Chapter three

AN-Here it is, now it's starting to pick up. I'd love it if you told me what you thought. I am considering taking it all down and reworking it because there are a few things I think would improve the story and I want to make it flow better. Anyway-Enjoy!

The newlyweds made their way back into Jayne's quarters with grim visages.

"Listen Madisyn…" Jayne closed the hatch and made his way over to a little table littered with weaponry. "I'm real sorry 'bout all that up there. I wish we'd had more time to…talk between us, alone like."

"Yeah," she plopped herself down on his bed. Screw manners, we're humped. "I wish that…I don't know, I guess I should try to remember more of what happened last night."

There was an awkward pause where they just stared at each other before Jayne made himself busy at his table, trying hard not to look at the wife he hardly remembered marrying.

"And I'm sorry too." Madisyn spoke again, raking her fingers through her hair in an attempt to forget about the man not ten feet away. It seemed that as soon as he came into her life, she just threw caution to the wind. And caution was something that'd gotten her this far, it didn't seem wise to just forget it. "I didn't mean to muck up everything here for you." She sighed "I guess what we should really focus on is getting this marriage taken care of."

"Shit." Jayne put down a pistol heavily and turned back to the little blond. "We may as well get to know a little about each other. You say you'll be…an outcast if you go back home divorced?"

"Yeah," Madisyn shrugged but figured there couldn't be much more damage done. Hell, since they were married it made no sense to hold any secrets from him, "and I'd always intended to go back someday. Although, I don't see how I thought I was going to do it…or why."

"How'd a rich little Osiris girl end up playing poker in a Beaumonde bar?" he tried to ease the serious air floating around his bunk, his eyes sparkeled and his lips turned up in humor.

Wow there girl, Madisyn reigned herself in. With a smirk like that…who could blame me for eloping?

"Well…I guess I'll give you the run down. You can make sense of everything yourself." She smiled as he lowered himself down next to her. The mattress dipped a little, but his cot didn't have that much give to give. "I was born and raised on Osiris. My father was a doctor and friends with Simon and River's dad."

"That's how you all know each other." He didn't ask.

"Right. I was in dance classes with River when we were younger…" Madisyn laughed, her eyes far off in a memory. "Of course, she didn't spend much time in the class itself. That girl'd look at the routine and then she'd have it down pat. I was the one who stayed after every other day. But we were great friends and we were the top of the school for a while there. Then she went away to the Academy and I had to stop taking classes…"

She swallowed and the pause took to long. Jayne wasn't a patient man and it made him uncomfortable to sit there while she had that frown on her face. Plus he really didn't want to ask her age now that he knew she took classes with little River. "Why'd you have to stop?"

She shook her head slightly and looked back up at him with her pretty green eyes. "Well, you asked how I wound up playing poker. My father taught me." She smiled again but it quickly faded. "He was a great player and taught me everything he knew. His only weakness was bluffing. If a person knew him they'd instantly know he was lying. Myself on the other hand…Well, River loved dancing because of the movement. For me it was about the theatrics. I was an actress at one point, got paid to do it too. But it takes too long to set up a play for how many credits you take away in the end. I was the greatest bluffer my father had ever seen…"

He gambled away most of our fortune. And lost the rest through a failed business venture. So that's why I quit taking the classes. But of course we just had to keep up appearances." Her sneer spoke volumes and Jayne found himself listening raptly and watching closely. She was an actress, a story teller. Although he could tell she didn't mean to be. It was the way she spoke, the way she moved, he could tell everything she was thinking and feeling and he was enthralled. And he wanted to kill the bastard on Osiris for being such snobs.

"So my father took out a rather substantial loan from one Adelei Niska. He thought he'd be able to gamble back our fortune. And of course, that didn't work."

She looked so bitter but underneath that was so much hurt Jayne couldn't think of anything to say. Not that he was one for words normally. He put his hand on her knee and gave a gentle squeeze.

She smiled up at him but there was no real joy in it. Just a thanks for his concern. "Do you know the saying about doctor's wives going without medicine?" she asked but it was rhetorical. "It's true. My mother died of an undiagnosed brain tumor. And shortly after that Niska took my father. Then the bank closed on our house and I had either to beg or to leave. And beggars don't last long in Osiris. I took what money I could scrounge up, hopped the cheapest transport to anywhere big enough to support me and wound up in Beamonde. With all the bars and clubs there it was easy enough to make a living playing poker. Plus I picked up some…unethical techniques along the way that helped when the hands I was dealt weren't so great. And I couldn't really do much else. The pay for an actress or dancer…well, a clothed dancer isn't enough to keep mobile. Poker allows for more flexibility, and I enjoy the company better." She wrapped up with a wry grin.

Well, there it all is, laid out on the table. I'm sure he can handle it. …I hope.

