Notes: Thank you for all your reviews! I appreciate them immensely.
gaichi - idiot
dong ma - understand
Leaf.
Feather.
Pollen.
Petal.
She felt herself floating slowly, gracefully drifting downward. Air gently puffed through her hair and across her bare legs. She spread her fingers, feeling the coolness creep between them. She watched the catwalk she had stood on a second ago slowly shrink away.
Home… she'd be home soon. No more pain. No more fear. No loneliness. She waited for the cold steel to accept her. Only a few more feet to go. She arched her back, willing as she fell.
Warmth snatched her from her peaceful drop. Something warm and heavy and strong wrapped around her waist. She watched in curious detachment as another band of heat stretched across her chest and towards her shoulder, pulling her against something large and fiery and alive, holding her so tightly she couldn't breathe.
Home, she thought, as she was folded back into Jayne's flesh.
Jayne fell back flat against the floor, the wind knocked out of him. When his vision cleared he stared down worriedly at the soft bundle in his arms. He grunted and rolled to his side, laying River out beneath him.
"Girl?" he mumbled anxiously. "You all right? Come on, darlin', it's me."
Jayne felt the panic itching up in his throat as he gathered her limp body against his chest.
"Please," he groaned from between his tightly clenched teeth, pressing his forehead against hers.
Three anxious faces appeared above on the catwalk.
"Is she all right?" Kaylee called down.
"Jayne? What's going on? What happened?" Mal questioned.
Nosy bastard… Jayne cursed beneath his breath. "I caught her… but… she ain't…"
"Did you hurt her? Did you drop her?" Simon pressed.
"No, I didn't drop her. Would ya'll shut up for a second?"
Jayne clumsily pressed his calloused fingers against the side of River's neck, looking for a pulse like his ma taught him.
It was there… her heart was beating. He bent his face over hers until he felt the cold puffs of breath on his mouth. All right, she was breathing. She didn't knock her head on anything on the way down. Then why was she unconscious? Didn't matter now, he just had to get her back home, then she'd be back, Jayne reassured himself.
"She's okay," he called up to the group. "Just knocked out… or something."
"All right," Mal took charge. "Take her and meet us up by the transporter. Kaylee says we got ten minutes."
And they left.
Finally.
Jayne gathered River up in his lap, her legs curling over his thigh. He cupped her face with his palm, stroking her cheek.
"Come on, baby," he whispered. "I need you to come on back."
He tried to straighten her tangled hair, cover her scarred arms with the immodest hospital gown she wore, but to no avail. Her wounds kept staring at him, accusing. He had her body back, but her soul wouldn't answer.
He sighed miserably as he stood, resigning himself to allowing Simon to fix her. But as he walked into the stairwell with her cradled in his arms, her eyes popped open and she screamed so loud he almost dropped her.
"Hey, River! It's me! It's just me! It's all right. You always stop screaming with me. Remember?" Jayne kept talking as he struggled to hold on to her. She was kicking and squirming and fighting to get away.
Her eyes refused to focus on him. She alternated between tearing at his chest and covering her ears as she frantically twisted her body. Her screams died down into incoherent rambling.
"Can't disappoint. King Minos wants me lost. There's no princess. No magic. Must protect the minotaur." She released her grip on Jayne's chest and slithered down to the floor, scampering back into the corner beneath the stairs.
She watched from behind her hair as Jayne came closer. He loomed in front of her. She had to get away from him. He was danger. Something bad would happen. Mustn't let him touch her. No touching. She clenched her fists in her papery gown.
"No more blue. No blue. Bad!" She stared down in disgust at the powder-blue color of the fabric and began shredding it from her body. There. Free. Empty. No touching. No needles. No poking. No bleeding. No touching.
But the man wouldn't stop. She watched in confusion as he continued to come closer.
"No! Stop. No touching!" She cried out at him.
He stopped, staring at her in bewilderment. "Why not? What hurts, baby?"
Hurts? Baby? "Not my mother," she admonished.
"Nope. Still my baby, though," he grinned lopsidedly as he took another step towards her.
She couldn't let him touch her. He didn't want to hurt her. But he was still bad. She couldn't let him touch her. Then, they would know, they would hunt, they would kill.
She watched in panic as he slid closer, almost within arms reach. She darted to her left to run past him, but he moved quickly and blocked her path. She tried to the right, but he still got in front of her, blocking her escape. She ran back to the wall, the cold metal against her naked back giving her goose bumps.
"No touching," she whimpered one more time as he moved to stand toe to toe with her.
Jayne sighed in frustration. He was no doctor. He knew he didn't know how to fix whatever went scrambled in her head. He was physical. A mule didn't work? He didn't waste time ticking around in the engine. Just gave it a good kick. If it still don't work, it ain't worth fixing. He didn't want Simon's River, he wanted his River. And what's with this 'no touching' crap? She's his gorram wife, and if he wants to rutting touch her, then that's what he's going to do.
"No touching?" his voice rumbled down to her. "You like it when I touch you."
Her forehead wrinkled. "Can't… your skin, can't let it touch mine."
"Why?"
"Then they'll know. They'll hurt my monster. Must keep him secreted away."
