toxic_corn (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
toxic_corn) wrote2007-01-21 06:24 pm
toxic_corn) wrote2007-01-21 06:24 pm
Entry tags:
Firefly Fic: The Present (River/Jayne), R: Chapter Five
Series: The Present
Title: Chapter Five (5/11)
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
toxic_corn
Rating: R
Pairing: River/Jayne
Disclaimer: Firefly belongs to Joss Whedon. I own nothing and earn no money from this.
Summary: A mysterious package from Jayne's past will change the course of his future.
Notes: Another AU. This time, I didn't kill the crew. :D Everything is pretty much the same except River and Simon aren't on board the ship. At least, not right away.
Catch up at the organizational post.
CHAPTER FIVE
When Jayne had thrown everything there was to throw, he settled on the edge of his bed and buried his face in his hands. He hadn't cried since he'd last seen that girl and he sure as shit wasn't going to break a twenty year record for her who smacked at him when he was only trying to help.
"Jayne? You through pitchin' a fit down there?"
Scowling, Jayne got up and strode over to the ladder. He hated being treated like a child, but the captain and his go se were a nice distraction from the possibility of waterworks.
"The hell do you want?" Jayne grumbled as he joined Mal in the hallway.
"The girl's settled in one of the passenger dorms. Go check in on her." Mal started to walk away.
"Why the hell should I? Because she's got some more crazy tricks to show off?"
Mal stopped and looked at him, face blank. "Because she's asking for you."
Oh.
~*~
"She might still be asleep," Kaylee whispered to him as she pointed out which room they'd put River in.
Jayne nodded, taking the hint, and slid the door open and shut behind him as quietly as possible. He kept his steps light as he crossed to the bed, kneeling down next to it. River slept on her side, one arm curled under her head, her other hand fisted under her chin. She looked so tired and so damn young. If he ever found out who'd done this to her, he'd kill the son of a whore.
River frowned in her sleep and stirred slightly. "Jayne?"
His breath caught in his throat and he reached out to stroke her hair. River had always had such pretty hair; it pained him to see it so unkempt and greasy, the last two inches or so nothing but dead ends. "Yeah, bao bei, it's me."
"Not bao bei. Apple blossom." Her eyelashes fluttered and then she was staring at him with those big, brown eyes of hers. She looked a little annoyed that he hadn't called her by the correct endearment.
He grinned. "That's right. My little apple blossom."
"I missed you." River blinked slowly, losing her fight against the medication.
"Oh, I missed you, too, pretty girl." Jayne cleared his throat. "Best get some sleep now, you hear?"
"Slept for so long," she whispered. "Too long." One of her slim, graceful hands reached out and traced the lines around his eyes.
"Yeah, you got some catchin' up to do. Always was older'n you anyways, though. Right?" He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Go to sleep now, River."
She murmured a protest but was asleep again in seconds. He stayed there for awhile, just watching her, making sure she was safe. The last time he'd let her out of his sight had resulted in the situation they found themselves in now; he wasn't about to let anything worse happen to her.
"Jayne?" Kaylee peeked her head into the room. "Supper's ready. Captain wants you at the table."
"Ain't leavin' her." Jayne took River's hand in his, frowning at how cold she was. He dropped a kiss into her palm and started rubbing it between his own two hands, hoping the friction would warm her up some.
Kaylee's eyes softened. "I can stay with her if you want so you can go eat. I promise to not let anything happen to her."
Well, a meal right about now sounded nice. And maybe while he was up there, he could set a little aside for River for when she got hungry. He nodded at Kaylee then turned back to River. "I'm goin' to the mess for a spell, all right? I'll be back in a few minutes and I'll see if I can bring you something. We shiny, pretty girl?" He stroked her hair, smiling when she murmured softly in her sleep. "Good. Kaylee'll get you anything you need. She's a good'un."
Reluctantly, Jayne rose to his feet and nodded at Kaylee as if it say, I'm trusting you with this; don't mess it up. Once he left the room, Kaylee took his place next to the bed, looking at River curiously.
"When you wake up, you're gonna hafta tell me all about young Jayne. I'm seein' it but I'm havin' a hard time believin' it."
