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toxic_cornSeries: Where in the 'Verse is River Tam?
Title: The Abbey (3/6)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All the characters are belong to Joss.
Summary: Jayne doesn't mess up for once.
Author's Note: Again with the un-betaed-ness. *looks at that "word" for a second* But![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chele24 requested fluffy fic and I wanted to answer a request for once. Though this isn't exactly what I'd call fluffy... anyway. Sequel to She's a Sticky-Fingered Filcher. Previous parts can be found here
Where in the ‘Verse is River Tam?
The Abbey
“I dunno, bao bei, I don’t think I like ya up there.”
“I’m fine. Bring the basket over here.”
Jayne moved under the indicated branches as River shook them. He was getting better at this; he missed only three apples when they fell.
“Maybe I should be up there instead. I’m stronger’n you are and I can shake down more.”
“I won’t fall, Jayne.” She smiled when she caught a glimpse of him scowling into the apple basket. He’d been like this ever since they had volunteered to pick the apples for Shepherd Book’s order. To help maintain the abbey, the brothers grew various fruits and vegetables that they sold in town. Though what had interested Jayne in this project was Shepherd Book’s promise that some of the apples would go into a pie for after supper.
“Yeah, well, I could still shake down more,” Jayne grumbled.
“I know,” she soothed. “Get under this branch.” She shook it and he caught all of them. “That was excellent!”
Her praise succeeded in putting a smile on his face, though it was temporary.
“Let’s move to the other side of the tree,” River said. She started to scoot around on the branches when someone called to Jayne.
“Jayne! What are you doing?” Simon. “Where’s River?”
She peeked at him through the branches and saw that Kaylee was at his side looking excitedly into the basket in Jayne’s arms.
“Oooh, apples!” She exclaimed. “Mind if I take one?”
“Just one.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“Jayne? Where is River?”
River shook a branch. “Up here, Simon.”
Simon jerked his head up and he gaped at her. “What are you doing up there?!”
“Helping Jayne pick apples. It’s fun.”
The look Simon gave Jayne would’ve made a lesser man curl up and die. “You let her climb a tree by herself?”
“Let her?!”
“Let me?!”
The men didn’t seem to hear Kaylee’s and River’s indignant protestations. Jayne looked up at River. “Believe me, Doc, I tried to talk her out of it.”
“What if she has a fit and falls? She’ll break her neck!”
“Simon! When was the last time River had a… a fit! She ain’t a baby and she don’t need you two treatin’ her like one. ‘Specially you, Jayne.”
“I ain’t treatin’ ‘er like a baby! I just don’t think her climbin’ around in a tree is a good idea.”
“I concur. River, come down here!”
This was ridiculous. She couldn’t help feeling betrayed; Jayne had never treated her with kid gloves the way Simon always did. She narrowed her eyes.
“I’m coming down!” she announced.
“Thank God,” Simon muttered.
As she was climbing down, her foot slid along a branch and she tumbled head first from the tree.
Jayne and Simon acted instantly and both dove to catch her. Only they collided with one another and ended up in a heap on the ground, the basket of apples crushed under them.
And River dangled from the branch laughing her head off.
Kaylee stared at her in shock before joining in the laughter. She nudged Simon’s hip with her foot. “She sure showed you a thing or two. ‘Let her.’ Hmph.”
Simon’s mouth fell open as River dropped neatly to her feet and smirked at him. Then he started to struggle against a smile. “You are such a brat.”
Pleased with her successful prank, she beamed at Jayne. He was shoving Simon off of him so he could stand up. Her smile dropped and shattered on the ground when she saw his face.
He was furious, more angry than she had ever seen him before. Jayne always had a vaguely put out expression on his face which usually made people scatter out of his way whenever they were planetside. But the look currently on his face would make those people take the nearest ship to the next solar system. She braced herself for the yelling.
But all he did was turn and storm off.
“Oh, River,” Kaylee said softly.
River frowned. “But it was all in jest. No one was injured.”
“Speak for yourself,” Simon muttered, rubbing at his ribs.
Confused tears filled River’s eyes. “Why didn’t he yell? Jayne always yells when he’s upset.”
Kaylee wrapped an arm around Simon and helped him up. “It’s one thing to trick yer brother and another thing to trick yer sweetie, mei mei. Go to ‘im and say yer sorry.”
“Or don’t if you’re not,” Simon said hopefully.
Kaylee dropped her arm. “Stop tryin’ to break them up!”
River missed the rest of the argument as she followed the trail of Jayne’s fury. She was interested to note that as she followed it, the intensity of the fury started to fade to something else. Something that made her chest ache.
She found him on a bench in the rock garden, staring blankly into space. She approached cautiously, not wanting to startle him or accidentally make the anger come back in full force.
He blinked and she knew he could sense her presence.
“Jayne?” she whispered.
“Hi, baby girl.” He still stared at nothing.
Biting her lip, she sat down on the ground in front of him. “She’s sorry for the mean joke she played.”
“Naw, it’s okay. I get why ya did it.” His gaze fell to his hands. “One thing I learned from all this time with Mal is ya can’t plan for everything.”
