Disclaimer: I do not own Firefly or any of Joss Whedon's creations. I only own Roz and the baby she carries.
Warning: We will be entering the mind of Jayne Cobb. Please keep hands and feet inside at all times or else they could be chopped off. Not really, but Jayne's mind isn't the most…how can I put this…saintly? He is often crass but I have toned it down a bit. If it offends, please forgive, but I'm trying to keep Jayne in character without going overboard. Enjoy the final ride/chapter!
Chapter Ten
Jayne watched Roz walk down the hallway with Book and for a moment desperately wished he could be the one escorting her to her rooms, but he knew the best way to protect her was by keeping watch of the Reavers and being ready to engage the enemy.
Mal was already on the move with Zoe, running up the steps toward the cockpit. Jayne focused his attention on the problem at hand. There was no way he'd allow Reavers to claim this ship. Narrowing his eyes, Jayne placed a reassuring hand on his holstered gun and raced after Mal and Zoe.
Wash was sitting in the cockpit seat; sweat glistening on his forehead and blonde hair sticking up in various angles. His hands had a tight grip on the ship's wheel, but despite the life and death situation, Wash's face was remarkably calm, the picture of a perfect pilot.
"How close are they?" Mal asked darkly, leaning over Wash to stare out the window as he watched them ascend higher into the sky and away from the planet below.
"About twenty seconds from spitting distance," Wash replied swiftly.
"Well, lose 'em!" Jayne growled, wishing he could shoot something or someone. Wash flashed Jayne a brief look of annoyance before leveling off the ship.
"Give me rear vid," Mal nodded to Zoe. She flipped a couple buttons and a picture of a ship spouting large amounts of smoke filled the screen…and they were coming up fast.
"Ai ya women wanle." Zoe uttered softly with a shake of her head.
"How close do they need to be to fire those grapples?" Mal asked Wash.
"C'mon, Wash, dodge 'em!" Jayne yelled while he moved his body from side to side, as if by his motions he could steer the ship himself.
"If everybody could just be quiet a moment…" Wash commented calmly but with iron in his voice. A hard veer to the right sent them all scrabbling for something to grab onto.
"I need Kaylee in the engine room please." Wash spoke as he jerked the wheel to the left this time.
"Can she even…?" Zoe asked in concern.
"Get her in there," Mal turned sharply to Jayne. "Now."
Jayne nodded and exited the cockpit quickly, nearly running over Inara in order to get to the infirmary. He didn't know what kind of state Kaylee would be in but he hoped she would be able to do whatever needed to be done.
The infirmary was packed with the doc and his feng le sister, along with Kaylee, Book, and Roz. He frowned at the sight of the tiny pregnant woman. He bit back the words he wanted to use to rail against her being there. She should have been secured in her room, but after a moment of thought, the infirmary was one of the safest places in the ship and she was with people who could watch over her.
"Jayne, is everything okay?" Roz asked, her eyes wide the moment she saw him and was at his side before he could blink.
"We ain't clear yet." Jayne brushed her cheek lightly with the back of his hand, needing the small amount of comfort from her soft porcelain skin.
"Kaylee, Cap'n needs you in the engine room." Jayne moved to the girls side as she struggled to sit up.
"I can do it," Kaylee nodded resolutely.
"Absolutely not," Simon shook his head. "She could pull apart her stitches and do irreparable harm."
"Either that or be eaten by Reavers. Don't know about you Doc, but I don't rightly care to have the flesh ripped from my skin…'less of course there's a woman with a whip." Jayne winked at Roz whose whole body flushed bright red.
"You ready Lil' Kaylee?"
"Ready." Kaylee placed her hands around Jayne's neck as he placed one arm behind her back, and the other underneath her legs, gently lifting her off the hospital bed. Just as he was about to leave, Inara stalked in looking upset but trying to appear calm.
"You four. Come with me," Inara pointed to the remaining people in the infirmary.
