle engine.

The captain nodded and hustled everyone onto Serenity just as Inara's shuttle settled into its cradle and slid into the side of the ship. Mal hit the controls for the airlock and simultaneously switched the comm open, "Wash we're on, let's go."

"No sooner said than done," Wash's jovial voice came back over the comms. "Zoe's wavin' Bernoulli to let him know we're on our way."

"Good," Mal nodded and looked at his crew. "You all get yourselves to the infirmary and cleaned up," He commanded, "Kaylee, you give 'em a hand. You're the healthiest outa all of us at the moment."

River began to walk slowly towards the infirmary only to have her mate scoop her up, "Relax and anchor yourself in me, xiǎo láng." He murmured, "Just need some salves for the bruises and to relax a bit."

River nodded and let Riddick set her down on the side shelf of the infirmary, "Jayne needs help more than she does. Knuckles require cleansing." She was aware of Book coming to stand in the doorway, watching the three of them and coming in to pull down first aid supplies for them. The shadow man was quietly competent as he did what he could and left them to their business.

Kaylee had not led Simon into the infirmary but down to his room. That didn't stop Riddick or River from hearing the conversation the mechanic was having with the doctor but it did give them the illusion of privacy. The pretty mechanic was trying to lecture Simon about fighting, "You got to be steely. You can't be letting men stomp on you so much."

Simon sounded slightly defensive, "I didn't get stomped on. Jayne and Rick have been teaching me something. Besides, it wasn't exactly a plan..."

She didn't sound terribly impressed, "You ain't weak. You couldn't beat them back? Or 'you would never'?"

River concentrated on Jayne's knuckles as she listened to her brother sigh, "You're never letting go of that, are you?"

Kaylee sounded a little upset but mostly confused and River could understand why, but Riddick hadn't told Simon that he'd earned forgiveness so really Simon was a little stuck. "Well, you confound me some, is all. I mean, you like me well enough, and we get along...and then you go all stiff."

River wrapped a bandage around Jayne's hand and tugged Riddick in front of her to examine his knuckles. She could practically feel Simon stiffening up from where she sat. Her brother nearly stuttered, "I'm, I'm not, um, I didn't..."

Kaylee wasn't stupid; River began to clean the gouges on Richard's beautiful hands as the mechanic confronted her brother, "See! You're doing it right now! What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."

River smiled, every now and then her brother would get something right, "It means more out here. It's all I have. I mean... My way of being polite, or however it's...well, it's the only way I have of showing you that I like you. I'm showing respect." River dapped antiseptic on Riddick's knuckles and kissed his fingers as Simon continued speaking, "Kaylee, I haven't been given permission to be informal with you yet. I haven't earned forgiveness. If I had been...in any way improper it would have been extremely insulting to you."

River caught her mate around the waist with her legs and held him in front of her as he heard Kaylee's reply, "So, when we made love last night..."

Simon's voice was a near squawk, "When we what?" River shook her head at Riddick and grinned as she saw his wicked smirk.

Kaylee's laugh was bubbling through her voice, "You really are such an easy mark."

Riddick's low evil chuckle hit River like a fist to the belly and she smeared his knuckles with salve before she wrapped the gauze around them. Then it was his turn to doctor her, big hands gentle on every cut and bruise and his lips brushing over her hands before he bandaged them. "Sooner or later she's gonna corner him an' he's not gonna have an out," His dark voice murmured as he examined the livid bruise forming on her cheek.

"He won't do anything the least bit improper until he's earned forgiveness," River reminded her mate. "He loves her but he won't do anything that is disrespectful towards her. He thinks too highly of Kaylee for that."

"Yeah," Riddick sighed and drew her closer, pulling her into his arms and carrying her out of the infirmary. Book was taking a look at Jayne and shaking his head over the bigger man's intention of working out in order to wake up, "Hey Cobh, its time to get some shut eye." The murderer reminded his friend, "We both been up all night, Mal ain't gonna have us start on chores or nothin' right away."

River nodded, "Very busy day." Riddick's hands were soothing on her back and under her legs. She'd wrapped herself around him like a clinging vine, not that her mate seemed to mind that at all. He'd teased her once that if it meant she was touching him he'd carry her around all gorram day. His powerful body barely noticed the slender weight of hers as something to carry.

Book was speaking with Jayne reassuring him regarding the crates and messy cargo bay, "I can get it straightened out enough Jayne. Get some rest and we'll put everything in its proper place later." River smiled to herself, the shepherd had missed a lot of the excitement but that was probably of the good. His heart wasn't a strong as it could be yet.

Zoe met them in the galley as they came up the steps, "Hear you two took a little anti-ambush action last night." The first mate's voice was mild but River could hear in her thoughts that this was one step closer to mutiny, taking unilateral action.

"Cap'n hadn't realized just how pissed of Jayne's old partner was or how vindictive Higgins woulda been," Riddick shrugged. His reading of Zoe's scent must have told him the same thing River had Read from the woman's mind because he continued, "Ain't like I don't know Mal's in charge of the ship Zoe. An' if I'd been thinkin' a anything 'sides makin' sure the job went smooth an' keepin' my brother from getting pinched an' killed I'd a run this past you. But Mal chose to send Jayne out to be a diversion. He's just thinkin' a the job. He does that an' it's my job to protect my family."

River tilted her head sideways, removing her lips from Richard's collarbone to look at Zoe, "Did not disobey orders. No mutiny. Independent action. No expectation of pay."

