Disclaimer: The wonderful characters and the good ship Serenity all belong to Joss Whedon, or Mutant Enemy, or Fox, or whoever actually owns them, and that person or entity is definitely not me. Written for amusement purposes only. No copyright infringement intended or implied.
Rating: T, with rough language warning. May go up for later chapters.
Summary: Eight months after Miranda, the crew of Serenity still struggles to adapt to the "new normal." Constructing, and deconstructing, moments of her life, River attempts to assimilate her new and sometimes painful feelings for Jayne. - - Rayne, but will touch on other relationships. Post-BDM, of course.
Chapter 15: The Gathering
The Waarf brothers had been the first to arrive: all three of them tall, husky towheads with friendly, open faces and placid blue eyes. The eldest, Miles, captained their father's old ship, the Daland. Their father, Erik, had been Mal's lance-jack at Serenity Valley. The three boys had kept in contact with Mal ever since he'd delivered their father's final letter and personal effects after the war.
The younger two, Reginald and Beverly, were standing slightly behind Miles as he chatted with Kaylee and Inara. Reg was thinking envious thoughts about what it must be like to have so many attractive women as passengers and crew. Beverly, slightly younger than River, was wondering whether or not there was going to be any food because they'd rushed through dinner to get here and he was still hungry. When he caught sight of Jayne coming down the stairs, though, his face lit up.
"Hey, Jayne!" He waved with a big grin. "I brought it!" He held up a large instrument case.
"Hey, Bev," Jayne acknowledged him, nodding briefly. He carried Hob's cradle to a darkened corner, as far as possible from the grouping of crates that Mal and Simon were arranging in the middle of the space while still remaining in sight. Beverly followed him, smiling diffidently at River as he passed her.
"I remember you said the other night that we could try pickin' out a few tunes together if we ever got my banjo and your guitar in the same place." The youth said eagerly. "D'you think we might?"
"Sure, if there's time," Jayne replied easily. Mal beckoned him over to help with the crates, and Jayne paused to tug on the work gloves that had been half-stuffed in his back pocket. "Why don't ya put your case down and give us hand here?"
"Okay." Glad to be doing something, Bev propped the banjo case against the wall and the four men worked quickly and efficiently together to create a rounded seating section.
River was highly amused by the blatant hero-worship radiating from the younger man. She wondered how and when he and Jayne had gotten to know each other so well. She noticed a new arrival with curiosity.
Zoë was standing near the ramp, talking to the thin, dark-skinned man with an eyepatch who'd just walked up – Alexander Kehlar. She introduced him to Miles, Reg, Kaylee and Inara. He was shyly in awe of Inara – he had never met a real Companion before.
River drifted over toward Simon, who was wiping off his hands on his handkerchief.
"I thought you were sleeping. Did Jayne wake you up?" Simon asked, casting an annoyed glance at the mercenary, eager as always to paint him as the culprit.
River couldn't prevent the secretive smile that crossed her face. "No…I just decided to come down and meet some folk."
Simon stared at her, a little puzzled and wondering if she was feeling all right, before his attention was jerked away by a shout.
"Sarge!" A very tall, very husky woman bellowed as she made her way up Serenity's ramp, grinning widely, her closely shorn white hair tinted yellow in the amber light of the setting sun. "And god's giddy pants, it's Zoë and her young 'un! I could not believe it when Mal here told me that you'd had a yourself a baby, corporal." Tasha Kane marched in and began pounding Mal on the back with overly enthusiastic affection, looking over his shoulder at Zoë and Hob. "Let me say hello to these folks then I'm gonna come over there and get me some sweet baby love."
Zoë's arms tightened around Hob in apprehension.
"Tickled to see you again, Tash," Mal gave a strained smile, standing up valiantly against the forceful blows. "Since I'd almost healed up from the last time."
"And Jayne! You son of a bitch! Thought you'd still be drunk under a rock somewhere after that night out, you mule!" She moved to Jayne, who wisely held up his fists, inviting Tasha to give him knuckles, hoping to ward off the friendly abuse that Mal had suffered through. She cracked her fists against his, driving him back slightly, and even with the gloves on Jayne's teeth snapped together as he grimaced in pain.
"Hey… there…Tasha," he said in a stilted voice, trying to shake out his hands without being too obviously wimpy about it.
