Copper for a Kiss by Lady Cleo

All Disclaimers' Apply

Chapter Seven: Deadwood

2518 Early to Mid April

The streets bustled with life; pedestrians pushing through crowds and examining the cluttered tables, shouting and bargaining over the prices of bright objects and treasures.

Simon didn't bother with heckling merchants as he pushed his way through the crowd. Glancing along the buildings he dug into his pocket and produced the small leaflet of paper. Holding up the scrawled address in the light he glanced back down the road, spotting his destination just a little further down the street.

The Doctor pushed the paper back into his pocket and started to work his way forward. After taking only a couple steps he collided with another man. Simon stared up at the dirty man, his gaze falling down to the large gun that this towering ape clutched possessively to his chest.

"Sorry." Simon muttered apologetically, glancing back up at the man's head. But the face was shadowed by a cowboy hat.

Jayne snorted pushing past the fancible younger man. Hesitating for a moment, he turned back around to watch the young man scurry off, a familiar nagging bugging his innards. Shrugging off the feeling, the Mercenary continued his search. "Girl? Girl? Woman, where'd you wander off to?"

Pushing forward, the Mercenary spun around, glancing over the heads that surrounded him. "Ain't got time to play these games—," he started to shout, but paused when he spotted a familiar boot sticking out from underneath a table.

Storming over to the table, the Mercenary dropped down into a hunch and peered into the dark shadows. "You done yet, woman?"

A bright pair of shining eyes lifted to meet his. Producing a small tabby kitten, the girl held aloft her new friend towards the Mercenary. "She's lonely. Lost all her brother's and sisters when the nice man bought her."

Jayne snorted pushing the kitten away, "You get everything ya need? Under-thingies and all that girly stuff?"

River nodded as she cuddled the kitten to her chest with one hand. Reaching around she produced a black duffel and pushed it towards Jayne. "Properly outfitted." Sending the Mercenary a glare she redirected her attention down to the small kitten. "Wouldn't have needed to if the silly boy hadn't left all her things behind."

Jayne snorted once more and addressed the mewing kitten, "You tell her the next time we're running from the feds I'll be glad to stop and get her stuff. Then she can show off all 'em pretty dresses to her blue hand buddies." River rolled her eyes. "Let's get off this ruttin' rock already." Reaching out, Jayne grabbed her hand and pulled the girl out from underneath the table.

Slinging the second duffel over his shoulder, Jayne stood and started forward into the crowd. Quickly drawing to a halt he thrust out his arm to stop the genius' progress. "The rodent stays."

River frowned, "Not a rodent."

"Don't give a damn what it is, ain't no captain gonna take aboard a stinking little fur ball."

Smoothing down the fur on the kitten's head, River gave the small creature a gentle kiss. "Jayne's right; logic is infallible. You'll have to stay here and be a good little kitty." Turning around, she gently set the mewling kitten on the merchant's table wearing a sad smile. "Remember what I told you."

Turning away River silently joined the waiting Mercenary. "What'd ya tell it?" Jayne inquired peering down at her from beneath the shadows of the cowboy hat.

River grabbed a hold of his hand, beaming up at him, "Told her she must be patient. Hers will come along when the time is right."

-

Simon carefully descended the steep cement steps and pushed open the rickety old door, confidently entering the musty little shop. The small building was crowded with rows of cluttered wooden shelves. Odd objects and old antiques that looked to be in bad need of a good dusting lined the aisles and crowded the free spaces.

Working his way through the maze, Simon located the cash register in a far corner. A young man stood behind the counter slowly working his way through a box of antiques.

Simon cleared his throat and the kid looked up, "Help ya find something?"

"Ah, yes." Simon answered back cryptically. "I'm looking for a twenty ninth century stapler."

A disappointed frown flashed across the kid's face. "They're in the back room." Motioning with his head towards a nondescript door, the boy picked up the next item in the box.

Simon nodded his thanks and turned away. Stepping over another box of antiques the doctor approached the door, his hand falling slowly to the handle as he gently pushed it open.

-

Monty surveyed the loading of the Sovereign with a happy grin; leaning back on his heels he tucked his thumbs into his belt. "Hurry it along, got a time table to keep."

"Since when do you give a damn 'bout ruttin' time tables?" A rough, familiar voice questioned.

Spinning around Monty caught the small girl in a tight bear hug as she threw herself into his arms. "Well, if it ain't the 'verse's oddest couple." He greeted. Dropping the small girl back to her feet, he gently ruffled her long wild locks. "Jayne been keeping ya fed and all." River nodded bouncing onto her toes. "Good." The large man grinned as he turned to look up at the Mercenary. "Heard you ran into a little trouble on Santo."

