The Bravest Thing Part 9 by Nailani Williams

Disclaimer: No Copyright Infringement intended so Joss put down the Sword of Truth!

Summary: Taking place after the BDM. Jayne and Zoe, pairing. Jayne’s secret personal grief from his past ends up pushing him closer to Zoe than he could ever imagine.

Rating: PG-13

A/N: Thanks for the feedback everyone, it really keeps me going.

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Zoe:

I woke up first. I took a moment to look at my new lover in all his glory, and even though his most fascinating part was ready for more exta curricular activity, I knew I had to shower, dress, and go talk to Mal. God knows how he felt about Jayne after the little incident in the cargo bay… I knew we were off Bernadette because I could feel Serenity moving. I had to go see if we still had our passengers.

So I showered and dressed and made my way down into the Mess. Our passengers were still on board. They were all eating supper. I went into the kitchen and grabbed two plates and fix one for me and one for Jayne. Mal came in the kitchen after me.

“What’s going on with Jayne? Do I gotta worry about my merc attacking me? Where the Hell have you two been? And since when do you side with Jayne?” he asked me and I turned around and faced him.

“Jayne’s been having some difficulty lately, Sir. Mostly because some horrible events in his past that I‘m not available to disclose. Jayne didn’t mean to attack you he just wanted after that guy. I have been with Jayne in his bunk and I side with him when he’s right. Is that all, sir?” I asked with an eyebrow raised.

Mal leaned back on the kitchen counter his arms folded across his chest, “What are you doing, Zoe? He‘s not Wash.”

“I am very much aware of that Mal,” I sighed.

“No, I don’t think you are! I think you’re trying to grab something close to home because you miss Wash, but Jayne ain’t right for you!” He said, touching my arm, I pulled away.

“You don’t get to tell me who or what is right for me! Not after,” I stopped myself before I said something I regretted.

“After what, Zoe? Go ahead and say it!” He yelled and the others stopped eating and talking, and began listening. “God only knows I’ve been waiting for it.”

“After Wash!” I yelled and suddenly I had the urge to punch Mal in the face. Thank god, I had more control over my emotions than Jayne.

“I knew you blamed me!” he said hurt and crestfallen. That took some of the anger out of me.

“I can’t help it, Mal,” I explained. “I don’t hate you, and I try not to blame you, I really do, but some days are not as good as others”

“Then why do you stay, Zoe?” he asked, grabbing my arms.

“You’re my captain, you’re my friend and most importantly you’re my brother and I love you, sir,” I said and he hugged me. We broke apart. “And you don’t get say in this. Jayne is not the man everyone here think he is. He has so much more inside of him than he has ever shown to you or the rest of the crew. And if he‘s willing to let me into his life and tell me his secrets I‘m willing to be there for him. And you have no say in that.”

“The hell I don’t Zoe, this is a mistake! I thought I could deal with this when I caught you two smoochin in his bunk, but he attacked me, Zoe, out of nowhere! And I seen the look in his eye,” Mal sighed. “He’s unstable, and he ain’t suitable for you!”

“You have no say in this, Mal,” I repeated slowly looking him in his eyes so he understood me. “ And if you force the issue I’ll choose Jayne,” I, then, turned back to fixing our food.

“What if something happens to him, Zoe? What would you do? I can’t watch you go through that again,” Mal said, touching my back. He was voicing the very same fear I had, but it all came into clarity hearing it from his lips, I turned to him.

“It’s my risk to take,” I said and he looked at me helplessly.

“Um, Attention everybody,” I heard Jayne say from the dining area. “I reckon I gotta come clean to you all ‘bout my actions today.” I came out with our food and sat down. “Um, first, I want to apologize to Mal and Simon and to our passengers,” he said, and Simon choked on his protein mash.

“You what?” Mal said in shock. I hit him in the arm.

“Jayne’s trying to be nice and apologize for his behavior, why don’t you sit down, Sir. I believe he‘s going to give you those answers, you wanted so badly,” I said and Jayne nodded his thanks.

Jayne sat at the front of the table and took my hand,“ Zoe, I’m going to need your help if I can’t…” he broke off. I placed both my hand on his and squeezed. The action between us drew whispers from the crew.

He took a deep breath and began his story.

Jayne:

By the time I was done the women where in hysterics, and Mal and Simon wanted to turn the ship around and find my old buddy, Lance. I was most surprised that I was able to tell my story without breaking down, I squeezed Zoe hands, she gave me her strength.

There were only two people weren’t so deeply effected by my story was, one Zoe, cause she already knew it and surprisingly, River, who I guess in her own way already knew it as well.

“Mei, mei, are you okay?” Simon asked while comforting a tearfull Kaylee. River looked at me and smiled.

“Jayne told me his stories in his dreams,” she said and I sighed.

“I’m sorry you had to see that, on top of everything else,” I told her.

“You were forgiven, even before you needed forgiveness,” she said cryptically and walked out of the Mess and into the cockpit.

“Look Jayne, I’m sorry, about everything,” Mal said and we shook hands.

“And look Jason and Stephanie, right?” I said to the companions. Inara wiped away her tears enough to glare at me.

“That’s John and Bethanie you big lug,” she scolded and I grinned, sheepishly.

“I’ll get you into Deadwood, it’s my home world so I know the ropes,” I said. “I won’t even charge yah… much,” I joked and the table smiled, even little Kaylee.

Zoe:

Jayne turned to me and said so only I could hear, “You left me without waking me up. I thought I did something wrong,” he said and I blushed.

“Nothing you did this afternoon was close to wrong. I just needed to talk somethings out with, Mal.”

“How’d that go?” he asked and took a huge bite out of his protein mash.

“He knows about us and he’s thinking I’m rushing into things with you because of Wash,” Jayne grunted at that. “And up until you told your story he thought you were unstable,” I grinned.

“Yeah well, I ain’t no crazier than him.”

“I told him if he made me choose that I’d choose you,” That made him choke. I quickly handed him some water.

“You’d choose, me?” he said, shocked. I nodded. Jayne leaned to my side of the table and kissed me...right in front of everyone. I returned his kiss, eagerly and Mal cleared his throat.

“Wu de tyen ah, not in front of me,” he whined while everyone else looked at us in shock. John and Bethanie were smiling and they shared their own kiss.

“You two are together now?” Inara asked us wide eyed.

“Yep,” Jayne said and I smiled, he kissed me again briefly just to make Mal squirm and then he went back to his protein mash. I was smiling from ear to ear.

“Well that’s nice, right? Isn‘t it nice, Simon,” Kaylee said, sounding a little unsure.

“It really is,” Simon said and then sighed, “I guess I have to restock the infirmary.”

Everyone laughed, even Jayne.

Post A/N: This is the end of The Bravest Thing, I working on the next story, I'm thinking of calling it The Welcoming Party...we'll see! Thanks for all the support of this fic. I understand Zanye ain't that popular, but I hope those who are not fans of this 'ship can still read this story and be entertained.