She pressed the palms of her hands into her eyes, trying to banish some phantom sight from her head.
River felt Jayne step a little closer, the heat that radiated from him warming her naked skin.
"Nobody's gonna hurt your monster… they're all dead." Jayne spoke calmly, trying to get her to settle down.
She peeked out suspiciously from behind her hands. "What qualifies you to determine lack of life?"
He sighed in exasperation. "I seen all the bodies, you nitwit."
"Bodies? Bad doctors. They hurt without healing. All the other lights, they're snuffed. Mirror-girl broke them."
"I know. You had a damn good reason to kill the doctors. That other broad, she's just wacko," Jayne spoke as he reached out a hand to take hold of her.
"No!" She shouted as she shrank from his touch. "Won't let you take my monster. He's mine! Can't hurt him!"
"Look, fruit loop," Jayne bellowed, "I'm your gorram monster! Look at me! I'm allowed to touch you!"
She tried once more to run around him, but his hands shot out and grabbed her hips. His fingertips dug into her flesh as he lifted her up the wall to bring her to his eye level.
"Now listen here, girl. It's only been eight rutting weeks, and you already gone and forgot me?" he snarled and pressed his chest tight against hers, pinning her hard against the wall.
"You said you trusted me," he whispered accusingly. "Didn't you know I'd come? Didn't think I could do it? Didn't think I wouldn't move planets to find you? There is nothing that can keep me from you! I rutting died for you!"
He watched as River's eyes rolled back into her head and her arms hung limply at her sides. He thought she had passed out, but her legs began inching their way up his thighs, circling around his waist.
"You said you was mine. Can't take it back, now," he mumbled, distracted by the sudden realization that she was naked as a jaybird and was rolling her hips against his.
"Uh, what happened to no touching?" he asked her as she arched her back, pressing herself closer to him.
Her eyes reopened. "I like it when you touch me."
"Oh, River, baby, see, I done told you so," Jayne spilled out as he beamed at her.
"You're my Jayne," she whispered in realization as she pushed her hands around his neck and clutched his hair.
She pulled his lips down to hers. "Take me home," she breathed before she covered his mouth with hers, sighing at the welcome warmth.
Jayne responded eagerly. She was back. She was safe. She was his and she was naked. He was ecstatic. He returned her kiss, seeking confirmation that she was still his own. Deeply, he kissed her, and with every square inch of her flesh, she kissed him. He pulled away from the wall, so he was the only thing holding her against his body. One arm supported her weight while the other traced her skin from her toe to her neck. Her feet were sneaking into the back of his waistband, burrowing into his pants.
"Mm, girl, I sure missed you," his voice cracked as he hugged her tight to him.
She smiled. "It's almost time."
"Damn right," he said, waggling his eyebrows.
"No," she smiled. "They're waiting. Got to escape the big kablooie."
"When am I ever going to get to… you know… consummate you?" Jayne asked.
"Later, promise. When things aren't exploding around us."
Jayne smiled as she pressed a kiss against his neck. "No worries, babe. Just glad to have you. Not going to let you go again. Ever."
And he began trotting back up the stairs towards the shuttle, still holding naked River tight against him.
"Jayne… Simon's afraid of flesh. Will scream and yell."
"Ah, sure," Jayne replied and sat down with her in his lap, refusing to be separated from her for even a moment. He stripped off his shirt and River pulled it over her head before Jayne picked her up, both glad to be in constant contact again.
He clutched her tight against his chest then began to walk back with her to the group.
"When we get back, I'm gonna love you so much, you won't know what hit you," his voice rumbled low in her ear. She hummed quietly and licked his cheek.
When they finally caught up with the group, Simon anxiously reached out to take River from him, but Jayne snarled at him: "Uh-uh, I've got her. You take Kaylee."
Simon stepped back at the ferocious look Jayne was giving him and Kaylee happily locked her fingers with his. He took her hand but kept his eyes suspiciously on Jayne and how his hands were cupping his sister's backside.
"Um, why is she wearing your shirt?" Simon asked.
"It's warm and soft. Like a nest," River answered him as she tightened her grip around Jayne's neck.
Mal, impatient to be gone, began leading them back towards the loading bay.
"Well, whatever you're wearing, it's good to have you back, little witch, now let's get to getting before our tail feathers get crisped."
The motley group ran for the docking bay where the shuttle was waiting. Mal led the group, followed by a stone-faced Jayne who held River to him so tightly that his knuckles had gone white. River had her face pressed into Jayne's neck; veiling her sight from the many exam rooms they ran past. Simon and Kaylee brought up the rear: Simon watching Jayne's naked back nervously and Kaylee trying to program her explosive contraption while running.
When they reached the hold, Mal turned and took the small plastic box from Kaylee.
"Sure it will work?" he asked.
"Hope so," Kaylee smiled as she shrugged.
Mal sighed, cocked his arm, and hurled the box at the bay doors. The box cracked open, spilling out the sticky blue compound.
"Hurry!" Mal yelled and herded Kaylee and Simon into the shuttle. Jayne and River were already inside, sharing the pilot's chair.
"All aboard!" Kaylee shouted to Jayne as she closed the shuttle doors.
