My Serenity

WARNING: Rated M for some violence, language, and sexual situations. This fic contains (eventual) femmeslash and sexual situations between two female characters. Do not continue if this is not to your liking.

Xxx

Chapter 30 – You Can't Take the Sky from Me

"We can't just float here indefinitely!" Frost insisted.

"What do you suggest we do?" Korsak countered, "We don't have the fuel to reach Dyton even if we wanted to risk landing there!"

"We're going to run out of supplies if we stay here." Frankie stated.

"Damn, things were easier when Jane just told us what to do." Frost complained.

"We can't rely on her to settle every little dispute!" Korsak grunted.

"Why not?" Frost said, "She's not broken, ya know. You saw her plan out that escape a couple weeks ago!"

"Wait," Frankie interjected, "that was only two weeks ago?"

Korsak pulled up the star chart on the navigation screen, "Huh, so it was."

"God damn," Frankie groaned, "I'm going mad! We've been floating here forever!"

"That's what I've been saying!" Frost agreed. "We need to do something."

Xxx

Somehow her mother's "approval" had gotten into Jane's head. She didn't know how, but suddenly she was now overly conscious of her mother's proximity. The ship seemed to be a thousand times smaller. And Angela had taken to making a face every time Maura and Jane were within a meter of each other—as if they were the cutest couple her mother could imagine.

Maura didn't seem to understand no matter how Jane tried to explain it to her. The doctor said Jane's mother was "adorably supportive," but to Jane, it just made her overthink everything she said or did around Maura. And it didn't stop when they were "alone" in Maura's shuttle or Jane's bunk. It was like her mother was in her head. Maura, however, saw her "mental" block as a symptom of the trauma she endured at the hands of Hoyt.

Deep down, Jane knew the truth was that she was scared, scared of being hurt, but mostly scared of hurting Maura. Despite the neglect Maura had described about her childhood, Maura had the sweetest heart of anyone Jane had ever met. Maura cared deeply, keeping her heart on her sleeve even when it was obvious that it had been broken more than once.

Jane wasn't that strong. She shut out anyone who tried to get close. It was the only way for her to hold on. Jane had been broken long before she met Maura. And she only felt more fractured now. Dare she risk fracturing Maura too?

She stared out the window at the stars spread across the blackness of space. Her mind wandered to the freckles on Maura's chest. Lux shining in the distance reminded her of the light in Maura's eyes as she looked up at her adoringly. The smell of flowers lingered about the room, bringing Jane back to that night on Regina when. Maura had first laid in her arms and looked up at the stars.

It had been those memories that had lingered the longest when Jane had nothing but the darkness. It was Maura's voice that whispered to her in her bleakest moments. As the old song went, "You can't take the sky from me." And when Hoyt had taken even that from her, Maura was there—her memory lingered long after all the others. She had been her sky.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Maura said curiously, slipping her hands around Jane's shoulders.

Jane smiled over her shoulder, "Just looking at the stars."

Jane had been sitting in the pilot seat of Maura's shuttle for the past twenty minutes or so. Her feet were propped up on the control panel and she was leaning back in Maura's chair as if she owned the place. Frankly, Maura didn't mind; it was nice to see Jane finally starting to relax, but she worried that now that Jane seemed to be recovering physically that she might start to grow "restless for the sky," as her mother had called it.

Maura leaned in closer, tucking back Jane's wild raven locks and whispering into her ear, "I missed you last night…"

Jane closed her eyes. How does she do that? Jane wondered as a shiver went down her spine. She had to bite her lip to stop herself from groaning.

"I—I'm sorry," Jane said unsteadily as Maura peppered kisses down her neck, her soft hands slipping into her shirt teasingly. "I had to cover for Korsak. He's been keeping watch every night for the past six days."

"You didn't come back this morning," Maura said, her voice still soft, sultry, her fingers slipping over the cup of Jane's bra.

"I didn't want to disturb you." Jane shivered, "You—you looked so peaceful."

The brunette could feel moisture pool between her legs as Maura sucked on her pulse point and kneaded her breast. As soon as an audible moan escaped Jane's lips, she knew she was done for. Maura's lips met hers as soon as she turned her head, and though the angle was awkward, Jane reveled in the softness of Maura's lips for as long as she could stand. And when Maura broke away, Jane almost felt drunk with need.

"Where're you—?" Jane tried when Maura pulled away, but she was interrupted by the wonderful surprise of Maura climbing into her lap and straddling her hips. She was now face to face with Maura's breasts. "Oh …"

"You know …" Maura whispered softly, with just a hint of flirtatiousness, "I'm trying very hard to be patient…"

Jane's eyes were on the constellation of freckles on Maura's chest. She was barely resisting the urge to kiss them. She knew better, but Jane couldn't help herself when she asked the obvious question that Maura's tone implied, "But?"

