They were headed for Virtus, a small moon a few days travel away from Persephone. River flicked one of the controls, adjusting their course. Mal wanted to get there in a decently appropriate time this time, which made it so much easier for River. She sighed, remembering the last trip where he had made them take three weeks for a trip that normally took five days. She was nearly done when a request to connect to Serenity popped up.
River automatically accepted. As the woman's face came into view, River cocked her head to the side. There was something…odd about the woman's eyes, but she couldn't place it. Her reading abilities were difficult to use when it was just an image and sound over the cortex.
"Serenity is speaking,"
"This here's Autumn Cobb," the woman said, eyes delving to River's soul even through the cortex. "You ain't who I spoke to last time but I guess that'd be so as m'boy said the poor dear up and died. Who're you?"
"Who I am is of little consequence, but my name is River. Shall I retrieve the-" River paused, searching for a word that would not offend the woman who had named him. "Shall I retrieve Jayne?
"Possibly, possibly not," the small woman said, eyeing River. "I heard tell Serenity'll be comin' to Virtus?"
"There are ambitions to that direction although one might wonder how those ambitions came to be known to you?"
"Don' question it, I have m'sources, girl," the older woman said. Mrs Cobb cocked her head to the side, eyes cold just as Jayne's were. How disconcerting. Nodding, she found herself charmed by Jayne's mother. "Now, as y'all seem ta be comin' to Virtus 'thout plans ta see Riordan, I'm guessin' Jayne's not made a fussbucket over it bein' his hometown?" the woman continued.
River blinked. That explained the odd swell and clamp of emotions from Jayne at Mal's announcement of their destination. "There are signs of proof that I overlooked."
"Hmph. Well, be that as it may, I need a favor from you. If'n y'have some leeway in your schedule, I'd like ta see my boy while he's on the same planet as me. Have some news needs be sharin'. Don't be spreadin this 'bout as it always were better ta s'prise him, as I'm thinkin' ya might have known."
River nodded. "Secret shall stay locked up. Serenity will settle tomorrow morning."
"Thank you," Mrs Cobb said before flicking off the transmission. Cortex vid calls were expensive after all and Jayne did not come from a family with money. River flicked some of the switches, changing their direction slightly so as to arrive at Riordan.
She smiled to herself, anticipating the various reactions when they landed in Jayne's backyard as opposed to New Providence as planned. She could bar everyone from the bridge, they would take it as a quirk in her behavior. She quirked her lips. They were so easy to manipulate. It had been a couple of months since the combination of her new medication and the release that going through Miranda brought her brain had helped her regain some of her mental cognizance and control over her body and brain. Her language was still not where she'd like it to be.
Of course, she still had 'episodes,' as she referred to them, but the true ones were few and far in between. She was cultivating a quirky persona in order to get away with certain behaviors. Such as landing them in a different spot than they were supposed to.
She switched the ship over to autopilot and floated down to the galley just as Jayne and Kaylee sat down to eat. Meals besides dinner were catch as catch can, but River could usually find Jayne and Kaylee there if she kept a watch out on their emotions and thoughts. Jayne's was steady most of the time, a dark, pulsing maroon that spoke of protection and shielded violence towards those who harmed what was his. "Hello," She said as she wandered over to the shelving, preparing her own lunch of protein mush with some spices in it.
"Hi River!" Kaylee said cheerfully. Jayne grunted as he shoved food in his mouth. River took a moment to evaluate the broadcasted emotions and thoughts from him. Almost normal, although he seemed to be circling back to a boy named Matty more often than he usually did. River was fairly sure Matty was Jayne's younger sibling, but she hadn't bothered to search through his memories. She started eating and calculated how long she had before she had to readjust Serenity's controls.
***
The ship settled just as Jayne entered the Cargo hold. He checked his guns and hit the button to open the door. He had turned back to check on the cargo they were carrying for this job when he realized that he had not, in fact, heard the doors open. "O zhe zhen shi ge kuaile de jinzhan" He spit out as he turned back to the door. He pressed the button again. Nothing. "MAL" He shouted.
"What? You gotta shout my name all the time?" Mal was stomping down the stairs into the hold.
"Doors won't open." "Zao gao! You tried jiggling it?" Jayne stared at Mal and rolled his eyes.
"Problem, sir?"
"Door won't open," Jayne said, looking up to see Zoe approaching. Jayne glared at the door. He was antsy, it bein' his home planet an' all. He wouldn't go an' vanish on Mal. But bein' only miles away from where he'd grown up made a man tetchy.