………

Don't think of her dancin' nekked. Do not. Damn, girl's had enough to deal with 'this life. Now this mess. And Niska clearly didn't just give up.

"So Niska took your father, but he's still after you?" He wanted to make sure he had all the info before he started shootin', just to be on the safe side for once.

Madisyn took a deep breath and shrugged again. "It appears that Niska still wants his repayment even though the man who made the deal is dead."

Jayne tightened his fist on a bunch of his blanket on the side she couldn't see. Sure Niska was a sadistic bastard, but he'd already killed the girl's father. And it was clear the little blond wasn't used to dealing with the darker side of life.

Sure barroom brawls she'd probably seen a many, and back room dealings too no doubt. But his little one shouldn't have to deal with the likes of Niska. Hell, Jayne didn't think he even liked her dealing with the likes of him. Although, he didn't for the life of him know why he cared. Maybe because she just looked so…sweet. And she clearly just wanted to have a little fun.

"Well, I don't know what we're gonna do darlin' but I sure as hell ain't leavin' you to fend him off yourself. I don't know about this whole marriage business neither, but till either Niska's dead or we can set you up somewhere safe for sure…well, you're just gonna have to be stuck with me."

………..

"I don't like this at all Jayne Cobb." Shepherd Book gave him a 'holy look' as they washed dishes. Both men were watching the newest resident count out her money. She had quite a lot of coin, in part because she'd exchanged all her credit for hard cash, but mostly because that's what you gamble with.

"Well I figured you wouldn't." Jayne grumbled back while scrubbing a pot.

"I don't know much of her, but that little girl there doesn't need to be on a boat like this with a man like you."

"No, you don't know much of 'er. But that little girl there actually does need to be on this boat, and I'm the best man for her right now." He growled but didn't look the preacher in the eye. Madisyn was high-bred. Just because she'd had hard times recently didn't mean she fit on a smugglin' ship. "And you can just hold your sermons there Shepherd because so far as I know, I didn't touch her before the weddin' and I ain't intendin' on doin' it again any time soon."

"You'd best not." Book warned. "There's a special place in hell-"

"Yeah, yeah, we've all heard this before." Mal squeezed in behind the men to grab an apple. "You portionin' out your bill there little one?" He called toward the table.

"You know it." Madisyn called back. She'd decided to not think about things too hard, she was just going to let everything roll off of her. Of course, she could hear every word that was spoken in the kitchen area and wondered why the hell Jayne wouldn't want to rut with her anymore. Not that I want him to want me…after all, we aren't in a relationship or anything… "How much do you charge by the way, captain?"

…….

By dinnertime all the crew (save Mal) seemed to accept Madisyn's place with a humorous grin.

As Kaylee said "Things can git pretty borin' out here. So don't take offence Madi, it's just funny to see Jayne in a fix with the fairer sex. He's normally a rut em and leave em sort. He-"

"Madisyn don't need to hear that Zao gao." Jayne interrupted. For some reason he didn't want his wife to get a bad impression of him.

"Well, it is rather unusual for you to bring a woman home to meet us." Inara tore off a piece of bread to butter like a lady.

"Madi," Simon started, putting down his glass, "do you have anyone left on Osiris with whom you've remained in contact?"

"Of course not. The only people left who I actually liked are right here." She gave a sweet smile to her childhood friend and her older brother.

"So you have no family left Madi?" Zoe asked in a matronly tone, clearly concerned for the girl. There's a woman who wants a child of her own. Madisyn mused.

"No," She gave a short laugh and bumped shoulders playfully with her burly 'husband', "not unless you count Jayne here."

"When're you gonna take Madi to meet your mother Jaynie?" Mal queried in a sugar sweet voice.

Jayne looked uncomfortable. And angry. But that didn't worry Madisyn much; it seemed to be his default face while with anyone but her. "Shut up Mal. You know full well I can't go see my own mother right now, let 'lone take Madisyn with me."

Will he not call me Madi for a reason? Is he distancing himself? Should I even try to get close to him? I mean, yes. He is attractive. And you find him funny. And he's strong and would protect you from your enemies. He's basically a knight in dented, dirty armor. Is that what you want?

The comfortable, playful banter of the people of Serenity gave Madi a soft smile as she drifted out of the center of attention. If only if only. She sighed. A home would be nice. A family. This damn mockery of a marriage was truly a tease. Dangling what she wanted in her face. But it won't last. It couldn't even if it were real now could it?

…………

Madisyn had closed her eyes, giving Jayne the perfect opportunity to watch her without her knowing. Again.

He found he did that more often than was shiny.