"Hey," Mal started, "where the hell's Wash? And Zoe?"
"Wash found a new toy," Kaylee explained as she pointed out towards the Alliance fighter that had activated and was hovering unsteadily.
"What in tarnation does he think he's doing?" Mal exploded.
Wash's voice came over the com: "There's a leather seat, Mal. I couldn't help it. It made me."
"Where do you think you're going to put that heap of metal?"
"In the cargo bay. Ain't she beautiful?"
Mal sighed. "You got your wife with you, at least?"
"Of course! We're discovering the wonders of genuine leather seating together. You should see how stately she looks, perched up there like a queen."
"Fine, see you back at Serenity."
Kaylee giggled as Mal slouched into a chair dejectedly.
"It's okay, captain… River can fly us out just fine."
Mal glanced over at River and Jayne, sitting quite comfortably together. Jayne had locked one bare arm possessively around River's waist while his other hand stroked up the side of her leg as her fingers flew over the controls.
River brought the shuttle up and the crew held their breath as they waited for Kaylee's concoction to work.
"Soon," Kaylee encouraged.
Suddenly, a bright white flare erupted from the remains of the box and ignited the blue trail that had slid down the doors. Great gaps became visible as the blue goop burned away. River slowly pressed the nose of the shuttle against the doors and they deteriorated beneath the combined pressure of the shuttle and the vacuum of space. The shuttle shot into the black, leaving the ghost of the Alliance ship spinning silently in the darkness.
Blue flames licked through the center rings, quickly eating their way outward. The shuttle was tossed gently in the wake of the soundless explosion, and nothing remained of the medical station.
Satisfied and safe, River twisted her body around to snuggle into the warmth of Jayne's chest. Curious, she ran her fingers down the raised scar from when her brother saved Jayne's life. She felt the caution and wariness sewn into the skin, Simon's fingerprints that would always remain. The long purple scar that proved what Jayne had sacrificed to protect her.
She twirled her fingers into the soft brown curls smattered across his chest, ran the palms of her hands down the mounds of muscles tucked in his abdomen, taking joy in the warmth that emanated from his skin.
Jayne thought he'd die from happiness. She was back. She was safe. She was his and he didn't care what anyone thought. He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her against him, kissing her head affectionately.
Simon watched in horror as Jayne embraced his sister. The pair was oblivious to the livid expression that burned across his face as Jayne lifted his feet to rest on the console, sliding River down his thighs to rest her hips tight against his.
Mal, seeing Simon's face, cleared his throat and shot an evil look at Jayne. "Jayne, why don't you let the doctor examine his sister?"
"No," Jayne replied stubbornly without meeting Mal's eyes. He tightened his protective grip on River.
"I need to check to see what they did to her," Simon angrily explained.
"She's fine," Jayne growled.
Mal, confused and angered by Jayne's disobedience, approached him and threatened, "Let go of the girl, Jayne!"
"Back off, Mal!" and he spun the chair to turn his back on the captain.
"It's not your place, Jayne!"
Jayne stood quickly, still clutching River, who nestled her face against his shoulder.
"It is my place, Captain!" he spat out, staring down at the shorter man.
Mal was furious that Jayne would defy him, especially over such a small thing.
"Your intentions are worrying me, Jayne. Now, before I shoot you, give Simon his sister."
"She ain't his. She don't belong to him anymore," Jayne muttered stubbornly, shifting River's weight in his arms.
"What are you talking about? She doesn't belong to anyone."
"Yes, she does: she's mine! And there ain't no one going to be sticking needles in her right now, so sit your gorram asses down!" he shouted at Simon and Mal.
River remained silent; watching in amusement as the emotions swirled around her in colorful eddies.
Mal jabbed the muzzle of his gun into Jayne's neck. "I will shoot you, Jayne."
"I will die, Mal, but I ain't letting you take her away. Dong ma?"
Mal looked at him sideways, dropping his gun to his side. "I ain't taking her away, gaichi; the doc just needs to check her out."
"I told you she's fine. She ain't bleeding. Nothing you can do about what they did to her now."
"I just want what's best for her," Simon interrupted.
"Well, you're looking at it!" Jayne grumped, sitting down again and continuing to cuddle River, nervously running his hands the length of her back, both comforting her and keeping her pulled tight against his chest.
River, trusting in her safety and confident of the outcome of the argument currently raging, tucked her hands under her chin and went to sleep on Jayne's lap with a little mew of contentment.
Mal threw his hands in the air. "I give up! You and me are going to have a nice talk when we get back, Jayne. Can't have this mutiny on my ship."
"You gonna fire me?" Jayne threw over his shoulder, "Cause she's coming with me."
"She's not going anywhere without me," Simon added acidly.
"I'm going with Simon!" Kaylee chimed in.
"What the hell, Kaylee?"
"Sorry, Cap," she shrugged, smiling knowingly at Mal's frustrated glare.
"Buncha ingrates," he mumbled, kicking the wall. He was completely lost as to how the comfortable dynamics had suddenly shifted, leaving him out of the loop. As soon as they got back to Serenity, they were going to have a big damn talk to straighten all this out.