Copper for a Kiss by Lady Cleo

All Disclaimers Apply

Chapter Nine: Triumph

2518 Mid- Late April

"Things have been set into action." The bonfire flames flickered entrancingly before Jayne. "You have troubles ahead, many troubles ahead that will bring you much pain and more strife." Jayne nodded his head, only vaguely listening to the words of the elder beside him as he watched the small girl interweave between the flames and the dancers. "You will need much guidance."

"This- this makes the rain come for eternity." Rain? Jayne pulled his head away from the captivating movements towards the elder. "The rain is very scarce, comes only when needed most. And such it is with men like you." Jayne teetered for a second as the old man suddenly shoved a long brown stick into his hands. "It is a gift, for the journey you must now take; one that will lead you through pain to great hope and joy."

Jayne turned his gaze back down to the fine grain of wood. "This is the most- you, friend. You're the guy." Having already thrown his inhibitions to the wind with a second bottle of something intoxicating, Jayne pulled the older man into a brief tight hug, "I will treasure this." The elder grinned and pulled back from the rough hug, his attention quickly wandering to the dancers.

Jayne held the stick aloft, watching the bonfire shadows playing across the grain of wood. Keeping his new toy close, Jayne shifted back to watching the dancers for the small form of his girl, bobbing his head in tune to the jig.

"Silly Jayne."

Jayne's head snapped up and he squinted, trying to focus on River's weaving form before him. Roughly tapping the elder on the shoulder, Jayne pointed back up at the girl, "It's my little genius, ain't she cute? Kinda soft in the head, but you get used to that.

Ruttin' alliance messed with her head," he mumbled more to himself than to the old man.

Fighting to keep himself upright, Jayne brushed off the impression that the world had suddenly started spinning. "Look what I got," shoving the stick towards River he grinned, then turned back to his bench mate. "She's got a funny name huh? River- Ri-v-er -sounds- sounds like River, don't it?"

Something dropped on top of his head, threatening to throw his already shaky equilibrium off. Startling back around, Jayne looked up at the small genius, watching her as she slowly she knelt before him. A small bowl filled with a familiar liquid seemed to appear in her hands. "More whiskey," Jayne grinned reaching out for it.

"No, silly," River declared. Pulling the bowl out of his reach for a second, she shook her head, "Sweet wine for the occasion."

"That'll do just as well." Grinning Jayne reached out to take the bowl, but she slapped his hand away for a second and glared at him.

"Patience." Lifting the bowl to Jayne's lips she tilted it slightly, allowing the wine to dribble down his throat. Pulling the empty bowl away, she set the object down along with the stick. Standing back up, River grabbed Jayne's hands. "Dance now and everything's complete." Pulling the unstable man to his feet, she faltered under his weight, stumbling towards the center bonfire.

Jayne grinned down at her, tweaking her nose with his fingers, "Love ta dance with ya crazy." Sweeping an arm around her waist he lifted the small girl off her feet, spinning around into the circle of dancers.

-

An eyelid cracked open- and closed.

Reaching out, Jayne grabbed for the soft warm body that usually curled against his side- and met empty space. Lifting a hand to shield his eyes Jayne cracked open an eyelid, peering through the haze and up at the little woman who hovered over him.

"River, what in ruttin' hell ya think you're doin?" Jayne moaned closing his eyes again. "Don't gotta be nowhere soon, go back ta sleep." Reaching out he grabbed a hold of her small body and pulled her back down to the bed.

Squealing, River fought his grip and crawled away from him, "Sun's risen, Zhang-fu-"

Jayne's eyes flashed open, "Zhang-fu?" Bolting up right he turned to look at the small girl sitting on the edge of the bed. "What the hell you mean by Zhang-fu," Jayne demanded, rapidly trying to get a hold of his bearings. The vague recollection of hearing

Gable or Carson twittering on about marriage ceremonies of Triumph Settlers tried to surface through the fog. "What in hell happened last night?"

"Jayne passed out, too much poison in his veins made the world spin and the ground leap up. Elder Gommen offered guest room to the newlyweds and carried you here," River explained with a causal smile that only set off Jayne's panic button.

"Newlyweds-" Jayne choked out.

River grinned down at her husband, titling her head to the side and letting the waves of brown hair fall forward to frame her face. "The woman lays a wreath upon her intended, which represents his sovereignty. And he drinks of her wine. And then there's a dance, with a joining of hands; the marriage ceremony of the Triumph settlers."

