Ok guys so sorry for leaving you hanging like that but I'm nearing the end of this story so I can't help that I drag my feet a little.

Fett012000: sorry that was pretty angst ridden but I didn't want to rush…lol

Captain-Rogue-River: hope this delivers what you're waiting for!

Kayli: I tried to make it as fast as I could!

You guys are apparently my only regular readers, or at least regular reviewers so really that apology is for you!

Also I hope this will make up for it

All through the night Simon came periodically to check on Jayne's vitals…and each time he came he hoped Cassidy would be sleeping, but she never was. She didn't want to sleep just in case Jayne woke up for even a moment, so she didn't. It wasn't really a hard task considering her thoughts were turning over a mile a minute. It also gave her time to finally accept that Evan was really right next to her, safe and sound…if only his father was in the same condition.

Wash had taken off the second they had dragged Jayne on board and for the moment anyways Serenity had no direction programmed, she was drifting. Mal considered taking Jayne to an actual hospital but he knew the mans record and knew that he wouldn't be welcomed there, or they would arrest him the second he woke up. Knowing Jayne like he thought he did made Mal believe that if he was going to die he would prefer to do it here so they had nothing to do but wait.

In the early morning he looked in on his merc and saw Cassidy trying to get Evan to eat his breakfast.

"Mommy I don't want to eat that…I don't know what it is."

Disgruntled, Cassidy replied, "it's food Evan."

"Why don't we wake Daddy so he can make something better?"

Cassidy had to smile at that…she really was a horrible cook, thankfully she was saved by Mal when he said, "the second he wakes up I promise I'll have him dish up the whole crew something to eat." Oh how he couldn't wait to make good on that promise…if Jayne would just wake up.

Crew members came in and out all day to see how Jayne was doing. Evan spent most of the time going to play with Wash and his dinosaurs and anyone else willing. Cassidy marveled at how comfortable he became so quickly with these people…he would be just fine. Everyone took it upon themselves to see that Cassidy ate so by the end of the day she had eaten enough to feed five people her size…but she didn't want them to have to worry about her too.

It was late in the evening when Evan came back to her full of stories and candy if his face was any indication…these people needed to spend more time with kids it seemed. He was also in the middle of climbing up on her lap with a small train that he had found lord only knows where when his foot slipped and caught the tray holding her coffee. It had been sitting so it wasn't overly hot but it still shocked her when it poured down the entire front of her. After Evans apology she asked him to stay put and play while she went to change. She would only be gone a minute.

Jayne was dreaming. It was a good dream…everyone was there. There were his parents, his siblings, Cassidy and Evan, but they weren't what immediately caught his attention. No, because Cassidy's parents were also there with her siblings as well as Natalie…and Bryant. In the background he kept hearing people talk to him, but he couldn't make out the words, he knew Cassidy by voice and most of the crew…but what they were saying just wasn't clear.

"She'll tell you again," Bryant said, and his voice was as clear as he remembered, he walked right up to Jayne and grabbed his shoulder in their familiar greeting.

It hurt Jayne to remember it…he hadn't allowed himself time to grieve about the people that left his life and now those wounds were made fresh again. "This means I'm dead doesn't it?" It was said in a tone that sounded both forlorn and accepting.

"Not yet my friend, do you want it to?"

Jayne, couldn't lie to this Bryant that his mind probably just conjured up in his delirium, "I still have things to do…to take care of."

"To make up for" Bryant finished. The hurt reflected in Jaynes eyes spurred the apparition on, "that isn't me Jayne, it's your thought, one that is keeping you back from so many things."

"I should have done more."

"We all should have, I should have protected my family better but regrets are useless."

"I didn't do right by them."

"Forgive yourself Jayne, and if you still can't then you better wake up and figure out how to do right by them from now on."

Jayne felt strength flowing into him from everywhere in his dream, from the people living and dead, "I'll try." He lifted his own arm to grab Bryants shoulder in return but only grasped air.

"It's not your time brother. Take care of my sister and raise Evan right." He didn't know where his dream was taking him but now he was hearing a younger voice barely discernable and he worked to hear it. The weird thing was that the harder he tried to hear the more his chest ached. It was a song…one Cassidy used to sing to Evan. He used to love to hear her sing, only it wasn't her singing now…the voice was broken and very young.

Somewhere, despite the horrible ache in his chest he found the strength to open his eyes to find the source of the lullaby. It took him a long minute to process what he was seeing. There on the floor by his feet was a little boy. Jayne felt his throat go dry…wow had he grown. He felt shame at knowing he didn't recognize him instantly…but it had been so long.

He blinked back what he convinced himself was just irritation from being asleep and called, "Evan?" His voice sounded strange and harsh to his own ears but Evan raised his head instantly and his eyes grew wide with excitement.

