Chapter.21

In the morning Jayne awoke alone in his room, Seska was no where the room. He stretched out as he got up, yawning putting on his pants and shirt. As he walked into the kitchen he saw his mother and Seska cooking breakfast for the rest of the family. He sat at the table when Seska turned from the oven to greet him with a plate of eggs & bacon along with a cup of coffee and a kiss. His mother smiled at the two as she was preparing a plate for her husband before he left for work. Matty was already up and out of the house to work at his at a friend's ranch. As Jayne's father came to eat breakfast all dressed for work, he greeted his wife and Seska with a kiss on the cheek, Jayne got a pat on the back and a smile from him.

"Morning how did you sleep?" As he started eating.

"Slept good... Am happy to be here..." Jayne said drinking his coffee.

"What do you have planned for today son?" He looked at Seska then at Jayne.

"Well I'd like to take Seska out for some more sight seein'..." He smiled at Seska; she had no idea what he had in store for her.

"That's good..." He looked at Seska "Like it here?" She nodded.

"This place is beautiful... I absolutely love it here..." When he was through eating he got up gave his good byes and left for work. After Jayne and Seska helped his mother clean up the kitchen and the regular house work. Jayne took Seska into his room to tell her of his plan for the day.

"What's on the agenda today Jayne?" She sat on the bed as he stood in front of her.

"I want to take you out to spring... Kinda hidden, it'll be just the two of us out there..." She smiled as she grabbed her bag pulling out her swimsuit, undressing in front of him.

"Spring huh? Sounds like fun..." When the suit was on she put on her clothes over it. Their walk to the lake was enjoyable; when Jayne knew the spring was a few feet ahead of them he gently covered her eyes with his hands. By the time he removed his hands Seska saw a breath taking spring in front of her. It had a reflection of the mountain behind the trees. Seska walked onto the small old pier setting down her and Jayne's towel. She took off her clothes and dove into the water, when she did the water was warm. When she surfaced Jayne was taking off his clothes, taking his time.

"This is nice... Now I really love it here..." She smiled at him, watching Jayne diving in the spring after her. He came up to the surface only a few inches from her taking her into his arms, trying not to pull her under the water.

"Knew you'd love this place. I'd do anything to make you happy..." She put her hand through his wet hair, looking into his eyes.

"This is a very romantic spot you brought me here to... Thanks..." He kissed her.

"I never brought anyone here before... There's no need for a thank you..." She kissed him again.

"I said it once and I'll say it again, you never cease to amaze me." He let her go swimming towards the pier as he sat on it, Seska swam up to him as he held out a hand to help her up as he did she took all her strength and
pulled him in with her. He came up surprised by her action and laughed with her giving a splash, when she retaliated. Jayne grabbed her arm bringing her to him in a passionate kiss, keeping one arm holding onto the pier. He picked her up and set her on the small dock. Seska looked at the clear sunny sky as Jayne pulled him up next to her.

"I live only to amaze you." He gave her a kiss before taking off his trunks and setting her under him. Seska felt join her making them one, her hands found his holding on to them as he moved above her. He leaned down for another deep kiss hearing her gasp under him and his slow hard movements. Jayne nuzzled his nose against hers, staring into her eyes before placing another kiss on her lips. Seska felt him come almost right before she did after what seemed like an eternity making love. When they started to get dressed, Jayne looked over at her with a curiously.

"Would you want to spend the rest of your life here?" She looked at him with a smile.

"Sure, having doubts?" He gave a shrug not sure what to decide for an answer.

"Yeah... I kinda grew attached to Serenity and everyone... What do you think?"

"Well I'm yours I'd follow you anywhere... But we'll get to those roads when we get there..." He leaned in for another kiss.

Chapter. 22

When it was time for Jayne and Seska to head back to Serenity, where Mal and the rest of the crew were waiting on another desert planet named Hell. Jayne helped her pack up the ship for the trip back to Serenity, Seska seated next to him as the ship lifted off...

"Ready to head back to work?" He gave a laugh.

"Yes, Serenity is waiting at Hell..." Seska gave a chuckle at the name.

"Hell, is that the name of the actual place?" He gave a nod still smiling.

"Yup, that's the name... My folks were sad to see you and I go..." He looked at her.

"Yeah I was sad to go as well... They really love you and Matty... "

"They were... When I was growing up, I helped around the house... Pay off bills, medication for Matty, the works..." She smiled at him.

"That's very nice of you Jayne... I'm sure no one would expect that you cared for your family so much..." He smiled at her.

"Good, I don't want them to know how sensitive I can be..." Seska laughed, while Jayne shot her a confused look.

