She Always did Love to Dance
AN: Thank you so much for your reviews everyone. They mean a lot to me.
PART 3
Jayne had just finished brushing River's hair when he heard movement out on the couch. Jayne looked out and saw Simon looking back in, not at him, but at River. From the look on his face, he was now realizing that none of it had been just a bad dream. Simon got up and walked slowly into the room. He looked at River, taking in the dress, the clean and brushed hair and the hand that Jayne was holding.
"How long?"
The question surprised Jayne, but he knew exactly what the doctor was asking. "It really began 'bout five months ago, but things have been different since Miranda"
Simon nodded, never taking his eyes off River's face. "About five months?"
"Five months, one week, two days, and eleven hours."
Simon nodded again. "She's beautiful," he placed his hand on her cheek, "thank you . . . she looks like she could just be sleeping."
On the last word, Simon's voice broke and he collapsed onto the stool beside the bed, burying his face in his arms on the bed beside her as he cried.
Jayne quietly left, giving Simon time to say goodbye. He also had to clean himself up. His skin crawled at the idea of spending another second covered in the blood that she had been covered in. He rushed to the showers, scrubbing harshly with the rough soap that could get through anything- grease, gunpowder . . . blood.
His skin was raw when he finished, but he didn't care. Now his outside matched how his inside felt. That was when he realized he hadn't stopped to get clean clothes from his bunk.
Oh, screw it, he thought, wrapping the towel around his waist. He pulled open the door and there was Zoe, another bundle in her hand. This time, it was his clothes.
He took them and gave a grunt of acknowledgment when she told him, "We'll be landing on Haven in a little over a day."
Jayne closed the door and quickly dressed. He went to his bunk to put away his weapons, he could take care of them later, he had done enough cleaning for today.