"Nothing much," Jayne shrugged, "Able to drop us on Trillion? Supposed to be meeting bunch of new partners."

Monty frowned and turned back to River, "Still ain't been able to talk him outta the whole partner gig?" River shook her head, "Well keep at it girl. He's bound to come around eventually."

"We ain't joining your crew, an' that's final." Jayne barked. "You ought to stop encouraging her. It's getting down right annoying, her bringing up the subject 'bout every time we're scheduled ta meet up with a bunch of new ones."

Monty snorted indignantly, "Ain't told her to do nothing boy." He paused as a small hand came up to tug on his brown coat.

"Soup catcher?" River questioned titling her head in curiosity.

Monty laughed scratching at his beardless chin, "The missus didn't like it."

"Missus?" Jayne's eyebrow hiked up, "What'd ya go and get married for?"

"The little woman surprised me, hitched me while my trousers were down." Leaning his head back, the Sovereign's captain hollered loudly, "Bridget."

She stepped out of nowhere, small, lithe and light; bright-red hair falling around her shoulders. River's head snapped from the woman to glare up at Jayne, her hands clenching into tight fists. Jayne's mouth dropped open, eyes roaming over the supple curves of the other woman's body, tongue almost hanging to his chin.

"Bridget, like ya ta meet Jayne and River. Been trying to get them two to join the crew, but they ain't bitten yet. We're gonna make a quick detour and drop 'em off on Trillion. Ain't but a hop and a skip way from the drop as it is."

"Pleasure to meet you." The red-head smiled coyly up at Jayne as he shifted in place, and he snapped his mouth closed even as his eyes appeared to be fixed in place. Bridget turned back to Monty calmly, "We're all loaded up and ready to go."

"Right." Monty grinned, "You two can take your usual bunk while me and the missus get this ship off the ground." Turning, the Captain led his wife away, whistling merrily as Bridget rolled her eyes.

Jayne watched the swaying hips depart, his head titling slightly, tongue on the verge of lolling out. The combat boot descended from nowhere smashing down on his unsuspecting toes with an awesome force.

"Gorram it." Jumping away from the smaller girl Jayne hobbled on one leg. "What in ruttin' hell you do that for?" He demanded, glaring down at the genius from a safe distance.

"Accident." River answered with a disdainful huff. Turning on her toes she waltzed up the ramp leaving the Mercenary to watch her progress with a baffled expression.

"Accident my ass."

-

"Doctor Tam," the familiar voice greeted Simon as he stepped around the boxes that lined the floors. Three faces smiled in silent acknowledgment. "We're glad you could make it. Heard your ship got delayed in New Gable."

Simon frowned for a second. "Yes, we had a little trouble losing my tail. But Captain Worthington and I were finally able to shake him by taking a detour around the Danbury meteor belt."

The elder gentlemen stepped forward, sliding around a table and pulling a chair out from behind another pile of boxes. "Would ya like to sit, doc?"

Simon nodded slipping into the old wooden chair across from the other two men. "Thank you, Mister Rodgers. I trust you received my funds."

Rodgers nodded, slowly leaning back against the table and wearing a small grin. "Perfectly. Transferred without a hitch, and I'm glad to say you ain't gonna be disappointed with our continued association." Reaching into his pocket the elder man pulled out a pipe and match. Slowly lighting the tobacco, he jerked his head towards the two younger men at the table. "You remember David and Michigan Cordy?"

"Of course." Simon nodded to the two brothers. "These are the men you've had tracking my sister. We've meet occasionally over the past year."

"As you know, doc," Michigan, the elder of the two boys started, pulling out a thick manila folder that he then pushed it across the table towards Simon. "We've been tracking your sister in her voyages, trying to keep up with her. In our last communication we mentioned that we were able to follow her trail to little place called Anita Prime."

"That's right. From there you inexplicably lost her as I understood it." Simon declared slowly opening the folder he peered down at the contents. "We've already gone over these documents—"

"Yes, sir" David grinned. "But after we informed you of what happened we got word of another encounter 'tween little River and the Feds." He explained, kicking back in his chair. "It happened on Santo, so we weren't able to catch her in time; but we did manage to get our hands on something else."

Michigan reached under the table and pulled up the black duffel bag, setting it before the young doctor. "Personal effects that we discovered were hers. They were being pursued by an entire planet of feds and it appears that they didn't have time to grab the basics."