River had to smile. Tasha was all gruff amiability as she greeted the Waarf brothers, actually grabbing Bev in a headlock and roughing up his hair. Her thoughts were as plain as day. She was happy to see her old army pals, excited about the job and the big payout, feeling that finally something was going to go right for her little crew. Even better, she was remembering the last time they'd gotten together, sending flashes of that night after Badger's meeting…Jayne had been playing tall card and getting drunk with Tasha's crew and the Waarf brothers…giving Beverly sage guidance on how to kick the shit out of anyone who made fun of his name…not a single whore in sight. River's smile widened into an elated beam. He wasn't a rat after all, just a drunken mule, to coin Tasha's phrase. No wonder he'd been confused and resentful by her aggrieved attitude toward him.
"Nice to meet you, Kaylee," Tasha was saying. "Now lemme at that precious child," Tasha strode over toward Zoë and the baby. Zoë stared at her coldly.
When Tasha ignored the implicit warning in Zoë's eyes and reached out for Hob with overeager hands, Zoë spoke out. "He ain't a plaything. You touch my baby with those big rough paws of yours and I'll shoot you where you stand." Her tone was matter-of-fact, deadly and sincere.
Tasha froze for a moment, and then let out her big braying laugh. "Lord bless me, motherhood ain't softened you none, sir!"
"And nine plus years out ain't made you any more gentle-like, either, Tash," Zoë allowed herself a small grin. "That was good for my fireteam back then, but bad for my infant son now."
"Can't I hold 'im?" Tasha sulked, her light eyes pleading, looking longingly at the baby.
"Maybe later, if you… sit very still… in a chair," Zoë offered unwillingly, as if talking to a particularly obnoxious child.
Inara coughed to conceal her laugh, and Tasha looked her over with interest.
"Ain't you a swanky thing. I know she didn't come with you, Al, so are ya Mal's passenger, crew or bit a trim?"
Inara's eyebrows lifted, and her voice was a little cool.
"None of the above. I rent a shuttle from Captain Reynolds."
"Miss Inara Serra is a registered Companion, Tasha," Alexander informed the older woman with respect in his voice.
Tasha blinked, surprised.
"Companion, huh? You got business over at the hotel? I heard Shu ran all his own whores." Without even pausing to see the effect of her words, she turned to River. "And who's this little sliver of ink?"
"This is River, our pilot," Zoë said carefully. The Tams were no longer assigned a fugitive status, but no one was comfortable giving full disclosure as of yet.
"Pilot? Ha! Pilot a what, the dollhouse? How old can you possibly be, darlin'?" Tasha demanded, chuckling loudly.
"Old enough," River answered with a quirky smile, torn between feeling offended and amused. The woman was even rougher and blunter than Jayne, and that was saying something.
Tasha laughed again in appreciation. "Old enough! She's a sharp one. And this fancy gent?"
"Simon." Simon offered a hand politely, and had it wrenched around as his reward.
"He's our medic," Zoë looked ruefully at Simon, silently apologizing for both the decrease in status and the hand-mangling.
"Pilot, medic, mechanic, now all's ya need is a cook, Mal, and you'll be in clover!" Tasha shouted over at the captain.
"You volunteerin', Tash? Although I don't think we could afford to keep replacin' the dishes. Hey, Monty!" Mal caught sight of the big, hairy man as he trundled up the ramp. The captain went to greet them with a wide smile.
"Malcolm, good to see ya again," said Monty. "Twice in nearly as many days – we're practically livin' in each other's pockets." He shook Mal's hand gladly, but his attention was drawn to Zoë and the baby.
"Zoë Allayne," He came up to her and enveloped both mother and child in a gentle hug. "Mal let me know what happened to your man. I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am."
Zoë nodded against his shoulder, giving a tremulous smile.
Monty backed away, looking down in fascination at the baby cradled in her arms. Hob was fully awake now and staring up with curious eyes at this large presence looming over him. Monty leaned in to see him better, and one of Hob's erratically moving little fists grasped Monty's scraggly beard and gave it a tug, much to Monty's delight.
"Oh, we got a cunning one here…what's this little one's name?"
"Hoban Washburne, Jr., after his daddy. We call him Hob for short." Zoë rocked the baby gently, preening under Monty's obvious adoration.
"Well, any blood kin of yourn is a grace in the world." Monty blinked back the tears in his eyes, his words heartfelt. "Hello, little Hob." He touched the baby's cheek and Hob gave a gummy smile, cooing in return.