When Maura's lips connected with hers again, and Jane lost every semblance of reserve she had left. Her hands slipped around Maura's waist to her ass. The honey blond groaned, shifting her hips forward. She threw her head back as Jane's moved her mouth to her chest.

"I—" Maura moaned, "I'm so frustrated."

"Mm, hm?" Jane said, barely hearing her as she moved her hand up Maura's shirt to cup her breast. She squeezed eagerly and Maura shivered, bucking her hips.

"Jane," Maura huffed in her ear.

"Yes?" Jane muttered distractedly as she pressed kisses to the top of Maura's breasts.

"Jane." Maura said a bit more firmly, pushing her back so she could look in her russet eyes. Maura bit her lip as she noticed Jane's eyes were dark, her face flushed, her lips swollen. She had to consciously resist kissing her. "I understand if you still want to wait. It's just that—"

Maura almost yelped as Jane suddenly slipped her hands under her thighs and lifted her up. Maura wrapped her legs around Jane's waist as the brunette stood, carrying her—a little unsteadily—out into the living room. Maura smiled down at Jane, a little shocked at her strength. Apparently, playing street ball with the guys down in the cargo bay had done more than enough make Jane sweaty and Maura embarrassingly aroused.

"Jane," Maura said uneasily as Jane stumbled around the couch, "you don't have to—"

"No more waiting." Jane said, her voice husky, demanding.

Maura was about to mention that she only meant that Jane didn't have to carry her when they suddenly fell back onto the couch. Jane landed on top of her, face first into her breasts, but the brunette recovered quickly, climbing atop Maura. She kissed her hungrily, greedily. Jane's hands went up her neck, into her hair.

The honey blond bucked her hips as Jane positioned herself between her legs, shifting forward. Maura moaned softly with each press of Jane's hips against hers. Jane panted quietly in her ear as she pressed wet kisses to her neck and jaw. Maura groaned at the very little pressure she could get in this position. After weeks of aching, and a very long five months of loneliness before that, Maura felt as if she would burst if Jane didn't touch her soon. Taking care of herself had not provided the relief she yearned for.

"Please," Maura whined.

Jane stopped, "What's wrong?"

Maura looked up at her pleadingly, "Touch me."

"I'm trying…" Jane said, shifting awkwardly, unable to push herself up properly, "but this couch is making it very difficult."

"Take me to bed." Maura said, her voice impossibly low.

Jane was on her feet in seconds. When she bent to pick up Maura, the honey blond stopped her, "No, I didn't mean literally."

The brunette laughed lightly, "Thank god. I'm not sure if we would have made it there."

Maura stood, grasping Jane by the collar of her button-up shirt. "Come with me."

"Did you just?" Jane smirked.

Maura nodded, walking backward as she slowly unbuttoned Jane's shirt. Jane followed her eagerly. Jane bit her lip as Maura slipped the shirt from her shoulders, tracing her fingers lightly down her arms. As they slipped past the curtains around Maura's bedroom, Jane went for her belt.

Maura stopped her, tugging her forward by the buckle, "Let me."

Jane gulped, her eyes locked on Maura's as she slowly undid the buckle. The brunette was already impossibly wet, but somehow the possessiveness in Maura's dark eyes made her ten times more so. Fuck, Jane thought, she is so god damn hot.

Jane kicked off her boots just as Maura pulled the belt from Jane's pants. She stepped out of them as they fell the floor. She practically tore her undershirt off before Maura could stop her. All she could think about was all the layers Maura was still wearing. All that skin she wanted to see, touch, taste.

Before Maura could protest, Jane's hands were sliding around her waist. The brunette kissed her again with eagerness and passion, her restraint gone entirely. Jane's hands moved quickly up Maura's back to her bra. She had it unclasped before Maura could break the kiss to lift her shirt.

Maura stood there, at her bedside, watching Jane look at her. Jane's eyes poured over her. The brunette stood in wonder at the vision in front of her. Maura was the most beautiful night sky she had ever seen. Freckles showered her porcelain skin. Her silky hair framed her blushing face.

"You're so …" Jane couldn't find a word that fit how gorgeous Maura was.

For a moment, Maura waivered. She had been under a lover's gaze before, but she had never felt so vulnerable. A brief moment of doubt hit her in the pit of her stomach. She had already fallen so hard for Jane—harder than anyone else, even Ian—what would she do if Jane ever broke her heart? Could she survive it?

Jane stepped forward. She was woman of action, so when she failed to find the words, she decided to show Maura instead. With one hand on Maura's hip and the other on her chest, Jane looked deep into her eyes. I love you so much, Jane thought, trying to convey it in her eyes, so much it scares me.

Suddenly, the lights went dark. They both sighed loudly.

"Not again …" Jane groaned.

"Fuck," Maura cursed under her breath.

Jane waited with agitation for the call from the bridge. Nothing came.

"Maybe it's just—"

"Shh!" Jane said harshly.

