Oddly, while River Tam was feeling more and more at home on Serenity, Simon Tam was feeling less and less so. River was adjusting well to life on the galactic frontier. She seemed to be in control of her internal weapons to the point that he didn't even need her safe word anymore. She was fitting into a new role on Serenity, while Simon seemed to be stuck in the same rut as always. Stay out of the way, patch up Jayne, buy medical supplies, start over. In short, he felt that he was no longer pertinent.
So this adventure of his with Jayne was more important than just a shopping trip. It was his attempt at relevance.
"Follow me." Simon snapped, trying to sound authoritative.
Simon knew something had to change. His desire to return to Core society and to the hospital was gnawing at the back of his mind. It was like his father had said in his letter; it was time to come home. Even Kaylee couldn't make him feel like he belonged here on Serenity, and god knows she tried her hardest. If things were going to change, he'd have to do it himself and there was no better time to start than now, no better place to start than here with Jayne.
Today he would use Jayne, help out the captain out of this jam and prove his worth. It occurred to Simon that he was only proving this worth to himself, but that was the point. If it didn't work out, he'd have to accept his father's proposal and pray River would too. The harder decision was how to tell Kaylee.
"Well I'm all for this plan of yours, if there's money in it." The mercenary said. "Whatta we gonna do?"
Perhaps this scheme to follow the men rash, but there was no turning back now. He needed to prove that he could be useful outside a Hospital. Just now Jayne's enthusiasm was giving him second thoughts.
The two men lugged their packs through the crowds, making their way up Eavesdown Main Street to the north. Simon sizing up each side streets and alleys as they made their way to Saint Teresa's, looking for one that would work for his plan. He found one that suited him not far from the hospital and made note of it. Jayne tagged along occasionally glimpse of their shadows and slowly growing impatient.
"Them two are pretty good trackers for thugs. Good at the craft." Jayne observed as the entered the hospital. "I'd bet they been trained."
"You just stick by me." Simon ordered. "If this is going to work they need to lose us both at the same time."
"What ever you say, Doc."
Simon took care of what they needed at the hospital quickly enough. They picked up the supplies they needed at the supplemental care clinic. There was always someone there that wanted to turn a small profit on the excess in their supplies. They left the clinic with their shadows still following at a respectable distance, perhaps waiting for the two hunted to get to a less respectable part of town. Simon and Jayne backtracked toward the docks until they found the alley the doctor had selected.
"Up here." The doctor instructed.
"You do know that's a dead end."
"I'm betting that they know too, but it looks perfect."
"Perfect for what?"
"Just go." Simon snapped.
"You don't got to get snippy."
They ran quickly down the alley and through an arch near the end, by the trash bins.
"What now – smart guy?" Jayne threw his hands up in exasperation. "Now they got us cornered."
"Now we play hide and seek." Simon laughed. "River and I do this all the time."
"I ain't getting in no garbage." Jayne objected. "I'd rather just shoot 'em and get it over with."
"We're not hiding in the garbage." Simon said pointing up.
The mercenary looked up confused. After a short explanation they moved their packs to the front and linked arms behind. Back to back, they walked up the side of the narrow alley, Jayne's feet against one wall and Simon's on the other, until they were hidden behind the arch over the bins, completely out of sight.
"This is go tsau de fung luh." Jayne complained through gritted teeth.
"Shhh."
The hunters turned into the alley about a minute later and their reaction was just as Simon had planned. They were mystified by the disappearance of the two. After a quick casing the alley, finding no doors or evidence in the garbage below, the two men made there way back into the crowded street seeking their lost prey and chiding one another for having taken the wrong turn.
"So lil-sister taught you that?" Jayne said, congratulating him with a slap on the back after they'd dropped to the ground. "Who'd a think?"
"Hurry. We don't want to lose them."
"Now it's my turn." Jayne assured. "You just folla me and we'll track these suckers to the big money."
Simon felt oddly satisfied with himself, as he replaced his packs, though at the moment he was wondering why. He was now in the precarious position of being inconspicuous, something he was ill prepared to do well. He was also in the unenviable position of relying on Jayne for his safety. And when Jayne figured out that there was no money at the end of this trail, well …
"Surely I won't survive the night." He mumbled to himself.
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