~*~
Jayne barely listened as Mal told them some about his latest scheme to make them some money. Apparently they were going to take on tourists again, but that weren't anything new. He just focused on finishing what he had on his plate, setting aside the best looking bits for River. The meal wasn't quite what she'd been used to growing up in that big, fancy house but she could adapt. The first week with him back when they were kids, she'd stopped using longer words and the other kids had held off on picking on her about that. 'Course, there'd been the fact that she was so much tinier and younger so that still had given her some trouble, but that couldn't be helped.
Mal stopped in mid-sentence. "Kaylee, what-?"
Spinning around in alarm, Jayne was ready to snarl at the girl to get back to watching River when he found that she'd brought River along with her.
"She woke up asking for Jayne and she started followin' me, Cap'n." Kaylee had her arm linked through River's and gently nudged River's shoulder with her own, nodding in Jayne's direction. "See? There he is."
Wash politely picked up his plate and moved to another chair to free up the spot next to Jayne.
River was taking in the room with wide, fascinated eyes but she soon focused on Jayne and smiled. "Found you."
"Wasn't hidin'." Jayne smiled back and patted the chair's seat. "Been savin' some grub for you, girl. C'mere."
Kaylee walked her over to the chair and River sat down, looking in fascination at the plate Jayne set before her. "This isn't home," she said, confused.
"It's my new home," Jayne told her. "You can stay here with me long as you like." He looked at Mal, daring him to challenge this but the captain just nodded. "You feeling any better?"
"Better than what?" River picked up a fork and scooped up some protein.
Jayne chuckled. "Than when you came outta that box, apple blossom."
"She reports signs of improvement but displays fatigue periodically." She ate her mouthful of protein and made a little face, but swallowed it.
Everyone looked at each other, bewildered by that odd statement.
"That's... that's good." Jayne nodded. "I think. You thirsty?" He poured her a drink of water from the pitcher and set the glass in front of her. "Haven't had a drink in twenty years; you must be parched."
River looked up at him. "Twenty years?"
"Well, uh, we don't know for sure. Do you remember when you got all frozen?"
Her face darkened. "Frozen."
"Yeah. Do ya remember anything at all?"
Her breath was starting to come faster. "Remember."
"Why're ya repeatin' everything I say? Don't you remember what happened to you?"
"Jayne, leave her alone," Inara admonished him, looking in concern at River as she grew more and more upset.
"What did they do to you?" Jayne growled, ignoring the companion. "Tell me, 'n I'll make sure to kill every one of 'em."
River covered her face and started weeping piteously. "No!"
His eyes widened in surprise. "You want 'em to get away with doin' this to you?"
"Don't want to remember! Don't want to think! Let it sit in the corner until it's forgotten."
"Okay, darlin' that's what we'll do then," Mal cut in, sending Jayne a dirty look. "No one's gonna ask you any more questions, okay?"
She didn't answer, just continued crying, rocking back and forth in her chair. Jayne gently touched her shoulder but she cringed away from his touch.
"Let it be forgotten like she was," she whispered sadly.
Jayne stared at her in shock. "I didn't forget you! I-"
"Left in a tower, can't grow her hair long enough to escape, no prince to rescue her. Forgotten. Unwanted."
"Hey, now. That ain't what happened at all. If you'd just listen-"
"Jayne," Mal said warningly. "Leave that girl alone right now."
Looking around the table, Jayne saw everyone staring at him accusingly. The big bad mercenary making a little girl cry. His hands clenched into fists and he violently pushed his chair back, making it screech in protest.
"To hell with all of you," he snarled and stormed from the room.
~*~
Where did that bastard end up anyhow? He tapped the screen here and there, trying to unclench his teeth. He was the big, mean guy? Well, fine. Someone else could sweet-talk her and hold her hand, then.
"Capital City Hospital," a tired looking nurse said.
"Yeah, I'm lookin' for Dr. Simon Tam," Jayne said. "Can I talk to 'im?"
The nurse sighed. "I'll transfer you. One moment." The picture went dark for a few minutes and Jayne tapped his fingers on the arm of the pilot's chair impatiently. The same nurse returned a moment later, frowning. "I'm sorry; he's off duty at the moment. Perhaps you should try back at a later date."
"Ta ma de!" Jayne snapped, startling the nurse, and rudely broke the connection.
