Just another day

Jayne was starting to suspect Little Crazy of messing with him just for fun. She’d sneak up behind him or jump down from the ceiling at startling moments. He’d never admit it but he kinda liked having her around.

“Gottcha”! he felt her jump on his back and wrap herself tightly around his waist and neck.

“Damn it Crazy what the ruttin hell do you think you’re doing”? He struggled to loosen her grip but was too afraid of hurting her to succeed.

“The captain has requested the pleasure of your company” She tightened her grip against his squirming.

“Well are ya going to get down so I can go see what the hell he want’s”? He grabbed at her writs attempting to pry them apart.

“He wants to speak to me as well” She giggled “Carry me”?

“No” Jayne said firmly “You’ve got legs use ‘em”

“They are currently occupied with keeping me out of the lava” A matter of fact little response “The floor is covered in lava”

Feigning in his best hurt voice “And you’re just going to let me stand in it burnin alive”? “No you’re my hero warrior impervious to heat or cold” A little squeeze like a hug “And you shall carry me through the danger ahead”

“Okay then Little Crazy Person let’s go” Turning around he started towards the bridge. Jayne and River arrived behind Zoe on the bridge. Mal looked at them startled for a second before speaking.

“Now Little River you seem to have something on your shirt there” Zoe gaffawed quietly at the captains remark. “And it bears a striking resemblance to a Merc I once employed and told never to touch the women of my crew. “Aw hell Mal she just attacked me there wern’t nothing I could do” His eyes begged at the Captain. “She’s all stealthy”

The captain let him twist a little before he spoke again. “Okay now River how abouts you let my mercenary go and I’ll let you drive”?

River jumped down gracefully and smoothed her skirt down gently “I thought so”

“What was that little one”? Mal was suddenly interested.

“No touching guns no touching those who hold the guns” She was off in space again Jayne thought “If the thoughts come unbidden to one they come to all” She looked pointedly at Mal “You think I’m pretty” Spinning in a circle across the bridge she planted herself heavily in the pilots seat.

Jayne cocked an eyebrow at the Captain and started to speak “Pretty eh”?

“Shut it Jayne” Zoe warned hardly even trying to control the corners of her mouth from rising.

“Okay folks back to the job” Mal wanted desperately for that conversation to end. “We’ll be flying low over the wheat fields outside of the city the hills to left should shield us from view until we get to the main house” He shifted his stance to look to Zoe “I need you in the trees we’ll need cover if this goes south and Jayne you’re with me our contact says this guy has six armed guards spread out over the compound”………