The Last Spartan – Chapter Ten Author owns no rights to the Firefly verse, and receives no pay for his work -------------------- Two days after being shot, Jayne woke. He did so all at once, sitting up in the bed, looking about him in confusion, until he recognized his surroundings. River Tam was sitting in the doorway of the infirmary, dozing lightly. As soon as she felt Jayne’s presence, she woke as well. “Hello, little one,” Jayne smiled at her, and River returned the smile hesitantly. “You have stood guard over me?” “I promised you,” River said simply. “I thank you, River Tam,” Jayne said formally, and got to his feet. River stepped forward to help, but there was no need. Jayne was firmly on his feet. “You seem to have recovered well,” River commented. “Thanks to you,” Jayne nodded firmly. “I owe you a great debt, River.” “There is no debt,” she replied solemnly. “There is only friendship.” Jayne looked at her closely, and his hand rose to caress her cheek. River inhaled sharply at his touch, trembling slightly under his hand. “What troubles you?” Jayne asked softly. “I am tired, Jayne,” River said quietly. “Nothing more.” Jayne’s face told her that he didn’t believe that, but he let it lie. “It is time for you to rest, then,” he said instead. “You have done me a great service, and I will not forget it.” “So long as you keep your promise to me,” River smiled as brightly as she could. “I will,” he assured her. “Have no fear of that.” River nodded, and turned to go. She walked down the hallway to her room, and collapsed into her bed. She was tired, but her mind was alive, thoughts and emotions swirling around each other. Why did he have to have such an effect on her? She was still wondering that when she drifted into a deep sleep. ------------------ Kaylee looked up when she felt a presence in the engine room other than her own. Jayne Cobb stood in the door way, looking at her. “Hi, Jayne!” she beamed, ran to hug him. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when ya woke up, Jayne. But I had to do some stuff in here ta keep us flyin’.” “I didn’t expect you to be there,” he told her softly. “I knew that I would be out for some time.” “River watched over you, though,” Kaylee said, almost guiltily. “She wouldn’t leave for nothin’, not even to eat. Had me bring her meals to her.” “I have sent her to rest,” Jayne told her gently. “She made a promise, and kept it. I have also made her a promise, and will keep it. She wishes to learn how to use a sword, and I will teach her.” “She wanted that for a long time,” Kaylee smiled up at him. “We been watchin’ ya work out in the cargo bay.” Kaylee’s hand immediately flew to her mouth. “Wasn’t ‘sposed ta tell ya that.” Jayne smiled. “It’s fine,” he assured her. “I knew someone was about, but not who.” “Jayne, we really need to talk, I think,” Kaylee turned serious. “I mean, I don’t know what. . .that is, all this is so. . .” “Strange?” Jayne offered, and she nodded. “Yes, I imagine it is. And you’re right. We do need to talk. About many things.” Together the two sat, and Jayne looked at her carefully. So like Verana, he thought for perhaps the thousandth time. But she is not. “Kaylee, what you saw, what happened in the cargo bay, is part of a very long story. Once you won’t believe, one that will seem impossible to believe. But I swear to you that every word is true.” Kaylee looked at him wide-eyed, and nodded. “I was born in what historians call 520 B.C. in a city called Sparta. At the age of seven. . .” -------------------- By the time Jayne was finished, Kaylee felt faint. She’d known, of course, that Jayne wasn’t. . .well, Jayne, exactly. But she’d never imagined, as her mind had filled itself with ideas over the past two days, just what he was. “Jayne, I. . .” Kaylee started, but didn’t know what to say. “It’s alright, Kaylee,” Jayne told her softly. “I know it’s a lot to take in. But I wanted things straight between us, and you deserved to know about. . .” “Verana?” Kaylee almost whispered. “It explains a lot, Jayne. I know it hurt to share that.” She looked up at him. “Where does that leave you and me, though, Jayne? I mean. . .” she hesitated, not knowing how to go on. “Kaylee, I have come to love you a great deal over the years,” Jayne told her honestly. “But the truth is, it would the worst kind of unfair for you, in many ways, for you and I to become involved. And it would be painful for me, knowing I would have to watch you grow old, and die, while I remained. And you would always wonder if I saw Kaylee Frye, when I looked at you, or Verana. You deserve better than that.” “That’s awful sweet of you, Jayne,” Kaylee murmured, her heart swelling at the concern in his voice. “Truth is, I been thinking about it anyway. And I don’t know that, well. . .” “I understand,” Jayne smiled knowingly. “I hope you can still be friends with me, Kaylee,” he went on. “I’d like that very much.” “Oh, Jayne,” Kaylee