toxic_corn (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
toxic_corn) wrote2007-01-30 06:19 pm
toxic_corn) wrote2007-01-30 06:19 pm
Entry tags:
Firefly fic: The Present (River/Jayne), R: Chapter Seven
Series: The Present
Title: Chapter Seven (7/11)
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 on earlier chapters at the organizational post.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"Jayne," Mal called. "We're almost to Persephone. I know this'll cut into your poutin' time, but could you take River down to your bunk now?"
"Why's it gotta be my bunk?" Jayne groused.
Mal rolled his eyes. "For whatever reason, she's the most calm when she's around you, barring her inclination for screamin' outbursts. Just keep her down there until we get this Mr. Kilroy Moore to Boros. He's Core and bound to get a mite tetchy if he sees our crazy little character. Shiny?"
"Yeah, I hear ya." Jayne turned away from the captain and headed to the cargo bay where he'd been hearing girlish giggling all day. Sure enough, River was in there with Kaylee, playing jacks. Since coming on board, Kaylee had taken the girl under her wing, being her friend when Jayne was too overwhelmed to do much.
Kaylee stopped in mid-sentence when she saw him. "Hiya! Me 'n River was just spinnin' some yarns. She's got more'n a few with you in 'em." The girl grinned teasingly.
"Whaddya been sayin' about me?" Jayne asked River, gruffly.
She looked up at him, smiling in that way that always played havoc with his insides. "That you're my best friend." She reached up to take his hand and he found himself lacing their fingers together before he was even aware of it.
"Awww." Kaylee cooed over the picture they made. "Jayne, don't be mad at her no more, okay?"
"Mal wants I should hide ya in my bunk while we get some pantywaist on board. You okay with that?" Jayne ignored the raspberry Kaylee blew at him in response to his eye roll and focused on River's face.
She lowered her head and peeked up at him through her eyelashes. "I suppose that I am amenable to this plan."
"Fancy talk for yes," Jayne clarified to Kaylee, who looked confused. "Well, c'mon then, ap- River. No time like right now."
River nodded and allowed Jayne to pull her to her feet. When he tried to let her hand go, she held on stubbornly and Jayne just didn't have the heart to shake her off. He'd been avoiding close contact with her since her outburst at the dinner table a few nights ago. Part of him was still hurting and part of him wanted like hell to wrap her up tight in his arms and beg her to let him help her.
Instead, he led her to his bunk and let her climb down the ladder first, cursing Mal all the while.
"I'm very tired. May I lie down?"
"I don't care what ya do," Jayne muttered, settling into his desk chair. He watched her curl up on his bed and swallowed thickly to see her there. Maybe later he'd find one of her hairs on his pillow.
"Please be patient with me Jayne," she whispered, closing her eyes. A tear slid down her cheek. "I never know what I'm saying. I don't mean to hurt you."
Oh, hell. Jayne got up and sat down on the mattress, making it dip so her body rolled against him. "You don't got a thing t' be sorry for, apple blossom; I'm the one who's been actin' like a prick. Don't you be worryin' on my account; just concentrate on feelin' better."
River sighed softly. "Feel better when you're near."
"Then I'm gonna be near."
She smiled and fell asleep.
~*~
"Mr. Moore? I'm Captain Reynolds and this here is Serenity and my crew." Mal gestured to the cargo bay where everyone stood, watching their new passenger with unabashed interest.
The man looked tired and stern and a bit like an Alliance official. Mal could feel the ripple of unease coming off his crew as the man came on board. Good thing they had nothing incriminating in their hold. Except for maybe a crazy girl liable to shriek the roof down but Jayne had her contained. Hopefully.
"It's a pleasure, Captain Reynolds." Moore shook his hand firmly and scanned the room. "Is this your whole crew?"
Mal kept cool. "Well, we have one other fella but he's a tad ornery and prefers to keep himself hidden most of the time. You'll probably meet him at supper tonight. More pity to you."
Moore smiled. "I see. Where is my room located? I'd like to put my personal effects away."
"Of course. Kaylee, could you show the nice man to his room, please?"
"Sure thing, Cap'n. Right this way, Mr. Moore." Kaylee picked up one of the man's bags, ignoring his protests, and led the way to the passenger dorms.
Mal breathed a sigh of relief. So far, so good.
~*~
Jayne watched River as she slept. It'd been forever and a day since he'd gotten to do this and it felt nice. She still made little noises in her sleep that made him smile. Not for the first time, he started to think about how different their lives could've been, if he'd been able to hold on to her. He could've had this every day of his life, watched her grow old with him, maybe had a few kids...
River jerked awake suddenly, gasping.
"Didja have a bad dream, apple blossom?" Jayne asked, concerned.
"He's here," she whispered.
"Who's here?"
Before he could stop her, she'd jumped up off the bed and was halfway up the ladder.
"River, gorramn it, you're s'posed ta stay down here with me!" Jayne ran after her and tried to grab at her ankle but she nimbly avoided his clutching fingers. Damn girl always was quick.
He climbed up the ladder fast as he could and pounded after her, grabbing uselessly at the air as she managed to elude him.
"River!" he snapped. "Stop!"