"What's going on?" Roz asked, glancing furtively between Inara and Jayne.
"We're boarding my shuttle…just in case." Inara smiled softly, trying to comfort instead of frighten.
"I think I can help Kaylee out," Book stated as he looked to Jayne for acceptance. Jayne looked Book over, paying close attention to the scratch on the older man's head, but he appeared to be coherent. Nodding sharply he started to leave the room when he felt a small hand on his lower back.
"I can help too," Roz said desperately.
"No," Jayne responded vehemently. "Get on the shuttle."
"I thought you wouldn't give orders," Roz recoiled, hurt in her beautiful eyes.
"This ain't the time Roz. We're tryin' to save this ship from Reavers. I can't worry about where you are." Jayne looked up at the others who were staring at him in interest. "Please," Jayne gritted out between his teeth quietly.
It took a moment before Roz stepped back and nodded her head submissively. "Be careful." Inara placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed comfortingly.
"Should I…?" Simon inquired with a raised hand.
"Take her," Book nodded to River. "Keep her safe."
"Keep 'em all safe," Jayne growled, pinning the Doc with a death defying glare. "Let's go."
Carrying Kaylee was easy as she was nearly light as a feather. Jogging up the stairs, the three found themselves in the engine room not long after leaving the infirmary. Just as they entered and had set Kaylee down in the corner, the disembodied voice of Wash sounded through the room.
"Kaylee, how we doing? Gonna need a little push here."
Jayne pushed a button on the comm. to allow hands free communication. "You want me to go for full burn?" Kaylee asked weakly.
"Not just yet, but set it up."
Kaylee looked between Jayne and Book before settling on the preacher. "You know where the press regulator is?"
Book looks up and hesitates before walking a few steps and points at a panel with a questioning look.
"Head of the class," Kaylee tried to smile but the pain from her coughing turned it into a grimace. Jayne eyed her carefully as she gave Book instructions. He was worried that she was being pushed too far, but they really didn't have much of an option at the moment.
"Okay," Kaylee spoke addressing Wash. "We're ready for full burn on your mark."
There was a moment of silence as they waited for Wash's response. "Kaylee…how would you feel about pulling a Crazy Ivan?"
Kaylee thought for a moment before shrugging delicately. "Always wanted to try one. Jayne. Open the port jet control. Cut the hydraulics."
Jayne looked around the engine room, not nearly as comfortable in this room as he was elsewhere on the ship. This was Kaylee's domain. "Where the hell is…"
"Look. Look! Look where I'm pointing."
Frustrated Jayne followed her finger to a panel set just above the floor. "Okay. Now it's real simple."
Jayne looked down at the mess of wires and turned to stare blankly at Kaylee. "Tzao Gao."
"It'll be shiny, just listen carefully to my instructions."
Jayne focused his attention back on the wires that ran up from the ship. He felt Book's presence next to him. He would never say it aloud but him being there was comforting, the older man had a sense of peace about him that calmed Jayne.
With Book's help and Kaylee's quick and easily understood instructions they were able to fix the wires for the maneuver Wash wanted to pull. Jayne had heard the pilot over the intercom earlier calling Kaylee's name but they all ignored him, intent on working the problem. With a happy grin Kaylee yelled out they were ready.
"Everybody hold on to something," Wash commanded. Jayne grabbed onto a piece of metal that jutted out of the wall, hoping Roz and her baby were safe.
"Be ready for when Wash call's for full burn," Kaylee warned as she held on tightly. They all felt the ship turn a complete one-eighty. Jayne's muscles tensed as he waited for Wash.
"Now!"
Jayne lurched forward toward a big lever. He waited for Book to push the button before putting all weight onto the lever, pulling down hard. The combined efforts of the two men allowed for the engine to turn faster, sending Jayne scrabbling back to the wall as Serenity took off into the atmosphere, leaving the Reavers far behind.