Zoe frowned, "You two keep dividin' this crew down family lines we're gonna have trouble sooner than later." She wasn't thrilled though River could tell she understood where they were coming from.

"Mal don't think a us as family," Riddick reminded her. His voice was a little flat, "You, Wash, Kaylee, an' Book even I think. But to the captain we're just crew, us mercs an' Simon. He don't turn us over but he don't consider us family."

"And you consider Jayne family," Zoe nodded her understanding.

"Jayne an' Kaylee, both of 'em saved my life," Riddick said very seriously. River's hands stroked the back of his neck, "Simon is River's brother, that makes 'im mine, plus he busted us out." He tilted his head towards the bridge, "There ain't a lot I wouldn't do for Wash, and by extension for you, because of him. Man's the most accepting soul on the boat 'sides my brother and sister. Always treated River good."

"So its really just Mal an' me you have trouble with," Zoe was frowning, River could tell and she unwound her legs from Riddick's waist so she could turn and look at the first mate.

"No problems," River shook her head. "Just...aware of the differences." She frowned trying to explain, "Zoe worries we'll bring trouble, has difficulties with trust except for two people."

Riddick nodded his agreement, "Wash an' the Cap'n, they're your world. That's as it should be. You care for the rest of us but we're...not central."

River smiled slightly, "We only react to how others treat us."

Her mate stroked a hand down her hair, teasing the end of the braid with his fingers, "A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes." Riddick looked at Zoe seriously, "You take your cue from Wash more than the cap'n, but Mal, he..." He looked down at River who continued what he wanted to say.

"Cap'n would have put us off on Persephone again but we are useful," She said quietly. "He will always find a place for what is of use. But we are not his family. We are not trusted like family. We're just crew to him." She saw that they'd given Zoe something to think about and smiled slightly before tugging Riddick away. She could hear Jayne coming up the steps, "Compare how Mal treats Jayne to how Mal treats us and then compare both to how he treats Wash or Kaylee or you." She said quietly. "You will see what we mean."

Riddick had enough of conversation at that point, "Takin' River to bed. Jayne an' Simon are headed that way too. We'll get on our chores an' such after we wake up. Just need a few more hours."

Jayne nodded his agreement as he entered the galley, "There was a terrible brawl." One big hand patted Riddick's shoulder as he passed, "She needs a cold compress on that cheek." He observed and moved towards cold storage pulled out a cold pack before wrapping a towel around it. "Here," Jayne handed it to River, "I keep 'em up here 'cause if I sleep with one on a bad bruise it'll fade out pretty good."

"My thanks," River smiled and held the pack to her cheek. Jayne grinned at her and winced fingering his jaw before making up a pack of his own. "Matching sets," She giggled. "Good night gē ge ."

"G'night," The big merc smiled and continued on to his own bunk. River leaned against Riddick and felt his weary amusement but he picked her up again and followed Jayne down the hall to their own bunk.

Author's Note: And we've come to the end of Jaynestown. I hope you all liked it. I changed the end mostly because without Stitch there wouldn't be any shooting. But I figured that any mob so set on having a merc as their hero would turn ugly if that hero said 'so long' without doing anything else to help them. The mudders never struck me as having an overabundance of brains either. But then no mob has much of a thought process.

I never thought Mal would be happy with anyone taking action that he hadn't approved, but unless an idea was coming from Zoe or himself, he wasn't exactly welcoming of input. The way he decided to use Jayne's 'fame' was extremely representative of how he'd put people to use as he saw fit. It worked for him when he was a sergeant but he's not at war anymore and River and Riddick have had plenty of time to observe his interactions with the crew.

Curious as to how you folks liked River's animal and what it told Riddick. Our monkey hind brains tend to be a lot more direct about things than our conscious thoughts.

Next up is Out of Gas and it's giving me an awful lot of trouble at the moment. There's no way to include the flashbacks unless its River's POV and I can't do the whole episode through her eyes. It would get…weird. So another episode to be changed out of shape.

Chinese Translations:

měi nǚ - beautiful woman

Nǚ ren - Wife

diǎo - cock

yīn chún - labia

yīn dì - clitoris

liàn rén - lover/sweetheart

táo huā yuán - vagina - lit. garden of peach blossoms

tā mā de - fucking

xiǎo láng - little wolf

tiān shǐ - angel

láng - wolf

Qīng Xiāng - Sweet Scent

dà chóng - tiger

Jiàn guǐ - Curse it!/To hell with it!

Xuě shàng jiā shuāng - to add hail to snow (idiom); one disaster on top of another / to make things worse in a bad situation

nǐ zài jiǎng shén me pì huà - what shit/the fuck are you saying

gē ge - big brother

mèi mei - little sister

lè sè - garbage/trash

Quote Sources:

Compound for sins they are inclined to, by damning those they have no mind to. - Hudibras - Samuel Butler

Awake, arise, or be forever fallen. - Paradise Lost - Milton

Who thinks too little, and who talks too much. - Absalom and Achitophet - Dryden

He that complies against his will is of his own opinion still. - Hudibras – Samuel Butler

He which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart. His passport shall be made, and crowns for convoy put into his purse. We would not die in that man's company that fears his fellowship to die with us, - Henry V – William Shakespeare

The fewer men, the greater share of honor. - Henry V – William Shakespeare

A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes. - Mahatma Gandhi