"You always could charm the birds out of the trees when you put your mind to it, Monty," Zoë laughed, touched. "Let me introduce you to some of our crew. This is Kaylee, our mechanic."
"Pleased to meet ya, Monty. I heard so much about ya!" Kaylee held out her hand but Monty bypassed that and swept her up in a big bear hug.
"Little Kaylee! The genius mechanic! That captain a yours is always gloating about how ya keep this old boat in the air with nothin' but spit and a promise. You ever get tired of Serenity, you come find me, you hear?"
Kaylee blushed and bit her lip as he set her back down. "I'll never get tired of Serenity."
"And this is River…our pilot…and Simon, our bones, and you know Jayne over there."
"How d'do?" Monty gave a slight bow in River and Simon's direction and waved at Jayne.
"And this is Inara, she rents one a Serenity's shuttles."
"Hello, Monty. I am very happy to make your acquaintance." Inara came forward, and held out her hand. River could feel how much she liked Monty already, having been impressed by his tenderness with Zoë and Hob. Inara knew from Mal's stories that Monty was his favorite amongst the survivors of the war. She wanted to like him, and more importantly, she wanted him to like her.
"Miss Inara, you are a nü ren cong xing," Dazzled, Monty bent over her fingers in an old-fashioned gesture of obeisance, which charmed Inara to no end. She looked over at Mal with delight, an approving smile curving her perfect mouth.
Trying to conceal his pleasure at her approbation, Mal cleared his throat. "Now that we're all acquainted, who wants a drink?"
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Reg Waarf thought she was very pretty. River felt him staring at her, thinking about her shiny dark hair, and how gracefully she'd seated herself on the crate, and how long it had been since he'd seen a woman's naked foot, and how much he'd like to see more female nakedness in general. He was trying to decide whether or not he was bold enough to take the vacant crate next to her. As the others started claiming their places he realized he had to decide quickly. He screwed up his courage and approached. Just as he turned to ease himself down, Jayne came up from behind them and yanked the crate out of formation, saying, "Hey, Reg, this un looks a little rickety for a man your size. Why don't ya sit over there, and I'll get a new one."
"Oh, sure," Reg blinked, and moved away awkwardly.
Jayne rolled his eyes with a "too easy" shake of his head. He kicked the very same crate back into position, stepping over it and settling down with a satisfied smirk. He put his cup of hooch on floor between his feet and sat forward with his elbows resting loosely on his thighs.
River's senses jumped in pleasure. To the casual observer it might have seemed that he was just too lazy or too arrogant to walk around to the other side, but River didn't think so. He had actually, deliberately, chosen to sit next to her. Or even more exciting, he had seen Reg looking at her and fully intended to prevent the other man from having the chance to talk to her. What did it all mean? River couldn't help her little shiver of anticipation.
Jayne lifted his drink and took a healthy swallow, as if none of this was the least bit unusual. From the corner of her eye, a fascinated River watched the strong, rhythmic movement of the smooth muscles in this throat. A primary peristaltic wave, an unremarkable, everyday action, yet the sight of it made the back of her neck heat up and the pit of her stomach feel wobbly. She wondered why it was always the most mundane things he did that made her want him so much.
As he lowered the cup he tilted his head toward her slightly, and caught her glance. His blue eyes were full of secret laughter, pleased with himself over his little ruse involving Reg. He winked at her conspiratorially, just a flicker of an eyelid, drawing her in, inviting her to share his amusement. River pressed her lips together, trying to stifle a grin of her own, and happiness surged through her. Sharing a private joke, another mundane experience, but not for them. At least, not until now.
Feeling incredibly daring, River shifted nonchalantly so that she was leaning toward him.
"You're a naughty man, Jayne Cobb," she murmured teasingly, for his ears alone.
His deep chuckle caused a thrill to run from her scalp to her bare toes. He eased over a few inches in her direction, turning his head just enough to obscure the movement of his mouth, and answered in a seductively low undertone.
"Startin' to conjure you like me 'cause I am a naughty man."
Suddenly boneless, River had to catch herself before she almost slid right off the crate.
&&&&&&
Chinese:
nü ren cong xing – goddess from the stars
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A/N: Cookies for you, BlueEyedBrigadier! I forgot to mention I got my B5 references in the titles, lol! Gem