~*~
"Mr. Moore, if you could just follow me, I can give ya a quick tour," Mal said, smoothly.
"Of course." Moore started to follow the captain and everyone froze when pounding footsteps came from above.
A second later, River tore out onto the catwalk and bolted down the stairs toward them.
Mal blanched and shared a quick look with Zoe. She nodded at him, wordlessly communicating her willingness to follow his lead however he wanted to deal with this.
"Simon," River sobbed, and threw herself into Moore's arms.
"Shhh, mei mei." Moore wrapped his arms around her. "I'm here."
Jayne emerged a moment later and his jaw dropped. "Holy hell. I tried ta call you, but the nurse said you was-"
"I was on my way here," Moore said, shakily. "I knew I could count on you to take care of her. Have you been giving her injections daily?"
"I have," Jayne grunted. "You coulda signed that note, ya know."
"I couldn't take that risk," Moore said, tersely. He tightened his hold on River. "Thank you for taking such good care of her."
"Someone tell me what the hell is going on here right now before I throw you all off my boat on general principle," Mal said, sounding irritated.
"Captain Reynolds, I'm Simon Tam. I'm River's brother." He gently let River go, looking her over as if to make sure she had no injuries. "I was the one that put her in the cryogenic chamber and sent her here."
Everyone in the room stiffened.
"You sayin' you're the one who froze her?" Jayne said, dangerously.
"Well, yes, but-" Before he could finish his sentence, Jayne clattered down the steps and threw a punch that knocked Simon to the floor, making him spray blood.
"No!" River cried, and ran to her brother's side.
"What-" Simon started to say with some difficulty.
"How couldja do that to yer own sister?" Jayne snarled. "Lookit her! She's supposed to be around my age; you took years of her life away from her!"
"What?!" Simon stared at him in shock. "I meant that I froze her for the transportation. I wasn't the one to keep her in stasis for years."
Jayne's righteous anger fizzled as everyone in the room looked at him like he was an idiot. "Well.... now I know that."
< Chapter Six : Chapter Eight >
Title: Chapter Seven (7/11)
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 on earlier chapters at the organizational post.
"Jayne," Mal called. "We're almost to Persephone. I know this'll cut into your poutin' time, but could you take River down to your bunk now?"
"Why's it gotta be my bunk?" Jayne groused.
Mal rolled his eyes. "For whatever reason, she's the most calm when she's around you, barring her inclination for screamin' outbursts. Just keep her down there until we get this Mr. Kilroy Moore to Boros. He's Core and bound to get a mite tetchy if he sees our crazy little character. Shiny?"
"Yeah, I hear ya." Jayne turned away from the captain and headed to the cargo bay where he'd been hearing girlish giggling all day. Sure enough, River was in there with Kaylee, playing jacks. Since coming on board, Kaylee had taken the girl under her wing, being her friend when Jayne was too overwhelmed to do much.
Kaylee stopped in mid-sentence when she saw him. "Hiya! Me 'n River was just spinnin' some yarns. She's got more'n a few with you in 'em." The girl grinned teasingly.
"Whaddya been sayin' about me?" Jayne asked River, gruffly.
She looked up at him, smiling in that way that always played havoc with his insides. "That you're my best friend." She reached up to take his hand and he found himself lacing their fingers together before he was even aware of it.
"Awww." Kaylee cooed over the picture they made. "Jayne, don't be mad at her no more, okay?"
"Mal wants I should hide ya in my bunk while we get some pantywaist on board. You okay with that?" Jayne ignored the raspberry Kaylee blew at him in response to his eye roll and focused on River's face.
She lowered her head and peeked up at him through her eyelashes. "I suppose that I am amenable to this plan."
"Fancy talk for yes," Jayne clarified to Kaylee, who looked confused. "Well, c'mon then, ap- River. No time like right now."
River nodded and allowed Jayne to pull her to her feet. When he tried to let her hand go, she held on stubbornly and Jayne just didn't have the heart to shake her off. He'd been avoiding close contact with her since her outburst at the dinner table a few nights ago. Part of him was still hurting and part of him wanted like hell to wrap her up tight in his arms and beg her to let him help her.
Instead, he led her to his bunk and let her climb down the ladder first, cursing Mal all the while.
"I'm very tired. May I lie down?"
"I don't care what ya do," Jayne muttered, settling into his desk chair. He watched her curl up on his bed and swallowed thickly to see her there. Maybe later he'd find one of her hairs on his pillow.
"Please be patient with me Jayne," she whispered, closing her eyes. A tear slid down her cheek. "I never know what I'm saying. I don't mean to hurt you."
Oh, hell. Jayne got up and sat down on the mattress, making it dip so her body rolled against him. "You don't got a thing t' be sorry for, apple blossom; I'm the one who's been actin' like a prick. Don't you be worryin' on my account; just concentrate on feelin' better."
River sighed softly. "Feel better when you're near."
"Then I'm gonna be near."
She smiled and fell asleep.
"Mr. Moore? I'm Captain Reynolds and this here is Serenity and my crew." Mal gestured to the cargo bay where everyone stood, watching their new passenger with unabashed interest.
