Title: Gravity Prompt: None, this now strays away from the Firefly 100 Characters/Pairings: River, Jayne, pre-rayne. Rating: PG Wordcount: 300 Disclaimer: Not mine, not paid, don't sue. Notes: This time the fairy tale is "The little Mermaid". Thanks to Guinny_Hamilton for the quick beta. This is the last Fairy Tale connected drabble, epilogue with some explanations to follow.
Gravity
Jayne was trying to take a nap to make up for his disturbed night when his hatch clicked open and someone fell more than climbed down into his bunk.
He sat up to find River trying to get to her feet and falling down every time she tried.
"Girl." He was out of bed, his arms around her, before he'd started to think or wonder what she was doing in his bunk again. The Doc had loaded her up with smoothers and told Jayne she would sleep for hours.
Her head lolled as he carried her to his bed, holding her there on his lap. Her head tipped forward onto his chest and her hands clenched weakly at his shirt.
"What ya doin' here girl? Doc said it'd be like walkin' on razor blades the mess you made of yer feet." Jayne had a nasty suspicion he sounded just like his Ma, but scolding had to be better than what he really wanted to do, which was shake her silly.
River lifted her head with difficulty, forcing her eyes open. The life in them washed in and out as she fought to stay awake. She mouthed something slowly but he couldn't catch any words.
"What, girl? What is it?"
Her leaden arms lifted and her palms cupped his face. Her face scrunched up, as if she was building up for something and she carefully and slowly shaped two words without sound. Jayne thought it was "I'm sorry."
"What'ya gotta be sorry about?"
She almost managed a smile, then leaned in and kissed him, or rather her lips bumped into his, sliding away when her head fell forward again. Her hands fell away from his face, her arms dropped. Whatever drug Simon had given her took hold and she slept smiling.