A/N: This is my first attempt at a Firefly fanfic. It's pretty rough. Pre-Serenity, post-Firefly. Inara has left the ship.
"No gorram way." Jayne Cobb crossed his beefy arms across his beefy chest.
"Do you know what happens to a soldier who don't follow orders?" Captain Malcolm Reynolds leaned toward Jayne, staring him down.
A brief look of consternation visited Jayne's face.
"We ain't havin' this conversation anymore." Mal spun neatly on his heel and headed for the door of the tavern.
Zoe looked at Jayne as she rose from her seat beside him. The look was one of her most infamous harsh looks. "They get dropped," she stated matter-of-factly and left Jayne in his corner.
-------------------------
Kaylee was waiting for the others to return. She had the ramp of Serenity down and everything. The captain and Zoe's boots clunked loudly as they entered the cargo bay. Mal walked past Kaylee without the normal greeting.
"Hi, Cap'n!" Kaylee greeted him jovially nonetheless. "What's with the Cap'n?" she asked Zoe. Zoe sighed in response. "Where's Jayne?"
"You really can't do it can you?" Mal called from halfway up the steps.
Kaylee turned. "Do what?"
"Not talk," Mal stated. "Don't bother 'bout Jayne. Close up." He continued up the stairs.
Kaylee sighed and pushed the button.
"No wait," Mal yelled back down.
Kaylee pushed the button again. Mal disappeared into the upper hallway. He returned not three minutes later with a large crate in tow. Mal pushed the crate off the top landing.
"Shove that out first," Mal commanded then ducked back to the deck.
Kaylee looked after him for a moment, confused. Then she saw a bit of orange tassel sticking from beneath the lid of the crate and understood. She dragged the crate down the ramp and watched it as the gap closed.
--------------------------------
It didn't take Jayne long to realize he'd been left behind, truly and surely. He arrived at the landing spot just in time to watch Serinity break atmo and disappear into space. He cursed a bit, as was his wont, and kicked up the dirt. He even fired a shot or two into the sky to prove his anger. But he was angry more at himself. He had finally pushed the captain further than he could. Jayne sighed and dragged his crate back to the tavern.
---------------------------
Wash was in a good mood. He had just learned the news. No more Jayne. He grinned in spite of himself. Sure, they'd be down a man who was good with guns, but hey, he was a loaded gun himself. Wash leaned back in his seat with a look of smug satisfaction.
--------------------------
Mal sat stiffly on the edge of his bunk, his head in his hands. He had made a grave decision. He had purposely left a member of his crew behind. And now he was down the best fighting man. But Jayne had merited the drop. Oh, yes! Mal wouldn't have done it differently. But the feeling of guilt lingered.
--------------------------
Simon was curious as to what had caused the abandonment of Jayne. Not that he cared about Jayne really. He'd always been just an annoyance to Simon. This marked the end of crude sexual references and harsh language. Simon could certainly get used to that.
--------------------------
Zoe lay on her bunk thinking. She didn't give a damn about Jayne, but she worried about the captain. She had fought with him; she knew how attached and protective he could get. Man, this must be hard for him, she thought. She let out a long sigh, then stood and climbed the latter in search of Wash. Not that he'd be hard to find. He was always only one place. Especially when he was happy. And Zoe knew her husband was happy indeed.
--------------------------
Shepherd Book stared down at his Bible sitting on the dining room table. Something was not right about this whole situation. He, like most of the others, had no use for Jayne. He was the toughest crew member and certainly the most in need of a little spiritual medicine, but Book was not worried about his situation. He was worried about the effect it would have on the rest of the crew. Mal was obviously upset; Book could tell this because of the terse manner in which he treated the crew upon his return. Zoe also was tight-lipped. It made Book wonder exactly what it was that had caused this disagreement and separation. Mal had not even allowed Jayne to come back aboard for his things. The whole thing had a bad feeling to it, and Book resolved to ask the captain about it as soon as he saw fit to come out of his bunk and socialize.
-------------------------
River was the only person on Serenity not thinking about Jayne. Instead she was concentrating on a small beetle that had found its way aboard during landing. Gently, River flipped it onto its back and watched its legs flail.
"Helpless." River stated. Maybe she was thinking of Jayne after all.
A/N: This is obviously just a beginning. If you like it, review. Tell me how you think it ought to continue. I intend to add the trademark Firefly humor and random Chinese phrases, but I don't really have a plot lined out in my head. Review, and tell me what you think. Oh, and I really don't intend this to be Jayne/River, no matter how it might sound now.