Simon reached out tentatively to touch it, his eyes scouring over the minute details of the simple cloth bag. "I- how did you- can this help us?" Simon finally managed to mutter.

"Hell yeah." David grinned, "We were able to lift a couple of Cobb's fingerprints. And with that kind of info on our hands we were able to hack into the Feds prime computer system, and got a background on our boy Jayne Cobb." Simon's head jerked up. "Finally something to go on 'sides the seedy, backwater types who don't like to talk to us."

"Cobb's wanted on four planets: three Cores' and one rim." Michigan explained. "It's all in the folder, back page. Even this far out Cobb's become a pretty familiar name. He worked in the dingy basics for a long time as a hired gun. 'Bout two years back he got it in his head to make a name for himself, and headed for the Cores'. Even worked for a couple of big names, some you're probably familiar with." Reaching across the table Michigan flipped over the page Simon was looking at and pointed to a long list. "Those are all the ones he's worked in the past fifteen years; the bottoms are the Core names."

Simon frowned, browsing over the list as David continued speaking. "Worked mainly as muscle and gun for hire; got in some real trouble for robbing an Alliance hold on Sihnon. Made himself some big enemies 'fore he met your sister on Ariel; we reckon he was robbing the hospital. We don't have all the details, but his partner was setting him up for a catch, and he and the girl were detained. But they managed to escape-"

"But what does he want with my sister and why are they still traveling around together?" Simon questioned. Looking up from the papers he glanced at the other two for a long moment. "What have they been doing?"

Rodgers shifted uncomfortably, "Boys? I think it's time ya tell him your theory. You ain't gonna like it doc."

Simon furrowed his eyebrows as he responded, "That's for me to decide."

"Well, doc" Michigan shifted uncomfortably in his chair, "Based on the transactions they had--and ain't none of this solid, mind you as we ain't got any substantial proof--but we think she and Cobb have been-" the younger boy exchanged a glance with his brother. "We think they've been doing jobs."

"Jobs?" Simon inquired, an eyebrow hiking into his hairline. "What kid of jobs?"

"Crime." Rodgers barked. "They think she and Cobb have been teaming up and pulling heists, stealing shit and selling it on the black markets."

Simon's mouth dropped open, completely surprised. "Excuse me? Did you just say crime?"

-

Jayne gazed down at the bevy of beauties laid out before him and grinned. "Which one of you pretty ladies need a scrub down?" Reaching out he picked up a 9mm automatic pistol. "How 'bout you Caroline?" With the ease and efficiency brought by years of practice, Jayne began to carefully dismantle the weapon.

"She's a liar."

Jayne looked up from the weapon as River slowly descended the stairs into the common room. "Who?"

"The girl, she's a liar and a thief. She'll take what she wants to and leave nothing for the mice." Trailing her fingers along the table, River slowly approached the confused man. Moving around his chair she hovered just behind his shoulder, watching as he meticulously cleaned the gun.

Jayne snorted, "Who ain't a lair and a thief?" The Mercenary paused in his work, head slowly lifting as he smirked, gladly recalling the supple curves of the woman's body. "Damn, if that don't make her even more attractive."

River frowned, stepping forward she nimbly climbed over the back of the chair, and forced herself between the Mercenary and the back of the chair as she slid in between them. "What the hell you doin' girl?"

Wrapping her arms around his waist, River dropped her head down to rest on his back hiding a smirk, satisfied that her actions could chase the images of Bridget from his head. "Getting comfortable."

Jayne shook his head, shifting forward in his seat so that she wasn't pressed so closely to him. "You're one hell of a crazy woman." He muttered, focusing once again on the weapon in his hands.

"Told you- not crazy."

"Hell girl, if'n the shoe fits might as well wear it."

River harrumphed, pushing herself to her feet to clamber over Jayne she ignored his protesting grunt. Crossing the table she slumped into the chair across from him. Turning so her back faced the Mercenary she dangled her arms over the back of the chair and glared off into space.

"What'd I do now?" Jayne demanded. The girl ignored him and the Mercenary shrugged, picking up the next weapon in need of cleaning. "You're actin' mighty jealous girl."

River's stiffened, her spine ram-rod straight.

"Ain't no need for it. Monty'd never forgive me for stealing his woman like that. 'Sides already got me a decent partner; ain't likely she'd be smarter than you girl." Jayne muttered focusing in on the weapon in his hands. "Sides' you and me are family. You're like a little sister or something, and I ain't liable to just drop ya for a pretty face."

Sighing, the girl slumped back against the chair, her shoulders sagging in defeat.

