Captain-Rouge-River: It's really nice to be reminded that I have a regular reader. Don't worry I'm sure Jayne went to bed real fast…anyways I'm so glad that you confused this with the actual series, makes me believe I connected the two well enough. Also, I was really worried about the whole out of character Jayne thing but its good to know its ok. Thanks for the support!
Kristafied: I hope I can continue to keep you intrigued!
Kayli: Thanks so much!
Queenjane516: I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Fett12000: I promise to keep the chapters coming!
Smut Angel: I hope you like where the story is going so far!
Thanks for the support and I will try to keep this up at a regular basis.
Jayne woke up first and knew he was in trouble. Despite everything that Cassidy had been through in some ways she was very much an innocent, like in knowing her appeal. Some time during the night Jayne had ended up on his back with Cassidy against his side. Her head was resting on his chest and her arm was thrown across him. That in itself would be fine since it allowed him a lovely view of her face in what appeared to be a peaceful sleep. No, that wasn't what was causing the problem. She had worn an oversized shirt to sleep and at his current vantage there wasn't really much left to be imagined, also, joining her arm she had moved her leg to rest directly over his hips and therefore his crotch.
He couldn't think fast enough. All he knew was that he needed to get out and get out fast, but he didn't want to disrupt her sleep. She seemed awfully comfortable and he should have more self control…but of course he didn't. All he had to do was completely ignore her chest pressed against his side and her very shapely leg thrown across him. She made his decision for him when she moved her leg ever so slightly. Not wanting her to wake up and see him in his current position and possibly scare her he very gently eased out from under her, replacing himself with pillows when he could.
Damn could she look more provocative? He knew it wasn't intentional but she was playing at being a tease. Here he was not even able to look at her without thinking thoughts of sexing…but damn it she was his wife! He couldn't act like a eunuch forever! He spent a moment watching her sleep in peace before his eyes started to wander.
"Ah hell," he muttered as he left for the bathroom and a cold shower. He didn't have time for this; he had a son to rescue.
With Jaynes missing heat Cassidy stirred soon afterwards. She reached out and woke when she noticed that he wasn't beside her, she grew embarrassed by her actions and sat up to look around but only heard running water. She sat contemplating when she had last slept through such a length of time without a single nightmare…she couldn't remember it was so long ago. It looked like Jayne chased away her monsters in her sleep and she regretted that she would have to do without afterwards. There was no way she would impose on Jayne so much…if only they were a real married couple it would be normal. She told herself not to let her thoughts wander in that direction, it would only depress her. Looking down she turned bright red when she noticed the position of her clothes, good lord had he seen her like this? Turning to look at the small mirror on his wall she noticed her curls in complete disarray and how frumpy she looked. Trying unsuccessfully to manage her hair she thought about how much thanks she owed Jayne and amazed herself. Just a few days ago she was so busy hating him and now, spending time with him again, she remembered how much he means to her and how much she truly owes him. If it wasn't for him she and Evan would never have survived.
Evan was waiting for the hero. She could hear his voice telling her that Daddy would come and save them both…she didn't have the heart to tell him Daddy thought they had run away from him and by now probably wanted nothing to do with her. Then again, even if he hated her his heart would never turn stone where Evan was concerned.
She was ashamed to remember that even when she had told Evan that she had to leave for a little bit that he was still adamant that Jayne would come and rescue them, that all she had to do was find him, he was so sure but she had no belief. She reassured him that of course she believed the same and then set off to do nothing of the kind.
Of course, in the middle of her musings Jayne entered the room wearing nothing but a towel and her thoughts went flying…at least all the productive ones. She practically ran from the room and before he could say anything she was gone.
As she exited Jaynes room she was beyond embarrassed to enter an occupied hallway. There was Mal, Book, Kaylee and Simon having a discussion that stopped mid sentence when they saw who was leaving Jaynes room and in what condition she was in. Cassidy turned bright red, held her head high since she had done nothing wrong and walked right past them feigning courage even though she didn't look a one of them in the eye. If she had she would have seen smiles on the lot and would have heard Mal's whispered, "about time."
