Title: Separation Anxiety
Series: Heart of Gold: Rayne style
Author: Sevangel
Disclaimer: Not mine
Rating: PG-13
FYI: This story is also drawling to an end.
"Jayne, you're up." Mal says as he walks back into the 'waiting room' at the Companion house the Serenity crew is currently sitting in. He can't warn Jayne to watch his mouth, there's a supervisor in the room, so he settles for just giving Jayne a look.
Jayne on the other hand, heaves to his feet, not givin' a good gorram bout what's goin' on. All he cares about, all he wants is to get back to his wife. He opens the door Mal just came out of and plops down on the first chair he comes too, his legs sprawled out in front of him and his body slouched in the chair. In front of him are three older woman, somewhere between Zoe's and his ma's age, and two old men, round Book's. His arms cross over his chest and he glares at them, blaming them completely for the fact that he's here and not with his wife.
One the men is the first to speak up, his glasses settled in the bridge of his nose. "Mr. Cobb, we have you down as working for Mr. Reynolds for two years. Is that correct?"
"Just bout." Jayne grunts.
The man shuffles through some papers before looking back up. "Mr. Cobb, have you ever noticed any inappropriate behavior between Captain Reynolds and Miss Serra?"
"Is that what this is all bout?" Jayne sits up with a scowl. "You dragged us all the way out here just to know if Mal and Nara are sexin'?"
"If you must speak so crudely." A small, dark woman says, her nose lifting up in disgust.
"Let me just make this easy for ya." Jayne jumps to his feet. "Mal wants Nara but he ain't gonna do nothin' bout that as long as she's a companion. Nara wants him back but she's too gorram proper to even tell us bout her clients so there ain't no way in gorram hell she was gonna break any of your stupid rules."
That said, Jayne storms out of the room, shaking off Mal's hand when his arm is grabbed.
"Mal, don't." Zoe warns. "You chase after him, you're gonna fight and that's bound to shed a bad light on things."
Mal sits back down and watches as Inara goes into the room.
-
Jayne storms through the companion house, glarin' at every whore he passes. He doesn't stop until he's outside in some little gazebo thing. He leans his elbows on the wood in front of him and sighs. He misses her. Hell, it ain't been but two and a half days and he misses the hell out of her. He'd love to see her here, see her dancin' round in the big room they got and runnin' round all this open space. She'd loved all them books and go'se they got in there, hell, he can just picture her all cuddled up on him as her hypnotic voice reads out loud somethin' he wouldn't be able to understand.
"You comin' out here to tear into my ass bout takin' off like that, you can go to hell." Jayne growls.
"Figure I'm probably already gonna go there." Mal stands next to Jayne and looks out at the pond in front of them.
"Y'know, I always figured that's where I'll end up too." Jayne pulls out two cigars and hands one to Mal. "Then she came along. And for so ruttin' long, I tried to pretend it was just sex but hell, I don't think it really was after the first time. She makes me feel like I got a purpose. Like all that bad shit I've done in the past ain't the only things I'll be judged on."
Mal nods but doesn't say anything.
"Ya know, it used to be when I woke up next to a girl, some whore I picked up, it always made me feel like I was crawlin' out 'a my skin." Jayne takes a deep drag off his cigar. "It's why I always tried to leave after we was done. But now, wakin' up without her, makes me feel like I'm back to bein' the man I was before her. It's…I'm addicted to her and bein' here, without her, this is hell."
"Nara's in there with them." Mal says. "They should have a decision by morning. I should have you back to your wife by nightfall."
Jayne nods and looks back out at the pond, his mind thousands of miles away to where is wife is.
-
"River, little darlin', why don't you put that down and come here." Robert holds hands out for her to see and tries to use his calmest voice although he's completely terrified at the moment.
River's head tilts to the side but she doesn't lower the knife. "You knew my Jayne."
"Course I do, darlin'." Robert says. "He's my son."
"He was my husband." River's voice cracks, the knife shaking slightly in her hand.
"Sweetie, he's still your husband." Rita says softly.
