Chapter.13
Jayne awoke slowly having the urge for a drink, he glanced at Seska who was sleeping next to him. He smiled, because he was happy that he married his true love Seska. He brushed a piece of hair out of her face so that he can get a better look at her, lying down close to her face. Jayne kissed her as she opened her eyes, she gave a laugh as he chuckled nuzzling her wrapping his arms around her. Jayne looked at the clock which read 6:30 AM, he sighed knowing that they'd have to be back on board Serenity in the afternoon.
"Shall we go get some breakfast before we head back to the ship?" She kissed him.
"Sure, let's go.." As they both get up and got dressed, after they checked out of the hotel and headed back to Serenity. Jayne was looking at shops and keeping an eye out for a nice place to eat, once he saw a jewellery shop and gently pulled Seska with him towards it.
"Jayne why are we here? I said Vera was good enough for me.." He pointed at a ring that he liked and smiled. "That's the one I want to get you.." He looked up at the salesman " How much? " The man pulled out the ring and replied
"700 dollars.. " Jayne looked at Seska who had an unsure expression on her face, he pulled out his money and handed it to the salesman. He smiled down at his wife who said.
"I didn't deserve this.." Jayne put the ring on her finger making sure that it didn't slide off.
"You do.. For someone very beautiful you need to have somethin' to go with it.." He became shy when she smiled at him.
"That's too sweet of you Jayne.. But honestly I didn't need this.." As they walked out of the store Seska found a little restaurant. The place was like someone's home if it weren't for the oversized window in the front. When they were seated Jayne ordered a whiskey to go with his eggs. Seska ordered some french toast with some eggs to the side. Jayne took a drink of his whiskey looking at Seska who was looking around saw a couple at the table across the room and saw a familiar face.. Dr. Victor Batrachian... Seska felt her face drain of color, and her gut twist in a knot. Jayne noticed right away that there was something wrong with her.
"What's wrong Sesk?" She shook her head from side to side becoming scared. Jayne got up to calm her down. "Baby.. What's wrong? Please tell me.." He took her head in his hands having her face him looking into her frightened eyes.
"It's him... Please let's go.. I want to go home.. Please?" He let her go helping her up.
"Who are you talking about? That man in the corner with his wife?" He looked closely at the man. To Jayne the man was harmless by size, he looked back over to Seska who shook her head.
"That's no man.. Jayne he's my stepfather..." Jayne always thought and was told that Seska had a good family history. Now she's really terrified like a child. "Please? I want to get as far away from him as possible.." Before they could leave Jayne heard a voice behind him.
"Sir, may I ask who the person is behind you is?" Jayne saw Seska's eyes go wide as he turned to face the man. He was shorter than Jayne with pitch black receding hair, piercing brown eyes, and pointed facial features. He answered feeling Seska's hand squeezing his tightly.
"She's my wife.. And you are?" He extended his hand to shake, Jayne shook it feeling Seska's grip tighten harder making him grit his teeth, he tried not to show the pain as the man introduced himself.
"I'm Doctor. Victor Batrachian... I meant to ask who your lovely wife is?" He reached out to her, Seska backed away from his grasp. "I see your wife is a bit shy.. " He gave a laugh. Jayne gave a fake laugh.
"This is Seska Cobb.. My wife we were recently married, she was once a Blade..." He felt Seska's nails dig into his hand for saying her name.
"Hello Seska... Remember me?" He reached for her again Seska grabbed the knife off of the table and held at range. He gave a laugh while Jayne was completely shocked by Seska's reaction to Victor. Victor's wife approached his side whispering.
"Seska... It's me.. Jessica... It's ok.." Seska didn't move an inch, Jayne touched her arm she pulled her arm away.
"Victor.. I wanted to get away from you as far as I can... You were just a sick son of a bitch.. I hope you rot in hell.." Seska said angrily, Jayne blinked really shocked now. "I was just a child... You took away my freedom, my life... My family..." Victor stood his ground.
"My dear sweet Seska... I was just helping you out... All the abuse I gave to you.. I was helping.. All I ask is for you to come back.." Seska looked at Jayne who had the facial expression of begging to be let in on her secret.