Jayne collapsed back against the bed, a distinct pain working through his head.

"Zhang-fu," the small voice whispered. A soft hand reached out to worriedly stroke the side of his face. "Is all well, Zhang-fu?"

"Gorram it, crazy," Jayne barked. Pushing her hand away he abruptly sat back up. "What the hell were you thinking? It don't work like this, when the hell you gonna come to your senses-"

"Said we're family." River backed away from him, the frown working across her cheeks as she watched him throw back the covers.

"The world don't work like that, crazy. Ya don't just decide that you wanna play house and marry you're partner." Jayne scooted to the edge of the bed. Grabbing his boots he yanked them on. "You're nothing but a little girl, and I ain't no little boy fit for marrying. It don't work like that."

"Know what I did," she declared meeting the angry man's glare. "Not a child, not a crazy girl who doesn't understand consequences. Know what I want."

Jayne paused and turned back to glance over the small girl. "Not a child," he questioned. Standing up slowly he turned to fully face her, silently challenging the girl. She rebuffed by poking out her chin and steeling her shoulders. "If you ain't a child how come ya trapped me in his here entanglement? A grown girl don't do that. A grown girl realizes

that when ya marry a man certain things are expected, for one; his damned permission."

"How can she even ask when he keeps running away," River demanded as her fists clenched at her side. "When he keeps pretending like she's little sister, when he wants more from the girl?"

"That ain't the point girl," Jayne barked back, "Just cuz you want something don't mean you take it." What the hell was he saying? Why was he arguing the point? "I'll be in the damn shuttle." Jayne shook his head and backed away, he needed to think, needed to clear his head. Turning around he yanked the door open and stormed out of the small room.

Her heart pounding in her ears, River breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed down to the bed. "Didn't take it back," she whispered. Her hands grabbed tightly to the sheets as her heart fluttered happily, "Small steps, first steps. Bands are in place." A smile cracked across her face as she took another deep breath, "Won't take it back."

-

2518 Mid- Late April

The Space Bazaar

Jayne carefully guided the small shuttle into the docking port, feeling it catch he swung in his chair to his co-pilot. River's hands flew swiftly over they controls, rapidly working to ensure they were locked into place. "Done," she whispered.

Rolling the tension of his shoulders, the mercenary stood. Reaching down he grabbed the pair of duffels, swinging Vera around his chest before moving to the shuttle door. With a hard grunt he pushed open the door, the hiss of the seal bringing in a fresh breath of air. 'Ya outta never picked up the crazy girl- why in the hell didn't ya just get the elder to annul the damn thing- can't be saddled with- but you're already saddled, might as well-' Jayne silenced his thoughts before they could go further.

Pausing a second to ensure that she was right behind him, Jayne stepped out into the busy walkways. The crowds flowed swiftly, pushing the mercenary forward with River attached at his elbow. Hooking an arm through hers, the pair stepped up onto the promenade deck, where bright merchants called out with odd wares and pointless trinkets. Glancing around the area, Jayne spotted the port dock listings and made a beeline.

Setting his bags down before him he pulled the girl around without a thought, settling an arm around her waist and his chin on her head. With a jerk he realized the possible implications of the actions and started to jerk away from the girl- no wonder she'd hitched him by surprise, what with all the ways he touched her. River's arms wrapped possessively over his, stopping his desired movement away from her.

Jayne shifted uncomfortable and cleared his throat, "Captain Inslee's in dock. How 'bout him?"

River shook her head, "His mind leers suggestively."

"At you," Jayne questioned.

"No, at Jayne. He likes the big muscles and strong back. Thinks it would be fun to tumble with him."

Jayne shuddered, his eyes going wide for a second. "No way in ruttin hell we're ever gonna get back on that boat," he muttered. Focusing back on the list, Jayne continued scrolling down as his body reluctantly relaxing against hers. "How come you never told me about that before?"

"You weren't mine than. Now you're mine. Don't want to share," she answered with an affirmative shake of her head.

"Looks like the Sovereign's in port," Jayne declared with a stiff motion of his head towards the screen.

The small girl perked up, "Monty?"

"That's the way I figured you'd react. Come on, he's down in dock four. Let's go see if'n he feels like haulin' our go se round the 'Verse again." Releasing her, Jayne reached down and grabbed a hold of their bags. Merging slowly back into the traffic of the promenade he started off in direction of Monty's ship.