The man looked tired and stern and a bit like an Alliance official. Mal could feel the ripple of unease coming off his crew as the man came on board. Good thing they had nothing incriminating in their hold. Except for maybe a crazy girl liable to shriek the roof down but Jayne had her contained. Hopefully.
"It's a pleasure, Captain Reynolds." Moore shook his hand firmly and scanned the room. "Is this your whole crew?"
Mal kept cool. "Well, we have one other fella but he's a tad ornery and prefers to keep himself hidden most of the time. You'll probably meet him at supper tonight. More pity to you."
Moore smiled. "I see. Where is my room located? I'd like to put my personal effects away."
"Of course. Kaylee, could you show the nice man to his room, please?"
"Sure thing, Cap'n. Right this way, Mr. Moore." Kaylee picked up one of the man's bags, ignoring his protests, and led the way to the passenger dorms.
Mal breathed a sigh of relief. So far, so good.
Jayne watched River as she slept. It'd been forever and a day since he'd gotten to do this and it felt nice. She still made little noises in her sleep that made him smile. Not for the first time, he started to think about how different their lives could've been, if he'd been able to hold on to her. He could've had this every day of his life, watched her grow old with him, maybe had a few kids...
River jerked awake suddenly, gasping.
"Didja have a bad dream, apple blossom?" Jayne asked, concerned.
"He's here," she whispered.
"Who's here?"
Before he could stop her, she'd jumped up off the bed and was halfway up the ladder.
"River, gorramn it, you're s'posed ta stay down here with me!" Jayne ran after her and tried to grab at her ankle but she nimbly avoided his clutching fingers. Damn girl always was quick.
He climbed up the ladder fast as he could and pounded after her, grabbing uselessly at the air as she managed to elude him.
"River!" he snapped. "Stop!"
"Mr. Moore, if you could just follow me, I can give ya a quick tour," Mal said, smoothly.
"Of course." Moore started to follow the captain and everyone froze when pounding footsteps came from above.
A second later, River tore out onto the catwalk and bolted down the stairs toward them.
Mal blanched and shared a quick look with Zoe. She nodded at him, wordlessly communicating her willingness to follow his lead however he wanted to deal with this.
"Simon," River sobbed, and threw herself into Moore's arms.
"Shhh, mei mei." Moore wrapped his arms around her. "I'm here."
Jayne emerged a moment later and his jaw dropped. "Holy hell. I tried ta call you, but the nurse said you was-"
"I was on my way here," Moore said, shakily. "I knew I could count on you to take care of her. Have you been giving her injections daily?"
"I have," Jayne grunted. "You coulda signed that note, ya know."
"I couldn't take that risk," Moore said, tersely. He tightened his hold on River. "Thank you for taking such good care of her."
"Someone tell me what the hell is going on here right now before I throw you all off my boat on general principle," Mal said, sounding irritated.
"Captain Reynolds, I'm Simon Tam. I'm River's brother." He gently let River go, looking her over as if to make sure she had no injuries. "I was the one that put her in the cryogenic chamber and sent her here."
Everyone in the room stiffened.
"You sayin' you're the one who froze her?" Jayne said, dangerously.
"Well, yes, but-" Before he could finish his sentence, Jayne clattered down the steps and threw a punch that knocked Simon to the floor, making him spray blood.
"No!" River cried, and ran to her brother's side.
"What-" Simon started to say with some difficulty.
"How couldja do that to yer own sister?" Jayne snarled. "Lookit her! She's supposed to be around my age; you took years of her life away from her!"
"What?!" Simon stared at him in shock. "I meant that I froze her for the transportation. I wasn't the one to keep her in stasis for years."
Jayne's righteous anger fizzled as everyone in the room looked at him like he was an idiot. "Well.... now I know that."
< Chapter Six : Chapter Eight >
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"Then I'm gonna be near."
guh.
and the "...now I know that." line. OMG. This is great!!! keep it coming! (slides carrots for the plot bunnies) Can't wait for the next chapter!
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Eeek. No! Bad, bunnies!
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Poor Jayne! He should listen to the whole conversation before punching someone. I love this fic!
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And now I have to finish my break and go back to work. Poo. At least I have story to keep me occupied.
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There's just something so squishy about having a guy watching you sleep. Well, not in a creepy way at least. :D
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Ha, yeah, I was about to say... XD
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I love this line: She reached up to take his hand and he found himself lacing their fingers together before he was even aware of it.
I just love that line. I can so picture it in my head! :-)
Can't wait for the next chapter!
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I'm sorry but that just made me laugh out loud... snd spell it too! >;0)
Clever, Mr. Moore being Simon...wanna know more, wanna know more...oh god, what am I, in kindergarten? >;0) More please!
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Eeeee!
*runs around, squeeing*
I'msoexcited! I'msoscared!
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*stops before breakfast comes back up*
I'm with everybody else, that last line fit perfectly!!!!
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*looks at the note after "Chapter Eight"*
Whatta ya mean "someday"?!?!?
*latches onto legs*
Someday soon, yes?
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Poor Jayne doesn't handle 'complicated' so well does he?
Excellent chapter!
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Oh Tox... *pets pretty fic*
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