Recompense

Author writes for his own amusement, and that of others. He holds no rights of any kind to Firefly, or the universe in which it lives. Okay not to sue him:)


Jayne left the ship three weeks later, on Persephone. There was no fanfare, no farewell. Mal was the only one who knew he was leaving. He had told Zoe, just after he'd seen the merc off.

"'You want to come back, you wave me, Jayne,'" Mal had insisted. "'Ain't one to forget folks what stood by me.'"

"'I know that, Mal,'" Jayne had smiled. For once it was a sincere smile. "'You're a good man, for all that I don't always like the way you do things. But, it's your ship. Wouldn't mind havin' me one, some day, 'cept I don't think I could handle it. Take care.'"

And with that, Jayne was gone.

The crew didn't take notice until they were ready to leave Persephone. Typically, Kaylee was the first to notice.

"Hey, where's Jayne?" she asked.

"Had some'at he needed to do," Mal shrugged. "Took his leave of us."

"What?" she had almost screeched. "He didn't even say good-bye!"

"Figured it was easier this way, I reckon," Mal told her simply. "Jayne ain't never been one for fussin', I guess." Truth was, Mal had been re-playing his conversation with Jayne over and over in his mind. Explained a lot about him, in some ways.

"He could have at least told us he was going," Inara agreed with Kaylee. "Surely we've earned that much."

"Man's a nercenary, Inara," Mal shrugged. "Don't reckon he felt he owed anyone anything." Mal was uncomfortable saying that, knowing what he did, but maybe it would keep the others from worrying over it too much.

"Leaves us shorthanded, though," Zoe mused. "Or does it?"

"Don't figure so, right now," Mal shook his head. "We ain't takin' on anything rightly dangerous at the moment. Things is slow, anyways, at the moment. We're doin' good to keep flyin'. We'll make out for a while."

"I can help," River offered, surprising everyone. She wasn't completely sane, but was much better, and able to control herself. "I am not helpless."

"Suppose you can, in a pinch," Mal smiled kindly. "And you're more'n able to do the job, I'd say."

"I don't think. . ." Simon started.

"And there is no need to start now," River interjected smoothly. Kaylee twittered at that, and Inara and Zoe fought to hide a smile. Simon's face reddened for a second, and then he laughed.

"Okay, okay," he threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Just be careful."

"I will," River smiled, grateful for Simon's offer.

"Well, 'spect we can consider all this in the black," Mal said suddenly. "Time we went." Minutes later, the ship lifted cleanly, heading into space. Leaving Jayne Cobb behind.


Serenity was settling on Beaumonde some six months later when they got the news. Zoe had been scanning the cortex looking for wants and warrants, something the whole crew did on a regular basis. She skimmed over a story, then abruptly went back to it, reading a bit further. She raised her hand to the intercom without looking, and called Mal to the bridge.

"He told me he was gonna look for work!" Mal complained, after reading the story. It seemed Jayne had gone home, after all. There was a hefty reward on his head. Very hefty, Mal noted.

According to the story, Jayne had agreed to turn himself in, if he was allowed to collect the reward. For some reason, the authorities agreed. The story was one of human interest, since it seemed that the famed outlaw 'Cobb', had at once turned the money over to the 'Shady Plain Assisted Living Center' in return for a lifetime of care for his mother.

"You knew about his ma?" Zoe asked, not quite accusingly.

"Not till just afore he left," Mal shook his head. "Jayne said he needed to be workin', and told me why. He didn't say nothin' 'bout this!"

"Can't see Jayne givin' hisself up like that," Zoe mused. "Don't seem like him."

"Loves his ma," Mal shrugged. "And felt some to blame for what happened to her, though I can't rightly agree."

"Jayne always was a bit. . .odd about things. Never knew which way he might jump." Zoe's voice was quiet.

"True 'nough," Mal nodded. "Well, let's get this job done. Need to tell the rest, I reckon. And we'll see what else we can find out, once we get back."


"I reckon everyone knows about our wayward merc by now?" Mal asked the assembled crew members. Serenity was in the black once again, the job having gone smoothly.

"I still have trouble imagining Jayne giving himself up," Simon shook his head. "It seems so contrary to how he portrayed himself."

"'Spect the fact it was his Ma had some'at to do with that," Mal pointed out. Zoe nodded.

"Nothin' he wouldn't do for her, I think," she said.

"That does make sense," Simon allowed. "He was always very respectful of his Mother."

"Feels blame," River said simply.

"But he ain't ta blame," Mal said firmly. "Ain't no one can tell me what happened was Jayne's fault. Might be he went some further than I would have, but permaybehaps not, either. I ain't never been in his shoes. But ain't none o' that an issue at the moment." He looked at everyone at the table individually before he spoke again.

"I don't aim ta let Jayne hang," he said finally. There was a collective intake of breath around the table.

