Title: Duty Calls
Series: Slayers in Space
Author: Sevangel
Disclaimer: Not mine
Rating: R
FYI: I started working on the next part of Crazy's rescue mission but this part wouldn't go away until I wrote it or scooped it out of my brain with a spoon. I like my brain so I decided to write it.
-
"Jayne, calm down." River says calmly. "Put the captain down."
"No." Jayne growls. He instead presses Mal harder against the wall in Faith's room.
"Gorramit, Jayne." Mal growls. "I oughta fire ya for this."
"Sir?" Zoe questions, her rifle in her hand.
"It's alright, Zoe." Mal says.
"Guess Jayne found out what the rest of the bet is." Faith comments as she walks out of the bathroom and sees Jayne holding Mal against the wall.
"No." Simon answers. "Mal just said Jayne was going to kill him and then Jayne picked him up and slammed him across the room."
"It's got somethin to do with River." Jayne growls.
"Yeah." Mal agrees. "But nothin like what you're thinkin."
"What is is?" Jayne demands.
"Me and R get to go on the next job." Faith answers.
"WHAT?" Simon and Jayne yell.
"We get to commit controlled crime." River replies as she moves between Jayne and Mal. She grabs Jayne's hand and pulls it off Mal's shirt.
"No." Jayne growls.
"Excuse me?" River growls back.
"Ya ain't goin and that's final." Jayne replies. He backs away from Mal and storms out of the room, River right behind him.
"That's final?" River yells, stopping Jayne. He turns around to glare at her.
"That's what I ruttin said." Jayne yells back.
"And you became the boss of me when?" River replies.
"Ya ain't goin." Jayne stubbornly says.
"Why?" River asks angrily.
"Cause I ruttin said so." Jayne growls.
"You're my lover not my father." River replies. "You can't tell me what to do."
"Have before." Jayne grunts.
"I only did something you said if I wanted to do it." River replies heatedly.
"Told ya they was gonna fight." Mal says to Faith as they watch River and Jayne yell at each other.
"You're being a neanderthal." River growls. "If I want to go on a job I will. And you can't stop me." She walks past him, evading his arms when he tries to grab her.
"Gorramit, woman." Jayne growls as he follows her. "I was ruttin talkin to ya."
"And I'm ignoring you." River yells back.
"Sir, are you really letting them go on a job?" Zoe asks.
"Yeah." Mal replies. "I done said I would if she won. I don't go back on my word."
"Yes you do." Wash replies.
"Not this time." Mal says. "Faith and River get to go to the next meeting."
"Oh." Zoe replies with twinkling eyes.
"Yep." Mal agrees with a smirk. "Now, I'm gonna go take a shower in a second before we eat lunch. But first, I'm thinking we might need to go separate them two."
"Not sure if that's a good idea." Faith puts in.
"I don't need em fightin." Mal argues as he starts down the hall. He turns down the hallway leading to the crew's quarters and then comes to a complete stop.
"Told you." Faith replies when she runs into his back.
Jayne has River pushed against the wall outside of his bunk. Her legs are wrapped around his hips, her bare feet digging into his ass. The fabric of her dress flutters around them. His mouth is at her throat and her head is leaning against his shoulder.
"Ya couldn't make it into your ruttin bunk?" Mal yells.
"No." Jayne grunts.
"You're both about to be cleaning out the septic tank." Wash comments with a grin.
"No, we're not." River replies.
"There are rules on this boat." Mal says. "And ya two just broke one of em."
"No we did not." River argues. "We are both still fully clothed. There is no rule about have sex in the hallway; only about doing it naked."
"She's right." Zoe comments.
Kaylee and Faith laugh at the looks on Mal and Simon's faces.
River reaches between her and Jayne, her hand fumbling around for a second and then the quiet hall is filled with the sound of a zipper being closed. She unwraps her legs from around his hips and drops down. "Come on, Jayne." River orders.
"Where we goin?" Jayne asks.
"Bunk." River answers. "We just had a fight."
"Yeah, I remember." Jayne replies.
"It's time for makeup sex." River tells him.
"Ain't that what we just did?" Jayne smirks.
"That was fighting sex." River replies. "It's close to makeup sex but it there are differences."
"What?" Jayne growls.
"It lasts longer and we'll be naked." River answers. Jayne smirks, throws her over his shoulder, and smacks her ass as his foot reaches out to kick open their bunk.
"That was quite pleasurable." River moans. "Do it again."
Jayne smacks her ass again as they drop down into their bunk, the hatch closing firmly.