Jayne looked around and realized that an engineer, a preacher, and a mercenary were able to work together to save the ship and her inhabitants. "Whoo! Woo-hoo!"
"We're good people." Mal's voice echoed throughout the ship. "We're out of the woods.
Jayne pumped his fist into the air and whooped and hollered. Book smiled and nodded his head in satisfaction. And Kaylee sighed, running her hand along the hull and smiling softly, "that's my girl…that's my girl."
After their joyful celebration over the defeat of the Reavers, Jayne picked up Kaylee and placed her back in the infirmary under the careful watch of the doc. Looking around for Roz, he frowned when he didn't see her.
"She's in her room," Simon said carefully as he cleaned a surgical utensil. "I suspect she's waiting for you."
Jayne supposed he should have thanked the doc but he merely grunted instead. There was something about the man that he didn't care much for and he suspected he never would. Leaving the infirmary, he stalked down the halls towards the passenger quarters. Stopping in front of her door, he wiped his sweaty palms on his pant legs before knocking on her door. He didn't know why he was so nervous but when she opened the door, the sight of her nearly took his breath away. This time he didn't think about what was proper or what anyone thought he simply needed his arms wrapped around her body.
Reaching out a large hand, he caught her arm and dragged her into his enveloping embrace. Her small hands clutched at his jacket, red curls tickled his nose as he breathed in her sweet scent. The hair she so carelessly pulled into a messy bun was instantly unraveled as his hands dug in, feeling the soft ringlets against his coarse hands.
"Jayne, I prayed you would be safe." Roz sobbed into his jacket. "That we would all be safe."
Jayne didn't know quite what to say so he chose to say nothing and only hold her tighter. His hand occasionally ventured from her hair to run up and down her spine, enjoying the shivers that racked her body due to his touch. He had to remind himself that she wasn't one of the women he carelessly used for his pleasure and threw away. She was a woman who deserved better. A home…a ring.
"What's going to happen now?" Roz asked, pulling her head far enough back to look him in the eyes. "Do I get off at the next stop?"
Jayne's hands stilled instantly, "you want to leave?"
"No…no," Roz floundered in her search for words. "I don't want to leave. For once I feel safe. That no one is going to hurt me." She flushed as she realized the danger they had just encountered only minutes before. "I know how silly that sounds, what with the Reavers and Dobson. But I meant that despite the risks, being here…with you…and everyone else…I finally feel free to be me, to be the person I was always meant to be."
Jayne stared into her eyes and wished she could continue looking at him like that for the rest of his life. The trust and care he saw could melt even his heart of ice. But he couldn't have her stay without knowing what she was getting into. His thumbs traced her eyebrows, down to the side of her face and stopped at her chin, tilting her head back even farther.
"Roz, you need to know that I ain't a nice man or even a good one. I do bad things all the time. I'm selfish, greedy, and I've killed me a lot'a men and I enjoyed it most of the times. I've had my way with a lot of women and I couldn't even tell you half their names. I don't got no kids…that I know of…and I never once thought about havin' any."
He could see her eyes growing dull and sad as he spoke, her lower lip trembled and his heart constricted at the thought of seeing tears run down her face. His hand fell to her neck, his palm resting on her pulse and felt it flutter erratically. He prepared himself for the words that would follow, effectively changing his future entirely.
"But you…" Jayne struggled for the right words to say. "You make me wanna be a better man. I wanna deserve the looks you give me. The thought of disappointin' you it…"
Jayne shook his head and took a step back, letting her slip out of his arms for fear his frustration would cause her harm. He put his hands on his hips and stalked back in forth in front of her.
"Ai yah tien ah," Jayne cursed under his breath. "Woman, I don't have them fancible words like that doctor, or Mal's charm, or even Wash's way with women. I know I'd die for you, and besides my momma, I wouldn't die for anyone. I hate kids, but that baby you're carryin', the thought of something happenin' to it makes me want to kill anyone who gets near you. I haven't thought of another woman since you've been on this ship and all I want to do is kiss those jing tsai lips.