"Jayne.. Did I tell what this man did to me before I had met you?" Jayne shook his head " Victor took me away from my family... And forced me to live with him and his wife.. I was mistreated, abused, and even under Alliance watch... I was only a child Jayne.. When I grew older I tried suicide.. But my attempts failed and the abuse grew worse.." Jayne looked furious, Victor remained calm with his arms crossed. Jayne touched her arm again pulling her to him, wrapping his arms around her. He grabbed his pistol that was attached to his side hiding it from Victor's view. He made a sudden move and fired his gun at Victor, who grabbed his wife to take the blow. He bolted out the door and out of Seska and Jayne's view. He looked at Seska who was on her chair with a blank stare. Jayne picked her up whispering in her ear.
"Sesk.. Oh, god I'm sorry of what happened to you.. But you haveta tell me everything that happened.. Ok?" He raised his eyebrows at her in a non-threanting way as they made their way out and back to the ship. Seska nuzzled her head under his, she loved the feeling of his goatee on her skin replying. "There's more to what I said back there.."
Chapter. 14
On the way home Jayne noticed that Seska had grown quiet since the incident. She walked looking down at the ground, Jayne gave her a nudge and an occasional pull whenever she drifted away from him. Seska looked up at him at the second time he nudged her to pay attention to where she was going.
"You mad at me?"
"No I'm not... Just worried about you that's all... What makes you say that?" She shrugged.
"Well.. You're quiet..." He pulled her in for a hug before they set foot on Serenity. "There's no way in hell I'll ever be mad at you.." She kissed him as Mal and the crew met them in the cargo hold.
"So.. Did we have a nice honeymoon?" He asked, Jayne shook his head as Seska looked at her feet.
"There was trouble Mal... Seska's ran into someone..." She looked up as Mal rested his hand on her shoulder.
"Would you like to fill us in? If it's not too much trouble.." Seska nodded.
"I think everyone deserves to hear what happened to me.." Everyone gathered in the galley, Seska sat next to Jayne on the couch with everyone around them. Seska felt sick before she was about tell her story after telling what happened during breakfast. "My parents were Browncoats, special spies against the Alliance during the war.. We had a big family I was seven out of nine siblings living on Arice.. All was going so well until our planet was overrun by the Alliance.. My entire family was taken prisoners, except me..." She paused to wipe her tears away she felt Jayne's arm around her. " I found out a couple days later that everyone there was taken out.. My whole family... I was forced into a foster home with Dr. Victor Batrachian and his wife Jessica. I lived in terror because I was abused.. I once tried to kill myself to end my suffering but that only increased the abuse when the attempt failed.. I lived in pain for thirteen years and under Alliance watch, wondering why I still lived and that my family didn't.. I had the chance to escape when I was shopping with his wife the only person who actually cared for me during those years past. I ran as fast as I can, she lost me in a crowd.. I soon left the planet with an old man who took me in he only called himself Leroi.. He taught me how to survive out in the 'verse.. Along with Natalya, whom I fought with. I soon left for a job at another planet that wasn't under Alliance watch. I worked as a bartender at minimum wage.. I went out for a smoke after a rough day and was jumped by three huge men... Then the next thing I remember was someone tripping over me.." She looked over at Jayne "And was soon here on board Serenity." She looked down as soon as she was finished Jayne rubbed her shoulders then placing a kiss on top of her head. Mal and the rest were in shock of the story.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" asked Mal "We could have done something for you.." She looked at him.
"I thought you all would have thought of me differently.. That's all.." Simon came foreword with a question
"If you were abused why aren't there any scars on you?" She looked at Jayne finding comfort in his eyes, then back at Simon.
"Scars are hidden.. Does someone have a black light?" Mal left and soon returned with one and handed it to Jayne who plugged it in. Seska took off her shirt and kept the tank top on. Kaylee hit the lights as Jayne turned the black light on and put it over Seska. Her body was covered in slash marks and other scar like features. She heard the crew gasp including her husband who touched some of the scars on her skin.
"Why can't we see them in the normal light?" Mal asked for all as Jayne turned off the light.
"Because Batrachian found a way to conceal the scars so that no one would notice what was going on.." After the talk and supper Seska sat in her bunk alone until she heard a knock and down came Jayne. He sat next to her on the bed looking at her.
"It was a terrible thing that bastard has done to you.. I talked with Mal, we're going to find this asshole and make him pay for what he's done to you.." Seska got up and sat in his lap kissing his neck.