"Told you there'd be wild monkey sex." Faith smirks at Mal.
"I'm goin to take a shower." Mal says, trying to wipe out what they just saw and heard. "Kaylee, you and Faith make some lunch. Doc, I need something to clear my head and stomach."
"Alright." Simon replies. "Faith, do you need anything?"
"Food." Faith answers.
"Ya ain't hung over?" Kaylee questions.
"Nope." Faith replies. "Shower cleared my head. But I am starving." She grabs Kaylee's hand and drags the mechanic to the mess.
"Let's go, Simon." Mal orders as he slowly walks down the hall towards the infirmary.
"So, wifey, can we have sex in the hallway?" Wash asks once everyone else is gone.
"Not today, husband." Zoe replies. "Captain's already had enough shocks for awhile."
"But one day?" Wash asks as he follows her towards the mess.
"If you're lucky."
-
River walks into the mess halfway through lunch with Jayne right behind her, his hand on her back. They both sit down and grab some food; not noticing everybody else stopped eating to look at them.
"Did ya have good makeup sex?" Kaylee asks with a giggle.
"Yeah." Jayne grunts as he digs into his food.
"Why am I getting the feeling that Jayne's going to be picking fights with River just for the makeup sex?" Wash asks.
"Cause you're smarter than you look." Faith comments.
Wash looks at her. "Thanks." And then. "Hey."
Everybody laughs.
"You're always picking on me." Wash says.
"Cause she likes you." River replies. "She wouldn't pick on you otherwise."
"Really?" Wash questions.
"You remind me of Xander only not judgmental." Faith replies. "I like picking on you."
"Xander?" Kaylee questions. "Ain't he the one you….."
"Yeah." Faith cuts her off. "Once and it was a damn long time ago."
"Xander?" Mal growls.
"One of B's best friends." Faith answers. "He was the comedy relief of the group, just like Wash is."
"And ya guys…" Mal starts.
"Once." Faith repeats. "He helped me fight a couple of demons and we had sex."
"Oh." Mal mutters.
"And Wash reminds you of him?" Zoe questions.
"Yeah." Faith replies. "He just had a way of laughing off all the crazy shit that was going on. Like after he got his eye poked out; he was cracking jokes about getting to wear that eye patch that he always wanted to wear."
"How'd he get his eye poked out?" Kaylee asks.
"Caleb." Faith replies, looking at Mal. "Crazy preacher that was killing off all the potentials. He said Xander was the one that saw everything and then stuck his thumb in his eye."
"It never freaked you out." River comments, looking between Faith and Mal.
"Nope." Faith replies. "Knew it wasn't him within seconds of meeting him."
"Who wasn't who?" Mal asks.
"You weren't Caleb." River answers.
"Course I ain't." Mal replies. "Ain't a preacher and never killed off some potentials or poked some guy's eye out with my thumb."
"Mei-mei, what didn't freak Faith out?" Simon asks.
"The resemblance between Mal and Caleb." River answers.
"I looked something like this crazy preacher?" Mal gasps.
"Not something like." Faith replies. "Exactly like. Hell, you even sound like him. Physically, there ain't a difference between you two and believe me I'd know. Man kicked my ass; you never forget the face of a man who almost pummels you to death."
"He beat you in a fight?" Zoe questions.
"Yep." Faith replies. "Not just me. Beat the hell outa B a couple times, Spike, Angel, and is responsible for the death of more potentials than anybody in history."
"What happened to him?" Kaylee asks.
"He had to split." River answers with a giggle.
"If that ain't the corniest pun ever." Faith replies with a laugh. "B cut him in half with a scythe."
"In half?" Simon asks.
"She started at his groan and brought the blade up his body and through his skull." River answers.
"If Mal looks so much like this preacher, why didn't ya attack him?" Jayne questions Faith. "Cause if I ran into someone who almost killed me, I'd kill em."
"Knew it wasn't him within seconds of seeing him." Faith answers.
"How?" Wash questions.
"Cause River was alive." Faith replies.
"Caleb would never let a slayer live in his presence." River adds. "He would have tried to kill me."
"Yep." Faith agrees. "Plus the rest of the women in the room; he had this whole notion bout how women were the root of all evil. Pretty much, if Mal was Caleb, everyone around him would be dead and he'd be preaching about how the end was coming or that kind of bullshit."
"Huh." Wash mutters. "So, Mal looks like this Caleb and I remind you of this Xander?"
"Yep." Faith replies. "Not as judgmental and cynical though."
"Judgmental?" Simon questions.
