My first. I always thought there should be more interaction between Jayne and River, the two isomembers and complete opposites of the ship and quite the characters in themselves. I have some ideas to continue but wanted to see if I was any good at it not being a writer and all.

Disclaimer: All characters of Firefly are the sole property of Joss Whedon and his crew, yo!

All Grown Up: Part 1

She woke with a start, not really sure why but certain that something was wrong. It was quiet and cold. Always cold. She strained her eyes to see in the dark of her room, taking a deep breath, struggling to hear any strange noises. Nothing. Silence. Tossing her covers, she slipped out of bed and put on her sandals. Shivering, she quietly climbed out of her room and turned her head down the hall. Only the sound of her breathing and her heart pounding could be felt. Silly girl, everyone is sleeping. Deep in the stark of space where nothing makes a sound.

It was not always so quiet. Games were played. Ship parts were tweaked. Debates were held. Discussions. Yelling. Fighting. Screaming.

--

“This is not open for discussion”

“Mal, I know this guy. He’s a gorram ruttin’ sonofa whore. He’d sell his mama if the price was right.”

“Jayne, a deal was made. I don’t back down on my word. Now, he happens to screw us, you’ll be right and he’ll find the wrong end of my mad.”

“And we’ll have nothin’.”

“I said you’d be right. That counts for somethin’ in my book. Next time you warn me, perchance I’d think on it more. But only if you’re right.”

“Get ready to be mad, Mal. Get ready to… “ Jayne screamed to Mal’s back. But he was already walking away. Jayne whispered a comment under his breath only heard in saloons and whorehouses as he turned to go to his bunk.

“Gorram fool. Just because he caught me once when the money was too good, he thinks I ain’t got sense. He’ll be sorry, you wait and see.” Talking to no one in particular, he stumbled when the girl was standing in the way staring at him. Too skinny and sorta scary looking was all he thought. Something strange about her. Well, no doubt she was strange, but something stranger than usual. She wasn’t moving at all. She was just staring at him. Then, her eyes slowly roamed down to his sidearm. Without a thought, he quickly moved his hand over the gun ready to pull it out if need be. No more slicing at his chest or other flights of fancy from the girl. Could be she was gearing up for another confrontation and he wouldn’t underestimate her none. Comforted by his weapon, he decided to pose her.

“You waitin’ for a bus, girl?”

No answer. She was a still as a statue, her eyes fixed on the gun and his hand shaking to grasp it.

“You best be movin’ away, girl. I ain’t in no mood to be explainin’ my reactions to your brother if you come to harm.”

She was pale and her hair was in its usual disarray. Her flowing skirt reached her knees but her shirt sleeves would go long past her wrists if they weren’t rolled up. Too skinny he thought again. It wasn’t a wonder she didn’t sink into the holes in the floorgrate. Peculiar protective thoughts started to inch past his brain and he squelched them as quickly as he thought them.

She smiled then, her eyes still on the gun as if she knew what he was thinking. He didn’t like it none. Gorram girl scares him more than any other on this ship with or without a knife in her hand. Kaylee said she could handle a gun but he wouldn’t want to see her with one. Her unpredictable nature, she’d be shootin’ whoever decided to turn on the lights that day.

She blinked and moved her eyes back up to his face. After a moment, she turned and walked away, making not one sound. He’d have to remember that she could be quiet as a cat and just as stealthy. She may just sneak up on him in the middle of the night to do some damage to his other shirts because they were the wrong color. Gorram girl. Ain’t no use in trying to figure her out.

-- She silently moved down the hall to her brother’s keep. It was best to think of it that way. Needles and other sterile tools tend to make her shutter and cry with pain. It was easier than before, however. She was not a little girl anymore. She had grown up.

The quiet enveloped her again. She knew there was nothing wrong here, nothing out of place. Perhaps, she just heard the autopilot shifting direction. Or maybe Simon just settled down to sleep. He tends to spend the quiet of the night studying his books and taking notes on her possible treatments. He probably fell asleep reading again. She smiled at that. Her brilliant brother trying to solve the problem, hating not knowing the answer. Only, she can not help like she always used to because he would refuse the possibility. It goes against all theory and scientific simulations.

She put her hand on his door, trying to hear his steady breathing. Nothing. She pushed the hatch open to find his bed empty and his books on the floor, a lamp burning off the dark of the night. That was what was wrong. Simon was gone.