She frowned but didn’t interrupt.
“Even the most thought out plans backfire; somethin’ always happens that throws a wrench in the works,” he continued. “Like with that tree back there. I knew ya weren’t gonna have a fit ‘n fall out or nothin’ stupid like that. You’re a big damn genius but even you can’t know everything. I was worried that you was gonna step on a dead branch ‘n fall like you almost done. Then I’d lose ya forever.”
The breath caught in River’s throat when he finally looked at her. His eyes were tormented, as if he actually had seen her fall to her death. And maybe he had. Maybe his brain broke a little and started playing the scene over and over, like a movie disc with a scratch on it.
“I never planned on meetin’ someone like you, River girl. And I sure as hell never planned on fallin’ in love with ya, either. I’m not ready to lose that yet, not when I only just got it.”
River launched herself into his arms, wailing. “Oh, the girl is stupid! So, so stupid! She promised! She promised, Jayne!”
He stroked her hair. “What? What’d ya promise, baby girl?”
“She promised never to hurt you again,” River whispered into his neck.
“The hell ya go and make a stupid promise like that for?”
River pulled back to look into his face, baffled. “My Jayne?”
“Ain’tcha heard a word I just said? Ya can’t plan for everythin’ so you can’t go makin’ promises you know you can’t keep. You can promise not to hurt me purpose-like and I promise ta do the same. But other’n that, who knows what’ll happen? My ma and pa hurt each other on accident all the time and that don’t change how they love each other.”
The words started to click together, words she’d been waiting to hear for a long time. She smiled and cupped his face in her hands. “He loves her.”
He finally smiled back. “Yeah, he does.”
She smoothed her thumbs over his cheekbones and giggled at the bubbly feeling in her stomach. “I love you, too, my Jayne.”
His face lit up and he was just dipping his head to hers for a kiss when they were interrupted.
“Captain Reynolds, every shepherd here gets a fresh start when he joins; his past is none of our concern. If you need to know Shepherd Book’s history then I suggest you take the matter up with him!”
The head of the order passed by, walking quickly and struggling not to become annoyed with the captain dogging his steps.
“I thought you knew somethin’! C’mon, just gimmie a hint is all I’m askin’!”
“Captain Reynolds-”
River and Jayne looked at each other and remembered where they were. She climbed out of his lap and linked her fingers with his.
“We should go finish picking the apples,” River said.
“Reckon we should,” Jayne agreed.
They walked along in silence until River said, “You go up the tree this time. But be careful; don’t wanna lose ya just as soon as I got ya.”
“Always,” Jayne promised.
END
Previous < The Beach : Next > The Training House
Title: The Abbey (3/6)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All the characters are belong to Joss.
Summary: Jayne doesn't mess up for once.
Author's Note: Again with the un-betaed-ness. *looks at that "word" for a second* But
chele24 requested fluffy fic and I wanted to answer a request for once. Though this isn't exactly what I'd call fluffy... anyway. Sequel to She's a Sticky-Fingered Filcher. Previous parts can be found hereWhere in the ‘Verse is River Tam?
The Abbey
“I dunno, bao bei, I don’t think I like ya up there.”
“I’m fine. Bring the basket over here.”
Jayne moved under the indicated branches as River shook them. He was getting better at this; he missed only three apples when they fell.
“Maybe I should be up there instead. I’m stronger’n you are and I can shake down more.”
“I won’t fall, Jayne.” She smiled when she caught a glimpse of him scowling into the apple basket. He’d been like this ever since they had volunteered to pick the apples for Shepherd Book’s order. To help maintain the abbey, the brothers grew various fruits and vegetables that they sold in town. Though what had interested Jayne in this project was Shepherd Book’s promise that some of the apples would go into a pie for after supper.
“Yeah, well, I could still shake down more,” Jayne grumbled.
“I know,” she soothed. “Get under this branch.” She shook it and he caught all of them. “That was excellent!”
Her praise succeeded in putting a smile on his face, though it was temporary.
“Let’s move to the other side of the tree,” River said. She started to scoot around on the branches when someone called to Jayne.
“Jayne! What are you doing?” Simon. “Where’s River?”
She peeked at him through the branches and saw that Kaylee was at his side looking excitedly into the basket in Jayne’s arms.
“Oooh, apples!” She exclaimed. “Mind if I take one?”
“Just one.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
“Jayne? Where is River?”
River shook a branch. “Up here, Simon.”
Simon jerked his head up and he gaped at her. “What are you doing up there?!”
“Helping Jayne pick apples. It’s fun.”
The look Simon gave Jayne would’ve made a lesser man curl up and die. “You let her climb a tree by herself?”
“Let her?!”
“Let me?!”
The men didn’t seem to hear Kaylee’s and River’s indignant protestations. Jayne looked up at River. “Believe me, Doc, I tried to talk her out of it.”
“What if she has a fit and falls? She’ll break her neck!”
“Simon! When was the last time River had a… a fit! She ain’t a baby and she don’t need you two treatin’ her like one. ‘Specially you, Jayne.”
“I ain’t treatin’ ‘er like a baby! I just don’t think her climbin’ around in a tree is a good idea.”