Roz had been following him with her eyes during his entire tirade utterly speechless. She looked lost for a moment until a thought must have crossed her mind because her whole demeanor instantly changed. A small smile played on her lips as she arched an eyebrow and cocked a hip. "Well…what are you waiting for?"
Jayne nearly lost his breath at the come hither expression. His eyes darkened as they focused in on the luscious red lips that were curved into a smile. But as he stalked towards her, her lips formed an O of surprise as she realized he was the predator and she his prey. This caused Jayne to grown as he realized how much he wanted her, but tried to temper his urges because he knew she wasn't one of the whores he was used to.
"I wouldn't be a gentleman if I didn't give the lady what she wanted," Jayne's low voice purred softly and he nearly laughed as he heard her quick intake of breath. With lighting fast reflexes, Jayne's hand darted out, grabbed a handful of red curls and pulled her tightly into his arms. He was careful of the growing baby but his lips on hers were nearly punishing in their fervor. The taste of her soft lips, the feel of his hand at her neck and one possessively on her hip was enough to send him over the cliff. He had never before felt the emotions that she dredged up within him.
With a stunning amount of self-control, in which he had no idea where it came from, he broke off the embrace as quickly as it had started. He pressed her head to his chest and rested his own atop her curls, both content to hold each other, and both lost in the daydreams of their future.
"Gotta speak with the Captain before I turn in for the night. Will you be able to sleep all right?"
"I think so," Roz said, nuzzling into his chest bringing forth another muttered oath from Jayne. "But before I do, I wanted to go to the infirmary and see the doctor."
"Why? Are you hurt? Did somethin' happen? Is it the baby?" Jayne pulled back quick as a viper, running his hands impersonally over her body, looking for any signs of harm.
"No Jayne," Roz shook her head with a smile. "I've just never had the baby checked on since I didn't have the money. After all that's happened, I think it best to make sure the baby's okay."
"Right," Jayne nodded gruffly, crossing his arms over his broad chest as if he hadn't freaked out over nothing. "Well, stay in the infirmary until I come get ya. I shouldn't be long with the Captain. An' if it's all right. I'd like to know how the baby's doin'," his words getting quieter at the end until they were nearly indecipherable.
"I'd like that Jayne, it would be less scary if you were there with me," Roz responded with a hesitant smile.
Jayne simply nodded his head and escorted her to the infirmary where he gave the doc and his sister a wary look. "I'll be back right quick."
Jayne made his way to the cockpit where he knew Mal would be at the end of the day. Just as he had guessed, Mal sat at the helm staring out at the big black. He leaned against the door entrance, basking in the fact he was able to sneak up on the Captain.
"The girl's a problem," Jayne drawled, enjoying the slight tensing of Mal's shoulders before he turned in the chair to look at the mercenary.
"The lawman said they'd keep lookin' for her. Somethin' about her brain bein' all special. Important to the Alliance brass. Sooner we dump them two, the better."
"Suppose so," Mal shrugged. "What about Miss Rozalynn and the Shepherd."
"Don't rightly know 'bout the preacher but Roz stays," Jayne's voice turning ice cold.
"You givin' orders on this ship?" Mal asked with a quirk of a brow.
"Nope, but Roz stays," Jayne reiterated with a hand on his holstered gun.
Mal was silent for a moment, choosing his next words carefully. "I don't mind Roz staying. It'll be nice to eat food that actually has taste," Mal spun to the front.
Jayne grunted and turned to exit but Mal's next comment stopped him. "Funny how the lawman got out of his room. You having tied him up so well and all."
Jayne shook his head slightly. "I didn't have nothin' to do with that. Anyway it all turned out just fine. Buzzards're the only ones gonna find him…"
"But he did try to make a deal with you, right?"
Mal stared at Jayne who declined to say anything, keeping his secrets to himself for the moment while looking perfectly at home leaning against the wall.