Moving swiftly along, Jayne glanced back over his shoulder to ensure that the genius hadn't wandered and turned back, his shoulder slamming into somebody else's. Spinning around, Jayne glared at the man in the brown coat. "Watch where you're goin', ya qing wa cao de liu mang."

The man in the long brown coat turned away from the woman at his side to face Jayne. "Looks to me like this is free space, don't see no reason for you to be hogging it all," he replied coldly, stepping up to Jayne's silent challenge.

"You wanna go little man?" Jayne quickly sized up the independent, knew he couldn't resort to drawing that much attention to himself and River, but wasn't gonna be the one to back down.

"Mal," the pretty woman at his side whispered. Jayne raised an eyebrow at her appearance. "Mal, Zoe and Wash are waiting," she whispered tugging him in the opposite direction.

"Ta ma de hun dan," Mal cursed, but let the woman pull him in the opposite direction.

"Just watch where you step, pretty boy. Won't be so lucky next time we meet, brown coat-" Jayne growled in response as he felt River\rquote s hand wrap around his own arm, pulling him away. He looked down, forgetting about the man when her tugging became more insistent, "Huh?"

"Jayne, need to go, need to go now."

"Huh," the mercenary frowned down at the little girl. "Ain't my fault the stupid independent can't walk straight."

"Grey-"

Jayne looked up, failing to spot the sight of uniform, but unwilling to mistrust her words. Grabbing a hold of her hand Jayne tugged River quickly down the pathways.

-

Monty surveyed the loading of his cargo and scratched uncomfortably at his bare chin frowning, "Damn devil woman." He pushed off his anger and his regret, turning his attention back to the cargo. "Come on, get this cargo moving, I wanna get off the piece of junk."

"You ain't the only one."

Spinning back around, Monty caught the small girl in his arms, wrapping her form tightly in a bear hug. "Wasn't expecting to see you two for some time now." Dropping the girl he glanced over the ragged looking pair. "What the hell happened to you two, ya look like somebody dragged ya out ta hell and back."

Jayne frowned, shifting the duffels around, "Don't feel like talkin' bout it, just wanna get outta here."

"I hear you on that," the captain declared solemnly. River frowned slightly, tugging at the large captain with an inquisitive glance over his face. Monty frowned, "Had me some woman problems." Jayne laughed in the background and Monty's scowl deepened. "You wanna ride on my boat or not?" The mercenary shut up.

River tugged on the man's jacket again, pulling his gaze and attention back to her. "Girl and boy matrimonially delighted now."

"I'll be damned," Monty laughed sweeping the smaller girl into another bear hug. "Always figured you two would make it official, just figured Jayne here would've objected to the title and all."

"She didn't exactly give me much of a choice. Hitched me by surprise on Triumph."

"That's becoming a habit on that there planet. Know of one other fella that had the same, only he weren't so lucky in the choice of his bride." Monty frowned at the last part and scratched at his beardless chin. "What's with the big stick," the captain inquired, motioning to where the rain stick was poking out of one of the duffels.

"Weddin' present."

"Same bunk," River questioned. At Monty's nod she darted off into the ship, calling out greetings to the familiar faces of the crew as she disappeared.

"Where we headed?"

Monty followed after the small girl, Jayne trailing a step behind him. "Little place called Sedona. Nice little vacation spot; privately owned world, no real fed presence. Law's run by private forces; call themselves lawmen but don't operate in junction with Alliance. You and the missus can have a decent little honeymoon. As long as you avoid the law."

Jayne set the two duffels just inside the hatch. Swinging Vera over his head he placed her with them, comfortable that everybody on this boat knew not to touch. "Well, that all depends on if'n I can keep outta trouble." The two continued on up to the galley.

Monty laughed as he glanced over at the mercenary. Reaching into a storage bin he pulled out two glasses and a bottle of whiskey. "Hell, seeing as how you're pretty much a moneyed fella, minus all them fancible clothes and fluffy mannerisms, if you ever decided to retire I'd say that'd be the place for you."

Jayne shook his head, "No way in ruttin' hell I'd retire. Ain't no fun in that." He slipped into a chair.

Monty rounded the table, joining Jayne as he set the glasses down and poured them both a good portion before taking a seat himself. "Well now, don't ya think risin' a bunch of little Rivers would be fun enough?"

"Hell no," Jayne groaned. "Girls becoming a bit of a handful lately, can't keep a track of her anymore. This whole marriage thing, it's got me twisted in so many knots I ain't sure what's up or down."