"You don't want people to see you sensitive? It's a bit late for that... You married me, that am being sensitive..." He smiled at her.

"No, I just wanted to marry you..." He gave her a wink, as they entered the planet's atmosphere there was an alarm. Jayne looked at Seska then at the radar. He looked back at her.

"We got trouble..."

"Reavers?" He shook his head.

"Nope, some ship that just has a problem with us... They have weapons lock... Hang on to something; I'm going to out run them..." Seska strapped herself in as did Jayne. There were a few jerks of the shuttle, and then he tried the barrel roll to outwit them. Seska gripped tight to the arm rests of the seat; she looked over at Jayne who was focused flying.

"They're shooting us? And there was no warning..." She said as he answered with a nod.

"They are either bounty hunters or the feds... I'm not letting either get us..." There was another hit; this one caused a fire out in the back. Jayne looked at Seska who took off the straps and went to put out the fire; Jayne in the meanwhile tried to steady the ship. There was another hit blasting the door off, Seska grabbed a pipe to prevent her from falling into the rolling dunes below. Jayne looked over to see Seska hanging on and that the fire was put out. He called to her, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"SESKA! You got to get up here! I can't hold her anymore! We're going to crash!" Seska slowly made her way up, when another hit sent her out the door and plummeted on the sand dunes. Jayne looked over his shoulder to find her gone from sight. He turned white, there was another hit and everything went black.

Chapter. 23

Seska awoke feeling pain all over; she had the taste of blood in her mouth. She slowly sat up looking around dazed from the fall, there was no sight of Jayne nor the ship that was after them She put her hands on her head feeling the blood run from her nose and her mouth. She got slowly up almost falling down the sand dune, as she slowly regained her strength she started to walk. She looked around hoping to find debris of the fallen shuttle or Jayne if he evacuated the shuttle. Meanwhile, Jayne slowly regained consciousness he looked around feeling pain everywhere. There was a gash on his forehead from the impact, his legs felt numb along with his arms. Jayne took off the straps trying to stand but failed. He fell quickly to the floor, he looked at his legs they weren't broken badly bruised. He sat against the seat after hitting the distress button, it was busted. He felt sick to his stomach at the thought of never being found. Then the thought of Seska hit him, he put his head in his arms, then lying on the floor crying at the loss of Seska. His voice cracked through his sobs.

"Why? Why did I have to tell her to come up here by me? She would have lived if it weren't for me..." He got up and slowly made his way towards the doorway stumbling gaining more strength before he walked out a figure walked in with another man.

"Well, Isn't it Jayne Cobb I've looked everywhere for you ..." Jayne squinted in the light, it was Marco his last employer before Mal offered a better job. The other man was still Marco's sidekick for all these years; Jayne hadn't bothered to learn his name. Marco had a sneer on his face weapon drawn the same with the other, Jayne had no chance to jump them he'd be shot down in no time.

"What do you want Marco?" He said coldly ignoring the pain.

"Payback Jayne... I guess losing that other passenger wasn't enough... Same with the crash... Follow us..." Jayne didn't move at the order, his thoughts dwelled on Seska. Marco fired a warning shot by his foot; Jayne flinched then moved following Marco and the other guy behind him feeling the shotgun in his back. Seska fell up at the top of another sand dune, sleep and pain was starting to wear her out. After being in the sun was starting to burn into her skin and her bones ached telling her a sand storm was drawing near. She got up making her way down the dune tripping over a piece of the shuttle, she wiped the blood out of her eyes to see if there was anymore pieces left. She grew sick of the thought of her husband blown into parts. She continued to walk until another mile there was more debris scattered around the place, the sand storm caught up to her. She tried to run faster in the direction of the main area where the debris was, she started to have trouble breathing feeling the sand starting to build up in her mouth. Seska coughed placing her hand over her mouth trying to prevent the sand from suffocating her. As she climbed another dune she barely saw through the sand in her eyes the wrecked shuttle. Seska ran to it ignoring the pain and the sand thoughts on Jayne's condition, when she walked inside Jayne were nowhere to be found. She tried to make the distress signal to work, but it was useless she sat wiping the sand from her eyes and nose. Well I might as well sit here till the sand storm subsides. She thought to herself found Jayne's coat wrapping it around herself before falling asleep. Mal sat at the cargo hold waiting for Jayne and Seska to return. He looked at Zoe who looked worried.

"They are very late sir... Something must have happened..." Mal began to worry as well.

"Any sign of a distress signal?"

"Nope... If they were attacked there would be no time for one sir..." Mal sighed.

