go-se = shit
ai ya = damn
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He stared down wistfully at the sleeping girl. She seemed to be smiling in her sleep. He lived to see that smile. Everything he had ever done was for her happiness. He gave up everything to protect her when no one else would. They had been so close... but now... he couldn't understand her. Perfect strangers knew her better than he did. How did this happen? How did he lose her so easily? He sighed, and shook his head. He kissed his sister on her cheek and went back to his room.
Jayne crouched silently in the shadows, already undressed for bed and wearing nothing but his boxers, and waited for Simon to leave River's room. Gorram overprotective brother. Ai ya, Jayne thought in disgust... the little stiff was his brother now, too, thanks to his serendipitous marriage. Jayne chuckled mirthlessly under his breath... the things he put up with for that girl.
As soon as Simon's door shut behind him, Jayne slipped into River's room. He liked coming in at night, having a place to go where someone expected him... even if he did have to sneak around in the dead of night to get there. Heck, that was half the fun.
He closed the door behind him and crept to his usual spot in the chair. He looked down towards River. She was all twisted up, sheets tangled between her legs. Poor thing was still all worked up about the Reavers. A sheen of sweat glistened across her forehead as silent protests poured from her lips in her sleep. Jayne knelt by the side of her bed, capturing her clenched fists in his own.
"Hey, girl... wake up," Jayne whispered, "it's just me."
River continued murmuring in her sleep, tossing her head from side.
Jayne slid his arms underneath her body, pulling her to the edge of the bed and close against his chest.
"C'mon, baby... wake up... you're dreaming..." he shushed as he rocked her against him.
River's eyes bolted open in shock then softened as she saw who held her tightly.
"You woke me up," she crooned softly to him.
"Yeah, I know. Got tired of you sleeping all the time," he said and he smoothed his hand over her face and shoulders.
She smiled up at him beatifically.
"You see into my eyes like open doors."
"Yeah... I know what you mean," he responded, basking in her approval.
Suddenly, her eyes that had been so clear, so happy, filled with tears. Her lip trembled as she pressed her forehead against his chest.
"They're watching, Jayne. They're going to get us," she whimpered.
"No, baby, no," he tried to reassure her. "They won't get you. Promise."
He slid onto the bed, lying down next to her. He tucked her into the crook of his shoulder and wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm... I'm sorry..." he began quietly, almost guiltily, "...that you see all that, I mean. Ain't proper."
River just pulled his arms around her more tightly, trying to bury herself in Jayne.
"Sleep with me, Jayne?"
"Huh?" He perked up. Then realized what she was asking. "You mean in the bed with you? Instead of the chair?"
She nodded, a faint smile passing over her face.
"Anything you want," he said, nuzzling her neck as he obeyed. He closed his eyes, draping his long limbs over every inch of her.
She curled into his heat, waiting for sleep. A tear dropped onto Jayne's chest as she whispered inaudibly: "Save me from the dark."
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Zoë sat in the cockpit of Serenity, watching the various blips that popped across the scanner, looking for anything suspicious. Ever since River's revelation, the crew had been on constant watch, waiting for the Reavers to attack. Mal wasn't fully convinced that River knew what she was talking about, but he wasn't taking any chances.
Zoë sighed. Call it women's intuition, but she trusted River's warning. The girl knew things. Zoë didn't worry about the whys of it all, she just prepared for the worst.
But there had been no sign of anything out of the ordinary on the screen throughout her entire watch. She glanced at the clock. Her shift was over. Time to go wake up Jayne.
She padded noiselessly through the metal corridors until she came to Jayne's bunk. Bunching her hand into a fist she gave a few sharp knocks on the door.
No answer.
She pushed the door in, glancing down towards Jayne's bunk. It was empty. His bed was neatly made. Zoë narrowed her eyes in suspicion then let the door close behind her as she strode off towards the guest quarters. She had a pretty good hunch of where to find him.
As she turned down the hallway she caught sight of Jayne. He was just leaving one of the rooms, sliding the door behind him. Zoë placed her hands on her hips as she marched up to Jayne.
Jayne almost shrieked when he turned around and found himself eye-to-eye with the former soldier.
Zoë almost laughed at the panic-stricken look on his face. She stared him down as he began to try and explain himself.
"Uh, hey Zo, sorry, forgot what time I was supposed to take over."
Zoë looked him over, taking in his state of undress and the sleep lines crossing his face.
"Where are your clothes?"
"Um, I was sleeping, see, and I thought I heard something," he began warming to his tale, "so's I snuck down here, and the noise was coming from in here, but... uh. It was a mistake. Weren't nothing," he ended poorly.
"Is this River's room?" Zoë asked.
"Huh? I don't know... I don't keep track of her."
The door slid open behind him, and River poked out her head. Her eyes were sleepy and her hair was tousled. She reached for Jayne's hand automatically and leaned her head against his arm as she looked up at Zoë. Jayne squeezed his eyes shut in horror. The go-se was going to rain down now.
Zoë glanced down at the girl, then back to the mercenary. She rolled her eyes. Well, stranger things had happened. She remembered when she used to sneak around with Wash back when he still had that filthy little mustache.
River yawned, then said to Zoë: "The bathtub's draining."
Zoë looked back to Jayne for the interpretation.
"Wash is waking up. He's wondering where you are," Jayne mumbled, staring down at his feet defiantly, waiting for Zoë to condemn him.
But she just nodded and smiled down at River. She began to walk towards her own bunk, then paused and turned.
"You're very lucky, Jayne."
Jayne didn't know if she was referring to River or to the fact that his balls were still attached.
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Raven and Kyle crowded in front of the static-filled vid screen. They had been on planet when the wanted bulletin had been distributed. Since Captain Scarlet hadn't seen it, they saw no reason to cut him in on the action. Their little mutinous endeavor would pay off well, though, and they thought it was definitely worth it: the amount the Alliance was offering was scandalous. With that kind of money, both Kyle and he could each buy their own ship, be their own captain.
The face of a peon Alliance man crackled into view on the screen.
"Give us the location of the fugitive, citizen."
Raven and Kyle eyed each other.
Kyle responded.
"There's the matter of payment to be discussed first."
The officer sighed and shook his head imperceptibly. These fools... always concerned about their petty payments.
"Don't worry about your money. The Alliance is more than willing to pay the paltry amount for information regarding the... dangerous criminal."
Kyle didn't believe him for a minute. No way was that gorram girl dangerous. His conscience clicked a little... but the money was good. Raven, on the other hand, wasn't even fazed. He didn't care if they were going after fluffy puppy dogs. He'd drown them happily, as long as he got paid.
Raven and the officer completed the transaction... the last known coordinates of the Firefly ship and the credits were transferred simultaneously, thanks to Alliance core technology.
After the vid screen was shut off, and the pair was resting back in their chairs, basking in the wealth of their accounts, Raven turned to Kyle, and smiled wickedly.
"Hey... I got an idea..."