"Xander, he fought on the good side and was a good person and all, but he had a habit of only seeing things in black and white." Faith answers. "Angel for example; he hated Angel since he first met him and when he went evil, Xander pretty much said I told you so. And then when he got his soul back, Xander still treated Angel like Angelus. You aren't like that."
"How do you know that?" Zoe asks, although she agrees. Wash isn't judgmental, most of the time.
"Cause he still treats me the same way he did when he first met me." Faith answers. "Even after knowing I'm a killer."
"You did save my life." Wash points out.
"What's that got to do with it?" Faith questions.
"Usually when someone save my life, I'm thankful." Wash replies. "Aren't most people?"
"No." River and Faith answer.
"Most of the people I've saved, and there's been a lot of them, run away, without saying anything." Faith replies. "Some yell at me cause they think it's my fault, couple have tried to hit me, and one had me arrested."
"That's just wrong." Kaylee gasps. "Nobody thanked ya?"
"One or two people." Faith answers. "Right after I got called, I was 15, I saved a woman and her kid from being vamp food. I walked them home and the woman's husband gave me a tattoo. But most people don't wanna hang around to say thanks."
"How'd ya go out and fight demons?" Kaylee asks. "Didn't your folks notice?"
"B's mom didn't." Faith answers. "Least not for 2 years. She would sneak in and out of her window."
"Did ya sneak out too?" Mal asks.
"Didn't have to." Faith replies. "Hell, I used to come home covered in blood and slime and all my mom would do was toss me some cash and tell me to get her some smokes."
"She didn't notice?" Kaylee gasps.
"I doubt it." Faith replies. "She was too busy enjoying the getting drunk and passing out parts of life to really pay attention to me. I've been taking care of myself since I was 3."
"What bout your pa?" Mal growls.
"Never met him." Faith replies. "Kay, don't cry bout it."
"It's just not right." Kaylee sniffles.
"It's in the past." Faith replies. "I worked through most of my childhood a long time ago. Doesn't bother me anymore."
"Then why wouldn't you….." Simon starts to ask.
"Don't." Faith yells, standing up. "I already told you, I don't talk about that part of my life, ever." She pushes her chair back and runs out of the mess.
"Simon, what's going on?" Mal questions.
"I'm not at liberty to talk about it." Simon replies.
"Ya will be if I make ya." Mal yells, standing up.
River moves across the room to stand between the men despite Jayne yelling at her. She places a hand on Mal's arm, gripping tight until he looks at her.
"What?" Mal growls down.
"She'll talk to you about it when she's ready to." River whispers. "You can't force the issue; it will only make her shut herself off."
"Mei-mei, what makes you think she'll talk to Mal?" Simon questions.
"I just know, Simon." River replies. "We can't bring it up." She spins around to look at Kaylee. "Kaylee, you can't cry for her; she's not used to people getting emotional about her."
"I'll try." Kaylee says. "I just can't imagine somebody's mama not takin care of em."
"Yeah." Jayne agrees.
"Let her come to you." River tells Mal.
Mal glares at her but eventually nods.
"Should we go find her?" Kaylee asks.
"No." River replies. "She'll come back when she's ready."
-
"Jayne, where's all your weapons?" Faith asks the merc.
"Don't need more that I got." Jayne replies as waits for River to come out of their bunk.
"Why?" Faith questions.
"Cause it's just a meeting." River answers. "There won't be any danger."
"I'm gonna kick his ass." Faith growls as she stomps towards the bay. She spots the captain and walks towards him.
Mal sees Faith walking over to them and she's looking pissed. It makes him smile; she ain't really been the same in the last couple of days and he was glad to see her all fired up. "Problem, Faith?" Mal questions.
"You are an ass." Faith answers, poking him in the chest. "You only agreed to the bet because you knew the next job was going to be crap."
"Yep." Mal agrees.
"That is so, wrong." Faith replies. "Dude, if you won, I was going to show you my nipple. I can't believe you played me like that."
"Your nipple?" Zoe asks.
"The pierced one." Faith answers. "He agreed to the job and I agreed to the nipple showage. What kind of meeting is this?"
"We're meeting with the rodent." River replies. "He thinks he's better than everyone else and he smells funny."
Jayne, Zoe, and Mal laugh at River's descriptions of Badger.
"Wash, we'll meet you, Kaylee, and Simon at the usually place." Mal tells the pilot as they start out of the Serenity.
"See ya." Kaylee yells. "Be careful."
"I don't get why you're wearing a dress, R." Faith comments. "Not the most intimidating outfit."
