Chapter four
AN-part of this was going to be in chapter three, but I had to get this ending out, so here it is! A little Jaynie/Madi time.
"Ha!" Jayne huffed as he headed to take one hell of a freezing cold shower. "Sleep well, my ass." He had a towel in over one shoulder and a pair of pants over the other and me stomped more forcefully than usual in an attempt to work out his frustration.
He'd tried to go to sleep like the girl'd said, but he just lay in his bunk tossin' and turnin' till he couldn't stand it anymore. So he jumped up and stomped out to his weights and worked himself into a sweat until he couldn't finish another rep. Then he'd grabbed a towel and a pair of pants (you did not want to get caught pant-less on this ship. Hell you'd never hear the end of it) and now here he was.
'Course the damn showers had to be down by the passenger's rooms. I'll just slide in, slide out. Won't make a sound. She'll never know I was here.
He crept into the bathroom with a thundering heart. He couldn't decide what he'd do if he saw Madisyn in here. But he was half afraid he'd throw her against the wall and take her in the spray.
Stop it! He wanted to hit his own self. She's not really your wife. She doesn't need you for anything 'xcept keepin' her safe. Plus she don't even want you.
Jayne was alone in the bathroom and sighed in relief. Then he sighed again in disappointment. His memory of last night may've been a bit fuzzy but he sure as hell remembered what she looked like naked. …and how she felt- Stop it! He yelled at himself. I don' wanna. Another part of him countered. 'sides, she sure acted like she wanted you awful bad last night…
In the end he finished his shower in peace and trudged back up to his own lonely bunk, his arms and legs felt like lead and his back and stomach were sore. But the burn from the workout would be a good pain, come this time tomorrow.
He laid himself down on his back with his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. Settling down to sleep, his last thought was of how nice it'd be if Madisyn were there in the dark beside him.
………..
Madisyn woke with a start, as a scream died in her throat.
She had been dreaming. She knew that. She was safe on Serenity. Niska had no idea where she was, and even if he did there was no way he could've caught up with them. Space was big.
But his accented voice still rang in her ears. The memory of the one time they'd met and the dream she'd just awoken from made her blood coagulate in her veins. In real life he'd not spoken directly to her. He'd not touched her. But in the dream he did all he promised her father he would.
She'd been chained where her father's blood still flaked on the floor, stick in some places against her bare feet. And Niska was a sadistic bastard.
No, not a bastard. There were more than enough good bastards in the world. Niska was a…He's a monster!
Alone in her dark bunk, Madisyn couldn't calm herself. Her heart pounded so hard she could feel the skin on her chest twitching. Maybe I should go take a shower…But she quickly discarded the idea. No way was she going to venture out of the illusion of safety that was her room to go be naked and unprotected somewhere else.
I wish Jayne were here. A tiny voice whimpered from deep inside her core and an image of her wrapped safe in his strong arms permeated her vision.
She shook her head.
It was a stupid thought. He wasn't anything to her. Yes, he said he'd protect her from her biggest fear. But he wasn't her boyfriend. Just because they were technically married didn't make him her husband.
Go to him. Another voice commanded. And, scared as she was, in the dark, in a strange new place…she did.
…..
Creeping through the halls in the dead of night (although who could tell what time it was off planet?) Madisyn made her way to Jayne's bunk. She had to think about the ship's layout to get to the Mess, but she remembered where his room was from there.
I hope he doesn't- she cut off her own thoughts and focused only on the sound around her. Waiting for some sign someone else was around, or that Niska had somehow, magically got onboard and was stalking her. Don't think, don't think, don't think. Lord knew thinking was only going to get her more scared and she'd chicken out before she even reached her destination.
Don't be mad. She preyed when she pushed open Jayne's door. It wasn't locked, so she wasn't technically doing anything bad.
Yeah, but you didn't knock either.