smiled. “I can’t imagine not being friends with you, no matter what you may be underneath.” She hugged the big man tightly, and Jayne held her close, just for a moment, allowing himself to ponder on what might have been. He released her, and stepped back. “Well, it’s time I go talk to the King of Serenity,” he joked, and Kaylee giggled. “See if I can stay here after. . .well, you know,” he grinned. “You can,” Kaylee nodded firmly. “Everyone on the ship is on your side. Even Simon.” Jayne looked at Kaylee thoughtfully for a moment. “You know, Doc really does have some powerful feelings for you, Kaylee,” he said seriously, and Kaylee’s face screwed itself into a frown. “I’m not tryin’ to pry,” Jayne said, and Kaylee realized suddenly how much he sounded like. . .Jayne. “Just tellin’ ya what I know. Me and Doc had a very interesting conversation the other night, when I was helpin’ him back to the ship. He was a little bit. . .well, okay. He was fallin’ down drunk. My experience, a man’s pretty honest when he’s soused.” “Jayne, I can’t think on that right now,” Kaylee said softly. “Not after. . .” “I understand,” Jayne nodded. “Just wanted you to know.” “Thanks, Jayne.” “Hey, I owe you,” Jayne told her honestly. “Wasn’t for you, I might have done something really terrible the other day. It took a lot of courage for you to do that, Kaylee girl,” he added. “Not really,” she smiled up at him brightly. “I told you, Jayne. I ain’t never been afraid o’ you. Ain’t never felt like I had ta be.” “I’m glad, Kaylee,” Jayne said solemnly. “You’re the last person I’d want to fear me. Ever.” Kaylee looked at Jayne for a moment. “Jayne, you know that River. . .” she broke off as his hand covered her lips. “Kaylee, don’t. I know what you’re going to say, but think about it for a minute. She’s a child, and she’s been hurt, badly. And I stopped long ago becoming involved like that, with anyone. It’s. . .it always ends badly, no matter what.” “Just so you know,” Kaylee told him plainly. “She watched over you day and night, while you. . .slept, I guess. When she thought that you and me. . .ya know, she was hurtin’ Jayne. I mean I ain’t no reader, but I could feel it. I don’t think it’s no crush, neither. So be careful with her, okay?” “I will,” Jayne nodded in understanding. “Thanks, Kaylee. For everything, I mean.” “What friends is for, Jayne,” Kaylee hugged him again, briefly. ------------------ Mal was at the table in the galley when Jayne found him. The Captain looked up as the big man entered the room, apprehension on his face. “I come in peace, Captain,” Jayne said softly, hands raised. Mal relaxed just a little, and finally nodded. “I’d like to talk to you, Mal, if you’re willin’,” Jayne said. “Are you?” “Ain’t got much choice, do I?” Mal didn’t quite snarl. “Yes,” Jayne surprised him. “It’s your ship, Captain. And you’re in charge. If you want me to simply leave, then I will. But I would like to stay, at least for a while.” Mal’s face showed the surprise he felt at Jayne’s words. For a second, the order to leave hovered on Mal’s lips. But Jayne was so serious, so sincere, that curiosity won over, and Mal nodded. “Take a seat then,” he ordered, and Jayne sat down at his normal place. “I’m sorry for what happened, Mal,” Jayne told him contritely. “It . . . I shouldn’t have done that. I was so angry, though, that for the first time in. . . . a very long time, I lost my temper. I’m glad you aren’t badly hurt.” Or dead, he didn’t say. “Pleased about that myself,” Mal shot back, and despite his best effort, the words were hard, and harsh. “Mal, I know what happened is a shock to the system,” Jayne went on. “And I didn’t want you to find out like that. Hell,” he grinned, “I didn’t want you to find out at all. But you pushed me so hard, Mal, and then I was worried that Kaylee had hurt herself, and the Doc was startin’ to ask questions I didn’t want asked.” He looked at Mal. “And the airlock was the last straw. I don’t know why you were after me so hard, and that made it worse. I hadn’t done anything wrong, for once, and there was no reason, that I could see, for you to be riding me.” “And when you insinuated that I had ‘maneuvered’ things to be alone with River, I kinda lost it.” “Kinda lost it?” Mal asked in wonder. “My airlock is trashed, Jayne. You knocked the door off! And all you can say is you ‘kinda lost it’?” “It could have been worse, Mal,” Jayne told him softly. “Much worse. And the airlock wouldn’t be ‘trashed’ if you hadn’t knocked me into it, and threatened to space me for no reason other than you were letting your imagination run away with you.” “It wasn’t my imagination what Kaylee said to you!” Mal retorted. “That’s something you need to talk about with Kaylee, Mal. I don’t know why she said she should have chose me. I never gave her the opportunity, other than the first few days on the ship, and after you told me to stay clear of her, I did. There