"Don't need to be intimidating." River replies. "Jayne's is intimidating enough for all of us."
"True." Faith replies. Faith moves next to River, both of them slowing down so that three crew members are in front of them. "Why are they so quiet?"
"I don't know." River replies, watching how the soldiers and the merc walk purposefully and quietly towards Badger's place. They walk into a large tent-like building, both River and Faith glancing around excitedly.
"Atherton." Mal growls upon seeing the man arguing with Badger. "It's been a while."
"Reynolds." Atherton sneers. Three large men pull out weapons and aim them at the Serenity group.
"What's going on?" Faith whispers to River.
"Captain and Atherton Wing don't get along." River answers. "They got in a sword fight and Mal won, though I don't know how. He's not very good with a sword."
"You didn't bring the whore with you?" Atherton questions Mal. "I wouldn't try it, Reynolds. They will kill you." He walks around Mal to look at the rest of the group, stopping in front of River and Faith. "Though I see you got some replacements for her."
Jayne growls and starts forward when one of Atherton's bodyguards points a gun a River.
"It's okay, Jayne." River assures him.
Atherton circles around River and Faith a couple of times, his hand moving out to touch the tattoo on Faith's arm. Before anybody can blink, Faith has Atherton pinned to ground, her boot pressing against his throat.
"Drop the guns or I'll pop his head like a grape." Faith threatens, increasing the pressure on his throat.
"Mr. Wing?" The largest one questions.
"Do it." Atherton grunts out.
"First off, I'm not a whore, River's not a whore and Inara may be one, but she's classy." Faith growls. "I just met you and I know I don't like you. And if you ever, ever try to touch me again, I'll rip your dick off and shove it so far up your ass you'll be able to blow yourself, dang mo?"
"It's dong ma." River corrects as she reaches down to pull Atherton to his feet, moving Faith's foot off his throat.
"Oh." Faith replies.
"She means it." River tells Atherton. "Or at least she means she'll try. I'm not sure if a penis could be shoved up the rectum and through the mouth."
"But we could find out." Faith comments.
"I thought you told me men don't like to hear about things being shoved up their ass." River says to Faith.
"Yeah, but he don't count." Faith replies.
"Captain, we're going to go met the rest of the crew before Faith decides to make good on her threat." River says, turning to face the captain.
"That's fine." Mal replies.
River grabs Faith's hand and starts towards the exit, giving Jayne a kiss as they pass.
"I like her." Badger comments once the girls are gone.
Mal walks over to Atherton and throws his fist into his face, Jayne and Zoe pointing their weapons at the bodyguards. He then bends down and picks up the weapons the bodyguards dropped, handing them to Jayne.
"We got a deal to make." Mal says to Badger.
"Yes, we do." Badger agrees.
"Ya gonna to help that piece of go-se first?" Mal asks, gesturing to the unconscious Atherton lying on the ground.
"Get him out of here." Badger tells the bodyguards. "Tell him the deal is off."
They drag the man out of the tent, glancing back at their weapons in Jayne's hands.
"Let's do business." Badger says.
-
"Where's everybody else?" Wash asks River and Faith when they walk into the bar.
"Still at the meeting." River answers. "We had to leave before Faith castrated Atherton Wing with her bare hands."
"He was there?" Kaylee gasps.
"Yes." River answers. "Was trying to get Badger to smuggle some slaves for him. Badger said no."
"Faith, ya okay?" Kaylee questions.
"Fine, Kay." Faith replies.
"Ya wanna play Chinese checkers until they get here?" Kaylee asks.
"Sure." Faith replies. "Always liked that game."
Wash walks to the bar to get the game and returns a few minutes later carrying it and a wooden tray of food.
"Food." River says, reaching out to grab one of the snacks. "Good food."
Kaylee and Simon set up the game while River and Faith sample the food. River wins the first game quickly and they're setting up the second when the rest of the crew walks in.
"Ya okay, Faith?" Mal questions as he sits down next to her.
"Fine." Faith answers. "Sorry if I ruined the job."
"Ya didn't." Jayne replies as he pulls River off her chair and then drops down into it, pulling her onto his lap. River leans back against his chest, letting him play for her. He wins the next game right as the waitress drops some drinks off.
"We playin again?" Jayne questions as he takes a sip of his beer.
"You can play for me Mal." Faith says, sitting back against the booth, leaning slightly into his side. She grabs his drink and takes a sip. "That's good."
"It is?" River questions. She takes Jayne's mug out of his hand and takes a sip. "Yeah it is."
