Long Road Home – Chapter Seven
The Firefly verse ain't mine, I'm just borrowing it for a little in flight entertainment. No money involved, just a little love and labor :)
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Kaylee heard River's cry all the way down in the cargo bay. She'd been sorting through tools she had purchased for the new ship when River suddenly screamed. Kaylee ran toward the bridge, only to meet River in the galley.
"Two by two, hands of blue. . ." she stammered. "Two by two, hands of blue."
She fell toward Kaylee, and the older woman lowered her to the floor, wrapping her arms around the trembling girl.
"It's ok, sweety." Kaylee whispered. "They won't know to look for you here."
"Find me," River shook her head. "Take me back. Don't want to go back. Needles, needles, everywhere, under my skin, under my hair."
Kaylee was alarmed at River's behavior, but knew that the best thing she could do was to try and keep her calm, trusting to Jayne to take care of them.
As she continued soothing her friend, Kaylee thought about that. Didn't seem like so long ago that she might not have trusted Jayne so much. She'd always defended him, and never had been afraid of him, despite what the Captain thought. But if she had found herself in this position a year or more ago, she might not have been so calm.
But now, she had faith in Jayne. She knew he wouldn't leave them to face their troubles alone. In fact, he'd try an force them to leave him, if it came to that.
Warming herself with that fact, Kaylee felt better. She decided she would try and share that warmth with River, while they waited.
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"We were informed that the subject was in custody," the larger blue hand told Gabriel Tam.
"That was not what I said," Tam replied. "I said I had found her, and would have her taken into custody."
Jayne's frown darkened at that. Her own father, selling her out to these hundans?
"You assured us that we had your co-operation in this matter," the smaller figure said to Tam.
"And you do, or I wouldn't have called you to begin with!" Tam retorted. "I would have had her myself, but she had some assistance."
"Assistance?" This seemed to interest the Blue Hands a great deal. Jayne was close enough now to strike, but waited. Listening.
"Yes," Tam nodded. "A very large man, according to my wife. He attacked me from behind, and I was knocked unconscious. When I came to, my wife informed me of what had happened. She also said the man claimed to be her husband."
"The subject has married? Unacceptable, Tam. You were warned." One of the Blue Hands reached into his pocket.
"How is this my fault?" Tam demanded. "You are the ones who lost her!"
"Failure to assist in reacquisition of the subject is effectively non-compliance," the other Blue Hand replied, as if ordering his favorite dish from a menu.
Jayne lunged forward, striking so quickly that even the fabled Hands of Blue couldn't react in time. Burying a blade into the side of each Blue Hand's neck, he shoved both of the blades in clear to the hilt. Both men stiffened in surprise, but could do nothing else. Jayne powered them to the ground by ripping the blades forward, effectively tearing out their throats. He rose slowly, quivering in rage as he looked upon Gabriel Tam.
Gabriel Tam had rarely known fear in his life. Not real fear. He'd known fear of failure, of embarrassment, fear of rejection, or loss of status. But he had never known true, gut wrenching, all engulfing fear. Fear for his own life. He knew that fear now, as he looked into the eyes of the man who had just killed not one, but two of the most feared men anywhere in the Alliance. Killed them so quickly that they had never known what hit them. And was looking as if he'd very much enjoy adding one Gabriel Tam to that list.
For a long moment the huge man before him simply looked at him, head cocked to one side. Gabriel Tam had once visited a refuge where birds of prey were used for hunting. The look this man was giving him looked exactly like one of those terrible birds, watching at a mouse in a field. He was mortified to feel his bladder release.
"I should kill you," the man said off-handed. "But it would upset River. Consider that I just saved your life, you worthless hundan. If I ever see you again, I will kill you. If you ever try and take her back to these," he motioned to the now still figures on the ground, "I'll kill you. If you ever touch her again, I'll kill you. There's nowhere in the 'verse you can hide from me, Tam. Nowhere you'll be safe from me."
Before Tam could reply, Jayne punched him, knocking the older man cold. Satisfied that he was out for the count, Jayne turned his attention to the dead Blue Hands. The ones who were above the law, who didn't exist.
Time to send a message. One even they could understand.
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Kaylee was still trying to comfort River when the smaller woman sat upright with a jolt.
"They're gone," she said softly. She turned to Kaylee. "The Blue Hands, they're gone."
"Musta run in ta Jayne, somewhere," Kaylee grinned confidently.
"They were there one minute, and then. . .just gone," River said in wonder.
Can you feel Jayne?" Kaylee asked. River concentrated a moment, then shudderd.
"Shade," she whispered softly. "Blue Hands didn't run into Jayne, ran into Shade. They are lying in the Shade. No more Blue Hands. River lies hidden from the Blue Sun in the Shade," she said, her voice taking on a wistful note.
"Yeah, that's how that'd go, alright," Kaylee nodded, resisting the urge to shudder at the mention of Jayne's alter ego. Anything that scared the Cap'n terrified Kaylee. And Cap'n was scared of Shade.
"Yes, and with good reason," River nodded, picking up on her thoughts. Then she laughed.
"What's so funny?" Kaylee demanded. "I don't think none o' this is funny at all."