"Thank you.. I want him to pay for everything he's done to me.." Jayne kissed her deeply laying her down on the bed after she removed his shirt.
"You won't have to worry about him anymore after I'm through with him.." He removed the rest of both his and her clothes settling her in. Seska kissed him knowing that he made her feel like someone who mattered, Jayne wrapped his arms around her drawing her deeper in him. Deep down he wanted her pain that she suffered all her life to go away forever. After love making Jayne laid awake spooned close to her, watching her sleep in his arms he kissed her before falling asleep. He dreamt about getting payback for his wife.
Chapter. 15
Blood. Pain...Terror... Seska awoke in a sweat , Jayne sat up alarmed. Seska put her hand over her chest feeling her heart race under it. She looked over at Jayne who looked sleepy and worried.
"What's with you and those bad dreams?" He gave a yawn lying in her lap not concerned of her nakedness. She looked pale in the light, he touched her face with the palm of his hand wiping away some of the sweat. She looked down at him with her blue eyes.
"Har it was really a bad dream..." He leaned up and gave her a kiss reassuring her.
"How bad was it?" "Real bad.. I'm not so sure if I can sleep.." She looked away from him, his hand moved her face to look at him. "Do you want to talk about it?" He moved so that she can lay down on his chest, as she did he wrapped his arms around her occasionally rubbing her back and shoulders.
"I had a dream that Batrachian took me away from you.. After he got me back he took everyone here tortured and killed them.. And went on making my life the living hell it once was before.." She buried her face in his chest "I can't let that happen to everyone here.." "Well that's never going to happen.." He paused to think and asked
"What else happened in your moon brain dream?" She looked up at him not sure if she should whack him with the pillow then laying her head back down to listen to his heart beat.
"After everyone was killed he left you alive and tied you down onto a table then tied me to a chair forcing me to watch as he took you apart piece by piece... It was so real Jayne... So real.." He looked down at her seeing the tears flood in her eyes. Jayne felt bad for her, he took his thumb and wiped her tears away.
"It's ok... It's going to be ok Sesk. Nothing is going to happen to any of us.. You know that.." He felt her head nod with agreement.
"But I get the feeling that it will happen... Remember the time I came down to your bunk before we were going out.. I had a dream that I'd meet up with Batrachian like what happened yesterday.. That's what scares me so Jayne.. I don't want to lose my family or you.." Jayne was now spooked a bit rolled on top of her balancing his weight so that he doesn't crush her smaller frame.
"I'll protect you and do my best that everyone has a chance of surviving, he'll have no chance when we're in greater numbers.. What do you think?" She looked down and back up into his determined eyes and said.
"Your right.. Nothing will save that hwoon dahn's ass when we're together.." Jayne kissed her as she wrapped her arms around him, allowing herself back to sleep after their fun.
Chapter.16
Seska sat on the couch in the galley thinking about what Jayne had asked Mal to go get Batrachian. He is a dangerous man and I can't risk this crew because of me. Thought Seska, getting up and walking around. She had snuck out of her bunk after Jayne fell asleep after their fun. I care for this crew I don't want anything to happen to them…… especially Jayne. She walked to Jayne's bunk and found some of her clothes she left there a while ago, after she changed she sat on Jayne's bed picking up his stuffed turtle that he tried to sew back up from a while ago and held it close, giving it a hug every now and then. She continued to think to where Batrachian was hiding. Seska had an idea as she grabbed her pistols and a knife putting on her boots, she made her way off the ship without setting off the alarms that Wash put on so there would be no intruders while the crew slept. When she was out she gave one last look at Serenity before leaving to find Batrachian. Jayne stirred in his sleep feeling very cold as he open his eyes knowing that Seska would be up worrying about her dreams. He was alarmed to find her gone, he got up putting on his pants and shirt cussing under his breath.
"Girl's out to get herself killed... Why the hell did I have to fall asleep! I knew she'd try to leave..." He said climbing out of her bunk looking around the ship's lights were still off which told him that it was still late. He hit the comm. to Mal's room yelling into it.
"Mal, Seska's gone! She went to go after that bastard without us!" Mal jumped in his bed startled by the loudness of Jayne's voice, he got out of bed dressed in a hurry and met Jayne outside his bunk. Jayne looked frustrated, the rest of the crew who were up in their sleepwear wondering what was going on, he gave Jayne a second look saying.