They start the next game, Mal, Jayne, and Wash yelling insults at each other. Kaylee and Simon laugh at them, both of them still playing. The three warrior women watch the game with amused eyes.
"Faith." River whispers, the hair on the back of her neck standing up.
"You feel it too." Faith whispers back.
"Feel what?" Mal questions.
"Death." River answers.
"Yep." Faith agrees. She climbs over Mal, her hand reaching back to grab the wooden tray that used to contain food. "Duty calls."
River kisses Jayne's chin and then moves off his lap before he can stop her. She takes Faith's free hand and the two slayers walk out of the bar.
-
Mal tosses some money onto the table before following the slayer out of the bar.
"They're over there." Jayne growls, pointing across the street where the girls are walking.
The crew runs across the street, catching up with the slow walking slayers.
Faith breaks the tray into jagged stakes and hands part of them to River.
"Where the gorram hell are ya goin?" Jayne yells as he catches up with them.
"Do our job." River answers.
"I don't get it though." Faith comments. "They didn't take any food with them."
"We're just stopping to get a drink before the rising." River answers.
"How many?" Faith asks.
"One."
"That's it?" Faith gasps. "There must've been 7 or 8 vamps. Why would that many go to greet just 1?"
"It's different here." River answers. "The Alliance knows about vampires. They can only turn 1 or 2 people a month. Anymore than that and it would drawl too much attention. The Alliance would send out a special unit to sweep the town."
"And they want to make sure the newbie survives." Faith realizes. "Can't afford to lose one."
"Yes." River agrees.
"Lose one what?" Mal yells.
The slayers just ignore him and turn down a street. They stop walking when they reach a cemetery.
"Gorramit, we're goin back to Serenity." Jayne orders.
River and Faith look at each other before jumping up and over the large gate. They land on the other side and start walking into the dark cemetery.
Jayne pulls out a gun and shoots out the camera by the gate before shooting off the lock. He kicks it open and follows the girls.
"Kaylee, doc, stay behind us." Mal orders as he pulls out a gun. "Jayne, give Wash a gun."
Jayne pulls out one of the guns they took earlier and hands it to the pilot. He stomps across the grass towards the sounds of a fight.
"Come on, boys." Faith drawls. "We wanna play."
"Look." A large vampire growls. "Food."
"You wish." River replies. A vamp runs at her and she kicks her leg out, knocking him backwards. He throws a punch at her face and she dodges it.
Faith takes on the three vamps surrounding her, kicking and punching wildly. She uses one of her stakes to kill the first one, spinning around to kick the next one.
River kicks her vamp across the face and then plunges one of her stakes into his chest turning him to ash.
"Wo de tien ah." Mal mutters when River stakes the vampire.
"He just exploded." Wash gasps, his gun hanging limply from his hand.
"R, you gotta either hold your breath or dunk to the side." Faith tells the coughing slayer. "Otherwise you'll end up with a lung full of vamp dust. Also, just plunge the stake in and pull it back out. Don't leave it in or it will ash with the vamp."
"Alright." River replies as she attacks the next vamp.
"Do something." Simon yells at Jayne and Mal.
"Can't get a good shot." Jayne growls. "They're movin round too much, I might hit one of em."
"If you're going to shoot them, aim for the neck or the dick." Faith says as she stakes her next vamp. "If you hit em in the neck enough times, it might decapitate em. Anywhere else and you'll just piss em off."
Faith and River fight quickly, staking the 5 remaining vampires in a few moments. Faith stakes her last one at the same time that River does her, the slayers facing each other.
"Synchronized slaying." River says with a grin.
"A new Olympic sport." Faith finishes with a laugh.
They both spin around quickly when they hear clapping.
"Well, well." A British voice says, walking out of the shadows.
"Who the hell are you?" Faith questions, moving into a fighting stance.
"Name's William." The vamp replies. He's about the same height as Simon, with bleach-blonde hair, pale skin, and a long black duster swaying in the light breeze. "I'll be killing you tonight."
Faith laughs. "That was lame."
"Yeah." River agrees with a giggle.
"I mean, as far as death threats go, I'd give it a 2." Faith replies. "Couldn't you be more creative? You know, something like 'I'm going to cut you open and play with your insides'."
"Or maybe, 'I'm going to bleed you dry and use your bones to pick my teeth'." River offers.
"Now those are threats." Faith says.
"Do you know who I am?" The vamp growls.
"A lame ass vampire who thinks he's badder than he is." Faith answers.