"No." River shakes her head wildly. "My Jayne would never leave me. He promised the only thing that would keep him away from me is death. He's not here so that means he's dead."
"River, sweetie, Jayne ain't dead." Rita says. "I promise you that; he'll be back before you know it."
"He has been gone for two days, four hours, forty-three minutes and nine seconds." River whispers. "Ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen…."
Simon runs into the room as fast as his injured leg will allow him, a prepped needle in his hand. "Mei-mei, please, give me that knife."
"I'm sorry, Simon." River looks up, her eyes flooded with tears. "You tried so hard to fix the broken girl but you couldn't. Only he could. Now he's gone and she's beyond broken; there's nothing left." Then before anyone can stop her, the knife moves up and then slices down on her arm. Blood sprays the various people around the room and as her hand moves up again, her small form is tackled to the ground.
Simon slams the needle into her upper thigh, his body covering her. The sedative works almost instantly, the knife falling out of her lax hand.
"Jayne?" Her whisper is so light but echoes through the silent room.
"Son?" Robert questions softly.
"I dropped my med bag by the stairs." Simon's voice remains even but it's not hard to see the emotion filling his face. "Can someone get it please?"
A stampede of feet runs through the living room and after only a few seconds, Simon's bag is sat at his feet.
"Andrea, Juls, it'd probably be best if you took the little ones upstairs with Matty." Robert says. "You too, Roy."
"Pa." Roy half whines, his eyes wide and wet with tears.
"C'mon, Roy." Julie takes the boy's hand and leads him upstairs.
Simon doesn't bother numbing the area around the large slash in her forearm, she is unconscious and will remain that way for at least the next six hours, and quickly weaves the cut closed.
Robert gently nudges the numb doctor aside once he can see that he's done and bends down to pick up his daughter-in-law. He carries her small form into his and Rita's room and lies her gently on the bed, moving out of the room and shutting the door when his wife walks in.
"Rita'll get her changed and get all that blood off her." Robert tells Simon.
"Okay." Simon tries to stand up but he can't keep his feet under him.
Robert nods to Sam and Bill and they help the doctor stand up and move over to the couch. Tim walks over with a glass of amber liquid a few minutes later and hands it to Simon.
"Thank you." Simon says automatically.
"Son, you gonna be okay?" Robert sits down beside him and places a concerned hand on his back.
"I don't know." Simon laughs humorlessly. "I don't know anything, not anymore. A few years ago, my sister was safe and getting an education most could only dream about. And myself, well I was quickly working my way up to an invitation to the medical elite. Then I found out it was all a lie and spent the next two years trying to rescue and then fix my sister. And I almost just lost her, not from the alliance or reavers or any of the other hundreds of dangers we see all the damn time, but from her own hand because she was completely convinced Jayne is dead. I don't know how to fix this."
"Don't think you can." Robert says. "I'm beginning to think the only one with that ability is Jayne."
Simon sighs heavily. "So am I."
-
"Have a seat, Miss Serra."
Inara sits down, her hands clasped nervously in her lap. "Has the board come to a decision already?"
"We have." Maxis Long, the president of the board noted by the red patch on his chest, says.
"But you only just finished interviewing the crew." Inara says.
"Yes, we are well aware of that." Madame Chloe says.
"We were prepared to dismiss your crew and strip you of your companion status before arresting you." Maxis says without preamble.
"For what?" Inara whispers.
"For behavior unbecoming of a registered companion." Maxis replies. "After Nandi's, I'm sure you remember her, behavior and betrayal of the guild, we've decided to come down swifter and harsher on those we consider in need of that sort of punishment."
"You consider me in need of that sort of punishment?" Inara asks.
"We did." Madam Chloe says.
"But you don't know?" Inara replies.
"No." Maxis says. "We know you have feelings for Captain Reynolds and that those feelings are returned on his part."
Inara opens her mouth.
"And don't try to deny it." Maxis warns. "We are just as trained in body language and signals as you even if we no longer service clients."
"There is no law prohibiting a companion from developing feelings for someone." Inara says.