"Doors are following orders, won't reveal the destination until I ask," River said as she floated into the room.
"Moonbrain, whattaya done?" Jayne snarled.
"Only what the mother asked," River responded as she opened the doors into the world. Jayne stared out. They definitely weren't in New Providence. No way no how. But it looked familiar. He jogged out, curious. It smelled familiar as well. As he stood in the long grasses that were slightly flattened by the arrival of Serenity, he caught sight of a building in the distance, one that looked like the bar he used to frequent. From the same angle as the hill above his house. He found himself bolting down the hill towards the familiar sight of his home.
He banged through the door. "Ma?" his loud voice echoed in the house.
"Jayne, I didn't expect ya 'fore eleven. That girl o' yours got ya here right quickly," his mother entered the hall from the kitchen. Jayne swept her into a hug, lifting the tiny woman off of her feet.
"Missed ya too, son," his mother said, patting his back. "Now- if'n ya could put me down.." Jayne set her down, rather sheepishly. There was yelling from the yard, indistinct, but his ma, always the protector straightened. "You go on up and find your brother. He's got somethin' important needs sharin'. I'll take care o' this."
Jayne grinned, wishing he could witness it. But what his ma said, well, it was law. He bounded up the rickety stairs to find a rather tall skinny man just coming out from the bathroom. He blinked.
"Matty?"
"Jayne?"
"Matty, that you..what?" Jayne stared at his brother, taller. Healthy-lookin. Not a shrimp and not laid up in bed.
"Jayne!" His brother launched himself at him, pummelling every bit he could find. Jayne grabbed his brother in a headlock and the two of them somehow managed to tumble down the stairs.
"Thought ya had damp lung! Ya always been sick!" Jayne shouted as they twisted around in circles, Matty trying to break his hold.
"Nah. Money ya sent home, finally healed me." The smaller man grunted out. Jayne found himself pushed out of the door and, spying Mal, Zoe and the moonbrain all surrounding his mother, he let go of Matty and stood.
***
"Mal and Zoe think Jayne's been brainwashed," River announced.
"What?" Kaylee asked.
"It's not true. Jayne simply knows where we are. Home. Didn't have time to tell Mal and Zoe," River said with a roll of her eyes.
"River, what is going on?" Simon asked.
"Big man's ma asked me to bring him home. I did, as we don't need to be in New Providence immediately," River said with a shrug. "Guns need to be put down," River said, picking up something of what was happening at the base of the hill. She turned and ran out of the ship, leaving a rather confused Kaylee and Simon.
Managing Serenity's crew was so tedious sometimes. By the time, however, that she reached the bottom of the hill, Jayne had disappeared, presumably into the house, and Zoe and Mal were pointing their guns at a very small woman who had a rifle of her own pointed at them.
"Trust is not freely taken here," River said, cocking her head to the side as she came up to the odd group. "But it can be given."
"River, dear, is that you?" Autumn Cobb said, finally looking at her. "Why don't you tell your friends here to lower their very nice weaponry?"
"Zoe and Mal, weapons are no longer a necessity," River said looking at the two of them.
"Don't know 'bout that, Little albatross. The old woman here's got a gun pointed at us," Mal said even as he lowered his weapon slowly.
"Jayne's not dead," River said, looking at the house. "Alive. Blood flows, heart beats heavy and fast."
"River, we don't know what you mean," Zoe tried.
River smiled before hurrying over to greet Autumn Cobb. "Hello, Mrs Cobb," River said
The older woman greeted her with a nod and "Pleased ta see you face t'face. Knew y'could help. You'll find coffee and some homemade sweets inside."
River smiled broadly. "That would be lovely, Mrs Cobb. It was a long morning, having to keep the crew in the dark," She said. By this time, Mal and Zoe had lowered their guns and were looking rather bewildered.
"Not everything is as it seems," River said, turning back to the others, watching Kaylee and Simon approach as well.
There were two shouts from just inside the door way and two rather large bodies tumbled out, locked in a struggle of push and pull. Finally, Jayne disentangled himself from the slightly shorter and skinnier man. He stood there for a moment, eyes flicking between everyone while River stood, next to his mother. "Mal, Zoe, this'd be my Ma, Autumn Cobb, and my younger brother, Matty," Jayne finally said. "Ma, this is Kaylee. That's Simon," he added, nearly as an afterthought.
"Well, why didn't ya just say so, before River?" Mal said glancing between River Jayne, Autumn Cobb and Zoe.