"I'm William the Bloody." He replies.
Faith starts laughing so hard that tears run down her face.
"Faith." Mal growls, slowly walking towards them.
"You ain't William the Bloody." Faith says, still laughing. "I know William the Bloody and you ain't him."
"Yes, I am." The vamp protests.
"Alright then, answer a few questions." Faith says. "First off, who's your sire?"
"That's easy." He replies. "Angelus."
"Wrong answer." Faith drawls. "Angelus may have taught him bout being a vamp but his sire was Drusilla."
"Next question." River says. "Where'd you get the jacket?"
"Pulled it off the body of a slayer after I drained every drop of blood from her body." He answers. "Just like I'm going to do you."
"Now that's a better threat." Faith replies.
"Wrong answer though." River says. "He didn't drain her; he just broke her neck."
"Last question." Faith says. "What's his vamp name?"
"I already said." He replies. "William the Bloody because of the way my victims look after I'm done with them."
"Three strikes and you're out." River singsongs.
"He got the name William the Bloody because of his 'bloody awful poetry'." Faith adds. "His vamp name is Spike, because he liked to torture his victims with a railroad spike."
"If you're going to impersonate a legendary vampire, you should learn more things about them." River says.
He vamps out, causing Kaylee to squeal, and runs at Faith and River. They both sidestep him and Faith reaches behind her to shove a stake into his back and through his heart. "And he would have never done that." Faith says as he crumbles to dust, his ashes hitting the watching crewmembers.
"Vampires are lame." River comments.
"Better than demons." Faith replies. "No cleanup."
Simon is staring at his sister like he's just seen her for the first time. Kaylee is holding on tightly to Mal, who is looking at them with a clenched jaw. Wash's mouth is hanging open and Zoe is looking at them both with a mixture of awe, sadness, and respect.
"What the gorram hell were ya thinkin?" Jayne yells at River, stomping over to pull her against him. He runs his hands over her body before kissing her harshly.
"My job." River pants against his mouth when he pulls away.
"We're leavin, now." Mal orders.
"Can't." Faith says. "Still one left."
River pulls out of Jayne's tight grasps to follow Faith across the cemetery. She stops in front of a recently dug grave and hops onto the headstone, swinging her legs. River sits down a few feet away from the headstone and looks up at Faith.
"You gonna make it, R?" Faith questions.
"Yes." River replies.
"Cause if you want to take Jayne back to the boat, I can handle this." Faith offers.
"Thanks, but I want to finish it." River replies, her body clenched tight with the blood lust she's feeling. "How come you're not…."
"Not my first time out." Faith answers. "Gets easier to control after a while."
"Good." River moans. "Cause I'm about to burst."
"What are ya doin?" Mal yells.
"Waiting." River answers.
"Come on, Lee Wok." Faith says, glancing down at the headstone to read the name. "Some of us have a ton of homework waiting at home."
"Homework?" River questions.
"Always worked for B." Faith answers. She jumps of the headstone with a grin. "Told you."
River stands up and pulls out her last stake.
"Baby, whadda doin?" Jayne growls as he moves to stand next to her. The crew moves to follow him until they're all standing around the grave.
"Waiting for Lee." River answers.
"Huh?" Mal mutters confused and then jumps back when Kaylee screams. He looks down at the grave to see a hand pushing through the dirt. "What the hell?"
Faith and River both reach down and grab the hand. The pull the vampire out of his grave and help him stand up.
"I'm sorry Lee." River whispers. She shoves the stake through his chest and he turns to dust. "It's better this way."
"How….he was….." Simon sputters.
"Right there with you, Simon." Wash mutters.
"We can go now." Faith says. She kicks the dirt back around until there's no proof of the vampire's exit. "We got them all."
Jayne reaches down to grab River's hand and then finds himself being moved a few feet away to slam back against a mausoleum. She climbs up his body to attack his mouth, her hands scratching at his chest and shoulders.
"Come on, let's go." Faith says. "They'll meet us back at the boat when they're done."
"Done?" Mal replies. "They ain't gonna…."
"Do it in a cemetery?" Faith finishes. "Yes, they are. And if we stick around, we're going to see."
"But that's so…." Kaylee starts.
"Look, R is experiencing her first bit of vamp staking blood lust." Faith explains as she grabs Mal and Kaylee's hands to drag them out of the cemetery. "She's got little to no control right now and she's taking Jayne along for the ride. We try to stop them and she's going to attack. The quickest way to get rid of the lust is sex; hard, fast and violent sex."
