Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all.
Reviews: Feedback very welcomed and appreciated
Timeline: Takes place during Safe, only this time Jayne gets snatched
Pairings: Jayne/ River, naturally; Zoe/ Wash
Lying in bed with River in his arms, Jayne came to the realization that he had done something he'd never done before. He'd sexed a woman he cared about, she wasn't someone to just scratch that itch that struck so very often. In his youth he cared about the girls he sexed, but he was just a boy. But since he grown into a man, no woman ever touched that part reserved for family or friends.
"What did we do?" He asked no one, really. He just knew his life had changed forever with this coupling.
Catching her breath, River giggled. "We had incredible sexual intercourse."
He laid his forehead against hers and chuckled. "Yeah, that we did." And I am so humped, he thought.
River pushed off the mercenary and looked questioningly into his eyes. "You didn't ask?"
Jayne was puzzled. "Ask what?"
"If I'd ever had sexual intercourse before." She stated.
She felt Jayne shrug. "Didn't think 'bout it. Ain't none of my business anyway."
"So, it wouldn't bother you? If I weren't a virgin?" River asked.
Feeling very confused, Jayne shook his head. "Why should that matter? I sure as hell ain't. Actually, I'm just glad I didn't hurt you all that much."
River smiled up at her mercenary. "Oh." She scooted up and kissed Jayne on the nose. He was not like the boys she remembered from her youth. "Are we done?" Her brow furrowing with the question.
Jayne chuckled deeply. "No sweetheart, not for a very long time." He gave her a feral grin as he ran his hands over her body, knowing that he didn't just mean tonight.
Jayne and River entered the sick room together, hands inter-twined. Simon looked up and squinted at the couple, he noticed something was different, but just couldn't put his finger on it.
"Umm, hi." He was uncomfortable, but again, just couldn't figure out why and if he were honest with himself, he didn't want to know. Anyway, time to begin the plan. He looked over at Doralee then back to his sister and Jayne.
"Well, I'm afraid things are looking a bit grim." He cast his glance at two children that were in the sick beds.
"What is it doc?" Jayne asked. "Just a couple a sick kids, they get sick all the time."
"This isn't just a common ailment Jayne, as I told you, none of these children have been inoculated. I'm afraid it's pertussis and we just don't have the supplies we need. I'd hate to see these children start dying off."
Doralee had over heard most of the conversation and came over to the trio. "What's wrong with our children?" She asked, deep concern in her voice.
"Whooping cough, Doralee." River answered. "Virtually extinct on core planets, but with the lack of proper medical care, it can run rampant in a small village like this. Children are most susceptible, but adults who have not been immunized also run the risk of infection."
"Oh my dear lord. What we gonna do?" She turned to Simon. "You gotta do something doctor."
"There's only so much I can do without the proper drugs Doralee." He had sadness in his voice. Good job Simon, Jayne thought. "But I have an idea, as I said yesterday, Jayne knows where there are medical supplies in the town, perhaps…" He held his thoughts, allowing Doralee to pick up on it.
"Yes, yes. Jayne can go into town and get them for us." She turned to the big man. "You can, can't you?"
He shrugged. "I 'spose I could, but don't know if your folk here'll let me."
Doralee was nodding and moving about the room. "Well, of course they will. Someone will go with you, show you how to get back. But of course." She turned back to them. "I'll go to the Patron at once." She was out the door in an instant.
Simon turned to Jayne. "That went well. Do you think Serenity will be close to us yet?"
River smiled. "They're close, just not sure where to start." She leaned into Jayne. "Jayne will save us." He put his arm around the girl.
"Yeah, we'll be alright. Ifn' the girl here says their about, then once I wave 'em, we'll be here by tonight, I'm thinkin'." He took River by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Now, remember what I told you before? You stay clear and you stay quite. You stay here with Simon and wait for me. Dong ma?"
River rolled her eyes. "Yes Jayne, I understand. I'll be here with Simon. Don't think they'll let me go anywhere else until you get back anyway."
Simon was at the window when he saw Doralee returning with the Patron and another man. Turning to his sister and Jayne, he took a deep breathe. "Here they come, get ready."
"Listen girl." Jayne was strapping on the backpack that was provided for his trek into town. "You take mind of what I told you, dong ma? Be careful while I'm gone. And stay away from that hun dan, Caleb."
River pursed her lips up at him. "She knows, she knows. You've only told her seven times in the past 32 minutes. She will be the best she can." Wrapping her arms around his waist, she whispered into his chest. "Please hurry back, our newness will be missed and I'm fearful her Jayne-bear will have a change of heart and prefer I not occupy his bed. She, I function so much better with her, my Jayne." She rubbed her cheek against him.
Jayne looked uncomfortably up at Simon, who had one eyebrow cocked at him. "Yeah girl, be good and I'll be back right soon." He leaned down to her ear. "One night ain't enough, you got no worries on that. But I reckon your brother and Mal'll have more 'n a few words to say on you sharin' my bed."
She shrugged. "Can't stop the tides my Jayne."
"Alright, enough of the good byes. You'll be seein' your little woman tomorrow. Let's get goin' 'fore more of the children come down with the whoop." Strider strung his gun over one shoulder. "Know I don't need to tell you nothin', but if you try anything your girl'll pay for it."
"No need to threaten, know what I need to do." Jayne groused as he turned to go.
"Jayne, wait." River called out as she ran to him. She jumped up, his arms naturally opening to catch her. "Need to make you remember." She kissed him deeply, Jayne responding in kind and kissing her back with as much adore.
"Girl, you're gonna get me shot." He whispered against her lips.
River just raised and eyebrow and allowed herself to be set back on the ground. "Hurry back."
Jayne nodded, a little dazed by her public display. "Yeah, no worries." He looked over at Simon and gave a small shrug as he waved. The look said volumes. The mercenary was hooked. Simon knew he should be upset, outraged even, but he also knew his sister. At least the sister of his youth. Whatever River Tam wanted, River Tam got. And it appeared his sweet mei mei had set her young sights on an much older, world weary mercenary and got him. He shook his head, Jayne had no idea what he was in for should he decide to take his sister up on her plans.
River took her bother's arm. "Thought you would be much more emotionally disrupted by this." There was a puzzled look on her face. "Calculated the various outcomes dependant on the individuals involved and this was not one of them. How could my interpretations be so erroneous?"
Simon burst out laughing. "Oh mei mei, with all the twists and turns our lives have taken I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm just relieved you made a calculated move that didn't involve any smoothers or emotional breakdowns. As for you and Jayne? Ask me again when we are back on Serenity and I have the crew to back me up." He turned with his sister and returned to the sick house to nurse the 'infected' children.