Carving Out a Future

By: Dreamfall

Summary: Her crew doesn't know that Serenity's new passenger, a carpenter with an 'unusual upbringing', is a relic from the past. And Xander's not looking for trouble. Then again, neither are they. Not usually, leastwise. It just tends to come calling anyway. Gen. Canon couples mentioned, but definitely not the focus of the story.

Written for: NaNoWriMo and TTH100: Xander/Firefly

TTH100 prompt: 071-River

Rating: FR13/PG13/T

Disclaimer: I own neither Firefly nor BtVS.

Spoilers: Takes place post Season 7 for Buffy, and post-Objects in Space (and post the comic books, for that matter), but pre-Serenity for Firefly.

Author's Note: This is the story I started in November for NaNoWriMo. I'm thirty or so chapters into it, but since there's going to be at least one hundred chapters (since it's for tth100, too), they're mostly pretty short. If you're coming from this from my HP fanfics-- it's very different. Way less dark. It's also an incredibly fun story to write, and I do intend to continue with it to its conclusion. And no, it's not taking any real time away from Cat, now that I'm not working obsessively on it, like I was in November. I'll be posting every couple/few days at least till I'm caught up with my livejournal (username dreamfall(underscore)nnwm). Hope you enjoy!

Review Response: Responses to any reviews will be posted in the same livejournal as my other review responses-- username dreamfall(underscore)ff.

Chapter Thirteen
Quiet

Xander sat at the bench, carefully smoothing a rough spot on the table leg he was working on. The curve wasn't completely symmetric, and there were a few points where he could still feel the angles of individual cuts, although they were nearly invisible to the eye. By the time he was finished with it, it would be perfectly clean, perfectly smooth, if all went well. He quickly lost himself in the grain of the wood, the curve of the lines, enjoying how it slowly came together. Finally, he sat up, twisting his head to release the kinks in his neck, and was startled to realize just how stiff he was. He'd been working here longer than he realized. Looking over towards his clock, he noticed that River was sitting quietly on the floor, eyes locked on him, a hint of a smile on her lips. He hadn't seen her come in, but he wasn't surprised. She had a standing invitation and enjoyed watching him work for some reason.

"Hey," he said softly, rising to his feet and brushing curls of wood from his lap. A quick glance showed nothing bad enough that he'd have to change before eating. Serenity didn't exactly require evening wear.

She shook her head, looking up and smiled back. "All done?"

"For today, yeah. I'll probably do some more tomorrow. I'd like to get this done before our next landfall."

"Don't want the captain replacing the table before you can?" she asked with a smile.

"That's about it," he agreed, a bit surprised at how clearly she was speaking. Usually she couldn't get across anything quite that long that made sense to anyone but herself. At least not without a lot of interpretation. He left the curtained off side of the shuttle that housed his workshop and moved into the small bathroom, not closing the door so he could continue chatting with River while he washed off his hands and face.

"He wouldn't anyway. Replacing things that don't stop us from flying isn't a good use of money, he says."

"Yeah? Well, I'd still rather get it done. Wanna see if the others are eating? I worked later than I meant to."

She nodded, skipping ahead of him as he left the shuttle and headed for the dining room.

Simon met them part way, his worried expression clearing as he caught sight of River. "There you are! I was beginning to worry!"

She laughed at him, and passed by without stopping.

Xander smiled apologetically. "Sorry about that. She was watching me work and I lost track of time. I guess she did too."

"It's okay," Simon said slowly, eyes measuring the other man. "It was just enough time that I was starting to be a bit concerned."

"Yeah, I get that," Xander agreed. "Little sisters are one of those things you worry about and protect." He paused a moment, then said seriously, "She's in no danger from me."

Simon nodded, but his frown didn't clear. "I've seen no sign that she would be."

"And I have no proof that she isn't. I know. I'm starving," he added, serious tone vanishing as he opened the door went into the dining room to find everyone else already well into their meals. Even Wash was already eating, and he was almost always late.

"Sorry we're late," he apologized for River and himself both. "Lost track of time while I worked."

"How come she's always watchin' you?" Jayne asked. "She's never been so intent on watchin' nothin' before."

Xander shrugged. "Guess you'd have to ask her, not me."

"Yeah, cuz I just love getting gorram mixed up answers that don't make no sense," Jayne muttered.

"It's quiet when Xander works."

Everyone turned to stare at the girl none of them had expected to chip in. "What's that?" Simon asked.

"It's quiet. Soothing. He stops thinking. Stops so hard that it's like nobody else is thinking either, and it's just -- quiet."

"If it's someone not thinkin' she likes, you'd think she'd be following Jayne around like a puppy," Wash said with a chuckle.

"Want me to make you stop thinkin'?" the merc asked threateningly.

"River," Simon said softly. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged, shaking her head. "That's as clear as I can say it. He makes everything quiet."

Xander shrugged when the doctor turned to him. "I lose myself in the work," he offered. "You mean when it's just me and the wood, right River?" he asked her.

She nodded, not looking up or pausing in her eating.

"Whatever," Jayne finally muttered. "When are we hitting Harvest, Mal? I need somethin' with a bit of flavor to eat."

"Three more days, if we're still on schedule," the captain said. "We still on schedule, Wash?"

"Sure are," he agreed cheerfully. "Might even get in a bit ahead if all goes well."

"Three days," Jayne muttered in irritation. "They gorram well better have steak."

"'Course they will," Kaylee said cheerfully. "We've only been to Harvest a dozen times afore, you know they'll treat us right."

Jayne snorted. "Yeah, that's what you said 'bout Whitefall an' Patience."

Kaylee winced. "I never said nothin' bout her."

"Only the captain said anything 'bout all goin' well with Patience," Zoë added. "So she shot him once -- no reason to think she'd do it again, right, sir?" she asked ironically.

"We came out with our money in hand and no damage done," Mal stated. "Don't see where you got cause to complain."

"Just don't take too well to these promises of us all gettin' along with border worlders when things always seem t'happen to turn folks against us when we ain't there."

"Not always," Kaylee said. "Not even usually! Usually we get on right well with everyone."

"Sometimes you even come out a hero," Wash added with a grin.

Jayne shot him a bitter glare. "We ain't talkin' bout that."

"We could..."

"'Less you're wantin' a big, smokin' hole where yer chest useta be, we're not talkin' bout that!"

"'Less you want a big, drippin' wound where your balls useta be, you're not threatening my husband," Zoë replied calmly.

"Can we stop threatenin' each other at the table?" Kaylee pleaded. "Just fer while we eat? Please?"

"Aw, c'mon Kaylee," Xander said with a grin. "You're taking away their best entertainment."

"How's your bullet-hole?" Jayne asked, turning on him. "You ready to show me what you got?"

Xander turned to Simon, brows raised. "What say you, doc? Am I good to go?"

"It's pretty well healed. There've been no problems since I took out the stitches?"

"Problems?" he asked innocently. "What problems could there possibly be?"

Simon sighed. "Okay. If it's not giving you any trouble, it should be okay. But one twinge, and I want you to let me know!"

Xander smiled. "Oh yeah! Out of medical leave! I don't promise to give you much of a fight, but I'd be glad to spar a bit."

Jayne stared at him for a long moment, then shook his head. "It's when you say go se like that I remember you're from the Core," he muttered.

Wash snickered, and even Zoë smiled.