Zoe smiled and shook Autumn's hand. "It is nice to meet you," Zoe said, looking around her.
"Jayne, care to explain why we're here rather than New Providence?" Mal finally said after a long pause. River fidgeted and Jayne's eyes shot to her.
"Truth to tell, Mal, I had no idea we were gonna land here. Figgered I'd drop by if'n you let us have an extra day or two over at New Providence. You should ask River, I'm thinkin'." Jayne said this with a shrug.
"River? You have something to do with this?" Mal asked, turning to her.
"Well o' course, she does!" Autumn Cobb interrupted before River could even open her mouth to explain. "I done asked her ta bring m'boy home for a day an' no one says no t'me."
Mal blinked. "Well we weren't plannin' on bein' here. An' I'd have appreciated notice of the change in plans, Li'l albatross," he said, narrowing his eyes at River.
"If I told you, we would never have come," she said. "Jayne needed to come home."
"Kaylee, dearest, I've heard so much about you," Mrs Cobb said, hurriedly changing the subject and hurrying forward and hugging Kaylee who looked rather surprised.
"Nice to meetcha too, Mrs Cobb. Jayne didn't say nothin' 'bout you, I'm 'fraid. Didn't even know he talked 'bout me," Kaylee said, as they broke apart. River smiled slightly; it would be a lovely visit, once Mal and Zoe got over their discomfort. River found herself wishing that Inara was here. She could have eased away the trouble. Taken the stress of caring for everyone. But Inara was at the Training house for a few months and River had to try.
"Well now, I have coffee and some fresh made eggs and bacon for those of ya who don't feel a need to hold an old lady at gun point no longer," Autumn Cobb said before striding back into her house. Mal and Zoe slowly put away their guns and followed the rest of them inside.
River studied the house now that she was alone. It was older, two stories, and the white paint was peeling off in large pieces; the roof was also sagging slightly. Some part of River's heart wished she still had access to the money her family had, to fix it.
As she walked in the house, she was greeted by the warm smell of real food. Nothing like what had been home, but food, not protein. The floorboards were old and creaky and the walls were white. She caught a glimpse of an old dining room, where there were a few cheap portraits on the wall and an old chipped table with a motley assortment of chairs strewn around it. Voices were coming from down the hall, beyond the stairs.
River padded down the hall, trailing fingers on the wall, trying to get a sense of the house. She was so wrapped up in the feeling of the house (old, friendly, and a little worn down), that she didn't notice the growing warmth of a human being bearing down on her.
"Goin' somewhere crazy?" a low voice asked before River found herself yanked into a closet. She made to defend herself, automatically punching at the throat area but found her wrists restrained by one large hand.
"Gorramit, it's jes' me," the voice said again, now sounding rather like Jayne's voice. River peered up in the dark, attempting to read Jayne. But right now, he was a jumble of emotions, dark red and orange mostly but covered with tints of soft blues and greens.
"Red and green don't go together," River said softly.
"You gone in the brainpan?" Jayne said gruffly. "S'pose y'are. Why I wanna talk to ya in the first place. What in the niu gao were ya thinkin,' bringin' everyone here to mah home?"
"Incentives cannot be controlled. Outside forces direct the water and it must follow," River said, frowning as she tried to make her words understandable.
"Aw, hell."
"Despite best efforts, comprehension seems to be lacking."
"Don't do it again," Jayne warned and shoved his way past her, into what now appeared to be a brightly lit hallway.
River blinked and sat down in the closet. She would need the medication soon, her words seemed to be disappearing faster than normal.
***
"Now, where is River?" Autumn Cobb's voice was suddenly loud and clear. River studied her hands, wondering at their color and form. Places and people were inconsequential.
The door was opened further and River looked up to find Autumn Cobb standing there, Kaylee behind her smiling.
"Human forms are insubstantial and inconsequential. You have to look for the deeper meaning," River said earnestly, looking between the two of them. Autumn Cobb's face was a study in confusion.
"Oh dear, River honey, wouldn't you like your medication?" Kaylee said stepping around the older woman.
"Hospitals lead to the blue hands I don't want to go!" River said, nearly wailing.
"What-why is the girl actin' so woolly?"
"She's got some trouble with the connections in her brainpan, Mrs Cobb," Kaylee said before turning to River and wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Honey, let's go find Simon." She found herself shuttled her down the hall to the room she hadn't visited, where everyone was in some state of lounging.
