Chapter Four

Once everyone had finished eating, they all scurried away to the far corners of the ship, not staying long to chat or catch up. Roz and Kaylee stayed back to clean up and Shepherd Book offered to help but they politely declined.

"Sorry about Jayne," Kaylee muttered as she vigorously scrubbed a spot on one of the plates. "Sometimes he has a big mouth, other times he… well he can be nice if he wants to, but that's very rare."

"I understand," Roz nodded, gently taking the plate out of Kaylee's hand before she broke it.

"It's just…" Kaylee put both arms on the sink and leaned over with a sigh. "Was I that obvious?"

"Now I don't understand," Roz quirked an eyebrow at the other girl.

"Well, Jayne's round-about way of sayin' I was all googly eyed over Simon."

"Oh…well, I guess I didn't really notice anything peculiar."

"Simon is nice an all. Those fancy clothes and slicked back hair and proper talk. He's a doctor after all, what's not to like?"

"True," Roz nodded. She seemed to understand that Kaylee didn't need anyone to answer her but simply to be a sounding board.

"So, I suppose I may have a teensy little crush on the doctor," Kaylee admitted pinching her finger and thumb together to show how small her crush truly was. "But, it's not like anything would happen. I mean I'm a mechanic after all and he's a doctor. We're from two very different worlds."

Roz paused to contemplate Kaylee's words while trying to formulate her thoughts so they came out coherent. "Kaylee, I suppose you and the whole ship know that I wasn't in a good relationship. Heck," she scoffed. "I wouldn't even go so far as to call it a relationship instead it was more like a prison sentence. But I have learned that…or at least I'm trying to learn that you can be whoever you want to be and go wherever you need to go. Being a part of two different worlds shouldn't stop anyone; it only means you need to take a longer trip to get there."

"Wow," Kaylee smiled down at her and placed an arm around Roz's shoulders. "Thanks a lot. That made sense."

"Good," Roz replied back with her own smile. In part because she was glad that Kaylee was happy again, and in realization that she hadn't freaked out over the slightest touch. Roz placed the rag she had been using to dry dishes with to the side and walked back to the table to pick up the remains of the cake (or what was as close to possible as cake) and bringing it back to the kitchen to be wrapped up for later. She paused, however, when she saw a large man hulking outside the dining area.

Jayne stood in the doorway with his hands behind his back looking hungrily at the dessert. Roz breathed in at the sight of his massive body, he was a very handsome man, and the mere thought nearly sent her running with fear. She shook her head and forced the thoughts out of her mind. Striving for calm, Roz walked slowly towards the table and pointed towards the remnants of the dessert. "Would you like a piece of cake Jayne?"

"If it's all right with you," Jayne nodded slowly as he struggled to make sure his words were polite.

Smiling softly, Roz picked up the knife and cut a large slice of cake and placed it on one of the remaining plates. She set it down and gestured for him to have a seat.

"No Jayne Cobb," Kaylee ordered as she marched into the dining room waving a fork in the air. "You don't deserve cake after what you said earlier."

"Aw geez," Jayne groaned as he threw his hands up in frustration. "I didn't mean nothin' by it."

"Yes you did," Kaylee argued. "You always have to go an' ruin everythin'." With a huff she threw the fork at Jayne's large chest and stormed out of the dining room.

Jayne and Roz were left alone in the room, staring aimlessly at the walls for fear of spooking the other. Roz decided to break the silence first. "I'll get you a clean fork."

"Naw," Jayne shrugged and picked up the fork from the floor and wiping it on his pants. "I've eatin' with dirtier."

"All right then," Roz nodded as she pulled out a chair and gestured for him to sit. Jayne ambled over, slouching in what she could only surmise as his attempt to appear less imposing. She bit back a smile and chose a seat across from him.

The moment Jayne had the cake in front of him he started to gobble it down. The fork was a mere blur as it went between plate and mouth. It seemed like only seconds before the cake was reduced to mere crumbs. Jayne leaned back in the chair and patted his flat, muscular stomach with a sigh. "That was mighty fine cake Miss Roz."

"Well, I'm glad you liked it," Roz replied with a smile. She stood up to collect his plate when he snatched it up first.

"I can clean up my own mess," he commented gruffly. He walked into the kitchen and placed his plate and fork neatly in the sink and returned to the dining room to help clean off the rest of the table.

"Oh Jayne," Roz stood shaking her head and wringing her hands anxiously. "You really don't have to do this, I'm sure you have…"

"Better things to do?" Jayne returned with a raised eyebrow. "I think I heard that before."