"Daddy…" it was a whisper that completely contradicted what he did next. It only took a moment for him to launch himself up on the bed and across Jaynes chest to give him his best bear hug. It knocked Jayne's breath away, thank god he didn't weight much Jayne thought as he hid his gasps of pain while slowly, gently lifting Evan up and moving him next to him while returning the embrace as much as the cords connected to him would allow. "I knew you would come, I kept telling mommy…" he trailed off and in a quieter tone added, "but you did take a long time."

A new pain in his chest was added, "I know Evan…"

"They hurt mommy." Evan blurted, he had decided to tell everything, even things mommy said were secret because his dad could fix it…he just had to know about it first, "they hurt her real bad."

Jayne watched the solemn look that looked so out of place on a face so young and cursed again whatever was irritating his eyes. Before he could open his mouth to respond Evan continued.

"You have to make sure they can't hurt her anymore ok?" Jayne managed a nod before Evan lowered his head and started making circles on his arm with his fingers, "she can't cry anymore, will you promise not to make her cry either?" He shouldn't have been surprised about the serious conversation coming out of his son, not after what he had been through, but hell it was more promises than he made at their wedding…and he was in whole-hearted agreement with each and every one of them.

"You have to make sure right?" Jayne didn't know where Evan was going with this new one though.

"Make sure about what?"

Exasperated Evan said, "about your promises of course! You have to make sure you keep them so you have to stay with us right?" There it was.

Jayne lifted his arm and hugged his boy to him to kiss his forehead and say, "that's a promise." Evan laughed and Jayne instantly made it a personal goal to make him laugh more often.

"I have to go tell," Evan announced as he was climbing down Jaynes bed and took off before waiting for a response.

Cassidy had just walked up when she saw Evan dart out of the room and was about to go after him when she glanced into the infirmary. Jayne was smiling as he looked at the door that Evan just disappeared from…he was awake.

Breath Cassidy she told herself, and she ran.

She reached him in a second and before she could think or talk herself out of it, before her mind could catch up with her heart she kissed him with everything that was in her. She kissed him for all the times they hadn't and should have. She kissed him to make up for their wedding kiss, to make up for all the missed moments and all the words unsaid…all the regrets.

It didn't take him any time at all to answer. He kissed her with the passion that made him who he was and in that same moment he swore he would never give Cassidy up. It was a demanding kiss. His arms reached around her and forced her against his chest mindless of his injury, he just wanted more.

Unfortunately for him it caused the opposite reaction. Cassidy jerked back instantly concerned and asked, "did I hurt you?" She reached out to see if his wound was alright but he intercepted her hand and used it to pull her into another kiss. This one was softer, almost lazy as he pondered how quickly he had become addicted to her taste. He took advantage when she opened her mouth to deepen the kiss. Cassidy couldn't think straight, his lips were making all her thoughts turn to mush…there was something she had wanted to say, a reason she pulled back but she couldn't remember and it didn't matter anymore, his idea was so much better.

"Daddy's kissing mommy!" Evans excitement rang through the room.

"Yes, it would appear so," Mal replied beyond amused as he saw Jayne and Cassidy pull apart smiling and blushing respectively, "should we come back?"

"Maybe"

"No" Jayne and Cassidy said at the same time.

Mal decided, for once, to be on Jaynes side, "Lets go get some more of that chocolate Inara has stashed." He didn't even pause when he reached down to scoop Evan up onto his shoulders and walk away.

He was already halfway down the hall before Cassidy reached the door, "you're putting him to bed Mal!" she called down to him and saw him raise his arm in response. When she turned back to her husband Jaynes eyes were closed and he almost appeared asleep.

"Why did you come back?"

The question shocked her, "you honestly think I would have left you…" she moved to sit in the chair by his side.

"You should have" he interrupted her.

"Well I'm sorry," she misinterpreted his reply, "next time you're dying I'll just be on my merry way." Lord she looked kissable when she was indignant. In a move completely uncharacteristic of Jayne, he lifted up his hand and cupped the side of her face slightly rubbing the swollen area over her cheek where she had been hit with the gun. It was a deep purple in color and he grew enraged all over again because of it.

"I can't seem to keep you safe." As much as she wanted to lean into his touch, the stinging sensation reminded her of what it must look like. Simon had offered to give her something but she had brushed him aside…now, self-consciously her hand moved up to her face where she covered her cheek and blushed, she probably looked a mess.

Backing a little away from him she said, "well…all that's over now."

Jayne felt it necessary for some reason to remind her "…he got away."

"Yes I know" she couldn't add anything more, how is it they could only manage to have these open talks when he was on a hospital bed?

"I wanted to finish him so bad but It was all a bluff Cassidy, I had no more bullets left and if he had decided to test me...I don't think I could have fought anymore." He trailed off and it was apparent to Cassidy that he was still very tired. She smiled at the explanation he had offered up, she had never asked for one but was glad he had shared all the same.

"Get some rest Jayne, we'll be here when you wake up," and he did just that.