“I concur. River, come down here!”
This was ridiculous. She couldn’t help feeling betrayed; Jayne had never treated her with kid gloves the way Simon always did. She narrowed her eyes.
“I’m coming down!” she announced.
“Thank God,” Simon muttered.
As she was climbing down, her foot slid along a branch and she tumbled head first from the tree.
Jayne and Simon acted instantly and both dove to catch her. Only they collided with one another and ended up in a heap on the ground, the basket of apples crushed under them.
And River dangled from the branch laughing her head off.
Kaylee stared at her in shock before joining in the laughter. She nudged Simon’s hip with her foot. “She sure showed you a thing or two. ‘Let her.’ Hmph.”
Simon’s mouth fell open as River dropped neatly to her feet and smirked at him. Then he started to struggle against a smile. “You are such a brat.”
Pleased with her successful prank, she beamed at Jayne. He was shoving Simon off of him so he could stand up. Her smile dropped and shattered on the ground when she saw his face.
He was furious, more angry than she had ever seen him before. Jayne always had a vaguely put out expression on his face which usually made people scatter out of his way whenever they were planetside. But the look currently on his face would make those people take the nearest ship to the next solar system. She braced herself for the yelling.
But all he did was turn and storm off.
“Oh, River,” Kaylee said softly.
River frowned. “But it was all in jest. No one was injured.”
“Speak for yourself,” Simon muttered, rubbing at his ribs.
Confused tears filled River’s eyes. “Why didn’t he yell? Jayne always yells when he’s upset.”
Kaylee wrapped an arm around Simon and helped him up. “It’s one thing to trick yer brother and another thing to trick yer sweetie, mei mei. Go to ‘im and say yer sorry.”
“Or don’t if you’re not,” Simon said hopefully.
Kaylee dropped her arm. “Stop tryin’ to break them up!”
River missed the rest of the argument as she followed the trail of Jayne’s fury. She was interested to note that as she followed it, the intensity of the fury started to fade to something else. Something that made her chest ache.
She found him on a bench in the rock garden, staring blankly into space. She approached cautiously, not wanting to startle him or accidentally make the anger come back in full force.
He blinked and she knew he could sense her presence.
“Jayne?” she whispered.
“Hi, baby girl.” He still stared at nothing.
Biting her lip, she sat down on the ground in front of him. “She’s sorry for the mean joke she played.”
“Naw, it’s okay. I get why ya did it.” His gaze fell to his hands. “One thing I learned from all this time with Mal is ya can’t plan for everything.”
She frowned but didn’t interrupt.
“Even the most thought out plans backfire; somethin’ always happens that throws a wrench in the works,” he continued. “Like with that tree back there. I knew ya weren’t gonna have a fit ‘n fall out or nothin’ stupid like that. You’re a big damn genius but even you can’t know everything. I was worried that you was gonna step on a dead branch ‘n fall like you almost done. Then I’d lose ya forever.”
The breath caught in River’s throat when he finally looked at her. His eyes were tormented, as if he actually had seen her fall to her death. And maybe he had. Maybe his brain broke a little and started playing the scene over and over, like a movie disc with a scratch on it.
“I never planned on meetin’ someone like you, River girl. And I sure as hell never planned on fallin’ in love with ya, either. I’m not ready to lose that yet, not when I only just got it.”
River launched herself into his arms, wailing. “Oh, the girl is stupid! So, so stupid! She promised! She promised, Jayne!”
He stroked her hair. “What? What’d ya promise, baby girl?”
“She promised never to hurt you again,” River whispered into his neck.
“The hell ya go and make a stupid promise like that for?”
River pulled back to look into his face, baffled. “My Jayne?”
“Ain’tcha heard a word I just said? Ya can’t plan for everythin’ so you can’t go makin’ promises you know you can’t keep. You can promise not to hurt me purpose-like and I promise ta do the same. But other’n that, who knows what’ll happen? My ma and pa hurt each other on accident all the time and that don’t change how they love each other.”
The words started to click together, words she’d been waiting to hear for a long time. She smiled and cupped his face in her hands. “He loves her.”
He finally smiled back. “Yeah, he does.”
She smoothed her thumbs over his cheekbones and giggled at the bubbly feeling in her stomach. “I love you, too, my Jayne.”
His face lit up and he was just dipping his head to hers for a kiss when they were interrupted.
“Captain Reynolds, every shepherd here gets a fresh start when he joins; his past is none of our concern. If you need to know Shepherd Book’s history then I suggest you take the matter up with him!”
The head of the order passed by, walking quickly and struggling not to become annoyed with the captain dogging his steps.
“I thought you knew somethin’! C’mon, just gimmie a hint is all I’m askin’!”
“Captain Reynolds-”
River and Jayne looked at each other and remembered where they were. She climbed out of his lap and linked her fingers with his.
“We should go finish picking the apples,” River said.
“Reckon we should,” Jayne agreed.
They walked along in silence until River said, “You go up the tree this time. But be careful; don’t wanna lose ya just as soon as I got ya.”
“Always,” Jayne promised.
END
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Date: 2006-05-31 09:18 pm (UTC)