"Father lies in the Shade as well," River giggled almost hysterically. Kaylee paled at that, hand flying to her mouth.
"River he didn't. . ."
"No," River laughed. "Scared him. Lost control of his bladder," River almost screamed in laughter. "Wet his pants in fear!" Tears were rolling again, but this time they were tears of laughter.
Kaylee looked at River for a moment as if she'd lost her mind, then chuckled. Before long she was rolling in laughter as well, at the image of pompous, overbearing, self important Gabriel Tam face to face with Jayne, especially if he was in that awful Shade frame of mind.
Poor man wouldn't know what hit him.
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Jayne met Dell at the dock gates. The shop owner raised his eyebrow's at the blood on the big man, but said nothing. Knowing Jayne, someone was dead, somewhere.
"Thanks, Ben," Jayne nodded, taking the cart loaded with his equipment. "Need to keep the cart," he added, passing over more than enough coin to pay for it.
"You take care, Jayne," Ben nodded, then walked away. Jayne looked at the sky, noting how late it was. Where had the day gone? he mused. Approaching the new ship, gotta think o' somethin' to call her, he reached for his com.
"Kaylee, open'er up."
"Comin', Jayne," Kaylee's voice replied at once. In seconds the ramp begin to descend. Jayne pulled the cart aboard, and Kaylee closed the door behind him.
"How is she?" Jayne asked at once.
"She is fine," he heard River say behind him. Turning on a dime, Jayne raced to where she stood, enveloping her in a massive bear hug. She kissed him fiercely before he could say anything.
"I, uh, gotta tell you. . ." Jayne began.
"I know," she whispered. "Felt it all. Killed the Blue Hands. Protected your mate," she kissed him again. "My Alpha Male, protecting what's his."
"Uh, yeah," Jayne mumbled around her kisses. "And, uh, well. . ." he started again.
"Scared Father," she giggled. "Felt that too. Poor daddy, needs clean underwear," she laughed, and the sound was music to his ears after earlier.
The two kissed again, and Kaylee thought her heart would melt. It was so romantic. Jayne had hunted down the source of River's fear, and. . .well, Jayne only knew a few ways to deal with scary stuff, and most of them were permanent.
"I hate to say this," Jayne said finally, "but if you're able, we really need to get the hell outta here."
"I am able, Zhang fu," River breather huskily, and Jayne felt his knees weaken. He released her, while he was still able, and River looked at Kaylee.
"Ready?"
"Be up in five," Kaylee nodded, running to the engine room. River took Jayne's hand.
"Come with me," she said softly. "Just be close to me," she added.
"Always," he nodded. He could put his stuff away later.
The as yet unnamed Firefly lifted gently off the docks ten minutes later. Soon after she was in the black. The three friends were on their way home.
It was a good feeling.
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On Argo, Mal was sitting in George Harwell's office.
"Getting a lot of grumbling from our former shippers," Harwell told Mal.
"Been gettin' a few sidelong glances from 'em myself," Mal nodded.
"I want to reassure you that our agreement holds," Harwell told Mal bluntly. "I don't like to think I'm too much of a grudge holder, but they deserted me when I needed them the most. Hadn't been for you and your fine crew, we'd be outta business by now. And I don't forget people who stand by me."
"Never once thought you did," Mal told him firmly. "And this trouble is likely to be more our's than your's. We'll see to it, needs be."
"I'm quite sure of that, Captain," Harwell smiled. "I've hired several security guards over the last few weeks. We're unlikely to have the same trouble with the ship owners as we did with Zhang. My men should be more than able to keep things in order. It's you and your people I'm most concerned about, Malcolm."
"Withe is a mean one, and not apt to be choosy how he goes about getting what he wants," the manager continued. "You should take every precaution to protect your people. Especially," he added with a frown, "your women."
"Any special reason you feel the need to pass that along?" Mal asked.
"Well, it's only rumors, I want to make that clear," Harwell stressed. "But Withe, in particular, has a nasty reputation where women are concerned. And, well, rumors, like I said. But all three, Withe, Jenkins, and Ball, the three you encountered on your outing, have been accused, quietly of course, of having connections to slavers."
Mal's frown deepened at that. Slavers were a bad business. He'd never even considered shipping slaves, ever. Been offered plenty of coin to do such, but always refused. Any man trafficked in human cargo was lower than the mud on his boots.
"I appreciate the heads up, sir," Mal nodded. "Most of my crew can take care of themselves, including the women. But we'll take extra precautions. As to that, I'm wondering if Simon can use that apartment over the infirmary. I know it was Ami's, but I've decided to move all of us back onto the ship, at least until the rest of my crew gets back. We can protect the ship better, and it makes us less of a target."
"Of course," Harwell nodded at once. "I'll have it cleaned at once, and he can move in today."
"I take it as a kindness," Mal thanked him. "I expect once Jayne and River are back, this little. . .issue, will be resolved shortly."
"Yes," Harwell chuckled. "They are a most, formidable pair, those two."
"They are a comfort in tryin' times," Mal agreed with a smile. He rose.
"Thanks again."
"Anytime, Captain," Harwell nodded.