She climbed down the rungs as quietly as possible and ghosted to his bunk. In the dim glow of something in his room she could see dark circles under his eyes and haggard lines of strain on his face and her heart ached. You're responsible for at least some of that you know.
I know… I just…I have to ask him for this one thing more…as selfish as that makes me.
…I need him.
She took her robe off, draping it across a chair, and moved closer to his bed.
He jerked awake just as she was getting close. "Whu!?" he huffed, reaching for a weapon.
"Shhh." She soothed, feeling ashamed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, shh, it's ok. It's just me." She climbed up beside him, running her hands over his chest and arms.
"Madi?" he mumbled sleepily, there was a dopey little smile playing across his lips and Madisyn felt a tugging low in her stomach and an almost undeniable urge to kiss it.
Did he mean 'Madi' or is he just to tired to say my whole name?
"It's me." She answered softly and scooted down so she could lay beside him.
He was awake enough by now to think and a frown slowly shadowed his features. But is there a hint of uncertainty there? She wondered. Is it wishful thinking? Or does he want me?
"What're you doin' here?" He whispered. But before she could answer he jerked up to his elbows and grabbed her arms. "Are you a'right? Did somethin' happen? What's wrong?!"
"It's nothing." She moved her own hands to his arms, gripping him not to hold him, but to reassure him…Right. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
He didn't look like he would accept that answer. But telling him the truth felt stupid.
It's either feel stupid or feel like a slut. She told herself. You were either scared and you needed him, or you were horny and you needed him. Which do you want him to think of you when you're gone?
"It's just," she faltered but continued, looking away from him. His brows were furrowed but his eyes were wide as he searched her face for…something, "It's just, I had a nightmare…can I sleep with you?" She added in a small, weak voice.
..........
Can she sleep with you?! Are you kiddin'!!? Hell yes! Of course she can sleep with you! This is just what I've always wanted. Jayne felt like his Christmas list had just been made a reality. His sexy little non-wife-wife had crept up on him in the middle of the night, with her hair all loose and tumblin' down and her creamy skin covered by that soft, thin nightgown of hers…She'd come to him. Scared from a nightmare she'd come to him to protect her, and damn if that didn't just endear her to him a little more.
No one came to him for protection. And certainly not comfort. His mind scoffed at the thought. Not even his little brother Matty came to him with the innocence of this little chit. But here she was…disbelief. That is what this is called. You're experiencin' disbelief.
"Um…" Madisyn blushed. I guess I shoulda said somethin' "so…can I stay with you?"
He said nothing, just shimmed to the edge and pulled on her until she was draped over him. She squeaked a little, her eyes were wide, but he thought he saw a bit of a smile pulling at her lips.
…her lips…
"You sleep by the wall." He commanded, his voice deeper than he normally used and gravely from sleep.
She sighed when he settled her down in the crook of his arm and a smile did spread across her face when he wrapped his other arm over her, pulling her tight, keeping her safe. "Better?" He breathed in her scent and spoke softly into her hair gruffly. Her warm weight seemed to anchor her to reality more than anything had in the past.
"Much better." She wiggled closer, tighter into his embrace and kissed his arm. "Thank you Jayne." She whispered.
It was quiet and dark in his bunk. And he'd been riding with Mal and Zoe for quite some time now. But Serenity had never felt more like home than it did right that instant with his wife in his arms. Sleep dragged him down but he wanted to enjoy the moment.
Enjoy it because you can never have it again. You're not gonna rut her and doin' this some more'll just lead you to doom. Remember, she was drunk. She don't want you.
But a man can dream…
"Sleep Madi." He murmured and held her close, drifting off with a smile on his face.
AN-Yay! And here we get a little glimpse into something fun…Tell me what you think. Again, I am thinking of taking it down because I'm not too happy with the way it's all flowing (think of this as my rough draft), so leave a review and tell me what you think I can do to improve it. Or just tell me what you thought in general. Short reviews are better than no reviews!