"It always seems to be those two getting into trouble..." Zoe nodded.

Jayne sat tied with his hands behind his back and his legs strapped together, he stared at Marco and the other eating chicken. Jayne was getting hungry and tired; Marco looked at his hungered look and tossed a bone at him to chew on giving a cruel laugh.

"There try eating that..." Jayne snarled back.

"I hope you choke you bastard..." Marco stopped laughing angrily he got up and punched Jayne hard enough to knock him out.

Chapter.24

Jayne lay on the ground out from Marco's blow, as he lay there sleep took a hold of him. He dreamt of home, the crew and his Seska, he remembered the time when she was all better and talking to Mal who offered a place to stay, with them. Jayne felt nervous when she hesitated to answer before agreeing, then he felt overcome with joy. He also remembers the time he walked in on her in the shower; Jayne knew she was in there. He saw her body before she turned and saw him; he paid dearly with the beating she gave to him. It was worth every second of her punches and slaps, he also thought of her and him together for the first time and how happy she made him feel. Now she was gone, he knew no one could survive a fall that far down. Meanwhile, Seska walked out of the shuttle there was nothing but clothes and a bottle of Jayne's whiskey. She started to drink to ease the pain; she tripped over some debris trying not to fall. Seska often wondered why Jayne had a bottle of whiskey with him along with his cigar. The sun had set and it was quickly to getting cold out, she zipped up Jayne's coat inhaling his smell. She sat against a part of the debris walking was becoming difficult. After for sitting for an hour there was a roar and a blast of wind the noise was strikingly familiar, it was Serenity looking for her lost crew. Seska tried to get up but failed, the doors opened and three figures came walking toward her. It was Mal, Zoe, and Simon, she smiled weakly as they spotted her with flashlights and came running toward her. Mal looked severely worried to see her battered figure, Simon checked on her while Zoe went inside to see if Jayne was there.

"Seska? What happened?" Mal asked definitely worried.

"We were flying to... meet you guys... but there was another ship... fired on us... there was a fire out in the back... went to put it out... then fell onto the sand dunes.." Seska started to sleep when Mal asked.

"Seska... Seska... Where's Jayne?" She looked at him dazed.

"Don't know... I thought I heard another ship... but I was out at the time..." Simon looked at Mal.

"We should get her inside, she's hurt badly..." Mal picked her up, while Zoe and Simon collected Seska and some of Jayne's bags. Jayne awoke to a sharp pain in his shoulder; he opened his eyes to find Marco digging a knife into his shoulder. Jayne gritted his teeth to the pain, trying to move away from Marco. Who yanked the knife out roughly laughing like a madman? Jayne felt the hot blood rush out of the open wound as he was dragged to a table
and thrown onto it. There was a flashback of Seska telling him the name of the planet... Hell, this place is hell... Marco smiled down at him holding the blood-soaked knife. Jayne knew what was next but he didn't want to say it or even think it. Marco jabbed the knife into Jayne's side grinding it deeper. Jayne let a cry of pain, but after his outburst was gagged so that
Marco could resume his work. Jayne closed his eyes hoping that either someone would save him or that death would come soon. Marco took out the knife slowly and was about to deliver another blow when a gunshot rang out Marco was the first to fall followed by the other one. Jayne looked weakly to see who had saved him; Mal looked down at his injured mercenary. Jayne was soon taken to Serenity with the help of Mal and Zoe. As they reached the med-bay, Jayne was laid on the table as Simon worked on his wounds. Jayne looked up at the ceiling thinking until something moved at the corner of his eye, he turned to see who it was there laid Seska smiling weakly at him. He could see the tears flowing down her face; he smiled back tearing up as well.

"Sesk..." His voice cracked through. She got up slowly coming to his side, leaning down to kiss him. Jayne felt her tears drop onto his face as she took his hand holding it tight. When his wounds sealed, he held Seska tight in his arms. "I thought I'd lost you..." She shook her head.

"It takes more than dunes to get rid of me... You know that..." He smiled taking her to his room. He realized that it was more spacey and that there was a bigger bed, plus his weapons were moved. He looked at her she was smiling at him; she knew what he was thinking.

"It's ok... They are in the other room... Their safe with mine... Don't worry..." He calmed down sitting on the bed; he noticed that her stuff was in his room. He pulled her to his arms kissing her.

"I'm happy that you're alive, all I did was thinking of you while I was down." She snuggled closer to him.

"I was worried sick..." He looked down at her giving her another deep kiss.

"I love you Sesk..."

"I love you too Jayne..."