Thanks so much for the words of support, they're really keeping me going! Glad you like the story! Anyways, the chapters might take a bit more time getting up since I'm getting to parts that still need major work, but no worries I won't stop until it's done. Thanks again!
"I don't understand how those two are together"
"Well they aren't, at least not in any real way"
"I don't know how he just let her walk away"
"Who knows what he was thinking"
"He probably wasn't thinking at all"
"Well that sounds like Jayne to me"
"How can we trust him to not be a part of this big mess I mean I know how you guys found him"
"Yes but this is his family, we shouldn't assume…"
"He was always willing to do anything for the right amount of cash"
"The very idea that he just left his wife and son hanging to die"
"Yah well he is a hard man to trust"
Cassidy was sorting through her overwhelming thoughts when she walked near the galley and heard what the rest of the crew was talking about. She couldn't believe the filth she was hearing from the crew about Jayne and she had heard enough. Walking in she was practically shaking with fury.
"I can't believe you all…" At her sudden appearance the room grew silent and they had the grace to look ashamed but she continued unheeded. "How could you all say such cruel things? Do you honestly think he would willingly leave us to die?" The very thought was impossible to image in Cassidy's mind, yes he might have never come after them but he didn't know that they were in trouble…if he had, well there was no doubt in her mind that he would have moved mountains to find them.
"Do you know why his first thought is about the paycheck? His first priority is his family and if any of you knew anything about him you would know that his sister is seriously ill, has been for years and she needs daily medicine, expensive medicine. His family isn't well off and that leaves Jayne to provide the extra funding so yes he cares about the cash. If he didn't then his sister would die so forgive his selfish habit!" Her sarcasm was palpable. Mal was just about to add his two cents when she moved on.
"As to not trusting him, that is bull. I'm sure he's made his bad decisions he always has, but he, unlike the rest of us, makes a point to make up for them even when its not needed. I know there's some bad blood here, I'm not blind, but I know Jayne enough to know that he protects what he considers his and this crew is his." Simon was trying to find a time to argue her points but she had hit too close to home with that last statement so he let it go.
"He may have needed to become a mercenary—that's where his skills fit but I can guarantee in a spot of trouble you wouldn't wish for anyone else to cover your back then that man. I have never known a man to be more dependable in my life and to talk so down about him is hypocrisy." She turned to direct her comment to Mal, "you didn't have to invite him on your ship captain and yet you did and my bet is that he has saved your hide time and time again after it and all of you reward him with mistrust. He and I may not have a perfect relationship but I was thankful to marry him and even in my darkest times I could never blame him. He is a good man and you all have known him long enough to realize that but somehow you still take him for granted. I'm very lucky to be married to such a man and you're all lucky that he is watching your back, even though after what I have heard I'm hard pressed to say you deserve it."
Mal was smiling after hearing the fervent speech, he knew that she loved Jayne but now there wasn't a doubt in anyones mind. While the rest of the crew worried over being contrite he studied this woman before him that had just spent about a little over an hour with his merc in the infirmary. "How's Jayne?" He asked before his crew could try to explain themselves.
She turned to him, "he'll live," once she noticed how banged up he was as well she continued without her anger, "what were you two really trying to accomplish?"
"Well honestly Mrs. Cobb I'm just pretty sure that he wanted to blow off some steam but despite our best efforts we still got a bit of useful information. They will be returning the day after tomorrow."
"What?" Her exclamation was echoed by half of the crew and she was grateful that he had waited to tell her first.
"Apparently they have some other unfinished business that we are going to interrupt, now we have some details to work out…" he turned to the rest of the crew to make plans but she didn't let him finish.
"One day isn't enough time! Jayne is still injured and…"
"Hell, I'll be fine," Jayne interrupted. Cassidy spun around realizing that he had followed after her and turned bright red. Dear lord had he heard her speech? Of course he hadn't but no one who had seen him enter felt the need to inform her just yet. He limped over to Cassidy's side and nodded for her to sit while he reclined next to her, "it seems that the crew has grown more loose lipped then when I knew them because we found out some interesting facts." He looked over to Cassidy when he added, "like the fact that Evan is somewhere in this city."
"No…." her hands automatically reached for Jaynes arm and he would die before he told her that she was gripping right over the area someone hit him with a bar chair that night, "He was supposed to be kept somewhere safe." Inara walked over to Cassidy and put her hands on her shoulders to offer support.
"They didn't say he wasn't safe, right captain?" Zoe asked.
"As far as we know he is being kept under lock and key and here that sounds safe to me."
It was a sad day when that was reassuring but it was, if he was locked up then that means he wasn't being shown off…like her.
"He's safe" River spoke up from where she had crouched on the floor against the wall, "times ticking but no ones hurt him like you fear…monsters always consider themselves men of their word. Tick tock."
Jayne didn't think he would ever be happy to hear something that came out of that girls mouth but she had just given him the biggest gift anyone could: hope. They had a short supply, much shorter than what he was letting on to Cass, like the fact that the Divine Right had grown in numbers but right then he coulda kissed River…on the cheek of course.
"Do you know where mei mei?" Simon asked only to see her shake her head.
"Well, what do you need us to do?" Wash wasn't going to be left out of this one, despite everything Jayne was family and what Cassidy had said was true, he deserved their trust. He liked Cassidy just fine, felt bad for her sure but liked her spirit even more, he wanted to help.
"If I can read your face captain like I think I've learned to I believe you'll need all of our help and I think I speak for everyone when we say we are willing to do everything we can," he glanced over to Cassidy, "we know the hardships you have faced and well I consider all these people here family, you're Jaynes and now ours so lets figure out how to complete it by getting your son back now shall we?" Zoe reached to squeeze her husbands hand; she loved that he could sum up their beliefs and apologize in a way for all of their earlier words in one simple way.
"Of course, we'll all do what we can." Kaylee added. She was so sorry that Cassidy thought they all thought so badly of Jayne she wanted to prove that they would all help.
Simon was leaning over Cassidy's shoulder and was trying to offer reassurance that they would help and find her son, he was also answering her quite questions about Jaynes past injuries. Of course he didn't know that that looked an awful lot like whispering into each others ears to a drugged up husband.
What in the gorram hell did Simon think he was doing, and why was Cassidy smiling at him like that? Hell Kaylee was right there and here he was sidling up to a married woman, he was almost to busy glaring to hear Mal.
"You're growling Jayne, if you aren't careful someone might actually think that you actually have a heart and a soft spot for your wife here."
"Shutup Mal."
But Mal was all sorts of seriousness, "No Jayne listen," he said as he put his back for a minute to the rest of the crew and spoke so that they wouldn't be overheard, "if these people get any idea of how much you and her care about each other they will make it all that much harder on the both of you. Do you understand where I'm coming from?"
Jayne gave a brisk nod but kept his glare, no point in changing his character now, he would protect Cass with his life. He had just about enough of this, he didn't know what he was feeling but he knew one thing—he didn't like how close Simon sat to his wife.
Cassidy was reassured when Simon told her that while some of Jaynes injuries were serious they were all healed now and he was in good shape, then she made the mistake of looking up at their topic of discussion. She didn't know when she would get used to seeing Jayne again but she hoped he would stop having such a startling effect on her. After all this time he was playing havoc with her mind and senses. In truth she never thought she would see him again, she thought she wouldn't survive to begin with but she would die trying. Now facing the man that visited her dreams she lost her fear and smiled at his glare. "Let's get started."