Part 3~ How Do You Keep Love Alive?

She runs through my veins like a long black river, rattles my cage like a thunderstorm ~Ryan Adams, How Do You Keep Love Alive?

“I just won’t have it,” Mal said firmly. “I told you, Jayne. I told you the first day you were ever here. You don’t go havin’ relations with my crew, and you ‘specially don’t go havin’ relations with li’l Kaylee.” “Gorramit, Mal, I can have relations with anyone I want!” “And I ain’t little.” Kaylee’d been listening at the door for near on an hour, and she’d had enough. Both Mal and Jayne looked startled. “Kaylee--” Mal started, but Kaylee cut him off. “I’m a big girl, Mal, an’ I can damn well take care of myself. Jayne don’t hurt me, cap’n, I swear.” She smiled at him, hopeful. “I’d punch all his teeth out if he even dared.” Jayne suppressed a smile. My Kaylee, he thought. Best lady I know, next to my ma. “I won’t have it on my boat,” Mal repeated. “What about Wash and Zoe?” Kaylee protested. Mal faltered. “They’re…different,” he replied feebly. “No they ain’t. They ain’t one bit different.” Mal slammed his hand down on the table. Kaylee jumped, and Jayne’s immediate reaction was to wrap his arms around her. Or punch Mal’s lights out. He opted for the latter.

Mal woke up in the infirmary. “What the hell’m I doin’ here?” He wondered, attempting to sit up. The splitting pain in his head reminded him. Jayne. And Kaylee. “Who’d’ve thought?” Mal asked out loud, shaking his head and immediately wincing. “You did.” “River?” River walked into the infirmary and sat down on the edge of the bed, legs crossed. “Back in your mind, you knew. Just didn’t want to think about it.” She smiled, enjoying the look of horror that crossed his face. “Simon says you can get up now.” She stood up and walked out of the room.

Fifteen minutes later, Mal had come to a decision. If Jayne was going to be with Kaylee, he was going to marry her. And he knew, there was no way in hell that Jayne’d ever want to do that.