Simon glances back at his sister and sees her ripping Jayne's shirt off as she humps his knee. Turning back around, he follows the rest of the crew back to Serenity.
-
Jayne drops the gun in his hand to the ground to grasps River's hips and pull her closer to him. He bends his leg and presses his knee hard between her legs and she starts humping it like an animal. She rips his shirt off and drags her nails back down his chest, leaving red lines in her wake. He can feel her leaking through his pants and onto his knee. He moves his leg back and she growls angrily, her teeth nipping at his chest. Reaching down to grab the bottom of her dress, he pulls it over her head and throws it to the ground. He picks her up and them over to the headstone and sets her on it. Stepping back from her grabbing hands, he kicks his boots off before removing his pants. Moving back to her, he steps between her widely spread legs and shoves inside of her. She cums instantly.
"JAYNE!" River screams as her body bows backwards over the headstone, her hair dragging the ground behind her.
Jayne grunts and continues to pound into her, his hands gripping the headstone she's sitting on. She sits back up and attacks his mouth as she moves her ankles over his shoulders.
Jayne bites and sucks at her lips as he pounds into her. He's a bit uncomfortable bending over like he is but loves the position. He's getting deeper than he ever has. He opens his eyes and finds himself staring into hers.
"Ya okay?" Jayne grunts.
"Yes." River pants against his mouth. She pulls away to bend backwards again, her hands resting on the ground behind her for support.
Jayne moves his hands of the headstone to pinch and pull at her hard nipples. She moans heavily and bucks her pelvis against his. He feels his balls tighten and starts thrusting faster and harder. Dragging a hand down her body, her burrows between them to find her clit. He presses down hard on it with his thumb and is rewarding by her screaming his name again as she cums. He pumps once more before yelling his release.
Jayne grabs her arms and pulls her up against his chest. He then collapses backward, the damp grass cool under his ass.
"Baby, ya okay now?" Jayne questions.
"Yes." River whispers. She looks at his chest and sees the cuts she left. She touches them with a shaky hand and then looks up at him with tear filled eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Hey now, none of that cryin." Jayne growls as he pulls her against him. "Don't like seein it. I'm fine."
"I couldn't control it." River says against his neck. "Once you touched me, the blood lust took over and I had to have you."
"Hell, baby, ain't like I didn't love it." Jayne assures her.
"I know." River replies. "But what if you didn't want to? I probably would have forced you."
"Ya ain't ever gonna have to force me to be with ya." Jayne says with a chuckle. "I could have a couple bullets in me and I'd still say yes."
"Me too." River agrees.
"Ya ain't gettin shot." Jayne growls. "Now, can we get up now? My ass is startin to get cold."
River stands up and glances down at his shoulders. "My boots left marks."
"Yeah, I feel em." Jayne replies. "Help an old man up."
River takes his arm and pulls him up. "You're not old." River says before kissing his chin.
"Ya seem to be kissin my chin a lot." Jayne comments as he pulls his pants on.
"It's the most convenient place." River replies as she picks up her dress. She slips it on before grabbing her panties. "I'm just going to stop wearing panties."
"What?" Jayne grunts as he puts his boots back on.
"You just keep ripping them off." River explains. "Seems pointless to wear them."
"When ya're off the boat, wear em." Jayne orders as he picks up the weapons he dropped. "Don't like the idea of ya walkin round without panties on. Bad enough ya never wear a bra."
"Don't need one." River replies. "I'm quite perky without it."
"Yeah." Jayne drawls. He walks over to her and pulls her in front of him. His hands move up to cup her breasts. "Damn perky."
River moans and arches into his hands. "We just got dressed." She says as she rubs her ass against his hardening cock. "We will have to wait until we get back to our bunk."
"Well then, come on, slayer-girl." Jayne says as he moves her to his side. He wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her against him. "Let's move it."
River giggles before leaning her head against his chest.
Jayne smiles when she giggles and leads them out of the cemetery and towards home.
-
"I think I should go talk to him." Kaylee says. "He been alone for bout half an hour, maybe he's just waitin for someone to come and talk to him."
"Leave him be, Kay." Faith says. "He's going to have the hardest time adjusting to what he saw."
"Why him?" Mal asks. "Ain't like we didn't see too."
"Because you aren't doctors." Faith replies. "Everything else he could write off as something that Academy did to R. But he can't write off seeing a bunch of vamps dusted and one rising. It goes against everything he was taught in medical school. Now he's got to accept this whole slayer thing. He has no choice about it. It's going to be hard for him to adjust."