"How's my favorite awkward couple doin' this evening?" Monty questioned as he stepped down into the common room. "Ain't looking too chipper there little River."

Jumping to her feet, the smaller girl dashed across the room and grabbed hold of the captain's hand, dragging him over to Jayne. "Tell him."

"Huh?" Jayne stared up at the crazy girl with a blank expression, slowly setting the weapon down.

Turning back to Monty River bounced excitedly up onto her toes, "We want you to marry us."

"Hell no." Jayne barked, pushing back from the table. He then jumped up to his feet and grabbed the girl, pulling her over to him as he stared back at the Captain nervously. "Girl's crazy."

"Said we're family." River declared, glaring up at the Mercenary. "Two by two, every one a match, a mate-"

"What the hell you talkin' bout? You've gone even loonier-" Once again River silenced him with one well placed heavy boot, stomping down mightily upon his foot and making him hiss in pain. "Gorram it girl, what the hell did they plate them boots with?"

"The captain took a wife. We'll take care of each other," Jayne's mouth gaped open as he stared down into the girls face, "I'll Knit."

"Now that sounds like a mighty fine idea to me. We can have a little shindig; be a nice break from the usual." Monty laughed, glancing down at the small girl. "Reckon the crew would enjoy something of the likes."

"Now don't you go encouraging her." Jayne stammered, finally gaining control over his motor functions. Turning away from the Mercenary, River crossed the room to one of the couches and grabbed a pillow. "She's already got strange enough notions without you humoring them-" Jayne paused as River returned to his side, the pillow shoved under her shirt.

"Now we have to get married."

Monty burst out into laughter, doubling over as Jayne gaped down at the smaller girl. "Reckon she's right, Jayne, it'd be the proper thing ta do consider' how ya knocked her up and all."

"It ain't funny." Briefly glaring at the laughing captain, Jayne turned back to the girl at his side. "What's gotten into you? That ain't something to be joking around about. Why'd I want to go and get hitched to a crazy girl? Ain't no way in hell I'd do that."

Turning sharply on her heel, River quickly fled from the room.

Monty frowned, shaking his head gently as he stared after the girl's retreating path. "Now why'd ya have to go and do a thing like that Jayne? It ain't right. Can't ya see the little bit's got a thing for you?"

"Don't know what in the hell you're talking 'bout. She's just crazy is all."

"Jayne," Monty declared with a sad shake of his head. "You and the girl have known each other for at least a year. You've done just about everything together, spent night and day in each other's hair."

"Yeah, so?"

"And you've been the one that takes care of her. 'Bout the only stable thing in her life-" Monty shifted on his feet, carefully watching the Mercenary. "It ain't ever dawned on you that the little girl likes ya?"

"What's that got to do with anything?" A light suddenly dashed through Jayne's eyes. "Wait a minute, are you saying the little bit has a- has a crush on me? Ya mean she likes me, like a woman likes a man- who ain't related? Aw, hell no. Ain't no ruttin' way."

"Think about it, Jayne. Her getting all jealous over Bridget being around, and them thoughts probably running through your head sure ain't the cleanest. She damn well knows that you ain't interested in playing big brother to my Bridget." The Mercenary frowned. "What the hell you think we just played out that whole marriage thingy for? Seems to me she's got a hankerin' ta be more than just your little partner." Tucking his thumbs in his belt the Captain turned around and strolled causally out of the room shaking his head.

Jayne scratched at his chin for a second then dropped his hands down to his belt, shifting uncomfortably. "Nah can't be. Just ain't possible." He muttered glancing off in the direction that Monty had ambled to. "That don't make no kind of sense."

-

The black duffel bag sat on the bed untouched.

Simon shifted in his chair, biting down on his lip as he stared. It was just a bag--just her personal effects. It couldn't possibly-- Simon shook his head and stood, marching silently across the room. Hovering above it he then reached out his hand and wondered if it contained weapons and stolen artifacts? What if it proved that all the nightmarish visions he's had of his sister were true?

Simon jerked back his hand and shook his head to clear his thoughts. "It doesn't matter. Even if she has been turned into an apprentice thief, she's still your sister." Resolutely he reached down and firmly pulled on the zipper.

A bright red flowered dress stared back at him; Simon's shoulders sagged with relief.

-

Note: The timeline used is based off of Edgar Governo's, which you can find a link for off my homepage which is listed on the author's profile.

Short compared to the 17 pages of Chapter Six. As always a thousand thanks to the betas for putting up with my sometimes very troublesome and bothersome personage. Next chapter- more Simon to come and a certain sketchbook's reappearance-