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 hoping 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.
Chapter. 18
After a couple of weeks since the incident at Batrachian's place, Seska sat the table looking at the documents on her family and other things that were related to her. She continued to read unknowingly that Jayne sat next to her; he tried to look over her shoulder to see what she was reading and accidentally bumped into her. Seska looked up at him puzzled and a bit amused at his curiosity.
"Hey there handsome... Would you like to read some of these?" He shook his head.
"Am not good at big words... Only a few of them but not all..." She took his hand.
"It's ok... There's no one here to laugh at you..." Jayne gave a snort when she winked at him.
"You'll laugh at me when I screw up..." Seska got up and sat in his lap kissing his nose then forehead.
"Don't give me that... I don't laugh at you..."
"Yes you do... It's like the big words in your diary..." He put his hand over his mouth once the sentence was out. "Uhh..." She gave him a glare.
"You were reading my stuff behind my back? Jayne Jesse Cobb... You know better not to do that..." He gave her sad eyes when he knew he was in trouble.
"Ssshh, not so loud... I don't want everyone findin' out my middle name..." He looked down at the floor. "Sides I don't go sayin your middle name Kendra..." Mal walked in with a few letters when he heard Seska say.
"Oh don't you worry Jesse..." Seska looked at Mal and then at Jayne who turned red"Jayne..." She got into her chair Jayne crossed his arms and returned her glare.
"Jayne Jesse Cobb... You have a letter..." He set it by him ignoring his gaze.
"Stow it Mal..." He looked at Seska who had her hand over her mouth covering her laughs. "Thanks Kendra... "He opened his letter reading it to himself. Seska looked at Mal going through everyone's letters and putting
them aside opening his mail. Jayne spoke up when she looked at him.
"Mother wants to see you Sesk... I've told her and the rest of my family about our relationship... What do you think Mal?" He looked up at his Mercenary and said.
"Well we have a small job to but I can take Zoe instead of you... You have a week to get there and have a few days to stay there... Is that ok with you?" Jayne nodded taking Seska into his arms.
"A week will do just fine... Shall we take the spare shuttle?" Mal nodded getting up.
"A week it is... Just stay out of trouble... Ok?" Jayne and Seska nodded.
"Good..." He gave a nod and left.
Chapter. 19
Seska was finishing packing for the trip, she was nervous about meeting Jayne's family. Jayne came down to her bunk to see if she was all set to go, he had one of those smiles on his face.
"All set?" He sat on her bed watching her finish.
"Mmhm is there anything I should be aware of before we leave?" She looked up into his shining blue eyes.
"Well do you have somethin to swim in? There's somethin I'd like to show when we get there..." He gave her a wink before giving her a kiss.
"You never cease to amaze me..." When they took off of Serenity and towards Jayne's birth planet Seska was still unsure of meeting his family.
"Are you sure there isn't anything I should know? I don't want to give them the wrong impression..." Jayne shook his head before answering then looked at her.
"Nope just be yourself... That's all..." When they landed the shuttle outside a very small town, Jayne paid some small amount of money for the shuttle to be watched while they were away. Seska activated a lock down on the shuttle so it wouldn't be broken into. She walked toward Jayne who was over by a ranch looking at some horses petting one nearby.
"We all set?" The owner of the ranch came over towards them when Jayne answered her.
"Just got to pay for the horse we'll use to get to my place ..." Jayne paid for the horse as the man left and came back with a pale white horse with some grey spots on it.
"This here's Moonshine; she's built for a long ride even around rough terrain..." As Jayne attached Seska's and his backpacks, Seska asked him.
"How long is the ride? Is she going to be able to hold the two of us on there? "Jayne gave her an annoyed look.
"What's with the entire questions girl? That's all you've been doing is askin' questions... Somethin's botherin you?" He said helping her onto Moonshine then getting behind her wrapping his arms around her to take hold of the rings.
"Well I'm just scared... That's all..." She felt his hand rubbed her shoulder and a kiss on her cheek, rested up against his massive chest he smelled like sweat and steel.
"I'm a bit scared too... If that helps. I haven't seen my folks in quite some time now... Always kept in contact through letters..." After a while of riding Seska was soon asleep in Jayne's arms. Jayne brushed Seska's hair from the side of her ear and whispered waking her gently.
"We're here darlin'... We're home..." Seska slowly awoke to a small cabin like house with a barn about a few feet away from it. When they pulled up to the house Jayne's mother walked out of the front door smiling at her eldest son.
"There's my boy..." Jayne after helping Seska down went to give his mother a hug "You look wonderful since the last time I saw you..." He smiled as Seska slowly came to his.
"Mother I'd like to meet the woman I've been tellin' you about... This is my wife Seska..." She gave a smile as his mom gave her a hug.