"Why did you wake everyone else up?" Jayne looked confused and turned to see everyone behind him.
"I didn't wake them up..." Mal shook his head at him, Zoe asked the obvious. "Gone isn't she?" Mal nodded.
"Jayne and I are going after her wherever she went.. We know she's going to deal with Batrachian alone.. That's what we don't want..." Mal and Jayne grabbed their weapons and before heading out they heard Wash's voice on the comm.
"Um, captain.. You and Jayne better move quickly cause there's a sandstorm on its way.." Mal looked at Jayne who had his goggles on his head.
"Sandstorms here get pretty bad.. If we fly we end up crashin' so it's best to go on foot to find her.." Mal grabbed a pair out of one of the lockers and ran with Jayne out into the desert. Jayne pointed out Seska's foot prints in the sand seeing them stretch into the distance, there was no sign of her ahead. After five miles of walking Seska saw a retched building in the distance she whispered.
"I got you now asshole.." Meanwhile after a mile or so running Jayne and Mal were reduced to a fast walk, Jayne was quiet which bothered Mal. Jayne spoke up looking at his weapons and the set of tracks ahead.
"I hope she didn't get herself pinched by him.. Don't want anythin' happening to my girl.." Mal looked surprised when Jayne said that, to Mal Jayne spoke nothing but himself.
"I hope so too Jayne.." He looked pointedly at him. "She's not yours.. What makes you say that she's your girl?" Mal gave him a warning look.
"Didn't say she was.." Jayne squinted his eyes at him. "Somethin happen between you and my Seska?" Mal felt nervous.
"No..." He didn't look convinced.
"You lie... What did you do that I didn't know about?" Shit. Mal thought. He figured it out. I've gotta tell him the truth..
"Well, I have a thing for her.. We did make out.. But I didn't sleep with her.. Honestly.. Even when I wanted to.. I didn't.." Jayne raised his fist to strike Mal but he held himself back. Mal was surprised that he resisted to punch him, Jayne turned his back to him cussing aloud. Mal continued walking with Jayne who fell silent again. After another half an hour passed Jayne started to give a laugh.
"What's so funny?" Jayne just shook his head still laughing. "Out with it Jayne..." "When Seska and I first had sex... I was afraid to lay her... I was going to chicken out on her, but I didn't because I knew she wanted me, after working together for years.. God damn she's so beautiful, I couldn't let her down.. But after we did it, she laid in my arms cuddled close to my chest.. I knew from finding her till the time we first had sex... She was the one for me.." Mal looked at Jayne with wonder.
"I was scared too when we first kissed.. It's gotta be her looks women that pretty get me nervous.." Jayne laughed along with Mal, Jayne took a glance behind him and went.
"Uh we better move.. Looks like the gorram sandstorm finally caught up with us.." He pointed to the exact house Seska saw earlier " Her tracks lead up there.. We'd better hurry.." And started to run toward the house
Chapter. 17
The storm hit before Jayne and Mal made it on the porch steps. They looked around the old house which appeared to be two stories high. Jayne pulled out a flashlight and turned it on Mal also took out his as they walked peering in the poorly light house. Jayne was the first to walk inside once there was no sign of activity on the main and upper levels.
"Keep an eye out.. " He whispered to Mal.
"I'll take the upper levels.. You take the main and below floors.. " Pulling out his weapon Jayne nodded pulling out his gun. Slowly walking into the main living room finding documents about Seska and her family history. He knew to take those on the way out, he noticed some other files about other people that apparently went missing over the years. The lights gave a flicker and then soon stopped, Jayne saw some blood on the floor some that looked fresh and some that didn't, he swallowed feeling sick at the thought that it could be Seska's. Mal made his way up the stairs trying to avoid the ones that creaked. There were photographs that looked to be family members but some of the faces were scratched out. When he reached the top of the staircase there were three rooms to his left, he slowly made way into the first one smelling of rotted flesh. He flashed the light around seeing a body under the sheets of the bed, he walked up to the bed feeling sick peering under the covers at a dead woman. He gave a sigh of relief it wasn't Seska, the body was badly beaten and cut up. Mal walked out of the room and into the second one finding a desk facing the window he flashed a light into a box full of personal effects and next to it was a blue print of to Mal looked like an asylum. His attention moved toward the closet he opened it finding loads and loads of boxes poorly stacked with bones in them.