"I know he ain't the best or brightest in the 'verse, but the man stood by us when we had need, and I don't aim to let him go out like that. Any o' you don't want in, I understand. I'll drop you off, pick you up on the way back. I need to know now, though, cause I aim to head that way right off."

No one spoke for a moment, taking in everything Mal had just said. Zoe was the first to speak.

"You know I'm in," was all she said, shrugging.

"I don't. . .I mean I ain't no help in stuff like that," Kaylee stammered. "But I'm goin'. I can't not help Jayne. He's always been my friend." Simon frowned slightly at that, but nodded anyway.

"Might need a doctor before it's through," was all he said.

"Of course I'm going," River smiled. "Need me to fly the ship, and I'm an excellent shot. Besides, you will need someone to think quickly when your plan goes awry," she added with a smirk.

"I won't be left behind," Inara said quietly. "I won't. . . ."

"You ain't comin'," Mal said firmly. His voice was kind, but unyielding. "And that's final, before you argue. You know good and well why."

"If you take River with you on the ground, you need a back-up pilot. I won't leave the ship, but I am going. Either we are a family or we aren't." Inara's mouth was set in a tight line. Mal looked at her, then took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Fair enough," was all he said, and Inara graced him with a dazzling smile.

"Okay, then," Mal said, standing. "'Tross, get us headed that way. Meanwhile, I'm gonna see if I can scare up some of Jayne's kin-folk. Might be they can help us figure a way to spring 'im."

"We should all be thinking of ideas," Simon offered. "Ways to get in to see him, let him know what's happening."

"Do that," Mal nodded, "but I ain't too sure I want him to know what we're doin'. He might give it away by accident, if he was ta see one of us. I'll think on it, though."

"Makes sense," Simon shrugged. "But we'll have to get to him some how, in order to get him out of jail."

"Might," Mal smiled slightly. "Or we might just wait on him to come to us."

---------------

Unaware that he was the object of such planning, Jayne Cobb reclined on the bunk of his cell. Since he was expected to hang, eventually, Jayne had a cell to himself.

Things had changed on Kenner since Jayne had been gone. Most everyone who still wanted him dead was gone themselves. The sheriff had had to dig a while to find that the warrant, and the reward, were still active. He hadn't wanted to serve them, at first. Once Jayne explained what he was doing, and why, the Sheriff had reluctantly agreed.

The man had even escorted Jayne to the rest home to deliver the money, serving as a witness to the contract the merc had signed. Jayne couldn't recall ever having met a better lawman.

He sat up as the cell block door opened. A deputy walked into view, carrying a tray.

"Here ya are, Jayne," Tad Bane said cheerfully. "Sheriff's wife cooked for us today, and sent along a tray for you, to. Fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, and some mashed 'taters. Fine eatin', high on the ole hog today." Jayne almost licked his lips as he accepted the tray.

"Thanks Tad," he told the younger man. "I'm right hungry, too."

"You're always hungry, Jayne," Tad laughed. "Hey, lawyer came around today, askin' if you had a defense attorney. Said he'd read 'bout what happened back yonder. Sheriff told him we'd give you his name happen you wanted to talk to him."

"What is his name?" Jayne asked warily. As far as he knew, no one here would want to help him, considering all he stood accused of.

"Said his name was Wilson. Hiram Wilson, I think it was, from over to Fremont."

"Hiram, huh?" Jayne almost snorted. "Nice fam'ly soundin' name, don't ya think?" Bane frowned for a moment, then his eyes registered the connection.

"Son-of-a. . .you reckon the Sheriff knew that? Mebbe that's why he didn't just let him see ya right off?"

"Dunno," Jayne shrugged, biting into a piece of fried chicken. "He's a smart man, though."

"He don't wanna see ya hung, you know," Tad said softly. "He can read as well as ole Hiram can. Says he woulda done the same thing in yer shoes."

"Mebbe so," Jayne shrugged again. "But like I said, he's a good man, either way. Comes to that, all o' ya's been right good ta me, especially considerin' some o' what I did. Well, alegedly. . .alleded. . .stand accused of," he finished with a frown. Times he missed Moonbrain.

"You ain't done us no wrong," Tad said simply. "And we all know about yer Ma. I can safely say I'd kill anyone laid hands to my ma. Figure that makes me no better'n you." He stood.

"Well, I got ta git. Work to do, and the Sheriff ain't so nice when you're luffin' off."

"He's a good boss, don't take advantage," Jayne told him. "Had me a good boss a whiles back. Didn't always like him. . .well, at least the way he did things. He made some of the damndest, and dumbest choices I ever thought about. But he alus did as he thought was right."

"Don't none of us take advantage," Tad smiled. "But we can't let him know we like him. It'll take away his gruffy, 'I'm a mean ole man' edge. Gotta let him be hisself." Jayne laughed at that, then turned back to his supper.

It was too bad he couldn't have come back and lived here. Seemed the folks in town were a bit nicer than when he had lived here.