Monty laughed in response, swinging down a gulp of whiskey he leaned back in his chair, "Told ya she was hankering after more. Smart little filly like her was bound to get some idea in her head when you dragged her to that damn planet. She ain't one ta just sit by when she knows how to get what she wants."

Jayne glanced down at his glass, swirling the contents around. "Ain't sure why the hell I just didn't annul the damn thing. Can't touch her, she's just a fragile little thing. I ain't talking body wise, I'm talking about her damned emotions. Probably break her in half. She ain't sane-" he gulped down the contents of the glass. "Ain't nobody I've taken her to got a clue what they might've done. She knows they cut into her head and took something, but can't quite figure out what they took- Hell, they were all just stupid backwater quacks anyway."

Jayne pondered the empty glass in his hand for a second longer. "Sometimes I get the feeling she wishes she'd been normal crazy, ya know born like that. Cuz I think it hurts her, watchin' them other girls, knowing that she used to be more like them, knowin' what it felt like to be all there in the mind and all." Jayne frowned. Sitting upright he slammed the glass down to the table, "She don't know what she's done. She can't."

Monty shrugged, "Don't think you're giving the girl the credit that's due to her." Picking up the bottle, Monty poured the mercenary another shot. "She sure as all hell knew how to trap ya. Knew you wouldn't break the arrangement if she could just make it happen.

She probably knows damn well that if'n she moves her cards right, you'll come chasing after."

Jayne shook his head, "That's what scares the hell outta me. When the hell is she gonna wake up and realize that's she's been a damned stupid fool and leave my ass ta rot in the sand? Things this ruttin' good don't last- seen it all my life." Taking a swing of the firewater, Jayne shook his head. "Need to find a damn doctor ta fix her so's she can go ahead and leave my ass behind." The mercenary fell back into a pensive silence for a second, "Look at me, getting' all girly and mushy. Look's like money's turned me into one of them fancible moaning rich boys after all." Monty smiled quietly. "When we leavin' this piece of go se?"

"Soon as the cargo's loaded."

"Right then," Jayne declared. Setting the empty glass back on the table he pushed himself out of the chair. "Reckon I'll go help with the loading then. Don't want to hang around with feds knocking at the door."

"Hey, Jayne-" Monty called out, stopping the mercenary in his tracks. "I might be able to help ya out with the whole doctor thing."

-

Simon dropped down to the bunk bed, pressing his hands to his face. "She was so close, she was right there, how could we have lost her so easily?"

"Girl don't want to be found by anybody, doc," Rodgers answered with a soft frown. "Get some sleep. I'm gonna load the boys up onto a shuttle and send them of towards the Space Bazaar, see if they can't find any news about her whereabouts." Turning away the older man moved swiftly out of the bunk.

Simon dropped back against the bed. Covering his eyes with his arms he took a deep breath. "You ought to realize, Simon, everything I do has a purpose."

"I know," Simon answered the voice in his head, "But why can't I be a part of the plans, why won't you let me catch up, mei mei? Aren't you the one who told me to go faster?"

"Yes, Simon, you must go faster. But you must also remember; that if you exceed the speed of your prey, you may overcome – or you may lose sight. Think Simon, think of who I am, what I've done in the past."

"You've changed. You're doing things that the River I knew would never do. Like running around with a man of a questionable background, stealing priceless artifacts, and doing- crime, mei mei, crime! I don't know if I – if I know you anymore River."

The voice in his head chuckled, "You're over analyzing what you don't know Simon."

"And you're not making sense. None of this is making any sense anymore- I'm talking to a voice in my head, River. Nothing is logical."

"Has anything ever been logical Simon? You're not using your brains! Stop thinking with your heart and try using your brains. THINK Simon, if you where River, what would you do?"

Simon sat up, "I'd wait – I'd run from family and hide within the safest possible avenue, find someone I could rely on to help and use whatever avenue I could to survive." Running a hand over his face as his shoulders tensed, "I'd wait until I could go for family- But I'm not you River, I can't just sit by and wait-"

"Doc," Michigan called out, poking his head through the doorway. "Got a call coming in for you through broad-band. Originates from Osiris-"

Simon nodded and turned towards the small cortex screen adjourning the wall of the bunk. Hitting the receiving button, the doctor jumped back, his mother's pale face flashed across the screen. "Mother? What are you-"

"Simon, you need to come home. Your father's- your father's dying. Please, Simon, please come home-"

-