"This is home. Old and welcoming with many stories to tell, but the ghosts, the ghosts are friendly and they mean well," River tried. Simon hurried over to her, taking her face in his hands.
"River, meimei, why didn't you say something?" he asked, ignoring Jayne's snort.
As River felt herself being lead back towards the ship, she shook her head. "No, no, Don't want to, Necessity to stay in the home," she dug in her heels at the door.
"Someone care to explain to me what is going on?" Autumn Cobb was standing behind them, mouth soured.
"I-Kaylee, can you watch River while I go get the medication?" asked Simon.
"Sure thing, darlin'," Kaylee said, kissing him on the cheek. "We'll stay right here, River." Simon took off for the ship and River almost instantly disregarded his presence, focusing inwards
"Why's the girl woolly?"
"What's always been will always be," River murmured.
"River's a reader an' the Alliance liked it a bit too much. Cut into her brain and messed with it," Kaylee said. "Simon's figgered the meds out, but sometimes she goes low fast. Makes her talk more crazy than normal."
"An' why would she go woolly now?" Autumn Cobb eyed River warily and River wished she could make herself understood.
"Too many people. Simon says it's the stress of a situation. Strong emotions are hard for her. It's what she picks up on easiest."
"Well, what you say makes sense," Autumn Cobb finally conceded. "Best we get her inside. She'll need time t'adjust to the meds, right? We'll put her in Becca's old room."
River found herself propelled up the stairs and into a small room. "Old stories make for the best homes," River found herself saying as she took in her new surroundings, all of it old, well used and filled with light blues and greens. Well-loved.
She sat down as there was no other course for her. Drawing her knees up under her chin, she stared balefully at Kaylee who sighed. Kaylee opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a yelp and a crash.
Jayne was in the doorway. River bent her head sideways peering at him. Jayne was in the doorway, but he was bent in half.
"You tell that girl you are sorry!" Autumn Cobb's voice spoke from behind the bulk of Jayne. "And mean it. I'm sure River will tell me if you don't."
"Ow, Ma! I'm not eight!" Jayne said, trying to shrink away from his mother who had a firm grip on his ear and was twisting it.
"Oh you ain't eight, but you should be treated like one. You 'pologize, now!"
"Alright alright! Tian chen!" Jayne's voice was higher pitched than River or Kaylee had ever heard it before. Kaylee was holding her hand before her mouth, which was twitching slightly, almost forming a smile.
"River, ow, ma, I'm sorry I been mean ta ya. Won't happen again," Jayne yowled.
"River, dear?" Autumn Cobb asked, peering around from Jayne's bulk.
"Validity is hard to evaluate. You're hurting him!" River said, surprising her self at the last. It was true, she couldn't tell if he would still make fun of her. But she didn't like watching him in pain when he didn't have to be.
Autumn Cobb blinked and let go of Jayne's ear. He shot up, clapping one large hand to the ear. He studied River, himself a study in his steady dark maroon with flashes of orange and greens and blues. He whirled without a word and stomped out of the room, carefully stepping around his mother. For the first time, River was tempted to reach out and latch on to the maroon. It was so steady, there all the time. Why she would now, when he was being held prisoner by his ma's fingers, well that didn't make any sense.
Autumn Cobb was standing there, studying River critically. River frowned. Jayne's dark maroon was comforting. It was simply his color, he was like a stone in most occasions, unflappable.
She couldn't tell what his mother's colors were. They were flipping between two, but colors meant different things on different people, so River was having trouble reading her. She could push farther, into Autumn's thoughts, but that would be dangerous. She didn't know Autumn or what she would find there.
Jayne had been terrifying when she first poked about in his brain, until she had figured him out. Now, now he was reliable in his thoughts and emotions. Excitable only in the protection of what was his. And her, she amended to herself. She was a moonbrain and she had, in the past threatened what was his. She wouldn't anymore, but how was he to know that. He didn't ever believe her.
"What was that?" Simon stood in the doorway, syringe and medicine bottle in one hand. He glanced back down the stairs.
"Oh, J-Jayne's ma- she just tried ta make him 'pologize to River for everythin' he's ever said or done!" Kaylee said, her body shaking from repressed laughter that seemed to be seeping out of her seems. River watched, fascinated.
"Essence of his statement met with veracity for the present time," River said as she looked at her brother. She held out her arm, for once wanting to be able to clear her brain and her speech.
"I-I can't believe the man ape would do such a thing," Simon said.
"He did when his ma pinched his ear," Kaylee said watching as Simon carefully injected the medication into River's arm.