"Yeh so: te ma duh..." He whispered as he quickly walked out to search the third room, there was nothing but all sorts of torture tools and weapons. Some appeared to be missing, Mal was about to leave when everything went black. Jayne walked into the kitchen finding more blood splatter marks. He saw used blades on the old wooden table and the trail of blood that was on them. He walked to an open doorway leading the basement he walked down the stairs. When he reached the bottom he found out that the basement was much larger than the upstairs. There were two rooms that had locked doors with little windows to them he looked in the first one there was more blood tainted walls but no one was inside he walked to the second room peering inside he saw Seska laying on the table. Jayne took his gun out and fired at the lock and ran to Seska's side hopin she was still alive. She was in pretty bad shape she had several deep cuts on her arms and face. He touched her gently trying not to alarm her, she opened her eyes slowly jumping at his touch. He fended off her fists saying.
"Seska.. It's me Jayne. Let's get you out of here.." She gave a slow nod closing her eyes. Jayne felt his heart sink seeing her like this. He took off his coat placing it around her ripped shirt and pants. She wrapped her arms around him, he hugged her back tightly kissing the side of her head. "Lets get you home but first we got to get Mal..." He picked her up and off the table helping her walk out of the room. When they rounded to head for the stairs, there stood Batrachian with a blade to Mal's throat.
"Let the girl go... And I'll let your Captain go.." Jayne raised his gun to fire at him when Batrachian raised his knife closer to Mal. "Drop your gun.. Give her to me.. " Jayne dropped his gun, Seska looked at him. Jayne nodded for her to go to him.
"Go Seska... " His voice was flat, Seska shook her head at him looking into his eyes, which were trying to say 'trust me "Go on.." He gestured to Batrachian, she slowly walked towards him.
"That's a good girl.. Come to me.. " He pushed Mal roughly towards Jayne as Seska reached his side, he looked at her filled with sick lust. "Now give me a kiss Seska dear, for that I'm going to be your new husband.." Seska looked at Jayne's angered one and at Mal's pale face, then she looked back at Batrachian's. She tried to pull away he plunged the knife into her side, as she screamed in pain he took the advantage to make a deep kiss. When he pulled away he said "My dear I know when I plunged this knife into I just missed every major and important organ, but when I remove the knife IF you misbehave I'll let you die.. Do you understand me?" She tried to nod but that wasn't good enough for him he twisted the knife in her hearing her reply.
"I understand... Just let both of them go.. " She said hoarsely looking painfully at Jayne who had his arm behind his back. Batrachian shook his head at him.
"What kind of husband are you? If I had a choice I'd kill the man who took my wife.." Once he adjusted her around, Jayne in one swift motion pulled the gun out from his back and made a clean shot at Batrachian's head. Once he was down Jayne and Mal ran to shaken Seska who luckily still had the knife in her. Jayne picked her up and was about to place a kiss on her lips. She turned her head away from his. Jayne was about to drop her to the floor.
"Don't kiss me, I don't want him on you.." He felt relieved that he had his Seska back when they walked out of the house, the sandstorm had ceased. Mal carried the documents that Jayne told him to grab, while he carried his wounded wife. As they walked Jayne and Mal told her the stories they talked about on their way to get her.
"You know something Jayne? " He looked down at her giving a smile.
"Hmm?" She rested her head against his chest.
"I was scared too, I never thought I'd get someone as good looking as you for a husband.. I was afraid that you wouldn't like me.. " He gave her a confused look.
"You know our first night together.." She blushed at his statement
"Oh! Yeah... I was more afraid than you were.. Honestly..." Mal and Seska laughed. As they got on Serenity they took Seska to the med-bay to have the knife removed and patched up her wounds. Jayne and Mal held onto each of her hands as Simon removed the knife.
"On the count of three I'm going to pull the knife out.. Ok? One... Two... Three..." He yanked it out as Seska gritted her teeth squeezing onto Jayne's and Mal's hands. Once Simon stopped the bleeding and gave her some pain medication. Jayne took Seska into his bunk for the rest of the evening. He watched her brush her teeth and used the mouthwash. He gave a laugh watching her shake her head at him walking towards him, when she laid down Jayne leaned over her, passion in his eyes saying.
"Does this mean I get to kiss you now?" She giggled as he kissed her deeply, rolling on her hitting the lights.