Jayne finished getting dressed and searched for the captain to get started. As he passed crew he wondered why on earth they were all in such a good mood…they never smiled like that at him before. Then again, he didn't care what kind of mood they were in as long as they remembered their jobs today. When he noticed Mal and Cassidy having a conversation in the bay he walked over.
"They gave very specific instructions, I was to give this to Jayne the morning of," Cassidy said very calmly as she revealed a small vial, "I was supposed to put it in something to drink."
Simon took it from her hands and smelled it, "It's a muscle relaxant and from the smell a very strong on. You would have felt no different since it is only triggered by stress, but It probably would have made it impossible for you to fight very well, if at all."
"Well you are good for something after all," Jayne interjected.
Cassidy ignored the insults being thrown back and forth between Simon and Jayne and asked the captain, "are we ready?"
"Are you ready?" With her confused face as an answer Mal continued, "I know my crew Cassidy and I know their ability to pull through a hard situation but even they have a difficult time when it's something this personal. I've only know you for a few days now…"
"I'll do my job." Nothing would keep her from Evan.
Mal studied her for a long minute. Here was a woman who had fought hell to find someone she barely knew to ask for help. Oh he knew she was chalk full of courage, hell she was married to Jayne. The only thing that worried him was whether or not she considered her own life worth saving. When she walked into the den of the lion would she consider her life as valuable as any of theirs? He sure as hell hoped so…but he could do nothing about it, that was Jaynes territory. If he doubted anything he couldn't doubt the strength of this woman and nodded to reassure her, "Jayne, you're wife's itching to take off why don't you guys get going?"
Jayne turned to her suddenly all seriousness, "sure lets go."
He and Cassidy would leave first, they would probably be watched continuously once they entered the town and they wanted to give the appearance that they were alone…the others would follow later, more discreet than a walk down main street. Their walk was silent down the red dirt road, both were lost in their thoughts…until the building came into sight where Cassidy's demons presumably were waiting for them.
"I'm supposed to lead you up by giving you some excuse…I mean it is an old hotel…"
Jayne didn't wait for her nervousness to take over he grabbed her hand and led the way, "same room Cassidy?"
"I think so," was her whispered response.
When they got to the door they acted like they didn't know about the men behind them and in the rooms below. Cassidy moved to enter first but there was no way Jayne would let her. Walking in he let himself be ambushed all the while counting in his head the minutes to keep track of when the rest of the crew should spring into action. He was forced to his knees and his arms were tied behind him in a matter of seconds. He didn't yell, Simon said it would have been impossible…oh how he wanted to cause some damage.
Cassidy noticed that even though they thought he was drugged they still used five men…it made her smile inside, oh they had an idea, but they still didn't know what they were asking for when they told her to bring them Jayne Cobb. Then they moved to do the same to her. From Jayne's face she knew he wanted to fight but she visually pleaded with him not to give it away yet that he wasn't drugged. No one had spoken a word but then Cassidy froze when she heard the voice of the devil.
"Oh my lovely I see you did bring me a present after all." There he was a man Jayne would have earlier sworn was dead and gone but Cassidy knew otherwise. All the cruelty in Marcus Crater was magnified in his son. Through everything, he always talked to her like that, like he and her were in on some twisted joke together. Everything he did to her he pretended that he was just granting her wish, that it was all her doing…not this time. No, she had the strength of the entire Serenity crew at her back, including her husband and she would get her son back single handed with that kind of strength.
"Where's Evan?" She got right to the point, she couldn't deal with his bullshit. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jayne slowly bend over to almost touch the floor with his face, it was a good act. If she didn't know better she would believe he was completely subdued, but she did and she was sure he was in the middle of untying himself and reaching for a weapon.
"Next door, you know I don't like to let you see him, you always make such a fuss, it really makes me feel neglected…You know what I found out while you were gone?" he continued unchecked, Cassidy always knew he liked to hear himself talk, and she would let him because it meant more time…until he pulled a gun out and examined it. "I found out that in order to access Evans inheritance Jayne has to sign with you…but only you need to sign," he leveled the gun, "if he's dead."
It all happened so quickly. Cassidy screamed, "No" and tried to move to get in front of Jayne but was rewarded by a slap across the face with the side of the gun. Jayne surged forward.
Then she heard a gunshot…and saw the red of Jayne's lifeblood on her hands.