"I know I keep saying it," Roz conceded graciously. "But I only say because it must be true. Don't you have other things to do?"

"Right now…no, besides stay out of the captain's way," Jayne responded with a heavy shrug. "About that…I shouldn't have…."

"Don't worry," Roz laid a hand lightly on his arm, shocked she would be so forward. "I've heard much worse in my day. Besides it's not me who you should be talking to."

"But I already done talked to Kaylee," Jayne fought back as he picked the cake up and carried it into the kitchen. "She threw a fork at me, 'member?"

"Yes I remember," Roz nodded with a smile. "But is that what you would consider an apology?"

"Well I…" Jayne sputtered but was cut off by Zoe's out of breath appearance.

"Jayne," she paused in the doorway and looked pointedly at the larger man. "We got trouble."

"I'm comin'," Jayne nodded. He lifted his gun out of the holster and checked to make sure it was fully loaded.

"Roz, make sure you stay in here. Shut the door after me," Jayne spoke as he walked towards Zoe who despite bestowing bad news looked extremely calm and collected.

Roz couldn't help staring at the large gun held tightly in Jayne's hand. He had a gun and would often bring it out and point it at her head to keep her afraid. Sometimes he would play a game where he would load the chamber with one bullet and put the gun to her temple. Every time he pulled the trigger she jolted, expecting to feel the explosion in her head, sometimes she was absolutely terrified while sometimes she wished he did kill her, at least she would be away from him then.

"Roz, snap out of it girl," Jayne snapped his fingers irritably. "Do ya hear what I'm saying?"

Roz blinked and nodded her head, "yes I hear you Jayne," she said softly.

"Stay here," Jayne looked at her, leaving no room for argument.

With a meek nod of her head, Roz closed the door to the dining room and leaned back against it. She hoped he would be careful. After a few minutes of staying locked in the dining room, Roz was thinking back on what she had told Kaylee. You can be whoever you want to be…go wherever you want to go… She had told Kaylee that only moments ago and here she was staying like the obedient dog she used to be. Who was Jayne to tell me where to go or where not to go? I won't let anyone tell me what to do anymore.

Roz stepped away from the door and with a gust of courage, opened the door and walked out into the hall. She was easily able to tell where the commotion was coming from because she could already hear the raised voices and it sounded as if it was coming from the cargo hold. Careful of what she could be walking into, she stuck her head around the corner and was astonished at what she saw.

"Move," Jayne ordered the Shepherd. They were just a few steps away from her and she could practically see the anger emanating from Jayne

"Not going to happen," Book hardened his stance.

Jayne swiftly brought up his gun, aimed and cocked it at the man standing in his way. "I ain't jokin' Preacher."

Roz looked past the Shepherd to where the other passenger with the beady eyes lay on the floor. "Oh my word," Roz gasped wondering at what had happened. She looked back at Jayne only to find him staring straight at her, his expression not a happy one.

"I thought I told you to stay," Jayne hissed.

"Jayne," Roz shook as she looked at the gun he was still holding. He looked down and cursed, hurriedly he re-holstered the gun and reached across pulling her to his side. She was still shaking, and she wasn't quite sure if it was because of Jayne's close proximity or because of the violence she must have just missed.

"Jayne, just tie him up," Zoe commanded as she aimed her gun at the lawman.

Jayne looked down at Roz and pushed her gently away from Book and the downed passenger. He gave her a look that told her exactly what to do – not move. She nodded that she understood and watched as he used the rope Zoe had given him to tie up the passenger very meticulously.

Zoe held out her hand to Book, "the gun shepherd." Book merely looked down at the gun that lay in his hand.

"Please," Zoe asked. Something in her voice inclined him to give up the weapon.

Once Jayne had finished tying up the passenger, he hauled the man up and shoved him into Zoe's waiting arms.

"Hey Preacher man," Jayne snapped his fingers in the Shepherd's face to grab his attention. "Help Zoe get this man into his room and make sure he stays there." Shepherd Book looked at Zoe and nodded slightly before moving to help her carry the unconscious man.

Roz looked behind her and didn't realize there was something else going on in the room. There was a crowd of people around a prone body, and the body looked suspiciously like…

"Kaylee?" Roz gasped as she walked quickly towards the crowd. She was stopped however by a large hand on her shoulder.

"Just give 'em some room to work," Jayne whispered as he looked intently down at the group.

"Kaylee, stay with me, just stay with me," Simon said, his doctor training taking over immediately as he looked into her eyes. "Can you move your feet?"