"We are aware of that." Maxis replies. "But there is a law regarding physical or sexual contact with a person outside of a client."
"Mal and I have never engaged in any sort of contact." Inara denies.
"That, Miss Serra, was what we were trying to distinguish." Maxis replies. "And up until Mr. Cobb came in here, we were convinced you had."
"Jayne?" Inara gasps. "Jayne changed your mind?"
"He was honest in a way no one else was, not even Shepard Book." Maxis replies. "The rest of the crew avoided the questions, answered them as simply as possible, or said they didn't know. Mr. Cobb, on the other hand, was the only one that would acknowledge the feelings you have for each other. Quite simply, he said you have a desire for Captain Reynolds but would not break your vows as an active companion to act on them."
"Oh." Inara mutters, now realizing telling the crew to say they didn't know anything was probably a mistake.
"I'd advise that you keep Miss Frye from participating in any types of gambling in the future." A small smile covers Madam Chloe's face. "That young lady does not know how to bluff."
"I know." Inara agrees with a smile.
"Now." Maxis pushes a electronic screen across the table to Inara. "Are you sure this is the choice you wish to make, Miss Serra? There is no coming back from it."
Without hesitation, Inara sprawls her signature across the dotted line and slides it back.
"Very well." Maxis pockets the small screen. "Your name will be removed off the active registry and put on the inactive one. We will contact you in a few weeks with the complete details and a list of available clients. You are dismissed."
Inara stands up gracefully. "Thank you, members of the board."
They nod at her.
Inara walks quickly out of the room and motions for the crew to follow her.
"Where are Mal and Jayne?" Inara asks once they're outside of the room.
"Outside." Zoe replies. "They're both a little on the edge right now."
Inara nods and heads outside.
Mal turns around when he hears Kaylee's loud whispering and raises an eyebrow at the leading Inara. "I thought you was gettin' talked at?"
"I was." Inara replies. "But now we're done."
"Whadda mean, done?" Mal asks with narrowed eyes. "Am I gonna have to sneak you outa here?"
"You would do that?" Inara smiles. "Take on another fugie?"
"In a gorram heartbeat."
"Aww…that's so romantic." Kaylee gushes.
Mal rolls his eyes.
"There is no need for your heroics." Inara smiles. "I passed and we are free to go."
Jayne spins around, a cigar between his teeth. "Let's get the gorram hell outa here then."
-
"Plums are tall." Simon announces, taking a sip out of the whiskey glass at his side. He's completely focused on the card game though he watches his little sister playing with a kitten a few feet over out of the corner of his eye. Matty is sitting on the floor next to her, the little girl laughing at something River says. His sister, slightly loopy from the smoother he gave her combined with her recent sedative intake, looks up at him, her eyes wide with excitement.
"He's here." River jumps to her feet, the kitten cuddled to her chest.
The whole table looks to River, worry covering their faces.
"Mei-mei, who's here?" Simon anxiously looks around the room but knows there's no need; every sharp and blunt object has been removed from the room.
"Jayne." River's bottom lip trembles. "He left me."
"River, he didn't want to, remember." Tim says quietly. "You wanted him to go."
River shakes her head. "Too muddled; can't focus."
Rita wraps an arm around the small girl. "It's okay, sweetie."
River's body shakes, her eyes slightly glazed over. "Is my Jayne coming back to get me?"
"Of course he is, mei-mei." Simon takes the kitten out of her arms. "Why don't we go wait outside for him?"
River nods and takes Simon's outstretched hand.
-
"I just can't believe it." Mal mutters. "Don't make any kind of sense. Are you sure they meant Jayne?"
Inara rolls her eyes. "Yes, for the last time, Jayne's interview changed their minds."
"Oh, hell." Mal mutters. "That means I'm gonna have to thank him or somethin'."
Inara smiles at the affronted look on Mal's face. "It would be nice of you."
"Well, I ain't doin' it now." Mal declares. "Man's as grumpy as I've ever seen him."
"I think he's just anxious to get back to his wife." Inara smiles at that, hardly unable to fit the brash, crude merc into the role of loving and devoted husband. But he is.