"What do you think of it?" Simon looked at Kaylee.
"I think it's sweet, her bein' able ta control him like that."
"Never thought I'd see the day." Simon shook his head disbelievingly. "Meimei, do you want to stay up here for a little while?"
River nodded. "Companionship is to be avoided until my brain pan clears. Thank you," She managed to add, trying to be clear.
"Oh, meimei darling, you're welcome," Simon said, resting a hand on her shoulder. He and Kaylee quietly left the room and River lay back studying the cracked ceiling.
***
Mal didn't know when he had lost control of his ship. All he knew was that somehow, he was sitting in Jayne Cobb's ma's house. Of all the fei hua he'd seen on his ship, this had to be the worst. He had gorram told River exactly where to land and she'd gone and taken them halfway around the world.
Of course, River chose here and now to go butai zheng chang de. Meaning they probably wouldn't be leaving this luh suh place.
"Jayne an' I are goin' ta the local 'stablishment iffen ya two wanted to come," The thin man who looked creepifyin' like Jayne was standing in front of him. Mal was fairly sure his name was Matty. "Soon as Ma makes him 'pologize to the girl who can't talk."
"I'm thinkin' I could use a drink or two," Mal admitted, rising to his feet. "You comin' Zoe?"
"Yes sir. I could certainly use a drink, my own self."
***
River wandered into the kitchen a few hours later, having enjoyed an afternoon spent relaxing on the porch of Jayne's home. Autumn Cobb was standing over the stove, tasting the soup off a wooden spoon.
"Is assistance needed?" River asked.
"Oh, thanks darlin.' You can take the rolls out o' the oven," Autumn Cobb said, gesturing towards oven mitts hanging from the wall.
River nodded, fetching two of them and opened the oven door, loosing the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread. She pulled the rolls out of the oven and set them down on the small amount of counterspace still were the parts of salad set out on the counter and River set to preparing it.
"River, how often d'you have an episode?" Autumn asked as River cut up the lettuce.
River studied what she was doing. "I float away too often for my brother's happiness. But inability to clarify comes only when I am in a new situation."
"Ah," Autumn Cobb said. "Any partic'lar reason my oldest is so…outspoken 'gainst ya?" Autumn Cobb was looking at her and River put down her knife.
She took a few steps away. "Before-" River paused, allowed the word to garner meaning. "When I couldn't find my way, I thought his t-shirt was a sign of my past. I had to become mother hen, I had to destroy it. Jayne's redness was an unfortunate concomitance."
"Ya cut on him?"
"I wasn't me," River tried to make her understand.
"It was you, but it wasn't? I'm not certain I'm understandin' here."
"It was before I was capable of understandin' myself an' controlling my actions. I was lost in the maze. I didn't mean to cut him open and now I am apologetic."
"Have you told Jayne that?" Autumn Cobb asked, studying her critically.
"She ain't said nothin' bout it ta me," growled a low voice from the doorway. Jayne entered the kitchen and snitched a roll, shoving it in his mouth. "Course-I'm not 'spectin that."
River considered what to say as she watched Jayne, who was relaxed, standing in his own kitchen. "I'm sorry," she finally said, fighting through her own maze of words.
"I'll consider 'ceptin your 'pology," Jayne growled as he left.
River turned back to the salad. She focused on it, wondering if this was a step in her and Jayne's, well, not relationship. Acquaintanceship?
"I think m'boy likes you," Autumn Cobb said finally. "He never 'cepts apologies even while I encourage him ta make 'em."
River stared at Autumn Cobb, wordless.
"Oh, don't be lookin' at me like that. I'm not sayin' he's gonna jump ya. Don't think he even likes it. But y'must've done somethin' to impress him an' attract him after swiping him like that."
"Reavers." River shook, remembering seeing the colors on Zoe in that battle. So dark brown and bright red and dripping black.
"Whattaya mean?" Autumn Cobb asked. River shook her head.
"I killed them, dripping in blood, but no longer hungry for therir brother's blood" River said
"Ya killed a room full o' reavers?" Autumn Cobb said.
River nodded. She was still dubious of the woman's claim. Jayne hated her. Maybe some part of him did find her attractive. River would have to read him carefully sometime. She couldn't delve into past thoughts or his memories, but she could, if she worked, actually read what people were thinking or saying in another room.
She wouldn't speak of this, not to anyone, not yet. For now, she would enjoy a lovely day in a home she had vaguely wished for as a child.