"Are you asking me to dance?" Kaylee asked with a silly grin on her face.

"She's going into shock," Simon told Captain Reynolds.

Inara had lifted Kaylee's head into her lap and was stroking her hair. "Mei-mei you have to focus."

As Simon felt the gun wound, he must have touched a sensitive area because she let out a loud groan.

"The infirmary working?" Simon asked.

"Yeah, we got it stocked," Mal replied, barely looking up from Kaylee's unmoving figure.

"Captain," a voice echoed over the P.A. Must be Wash, Roz thought as he was the only one she hadn't met. "We've been hailed by a cruiser, ordered to stay on course and dock for prisoner transfer."

Simon and the captain looked at each other dangerously. Something had occurred earlier that Roz must have missed because each seemed to be speaking without the use of words. But the thought of the Alliance just outside their doorstep terrified Roz because she knew they would only take her back to him.

"They won't stop for the Alliance will they?" Roz turned towards Jayne, frightened eyes staring up at him.

"Don't know," Jayne grunted as he looked warily at the Captain. "Depends on his mood I suppose."

"But…they'll take me back Jayne, they'll bring me back too," Roz clutched onto Jayne's arm, not thinking of anything but him and how she couldn't go back to the abuse.

Jayne's head snapped down to her, his hands latching onto her shoulders and pulling her into his warm chest. "You ain't goin' nowhere that you don't want to, and you sure as hell ain't goin' back to that qing wa cao de liu mang" (frog-humping son of a *itch)

Roz was so overcome with emotion, she simply rested her forehead against Jayne's torso and breathed a sigh of relief as she felt his arms hesitantly wrap around her. She decided to relish in the moment and how for the first time, she didn't feel afraid but completely safe. She trusted that whatever would happen, Jayne wouldn't let anything bad happen to her. Forcing herself from her situation, she turned her focus back towards Kaylee.

Simon stood and stared gravely down at the captain. "Change course, run."

Reynolds looked at him as if he were crazy, "hell with you. You brought this down on us. I'm dumping you with the law."

"Mal," Inara interjected shock in her voice.

"She's dying," Simon pointed out.

"You're not gonna let her," Reynolds shook his head.

"Yes, I am."

"No, you can't," Reynolds stood.

"No way the feds'll let us walk," Zoe stated.

"Then we dump him in a shuttle and leave him," Reynolds replied.

"Everybody's so mad," Kaylee murmured.

"It's okay," Inara soothed with a hitch in her voice.

"Know what a stomach wound does?"

"I surely do," the captain replied stoic.

"Then you know how crucial the next few minutes are."

"You let her die, you'll never make it to the feds," Zoe threatened, her stance ready for a fight.

"She'll still be dead," Simon commented.

"You rich kids," Reynolds said in disgust, bringing Simon's attention away from Zoe to the captain. "You think your lives are the only thing that matters. What'd you do? Kill your folks for the family fortune?"

"I don't kill people," Simon replied incensed by the accusation.

"Then do your job," Reynolds stated.

"Turn the ship around!"

"Enough!" Inara yelled as she stood up. "Mal do it."

"Don't you ever tell me what to do on…" Reynolds turned on Inara with a cold voice. He stopped what he was saying when he heard the sobs of pain coming from Kaylee. He paused for a moment before turning to his second in command. "Zoe, change course."

Simon acted immediately. "Help me get her up," he ordered the captain.

Zoe walked over to the intercom and pressed the correct buttons that allowed her to speak directly to Wash. "Wash, change course and go for hard burn. We're runnin'."

Roz and Jayne watched as they carefully picked up Kaylee and carried her out into the hall and down towards the infirmary. She wasn't sure if she would be welcome so Roz decided to hang back, Jayne appeared to have the same thought. They stood together on the silent ship, in each other's arms, and for the first time in Roz's life…she prayed.

Okay, so hear is the latest installment, hope you all liked it. I especially enjoyed Jayne and Roz's quiet moment with each other. I think the only reason that happened was because of Roz's fear of going back to him and yearning to be comforted by someone.

In the next chapter, you'll see an angrier side of Jayne where he doesn't tip-toe around Roz' feelings but lets his own out instead. In this story, you'll see Roz take a few steps forward, such as touching and allowing to be touched by another person, but there will be times where she will recoil and fall back in her progress. There isn't going to be a quick fix for Roz, it's going to be a ruthless and hard journey but I'll give you a little hint…she'll make it!