Thanks to my reviewers for your support! I would have never been motivated to make it further without your kind words!
Ok so I lied…there's one more chapter before the possible epilogue…It makes me sad to think that this is the end of my story…so I choose not to. After all, there's more to their story so I will post an epilogue which might possibly lead into a mini sequel.
"Oh Cassidy, you're not going to enjoy this I'm afraid,"
"Why are you threatening me…do you think you can take anything more from me?" His grin sickened her, but she knew something he didn't…he had nothing. Without Evan, he had no power over her, and there was no way he was going to get Evan. With that in mind she did something she never thought she would do in his presence: she breathed. He was at the end of the line and he didn't realize it, even if he killed her right now he would never get Jayne or Evan and her death would be all the warning the rest of the crew would need to protect themselves.
Her monster maneuvered her to walk a few more steps away from the ship to which she didn't fight, she watched what really worried her, the gun in his holster.
"Always so easy to control aren't you Cassidy Dartimeen?"
Her maiden name sounded foreign and she realized that it was because that it represented a person she no longer was. In a second she made up her mind, he didn't have Evan as leverage this time…she was done appeasing him. Smiling in his face she said, "it's Cobb you bastard" and kneed him in the groin.
His grip lessened as he hunched over and groaned but just as Cassidy turned to run he tackled her legs and caused her to fall to the ground
"You're mine bitch" he whispered in her ear sounding pathetic as he gasped from pain and crawled over her. In his shock from her actions he never noticed her pull the gun from his side.
Looking up at him, in a position she swore to kill him for putting her in again, she answered, "Never." Before she had time to comment further his weight was lifted from her and she saw the sun.
Jayne had him by the back of his shirt…the second he caught sight of the man over Cassidy he stopped thinking clearly. All he knew was that this man had touched what was his. He finally had his hands on the man that took so much from him, from his wife and son, and from the people that were no more.
"You're supposed to have died!"
"I did," Jayne answered, "now it's your turn."
Jayne threw punches that would have crippled a weaker man. All his anger was finally focused on a target and he was letting it all go. He realized that his fists were bleeding as were various parts of his opponent, but it wasn't enough, he was holding him up at one point and realized that it would never be enough. He could torture and kill this man over and over and it would never make up for what his father and he did.
"Jayne" he heard Cassidy call softly behind him and he dropped the trash to turn to what really mattered. He started walking towards her, in his state it took him a moment to realize that she was raising her hand and she was holding a gun. He turned to look behind him at the man who had managed to stand and heard the gunshot he knew was coming. The aim was true—right through the center of his chest and Jayne was close enough to hear the man breath his last as he fell backwards in the dirt…where he belonged. Cassidy had finally defeated her monster.
He was gone.
Lord knows he never wanted her to have to kill someone but he knew that she would have to release herself—that he couldn't do it for her, and with one shot she accomplished that.
Not giving him another thought he walked over to Cassidy. Tears were streaming down her checks, "its done now isn't it?" she asked as she looked expectantly up at Jayne.
Bringing her into his embrace, "it's done Cass." he used one hand to wipe away her tears, "you're going to have to stop crying or our son will think I broke a promise with him."
"These are good tears Jayne," she said with a laugh in her voice.
"I don't think he's learned the difference."
Cassidy held her husband in a death grip and used him as a barrier between her and the body of a man she was already on her way to forgetting.
Mal and half the crew showed up after the gunshot. Mal had decided to let those most involved finish it and that he would only become involved if it was absolutely necessary, it was something Jayne and Cassidy had to do on their own but he was very glad it was over with…now he could get his ship off the ground.
Inara had stayed behind with Evan but was very relieved to see the entire crew enter the ship in one piece. She smiled when she saw Jayne with his arm around Cassidy and her against his side…almost as if they were supporting each other and perhaps they were.
Wash wasted no time getting them into the air and, after talking to Jayne, getting their route mapped out.
Evan had determined that his father liked to disappear too much so he decided not to let him out of his sight and so followed him around and even helped to clear the wounds on his hands…while asking questions of course.
"Did you hit someone?"
"Why?"
"Did Mommy cry?"
The boy was almost clairvoyant with his choice of questions and Jayne answered all of his enquires until he was satisfied.
"What are we going to do now?" he asked as he helped wrap gauze around his fathers hand.