"My Jayne has been telling me how much you have made him happy these past years... I'm pleased that he's found a nice girl such as you keepin' him company." Jayne smiled at hearing his mother's words. His mother was a bit short with ashy brown hair placed up in a bun wearing a loose floral dress; she didn't look at all old as what Jayne had said on the way to the house. She turned and called.
"Matty! Matty Cobb! Your brother is finally here!" Matty walked out of the house he looked like a spitting image of Jayne but an inch smaller than Jayne plus he had more of less toned figure. Jayne walked up to his brother giving him a huge bear hug, laughing at his cries of 'Stop' then letting him go. His mom introduced him to Seska.
"This is Seska, Jayne's girl he's been telling us about... Seska this is Matty as you know my youngest boy, he suffered from damp lung. Jayne has been sending money over to help him get better. Isn't that right Matty?"
Matty looked impressed about Jayne's wife said.
"Why do you get all the pretty ones?" Jayne laughed as Seska blushed by his remark after hugging him. Jayne's mother invited them inside their country like home and into Jayne's room. His room was quite roomy with a nice window view of the canyon out in back. He set the bags down by the closet as Seska layed on his bed. His mom stopped in to announce that the father of the house hold would be home for supper. Jayne laid on the bed with Seska on his chest.
"Well what do you think? All the worry for nothin'..." He felt her nod after pulling herself up to his face giving him a kiss.
"Yeah all the worry about nothing... I like it here..."
Chapter. 20
When the afternoon wore off into the evening Jayne's father came home. He walked inside the house he was greeted by Jayne's mother and younger brother. His mother called Jayne in the living room to see his father and show him Seska.
"Ah, there's the oldest... Welcome back home son." He gave his son a fatherly hug. "So where's the woman you've been telling your mother... She's been driving me crazy about you coming home with her." Jayne turned and allowed Seska to see his father. He was a tall handsome man with bold features; she can tell who Jayne got most of his looks from.
"Father this is my wife Seska..." He wrapped his arms around her lovingly before she shook his father's hand.
"Well, aren't you a pretty thing... My boy treating you well?" He had a warm smile on his face, Seska couldn't help but blush.
"Yes, he has been treating me well. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be around..." Jayne leaned over and gave her a kiss, clearly touched by her words.
"What makes you say that?" His father looked curiously at her.
"It's a long story... But to make it short a few years ago before we met I was jumped and stabbed a few times, your son found me and here I am..." Jayne's father gave a sigh.
"What's this world comin' to? People jumping women and leavin' them for dead... It's a shame... Well, my boy knows best to treat women... If he didn't treat them right I'd whip him..." Seska smiled tried not to laugh at his father's closing statement. Yup Jayne is most like his father she thought. He wrapped an arm around Jayne giving him a slight hug. When supper was served Matty asked Seska
"So when are we going to meet your family?" Seska and Jayne both stopped eating, she looked at Matty then at Jayne and said.
"I lost my family during the war... Am sorry that I didn't bring that up sooner... "She looked down feeling Jayne's hand on hers rubbing it softly.
"It's ok sweetie... Don't be ashamed..." Jayne's mother said to her, after supper Jayne and Seska helped mother Cobb clean up they took a walk out into the woods and into a rocky hill side overlooking a river. There was a beautiful sunset over the river bend, Jayne helped her onto a high ledge and sat down feeling the sun warm his skin.
"It's pretty out here Jayne, you're lucky to have grown up here..." He touched her arm pulling her closer to him, kissing her head.
"I'd like to talk about us." Seska looked him worried by his words "No not like that... We're fine..." She rested in his arms after he said that.
"So what exactly did you want to talk about when you meant us?" He stretched out sitting against the rock behind him bringing her with him.
"Well, I was told by my parents that when they pass away that the house is ours... I'm sure Matty will be off on his own... And I've been thinkin' that when we do get the house... I'd like to have kids... That's if you want to... Cause I kinda want to have a few..." He fell silent looking at the scenery below them; Seska was surprised at his words. She never thought she'd hear those kinds of words from him. She kissed him slowly feeling his arms tightened around her.
"I like that idea Jayne... I want to have kids with you... But you know something... I've been dreaming of having kids with you since the day we married... "He smiled at her hugging her close to him.
"Same here I've been dreaming about settling down with you and taking care of our children together..." She nuzzled his chest.
"You know something Jayne?" He looked at her "I once thought before we started going out that we wouldn't get this far... That it'd be over no sooner than it started... But now I know that's not true, we continue to go further than I expected..." Jayne smiled at her; she was so beautiful to him. He kissed her holding onto her with all his might.
"From the moment we were married, I had a feeling that we would grow old together..." He helped her to her feet and down the rocky terrain when it grew dark out. When they got home half of the house were already asleep, Jayne got into bed waiting for Seska to join him when she did he was overwhelmed with happiness as he held her in his arms. Seska kissed him goodnight before cuddling up to him.
"Love you Jayne..." He gave her another kiss wrapping around her protectively.
"Love you too Sesk..."