"Jayne an' Zoe'll be hangin' around in case somethin' happens to ya."
Jayne looked over at Mal. "We will?"
Mal gave 'im a look an' turned back ta the doc. "They'll be able ta follow what's goin' on through that little transmitter in yer ear. Shouldn't be something he'd be able ta see er get suspicious about. Just don't let 'im nibble on yer ear er nothin'."
Mal grinned. The doc gave 'im a look fit ta kill.
"I'll try."
Mal handed Jayne an' Zoe their own transmitters. Jayne popped his in an' pulled on his earlobe ta get it comfortable.
"Where exactly we gonna be hangin' around at?" Kinda hoped fer a spot in the whorehouse.
"In the hills ta the south. Far enough away not ta be noticed, but close enough ta ride in with guns blazin', should our doc find 'imself in danger."
Damn.
"Guns?"
Mal nodded. "'Course."
"When we leavin'?"
"I'm not really in a hurry." The doc looked downright pissy.
Jayne gave 'im a smile an' ambled in the direction of his bunk. "I'll hurry, then."
Vera was waitin' right where he'd left 'er. He pulled her off of 'er pegs an ran a hand down 'er barrel real soft. Kissed 'er gentle-like.
"So you have kissed more th'n one girl."
Jayne whipped around. Kaylee was standin halfway down the ladder, holdin onta it with one hand an' smilin' at 'im.
"You that nice to all women? Or just guns?"
She came the rest of the way down the ladder.
Jayne smiled. He'd tried goin' back ta the engine room last night, but by the time he'd got up the rocks ta do it, she'd left. He was real glad ta see 'er again.
"Depends on the woman."
"Yeah? How so?"
Jayne looked down at Vera. "Well… if she's good ta me, I'll be real good ta her. Keep 'er clean. Oiled. Make sure all 'er parts work right. An' that they get worked often."
He looked back up at Kaylee.
She was still smilin', bitin' her lower lip now, though. Her cheeks were kinda pink.
Jayne took a step toward 'er.
"Women do have their advantages over guns, though. Warm skin's always better 'n cold metal."
Her cheeks were darker pink now.
Jayne's heart was speedin' up. By the looks of 'er face, Kaylee's was, too.
"Oh?"
"Always."
Someone cleared their throat. In his ear.
"Wonder what's takin' Jayne so long. We'd better get movin' soon."
Zoe.
His gorram transmitter was in.
Shi.
"Gotta go."
Kaylee blinked. "What?"
"Gotta… uh…"
Jayne waved Vera like she could answer for 'im.
He moved toward the ladder. Kaylee moved aside.
He looked down when he'd reached the top. She was standin' at the bottom, lookin' up at 'im with a look on her face that near broke his heart.
When he got ta the cargo hold, Zoe was lookin' real carefully at her gun.
Simon was lookin' at him like he was gonna kill 'im.
Jayne took the buckskin again. Zoe took the black one. That left the doc with the silly-lookin' yella one. He didn't seem ta notice, though. He just glared straight ahead, silent as stone.
Jayne almost woulda preferred ta have the doc draw a gun on 'im. Come flyin'. At least then he coulda' punched 'im an' had it over with. Better th'n havin' him poutin' like he was.
Couldn't help but wonder what the doc was gonna say ta Kaylee. Jayne wasn't sweet on the idea of her bein' upset er nothin'. Or gettin' yelled at.
The doc wouldn't do nothin' ta hurt Kaylee. Didn't seem the type. An' if he had, Jayne'd likely have ta wait in line behind Mal ta beat the shu ma nyaw outa 'im.
Weren't none of the doc's business. Gorram girl could make decisions fer herself.
Not that's she'd exactly decided anythin'. She hadn't come out and said nothin'. She just kept hintin' an' goin' at it backwards.
Gorram girl. Why couldn't she make a decision?
Zoe'd stopped. Jayne pulled his horse to a stop next ta her The doc was too busy glarin' ta notice. Kept on ridin' ahead.
"Simon."
The doc looked around. Turned his horse back.
"Yes?"
"Best we part ways here. You keep straight ahead. Go inta the compound from the west. We'll head south ta those hills." Zoe nodded at some hills in the distance.
"Fine."
"Got your money?"
The doc nodded. Jayne could see his jaw clenchin' an unclenchin'.
"Don't spend it unless you have ta. Stay only as long as you feel comfortable."
"I'm done, then."
Zoe half-smiled. "Longer than that."
"Do I get a safe word? Or do I just have to scream your names when he tries to have his way with me?"
"I'd rather not have my name mentioned, if ya don't mind."
The doc didn't even glance at Jayne.
Zoe shifted in her saddle. "I think I safe word would be best. Got one in mind?"
"Oh, I don't know. Usurper Seducer. Gun-toting desperate ape-man."
"Hey!" Jayne didn't know what the first one meant, but he was ruttin' positive the last one was aimed at him. "You got somethin' ta say to me, little man?"
The doc finally looked at 'im. "Nothing you'd understand."
"You two wanna fight ta the death, do it on your own time."
Jayne tore his eyes away from the doc an' looked at Zoe. She gave him a sharp look an' turned ta the doc.
"How 'bout turtle?"
"Or turtle."
He gave Zoe a little smirk that made Jayne wanna knock 'im over the head. Then he turned around an' kept ridin' straight.
Zoe turned her horse South. Jayne followed.
Jayne ground his teeth. "Huh choo-sang tza-jiao duh tzang-huo."
"I can hear you."
Gorram transmitter.
"Good! I meant for ya ta hear!"
"Of course. How silly of me."
Jayne whipped his horse around.
"Boys, it ain't none of my business what either of ya do in your own time. But we're on a job right now. Jayne, turn your horse around."
Jayne glared after the doc. Took a lot've effort ta turn his horse back toward Zoe.
"Yeah, Jayne."
Ruttin'—
"Simon, I know plenty of blows that can hurt ya without markin' up that face of yours. Dong ma?"
The doc was silent.
Ha.
Jayne smiled at Zoe. She just turned her horse back toward the hills.
The rest of the trip was silent, 'cept fer the sounds the horses made. Simon got ta the compound before him an' Zoe reached the hills. Jayne could hear the girls by the door cooin' at 'im. Wondered if it was the same ones.
"I'm—I'm looking for Mr. Pink. Could you—Oh! Yes, hello."
Jayne chuckled. Sounded like the girls were givin' him the once-over. Or twice-over.
They reached the hills an' found a little clump of trees that they could see the compound from. Jayne could see the yella horse tied up outside the main house.
"I'm looking for Mr. Pink. Excuse me! That's my—is Mr. Pink even here?"
Jayne was shakin', he was tryin' so hard not ta laugh out loud.
From the looks of Zoe, she was doin' the same.
"Who wants ta know?"
Sounded like the dark-haired one. Marie.
"My name is… uh…"
Jayne looked over at Zoe. She wasn't laughin' now.
They'd forgot ta give Simon a name.
Jayne hoped he wasn't dumb enough ta give his real name.
"Jayne. Jayne… Hanson."
What the hell!
"Jayne?"
"I was named after my mother."
Jayne tightened his grip on Vera.
"What the hell are you doin'!"
Jayne looked over at Zoe. "What the hell is he doin!"
She had her face in her hands.
"Right this way, Mr. Hanson."
"Please. Call me Jayne."