Disclaimer: I own nothing… Really, I'm student, I literally own nothing!

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long, I'm in the first round of midterms at university. Oh joy! Thank you to all my wonderful, superb, loyal, amazing, supportive reviewers (what other adjectives can I use?)! You've all been so astonishing in your fondness for this story.

GarniGal – hmm, possibly cookies would work for bribes; virtual chocolate chip cookies… mmmmm! Or anything else you can think of. Maybe you can ask Cassie where my cherry is??
DestinyManifested – welcome to the Firefly fanfic 'verse! There are some pretty spectacular writers here, especially doing Rayne, so enjoy!

Jayne walked quietly through the sleeping ship, towel over his shoulder, intent on having a bit of a workout before going to bed. However, he found when he reached the bay, that he had been preempted in its use. They were a week out of Persephone and he still found himself watching her closer than what was right. The mercenary didn't know what it was about her that he found so distracting, but somehow River Tam had been catching his eye far more than necessary. And now here she was, interrupting his intended workout. He could bring himself to be too annoyed though, not when she was doing what she was doing.

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River had been restless, pacing the confines of the shuttle. She wasn't use to set sleeping patterns anymore, or so little activity, and even the lingering smells of incense and Inara couldn't calm her. Finally giving up on sleeping, she had grabbed a few items and gone out into the bay.

Taking up a pose in the middle of the bay, she had closed her eyes, centered herself and begun a dance that was as familiar to her as breathing was to others. First without the sword, and then in a graceful twist away from an imaginary opponent, she had swept the blade up and brought it into play. Ducking and weaving, dancing with her shadow and her imagination, the genius assassin fought an invisible foe, her body moving fluidly, her eyes still closed.

This was how Jayne found her when he came out into the cargo bay and he couldn't tear his eyes away. This was what he had always sensed, had glimpsed in her back when she was still crazy; the danger and the grace that were as much a part of her then, as they were now. It had made him uneasy back then, he knew that she was dangerous, even if no one else was going to admit it. Now, he just stood and watched her with a fellow fighter's appreciation for skillful destruction. And a little bit of a different type of appreciation.

He swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry, as she lifted one leg back up behind her head, kicking an invisible adversary in back of her, drawing his attention the long limb. He wondered dimly how he had never noticed her legs before, how long and smoothly muscled they were; dancer's legs, warrior's legs.

Utterly mesmerized by her fluid movements, he didn't move from the catwalks until she finally came to a halt near his weights, the sword held at her side.

River kept her eyes closed for a minute after she finished her workout, feeling the presence standing above her. It was Jayne, she would have known even if she wasn't a reader. She didn't know what it was about him that had always fascinated her, had drawn her even when she was crazy. She hadn't given it much thought the last few years, having been occupied with more important things, but now that she was back, she wondered at it again. She opened her eyes.

"You can come down if you like, I'm finished." He shifted above her.

"Ya sure, ya ain't even breathing hard yet." Jayne protested, a little startled by her invitation. They had never really had much to do with each other, either 4 years ago or in the past week. Nonetheless, he turned and walked slowly down the stairs and joined her by his bench.

"I know, but I have worked out most of the agitation in my body, which was my reason for coming down here. The bay is free for your use now." That said, River made to turn away, when Jayne's voice stopped her.

"The inactivity gettin' to ya? Bugs me too, after I spend awhile outta the Black." He paused, momentarily unsure. "You're welcome to use the weights anytime yer feelin' restless. I know they always help me sleep, might do the same for you."

Surprised, River turned and stared at the merc. "Thank you Jayne, I might take you up on that." She rolled her neck and discovered that her muscles were starting to cool and tighten. She had initially planned to stretch in the shuttle, thinking Jayne would not want her presence, but now she decided that it could be done here.

Jayne watched with a bit of wholly male appreciation and a certain amount of shock as she suddenly dropped down into the splits, setting her sword gently on the ground beside her as she did. She then bent forward, touching her forehead to her knee and holding for a moment, before bending all the way backwards over her back leg. From there, she moved into another stretching position, legs in the straddles and arms high above her head.

"I been meaning to ask ya, what's the scar on yer stomach?" Jayne asked, tearing his eyes away and dropping down on his bench. He noticed out of the corner of his eye, that she suddenly dropped her arms.

"It is a battle injury." She said quietly, her face closing off. "Nothing more than that."

Jayne quirked an eyebrow at her reaction. "Seems a bit more'n that," he said casually, lifting a pair of dumbbells and beginning his own nighttime workout, all the while watching her face. She didn't disappoint.

A flash pain when through River, reflected in her eyes, as she remembered the cause of the scar on her stomach. And who had dealt the blow. Sometimes she wondered what was more painful, the wound when it happened or the memory after of the circumstances behind it. It was a toss-up, really.

"We all have scars, Jayne Cobb, those on this ship more than most. I do not wish to discuss this, if you wouldn't mind." She suddenly remembered that she was supposed to be stretching, so she switched positions and continued to loosen her muscles.

Frowning, Jayne looked at her. "I ain't gettin' what the problem is, we all got scars, just like ya said. What's so different 'bout that one?"

River closed her eyes and, in a near whisper, pleaded with the merc. "Please Jayne, not right now; do not ask me that tonight." Seeing what his questioning was doing to her, Jayne decided to back off. Looking around the bay for inspiration for a new topic of conversation, he spied her new accommodations.

"Yer brother's been wondering why ya chose to stay in the shuttle, 'nstead of being back in yer old room." He commented, switching to a different set of weights and beginning a new set of lifts.

She smiled, grateful for the change in topic. Apparently Jayne could be thoughtful and perceptive when he chose to be. "I find the shuttle comforting; Inara's essence still lingers there. Also, I enjoy the privacy and occasional seclusion it affords."

The mercenary nodded, he could understand the urge. "Makes sense, bet you ain't used to being in such close proximity to so many people anymore. Can make anyone a might twitchy."

Once again amazed and grateful for his unexpected understanding, River became more gregarious. The two fighters, their workouts and beds long forgotten, stayed up till the small hours of the morning, sitting first in the bay, then moving to the mess, their conversation meandering from topic to topic. It was a unique experience for both of them, as they gained a greater understanding of the person next to them. By the time they parted company, not long before the rest of the crew started to rise, the rift between them, wider even than the one between Jayne and Simon, had begun to close. Sharing a final smile, they had headed towards opposite ends of the ship, intent on sleeping, even for a few hours.

A/N: I know it's short, but I wanted to get something out for you guys! I hope this is okay. Don't worry the Rayne-y goodness will be coming soon! I just don't want them suddenly leaping into each other's arms, when the last time they saw each other, there was a lot of bad blood. It'll be soon though, promise!

You all know the drill; reviews are like candy!! -Druid