"Yeah." Mal agrees, following her out of the common room and towards the bridge. "Tell you one thing, ain't a either of em bein' separated after this; I can only just imagine how little River's doin'."
Inara smiles and has to cover her mouth when Mal starts yelling.
"Gorramit, Wash, you gotta job to do." Mal bellows. "And that job ain't gotta nothin' to do with Zoe or her legs."
"Sorry, sir." Zoe moves off Wash's lap to stand a few feet away. "It won't happen again."
"See that it don't." Mal warns. "Now, what's our progress?"
The boat shakes and Wash spins around to grab the steering wheel. "We're falling and falling fast."
"You best get that straightened out and get us on the ground." Mal warns.
Wash flips some switches, falling into his 'pilot' mode. "Might do, might do."
Mal rolls his eyes and storms out of the bridge, an amused Inara on his heels.
"Mal, stop." Inara orders. "It's okay to be happy; it won't kill you."
Mal sighs and turns to face her. "You do realize what you gave up, right?"
"Yes." Inara replies. "I made the choice on my own, for myself."
"It wasn't for me?" Mal looks a little hurt by that.
"You were the deciding factor." Inara smiles up at him. "I haven't been happy in my life for a long time, Mal; it's one of the reasons I left the guild."
"And now?"
"And now I'm doing something for me." Inara cups his face. "I don't expect declarations of love or a marriage proposal. I just expect you to be honest with me."
Mal wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her against him. His hand fists through her hair and twists her head to the side. Then his mouth is on hers, every bit of frustration, lust, and feeling that's built up in the last two years.
Inara melts into Mal, years of experience and training melting away as he devours her mouth.
Mal pulls away after a good ten minutes and smiles down at Inara. "That honest enough for you?" Then he's walking away, humming slightly under his breath.
"Damn, Nara, that got my nethers juiced up." Kaylee giggles, her eyes wide as she steps up beside Inara. "Who knew the cap'n had it in 'im?"
Inara smiles and locks her arm through Kaylee's.
"So, are you excited to see a certain doctor?" Inara asks.
Kaylee nods. "I just want the crew back together; don't like us bein' broken up like this."
Inara nods her agreement, this crew being more of a family than her own ever was.
-
Jayne paces back and forth in front of the bay door, his hands clenched at his side. A part of him hates this, hates this addiction but loves her too much to really care.
"Jayne?"
Jayne glances over at Book and then at back at the doors. "Not in the mood for a sermon."
"Got no plans to preach at you." Book replies.
"Good." Jayne's hands clench and unclench. "I don't get it; why does she mean so much to me?"
"Jayne, you seem to do everything big." Book comments. "Guns, drinking, violence, eating. Pretty much everything you do is to the extreme. It's not surprising your emotional attachments are also extreme."
Jayne just sighs and watches the door. Ten minutes pass, though it feels like ten gorram hours to him, and the boat lands. A few moments later, the bay door opens and he sees her again.
"JAYNE!" River's screech is loud enough to wake the dead, the little genius running and throwing herself at her husband.
Jayne's arms wrap around River as he stumbles back slightly from her weight. His face buries in her neck as he breathes in her familiar scent. "Jesus, baby doll, you're shakin' like a leaf."
"Jayne." River chokes out, her hands moving to cup his face. "You came back?"
"Course I came back, baby doll." Jayne turns his head to kiss her palm. "What makes you think I wouldn't?"
"I got scared." River whispers. "I forgot that you left and I…."
Jayne tries to listen to her but instead gets distracted by somethin' on her arm. He gently grabs it, pulling it towards him to examine. "What happened?"
"I got scared." River whispers. "And confused and I didn't know what was real…the equation didn't add up and I couldn't find the variable; there's always a variable…"
"Shh." Jayne kisses her lightly on the lips. "M'right here, baby, ain't goin' anywhere without you again."
"Promise?" River's head tilts back to look at him, her eyes wet with tears.
Jayne kisses her tears away. "Promise."
-