Jayne lifted Evan to stand on the stool so they could look eye to eye honey brown meeting ocean blue. "We're going to start our life Evan, a normal one," Jayne answered.
"All of us?" Evan's excitement was palpable and Jayne found himself getting caught up.
"Of course all of us" he tousled Evans hair to show that that was a ridiculous question, "but you gotta help me."
Jayne spent time conspiring with his son and told him his whole plan. He called Evan his partner and it made him feel more important than he ever had before. He concentrated the most on the part his father called secret and Jayne succeeding in one goal when Evan began to giggle after imagining his mothers reaction to it all.
Some time later…
"Mama mama you're going to be late!" Evan bolted around the corner into the room that Inara had pulled Cassidy into as a distraction while the rest of the crew got ready. In truth, Cassidy was barely paying attention, she was thinking of the 'what now' aspect of her life and where her relationship with Jayne was…until Evan interrupted her thoughts that is.
"Late for what Evan?" Cassidy asked her son sincerely confused.
"Common, common" Evan ignored her question and just decided to pull on her until she moved to follow him.
"Wait," Inara reached out and grabbed Cassidys hand, "these are for you" she said as she handed her a small bunch of flowers, "I know they're not much…"
"They're beautiful," Cassidy said thankful but unsure about the reason behind the gift. She only had a moment to catch the smile on Inara's face before she was forced to move by Evan…it was a smile that said she knew something that Cassidy didn't.
She was led into the bay where she stopped and stood shocked since it appeared that the whole crew was assembled…waiting for her. Evan let go of her hand and ran forward and she gazed at the people around her until she caught sight of Jayne. He had shaved…and changed. In fact, most of the crew was in shiny condition.
"Common Mommy, you're supposed to be here by Daddy," Evan called as he waved her over. Cassidy stood stuck in her spot unable to speak from her confusion.
"If you want, Ill walk you down," Mal commented.
"What's going on?"
"Why don't you go ask Jayne?" Mal said as a final push to get her where she belonged.
Looking at the rest of the crew like they were crazy she walked up to her husband and looked up at him asking the silent question.
It was Book who first took pity on her, "why Cassidy," he teased, "I've never known a woman who forgot her wedding day!"
Her mouth dropped open…wedding!? Her confusion only mounted, speaking like she was sharing a secret she said, "Jayne…we're already married."
"Yah well this ones to make it right."
She couldn't process it all…he wanted to marry her all over again…surely this meant…
"You didn't even ask me!" she blurted without thinking.
"Do you need me to?" His expression was priceless, he didn't want to kneel in front of the whole crew…but he would if she asked. Then again he didn't want to risk her saying no…it was just so much easier to trick her into it.
"Why Jayne?" She needed to know that at least, so she answered his question with another one of her own.
"Well I figure you and I have made some mistakes, this is trying to make up for one of them," he awkwardly began, then continued with more strength, "that and well I hear tell that you're supposed to marry the woman you love."
"What?!" She didn't think she could become more shocked, and, yet again, he proved her wrong.
"I love you Cass…" She didn't wait for him to finish but jumped up to kiss him. When she pulled away he continued, "but don't expect me to go saying it much."
Her Laugh filled the air and Jayne thought there was no better sound in the world. She knew her husband wasn't one for soft words and, truly, once was all she needed. She wouldn't have him any other way. By admitting that he loved her he had added the last piece to her that allowed her to accept that finally things were as they were supposed to be.
As Jayne held his laughing wife he realized how long it was since he last heard her laugh like that…then he really looked at her and compared her to the woman who first walked unknowingly into Serenity and he saw the light in her eyes that he had missed and knew that they would be just fine…but that didn't mean he didn't want reassurance.
"Tell me the words," he told Cassidy, he needed to hear it.
Knowing what he wanted, Cassidy whispered, "I love you" she felt weird speaking what had previously been bedroom words but his eyes spoke volumes and she couldn't deny him.
Grinning, "tell me again."
"I love you" she said much louder and they met in another kiss.
It was Book who cleared his throat, "save that for after the ceremony if you please" he said with a smile.
Jayne and Cassidy were married for the second time in Serenity, amongst friends and with their son holding their hands between them. It was in much better circumstances and for lasting reasons…it was perfect.