River tried to rest, but her mind was too focused on Jayne, Mal, and Zoe. She finally gave up, hoping whenever Jayne got back they would both get some rest while Kaylee or Inara watched Jaxson. She felt them getting close, Jayne was in pain but was telling her to stay with Jaxson, River picked up Jaxson holding him close. Thirty minutes passed, and the door opened and Jayne climbed down. He turned, watching River sitting on the bed Jaxson in her arms, fussing. He sat down beside her wrapping both his arms around both of them. He moved into a comfort position.
"You hurt." River whispered, seeing the blood covered bandage on his chest.
"I'll live." Jayne whispered, kissing her head.
River woke up, startled by the door opening. Kaylee came down, immediately feeling pain.
"Jayne badly hurt." River said, it wasn't a question.
"Yeah, come on. I got Jaxson."
River followed Kaylee to the infirmary. Everyone was standing around watching Simon work on Jayne. Inara hugged River.
"Albatross, Simon said you could go in if you wanted." Mal said.
River looked at Kaylee.
"I'll keep Jaxson."
River nodded.
Everybody watched as River went in, she looked at Jayne then at Simon and laid on the other bed falling asleep. Simon watched Jayne's vitals, slowly improving Simon stepped out.
"What's going on?" Mal asked.
"River and Jayne have a connection as everyone knows. It's not clear to all of us how it works, but Jayne once told me that they both can feel pain if the other did and they are not around for example during Jaxson's birth Jayne couldn't feel the pain because he was there and holding her hand. River could feel the pain because she wasn't with Jayne when he was shot today."
"So River being close is helping Jayne?" Kaylee asked.
"According to what River and Jayne both say. I honestly don't know." Simon said, watching as River woke up and moved to Jayne's bed.
Meanwhile..
River laid her head on Jayne's chest, immediately falling asleep. She woke up in his dream.
"Where did you go? I came to you and you woke up." Jayne said.
"Kaylee came and got me, figured I would lay on you and keep your mind company until your body wakes at the same time."
"Do you like it?"
"What is it?" River asked, looking at the small house and barn.
"Our home when we retire from the crew." Jayne smirked as an older Jaxson and twin girls ran out of the house. The twin girls were about three years younger than Jaxson.
Jayne sat down beside River, she laid her head on his shoulder.
"How much longer are we going to stay here?"
"Just a little longer come on." Jayne got up pulling her with him.
Jayne led River over to the barn because it started to rain. River went in first while Jayne closed the door and wrapped his arms around her waist. River saw all three kids plus future Jayne and River all holed up in the barn under blankets River reading to the kids and Jayne.
"Perfect. Can we go back?"
Jayne grunted,
"I am, you stay here and I'll be back." He kissed her.
"What's going on?" Zoe asked.
"Jayne is waking up." Simon said, walking back into the infirmary, watching as Jayne opened his eyes.
"Hey doc." Jayne said.
"Anything hurt?"
"Just my chest."
"Well along with your knife scar from River, you also have a new bullet scar."
"Is she okay? She came looking for me."
"Yeah, I just wanted to see the connection work first hand."
"It did, where's Jaxson?" Jayne whispered.
"Kaylee's got him, why don't Mal and I help get you both back to your bunk and rest? Kaylee and I will watch Jaxson."
"You sure?"
"Come on."
After getting River settled in bed, Jayne looked at Simon.
"Thanks for saving me."
"I only saved your body, she saved your mind." Simon said, as he climbed out of the bunk.
Jayne turned and looked at River, he stripped down and joined her. She woke up taking off her dress and he laid down. She laid her head on his bare chest while he covered both of them up with a blanket.
"Twins really?" River looked at him.
"About three years younger than Jaxson." Jayne nodded and kissed her.
"Thought I was supposed to be the psychic of the family?"
Jayne chuckled and kissed her.