"But he will?" Kaylee says questioningly.
"I don't really know, Kay." Faith replies. "This might just be the straw that broke the camel's back."
"Huh?" Kaylee mutters.
"She's saying Simon might not be able to handle this." Zoe explains. "That this might be the thing that pushes him over the edge."
"Edge of what?" Wash questions.
"Not sure." Faith answers. "Feeling better, R?"
The crew spins around to see Jayne and River walking up the ramp.
"Yes." River replies. "Much better. Where's Simon?"
"Went to his room as soon as we got here." Mal replies. "Ain't been back since. Jayne, where's your shirt?"
Jayne holds ripped fabric up. "She ripped it off."
"Ya need to see the doc bout those scratches?" Mal questions with a wince. He then squints and looks at Jayne's shoulders. "Are those boot marks?"
"Yeah." Jayne answers with a smirk.
"What?" Wash questions as he looks at Jayne's shoulders. "How did you get….never mind, I don't want to know."
Mal starts to say something when he sees two feds walking up the ramp. "Can I help you?" Mal questions.
"You Malcom Reynolds?" One officer asks.
"Yeah." Mal replies. "Why?"
"We're here to pick up Simon Tam." The officer replies.
"Don't know who…." Mal starts only to be cut off by Simon.
"I'm right here." Simon says as he walks calmly into the bay. He has his suitcase in one hand and small bag in the other. He hands them to the officers before turning to face the crew.
"What the gorram hell is goin on?" Mal growls.
"I'm going home." Simon replies. "I contacted my father when we got back and he sent an escort to come and get me."
"What?" Kaylee gasps.
"I left my medical bag and supplies in the infirmary and some money on the bridge." Simon tells Mal. "I can't thank you for what you've done for us so I'm not even going to try. I just can't do this anymore. Come on, mei-mei, we're going home."
"What!" Jayne yells. "She ain't ruttin goin nowhere."
"She's my sister and she's going with me." Simon yells back. "River, let's go. We can just put this whole thing behind us."
River looks up and Jayne and then steps forwards until she's in front of her brother. "Simon, you're my brother and I love you." River whispers. "You saved me and I'll never be able to pay you back for that."
"You don't have to pay me back, mei-mei." Simon assures her. "Let's go." He reaches out to grab her arm and she steps back. "Mei-mie."
"I'm not going with you." River whispers. "I can't put this behind me, it is my life. It's who I am and I can't change it. I don't want to. Serenity is my home; this is where I belong." She glances back at Mal as if for approval.
"Course it is, River." Mal assures her. "Serenity is your home. Ya don't gotta leave less ya want to."
Simon looks towards the feds. "Aren't you going to do something?" Simon questions them.
"Your father's orders were to retrieve one Simon Tam and fly him home." The officer replies. "We were never told anything about a female."
"River, we are leaving, now." Simon orders.
River walks over and kisses his cheek. "I love you, Simon. But you can't make me go. This is my path; you have to find yours." She turns around and walks back to Jayne who wraps his arms tightly around her and glares at Simon.
"Mr. Tam, the boat is leaving in a few minutes." The officer says. "We have to go now."
Simon stares at his sister before turning around and following the officers out of Serenity.
"SIMON!" Kaylee yells. She pushes past the crew to run after him.
Simon comes to a stop and turns around to face her. He bends his head and kisses her gently before walking away.
Kaylee watches him walk away, tears running down her face. She sees him follow the feds into a small, high tech Alliance vehicle. When it lifts off and flies away, her legs buckle.
Faith catches Kaylee when she falls and lifts her up. She carries the sobbing mechanic back into Serenity. "Mal, we need to get off here." Faith whispers.
"No." Kaylee wails. "He might come back."
"Kay, he ain't coming back." Faith whispers.
Kaylee starts crying harder, her nails digging into Faith's arms. "I'm taking her to my room." Faith tells Mal.
Mal nods.
Faith carries Kaylee out of the bay, the mechanic's body shaking with her sobs.
"Jayne, take River on down to your bunk." Mal orders.
Jayne picks up River, who is sitting there in a daze. "He left us." River whispers.
"I know, baby." Jayne says.
She leans against his chest as her body is raked with sobs. Jayne grimaces and carries her out of the bay.
"Wash, get us off this gorram rock." Mal orders.
"But what if…" Wash questions.
"He ain't coming back." Mal says. "Not for a while, if ever."
-
a/n: I was going to be really mean and cut this off right when River walks towards Simon but decided to be nice and not leave everyone wondering if she stayed or went.