"How come you didn't turn on me, Jayne?"
"Money wasn't good enough," Jayne finally responded.
"What happens when it is?"
Jayne smirked as he backed slowly out of the room. "Well…that'll be an interestin' day."
"Imagine it will," Mal's voice rang as Jayne walked down the hall. The thought of someday being captain of the Serenity brought a large smile to Jayne's face. Only the memory of Roz waiting for him was able to make his smile grow bigger. Surely if anyone passed him in the halls they would have thought him insane. For no one had ever seen him smile without it due to reveling in a death or spending a night with a voluptuous woman.
Jayne paused outside the infirmary as he saw the door closed. Frowning because the door was hardly ever closed, he turned the knob and looked around for Roz. A curtain was pulled across half the room and he saw movement on the other side. Striding across the room he snapped back the curtain and his jaw immediately dropped open. At first he didn't know quite what he was seeing but he knew the doctor was dead. Roz was laying down on one of the hospital beds, a white blanket covering her lower half, her feet in stirrups with the doc's head and hands beneath the covering.
"Ta ma duh," Jayne spat as he grabbed the doctor by the scruff of his neck, pulling him away from Roz and into a table lined with medical equipment. The sound of crashing utensils, as they fell to the floor, echoed through the room.
"Jayne, no!" Roz yelled as she struggled into a sitting position. "He's doing his job."
"By havin' his head up your skirt?" Jayne growled and shook the good doctor.
"You ben tian sheng de yi dui rou," the doc uttered, attempting to get away from Jayne. "Do you know what you could have done if I were operating? You could have harmed Roz and the baby. You never pull me out like that!"
"You'll not be doin' anything to her," Jayne threatened.
"She's my patient," Simon pushed at the arms still holding him.
"Choo fay wuh sih leh!"
"Bi jweh!" Roz yelled causing both men to stop their fight to look at her in shock. "Jayne, Simon is helping me. He was going to find out if the baby is a boy or a girl. Now if you would like to find out with me, come and hold my hand," Roz held out a hand in a silent entreaty.
With a last growl for Simon, Jayne dropped the doctor and came to stand by Roz who visibly relaxed against the pillow and happily grabbed his hand. It took a moment for Simon to ready himself once more and get his medical equipment ready. With a hesitant look at Jayne, Simon pulled up her shirt and placed a paddle on her stomach attached to a screen he held in his hand.
The sight of her protruding stomach didn't repulse him like he thought it would. It only made him want her more. Seeing his momma pregnant more often than naught, he had a lot of experience with kids, but it was still mind boggling to realize there was a living thing inside her body. He wanted to make sure the baby was protected at all times. The problem was, there were so many bad people out there in the world, him included. How could he protect it from the whole world?
"As I already told Roz, she's about twenty-nine weeks along, which is longer than I would like for someone to go without being checked up. But her and the baby seem to be doing well." Simon smiled as he looked into Roz's cheerful and hopeful face. "You want to know what the sex of the baby is?"
Roz nodded and squeezed Jayne's hand for comfort. "Guess we'll have to start thinking of baby names." Jayne smiled softly when he heard her say "we", as if he would have some input.
"Congratulations Roz, you're going to be having a healthy baby…"
Ha Ha Ha (Mine is an evil laugh!) So I ended the first book with a cliffy. I know, you may throw lettuce and tomatoes at me if you must, but I would prefer chocolates and flowers. We've finally reached the end of this story. Once I get my Harry Potter story up and running, I'll begin working on the sequel.
This gives you the opportunity to tell me if you think the baby should be a boy or girl and what names you like. I have a poll up on my profile page, please vote for boy or girl. Whoever wins, I'll put up some names and you can vote on those.
Thanks for faithfully following this story. This was my first foray into writing with a Christian perspective and I found I really loved it mostly because it comes from having a heart for God. Please leave me a review or PM me because I love hearing from all of you.
Thanks so much!