She had a soft, sweet smile spread across her pink lips. Lips that just begged him to-Stop right there, man! But when it was calm like this, and she had that contented, happy little look on her pretty little face…he felt big and strong (well bigger and stronger than normal), but the best part was the peace he felt. He wasn't itching to move. He wasn't thinkin' darkly on men he'd killed or needed to. He didn't worry 'bout his mother or Matty or his father. All was good with the 'verse.

Fortunately her smile faded and snapped him back to reality. She looked sad, like she was wishin' for somethin' and then she looked a little angry and he didn't have a clue as to what could've set her off. But he wanted to stop it.

"Hey, Madisyn." He spoke softly not wantin' any one else in on his business and squeezed her knee under the table.

"Hm?" her face went perfectly care-less and lofty-like, obviously an actress face. But she did turn to him and after a moment it faded and was replaced with something more real. Something that told him she was tired and sad and alone and just needed a place to be, just needed someone to hold her.

And damn if he didn't want to be that someone.

"What is it Jayne?" She asked him with a touch more concern that was really necessary. But he s'pposed he wasn't making the most pleasant face now.

Damnit, he wouldn't be the one she needed because it was just wrong. She was too young and too innocent and too…just too gorram good for someone like Jayne Cobb damnit.

"It's nothin'." He grunted the reply and hardened his face to stop any argument. Thankfully she took the hint and didn't press. But his heart stuttered weakly when she squeezed his hand back for a moment before letting it go and rejoining the conversation.

………

Eventually dinner was over and the crew and passengers went their separate ways.

"I uh…I s'ppose I'll set you up a place somewheres." Jayne mumbled as she followed him down a passageway. The corridors were empty and they all looked the same to Madisyn.

"Set me up a place?" she looked up at him with her head tilted to the side like a love-sick puppy and it twisted his heart all up in knots.

He replied while rubbing his chest, hoping to ease the ache in his chest. "Yeah, I'm not gonna press myself on you, don't worry 'bout that."

He always speaks so gruffly. Half of Madisyn grinned to herself but…She was partly relieved he didn't expect sex from her (because of course she was nervous) but she was also partly disappointed. Why the hell would he not want to sleep with you?! He liked me last night, right? I distinctly remember him enjoying it. Of course… she mused I don't exactly remember much…

She couldn't think of anything to say that wouldn't leave her a pathetic, needy simpleton. So she just smiled indulgently up at him and let him interpret it however he chose.

"I guess you'll have a need for your things…" he muttered almost more to himself than the woman who walked just behind him. He turned abruptly and they were in what must have been the cargo bay.

Surely enough, a few cases were propped in a corner bearing tags with Madisyn's name on them. Jayne wouldn't let her carry the two bigger ones so she felt a little insignificant as she slung her toiletry bag over her shoulder. However she found it hard to suppress her grin. Yep, the armor may be a little banged up…but it's armor none the less.

As they kept walking, Madisyn began to get a feel for the ship. She'd learned it was a Firefly Class so she knew that it was shaped like a '+'. And it seemed that it had two main levels. Unfortunately, she remembered how to get to Jayne's room from the dining area and from there it seemed he was leading her as far away as was possible.

"Here's one of the passenger's berths." He grunted and slid a screen to the side. Revealed was what Madisyn assumed was a standard room. It was like that of a hotel except for the slight curvature of one wall. "Toilet's here." He muttered, putting her things down by the bed and kicking the toilet's release. With a small hissing sound it popped out of the wall. "Here's the sink." He pushed the toilet back before repeating with the sink. "And uh…" he rubbed the back of his neck and didn't look at her. "There's a showerin' room down the hall. Sign outside the door…" he looked around, trying to think of anything else, when he couldn't he clapped his hands together and turned to leave. "Well, if that's all then, I'm goin' to sleep, so…if you need anything…yeah."

Uh…do we shake hands? Hug? Kiss? Why does this have to be so awkward?! Madisyn shoved all of her jumbled emotions back as far as she could and instead mustered a kind smile for Jayne. "If I need anything, I'll figure it out." Jayne took a moment before giving her a smile back.

But his face wasn't made for insincerity and it looked wrong for him to smile without really feeling it.

"Sleep well Jayne." She put a hand on his bicep. "And thank you for…everything."

He merely grunted and walked out the door. "You sleep good to." He called back to her gruffly just before he disappeared around a corner.

Madisyn sighed and closed her door. Surveying her room she decided she needed a shower to mull over everything. "Sleep good, my ass." She mumbled sardonically.

……….

AN-alrighty, well, the next chapter is where it really starts to get good. Nothing naughty yet so don't worry/get your hopes up too high, just yet. I'd love to hear from you so leave a review, even if it's just a short little blurb about something that confused you or you found funny. Even something saying that you read it and your general feel for the story makes me a happy camper and I get motivated soit makes the writing better. :)

Much love

~Ceilidh