Guess he was stuck with the gorramn girl until he could get her big brother to come collect her.
< Chapter Four : Chapter Six >
Title: Chapter Five (5/11)
Author:
toxic_cornRating: R
Pairing: River/Jayne
Disclaimer: Firefly belongs to Joss Whedon. I own nothing and earn no money from this.
Summary: A mysterious package from Jayne's past will change the course of his future.
Notes: Another AU. This time, I didn't kill the crew. :D Everything is pretty much the same except River and Simon aren't on board the ship. At least, not right away.
Catch up at the organizational post.
When Jayne had thrown everything there was to throw, he settled on the edge of his bed and buried his face in his hands. He hadn't cried since he'd last seen that girl and he sure as shit wasn't going to break a twenty year record for her who smacked at him when he was only trying to help.
"Jayne? You through pitchin' a fit down there?"
Scowling, Jayne got up and strode over to the ladder. He hated being treated like a child, but the captain and his go se were a nice distraction from the possibility of waterworks.
"The hell do you want?" Jayne grumbled as he joined Mal in the hallway.
"The girl's settled in one of the passenger dorms. Go check in on her." Mal started to walk away.
"Why the hell should I? Because she's got some more crazy tricks to show off?"
Mal stopped and looked at him, face blank. "Because she's asking for you."
Oh.
"She might still be asleep," Kaylee whispered to him as she pointed out which room they'd put River in.
Jayne nodded, taking the hint, and slid the door open and shut behind him as quietly as possible. He kept his steps light as he crossed to the bed, kneeling down next to it. River slept on her side, one arm curled under her head, her other hand fisted under her chin. She looked so tired and so damn young. If he ever found out who'd done this to her, he'd kill the son of a whore.
River frowned in her sleep and stirred slightly. "Jayne?"
His breath caught in his throat and he reached out to stroke her hair. River had always had such pretty hair; it pained him to see it so unkempt and greasy, the last two inches or so nothing but dead ends. "Yeah, bao bei, it's me."
"Not bao bei. Apple blossom." Her eyelashes fluttered and then she was staring at him with those big, brown eyes of hers. She looked a little annoyed that he hadn't called her by the correct endearment.
He grinned. "That's right. My little apple blossom."
"I missed you." River blinked slowly, losing her fight against the medication.
"Oh, I missed you, too, pretty girl." Jayne cleared his throat. "Best get some sleep now, you hear?"
"Slept for so long," she whispered. "Too long." One of her slim, graceful hands reached out and traced the lines around his eyes.
"Yeah, you got some catchin' up to do. Always was older'n you anyways, though. Right?" He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Go to sleep now, River."
She murmured a protest but was asleep again in seconds. He stayed there for awhile, just watching her, making sure she was safe. The last time he'd let her out of his sight had resulted in the situation they found themselves in now; he wasn't about to let anything worse happen to her.
"Jayne?" Kaylee peeked her head into the room. "Supper's ready. Captain wants you at the table."
"Ain't leavin' her." Jayne took River's hand in his, frowning at how cold she was. He dropped a kiss into her palm and started rubbing it between his own two hands, hoping the friction would warm her up some.
Kaylee's eyes softened. "I can stay with her if you want so you can go eat. I promise to not let anything happen to her."
Well, a meal right about now sounded nice. And maybe while he was up there, he could set a little aside for River for when she got hungry. He nodded at Kaylee then turned back to River. "I'm goin' to the mess for a spell, all right? I'll be back in a few minutes and I'll see if I can bring you something. We shiny, pretty girl?" He stroked her hair, smiling when she murmured softly in her sleep. "Good. Kaylee'll get you anything you need. She's a good'un."
Reluctantly, Jayne rose to his feet and nodded at Kaylee as if it say, I'm trusting you with this; don't mess it up. Once he left the room, Kaylee took his place next to the bed, looking at River curiously.
"When you wake up, you're gonna hafta tell me all about young Jayne. I'm seein' it but I'm havin' a hard time believin' it."