"If it was Alliance, wouldn't Vince—"

Jane covered Maura's mouth with her palm. Maura couldn't see Jane, but she could feel her hand shaking. Barely audible, Jane whispered, "There's only one reason Korsak wouldn't signal us after going dark."

Maura tried to remove Jane's hand from her mouth to ask her what she was talking about, but she grasped tighter. "Maura," Jane barely breathed, "don't make a sound. I'm begging you. Please."

Slowly, and with great difficulty, Jane gathered their clothes. Hastily, she put on her pants and button up shirt. She couldn't find anything else. Reluctantly, Maura followed her lead, though she could only hear the shuffle of Jane's clothes to determine what she was doing. Her heart began to beat wildly as she sensed Jane's fear.

"Wake Tommy," Jane uttered under her breath. "I'll find Ma. Don't make a sound."

"Jane?" Maura said fearfully.

"Just meet us on the bridge." Jane whispered.

Maura thought Jane had snuck off, but then she turned and kissed her quite hard. Had Maura not been so frightened at the time, she might have wondered if it was a goodbye kiss.

Xxx

"Reavers?" Tommy whispered as he and Maura joined the rest of the crew on the bridge.

There was only a bit of starlight to show their faces—even the emergency lighting was cut—but Frost and Korsak nodded in confirmation.

"Revears?" Giovanni asked, whispering a bit too loud.

"Shh!" Angela breathed harshly.

"I thought they were just old-wives' tales," Giovanni said under his breath.

"What are reavers?" Maura muttered.

"Monsters," Tommy replied. "The stuff of nightmares."

"They make Hoyt seem like a saint." Jane confirmed.

Maura was doubtful that there were monsters in space, but she also knew that Jane would not make the comparison to Hoyt lightly. Whatever was in that spaceship floating off the bow was nothing good. The ship looked as if it hadn't been repaired in decades. She looked down at Frost's monitor, which was picking up high emissions of radiation. If anyone was on that ship, they were very sick and were only getting worse.

Maura was about to ask why they were all so certain this ship held any danger aside from possible explosion when she spotted something unusual about the ship's hull.

"What's on the bow of the ship?" Maura whispered.

"Corpses." Korsak uttered.

When Maura looked confused, Jane replied, "Of their victims. They keep them as trophies."

"What do we do?" Maura said, going pale.

"Pray they haven't spotted us," Jane whispered, turning to Tommy, Frankie, and Giovanni. "Get everyone a weapon, quickly. Quietly."

"It won't do much good," Frankie sighed uneasily.

"Just do it." Jane whispered harshly.

"Why are we whispering?" Maura asked, "They can't …"

Jane and the others ignored her, continuing in hushed voices.

"How much fuel do we have left?" Jane asked.

"Not enough to outrun them," Frost said, "not at this distance."

"Have they shown any sign of changing course?" said Jane.

Korsak shook his head, "No, but they did reduce speed as they approached the Halo."

"What do we do?" Frost said, looking expectantly at Jane.

Jane was quiet. Her mind was a blank. Don't panic, Jane thought, just don't panic. Think. Think. She could feel her thoughts spiraling. Then, Maura grabbed her hand. She took a deep breath in through her nose. Just breathe, she thought, focusing on Maura's fingers interlaced with hers.

She didn't have time for a panic attack right now. Of course, she didn't exactly get the choice when they happened to come along. She had been doing well with the breathing exercises Maura had her practicing, but sometimes she had an attack just because she was trying so hard not to. Like the other day when she had to do a spacewalk to help repair some damage from an asteroid collision. She had been moving towards the airlock when her hand had slipped. She went floating off. She tried to breathe, but the darkness started to overtake her. Even with Maura's voice in her ear, reassuring her, she struggled to focus on the tether tying her to the ship.

Maura softly squeezing her hand, brought Jane back to the bridge, and an idea popped into her head. "What's the condition of the other shuttle?"

"It's flyable," Korsak nodded, "but there's not much fuel left."

"Jane," Maura threatened, "don't you dare go off again—"

"Frost," Jane said, "how much dynamite do we have left?"

"About 25 kilograms."

"Wait," Angela interrupted, "I thought you said you tossed it!"

"Twenty-five kilograms of TNT?!" Frost said indignantly. "Do you know what we had to go through to get that?"

"Explosives were never part of the pl—" Maura started.

"We don't have time for this," Jane interrupted. "Frost, get the TNT—and take Giovanni."

"Giovanni?"

"Just do it," Jane ordered. "And meet me at the port shuttle."

"Jane," Maura said, desperately, grabbing at her arm, "what are you planning? Please tell me you're not running off to save the day again. I don't know if I can—"

Jane turned to Maura. It was hard to catch her eyes in the dark, but she hoped Maura could hear the sincerity in her voice, "Maur, I'm never leaving you again." She sealed her promise with a quick but passionate kiss. And in that moment Jane knew, with as much certainty as she had when she found the Serenity, that she had never loved anything or anyone the way she loved Maura Isles.

[To be continued]