Jayne barely listened as Mal told them some about his latest scheme to make them some money. Apparently they were going to take on tourists again, but that weren't anything new. He just focused on finishing what he had on his plate, setting aside the best looking bits for River. The meal wasn't quite what she'd been used to growing up in that big, fancy house but she could adapt. The first week with him back when they were kids, she'd stopped using longer words and the other kids had held off on picking on her about that. 'Course, there'd been the fact that she was so much tinier and younger so that still had given her some trouble, but that couldn't be helped.
Mal stopped in mid-sentence. "Kaylee, what-?"
Spinning around in alarm, Jayne was ready to snarl at the girl to get back to watching River when he found that she'd brought River along with her.
"She woke up asking for Jayne and she started followin' me, Cap'n." Kaylee had her arm linked through River's and gently nudged River's shoulder with her own, nodding in Jayne's direction. "See? There he is."
Wash politely picked up his plate and moved to another chair to free up the spot next to Jayne.
River was taking in the room with wide, fascinated eyes but she soon focused on Jayne and smiled. "Found you."
"Wasn't hidin'." Jayne smiled back and patted the chair's seat. "Been savin' some grub for you, girl. C'mere."
Kaylee walked her over to the chair and River sat down, looking in fascination at the plate Jayne set before her. "This isn't home," she said, confused.
"It's my new home," Jayne told her. "You can stay here with me long as you like." He looked at Mal, daring him to challenge this but the captain just nodded. "You feeling any better?"
"Better than what?" River picked up a fork and scooped up some protein.
Jayne chuckled. "Than when you came outta that box, apple blossom."
"She reports signs of improvement but displays fatigue periodically." She ate her mouthful of protein and made a little face, but swallowed it.
Everyone looked at each other, bewildered by that odd statement.
"That's... that's good." Jayne nodded. "I think. You thirsty?" He poured her a drink of water from the pitcher and set the glass in front of her. "Haven't had a drink in twenty years; you must be parched."
River looked up at him. "Twenty years?"
"Well, uh, we don't know for sure. Do you remember when you got all frozen?"
Her face darkened. "Frozen."
"Yeah. Do ya remember anything at all?"
Her breath was starting to come faster. "Remember."
"Why're ya repeatin' everything I say? Don't you remember what happened to you?"
"Jayne, leave her alone," Inara admonished him, looking in concern at River as she grew more and more upset.
"What did they do to you?" Jayne growled, ignoring the companion. "Tell me, 'n I'll make sure to kill every one of 'em."
River covered her face and started weeping piteously. "No!"
His eyes widened in surprise. "You want 'em to get away with doin' this to you?"
"Don't want to remember! Don't want to think! Let it sit in the corner until it's forgotten."
"Okay, darlin' that's what we'll do then," Mal cut in, sending Jayne a dirty look. "No one's gonna ask you any more questions, okay?"
She didn't answer, just continued crying, rocking back and forth in her chair. Jayne gently touched her shoulder but she cringed away from his touch.
"Let it be forgotten like she was," she whispered sadly.
Jayne stared at her in shock. "I didn't forget you! I-"
"Left in a tower, can't grow her hair long enough to escape, no prince to rescue her. Forgotten. Unwanted."
"Hey, now. That ain't what happened at all. If you'd just listen-"
"Jayne," Mal said warningly. "Leave that girl alone right now."
Looking around the table, Jayne saw everyone staring at him accusingly. The big bad mercenary making a little girl cry. His hands clenched into fists and he violently pushed his chair back, making it screech in protest.
"To hell with all of you," he snarled and stormed from the room.
Where did that bastard end up anyhow? He tapped the screen here and there, trying to unclench his teeth. He was the big, mean guy? Well, fine. Someone else could sweet-talk her and hold her hand, then.
"Capital City Hospital," a tired looking nurse said.
"Yeah, I'm lookin' for Dr. Simon Tam," Jayne said. "Can I talk to 'im?"
The nurse sighed. "I'll transfer you. One moment." The picture went dark for a few minutes and Jayne tapped his fingers on the arm of the pilot's chair impatiently. The same nurse returned a moment later, frowning. "I'm sorry; he's off duty at the moment. Perhaps you should try back at a later date."
"Ta ma de!" Jayne snapped, startling the nurse, and rudely broke the connection.
Guess he was stuck with the gorramn girl until he could get her big brother to come collect her.
< Chapter Four : Chapter Six >