were reasons why she was special to me, reasons I won’t share. But I’ve never acted in any way inappropriately toward her.” “As for what she said about me and River, I don’t know what made her think that. Me and the girl have worked together for over a year, and have become friends, but that’s all. I’ve done nothing to make Kaylee think we were anything more than friends.” He looked up sharply. “And I would never hurt that child, Malcolm Reynolds. And you have no right to even suggest that I would. Nor have I given you any reason to believe it.” “Ariel?” Mal’s one word reply cracked across the room like a whip. “Kaylee?” Jayne shot back. “Doc would have let her die, Mal. I could just as easily killed them. And I didn’t leave them there. Not after I saw what River had been through. I knew, then, that something was wrong. Something evil.” “You did it for the money!” Mal accused. When Jayne started laughing, Mal’s face turned red. “Don’t see nothin’ funny ‘bout that!” “Mal, do you have any idea how old I am?” he asked through his laugh. When Mal started at that, Jayne laughed again. “Malcolm Reynolds, I am nearly three thousand years old. Do you think I have lived so long and not acquired at least some wealth? The reward for the Tams wouldn’t keep my estate running for a week,” he chuckled. “Estate?” Mal’s mind was over loaded. He didn’t know what to ask first. Three thousand years old? “Yes,” Jayne nodded. “I have an estate on Londinium, Mal, in the countryside near the Beraline Sea. I haven’t been there in some time, of course, but my retainers manage it for me quite well.” “What in the hell are you doin’ workin’ as a merc on my boat, you got so much money?” Mal demanded, his voice a cross between disbelief and anger. “Every so often,” Jayne replied, “I like to get out and see the ‘verse. To see what life is like for others. Mine is a solitary existence, Captain, from necessity as much as anything else. I rarely stay in any one place for long. If I do, I tend to develop emotional ties that can only end in pain.” “For the others you mean?” Mal, give him credit, was trying to wrap his mind around what he was hearing. Had he not had two full days to consider the events of the cargo bay, he’d have given up by now. “For me,” Jayne surprised him again. “Don’t look so shocked, Mal. Do you have any idea what it’s like to make friends, take a lover, only to watch them grow old, and die, when you, yourself, remain unchanged? It is the bitterest of experiences.” Mal hadn’t thought about that. Couldn’t have, with all the other thoughts running through his head. “I can see where that would problematical,” Mal replied. “Hadn’t thought about that.” “No reason you should,” Jayne smiled sadly. “You’ve never encountered anything like that. There are times I wish I had not,” he added. “What, exactly, are you, Jayne,” Mal asked, and for the first time in days, Mal’s voice wasn’t angry or harsh, but simply questioning. “I suppose you could say that I’m a vampire,” Jayne shrugged. “I’m not, really, not like the wild stories you may have read, or fantastic tales you heard as a child. But there’s little doubt that those stories, at least in part, are based upon beings such as I.” “That’s a bit hard to get hold of, Jayne,” Mal said honestly, and Jayne laughed. “You should try it from my side. When I was first, turned, I guess, I was not nearly so prepared as you are. The stars, then, were simply points of light, placed in the sky by the gods of old to grant us the ability to know where we were. Reminders of their ‘power’. Medicine was a salve made of roots and berries, and wounds were ‘healed’ by applying a fire reddened spear or knife point.” “I could only accept that I was a victim of sorcery of the darkest kind. A victim of dark magic. I’ve learned a great deal since then, of course.” “I’d hope so,” Mal stated firmly. “Man oughta pick up a few things over three thousand years.” “Indeed,” Jayne smiled at Mal’s normal comeback. “So what is it you want, Jayne?” Mal asked. “I mean, I can’t figure what a man like you could need from me.” “I want to keep being a part of your crew, Mal,” Jayne replied. “I promised River I would teach her to use the sword, and I always keep my word. Also,” he added with a wry grin, “now that there is no need to hide myself from all of you, I could be a great asset to your crew.” “How’s that?” Mal asked without thinking. Jayne waited for Mal’s brain to catch up, and smiled when the light came on in the Captain’s eyes. “Well, ‘spect you could at that,” Mal almost smiled. “The decision is yours, of course,” Jayne told him, rising. “I will not try to force you to keep me on. And, I give you my word, no more damage to the ship. And I will pay for the repairs to the airlock, of course.” Mal smirked. “Was gonna take it outta your pay,” Mal told him. “Then I’ll sweeten the deal,” Jayne offered suddenly. “Keep my ten percent, from now on. I have no need of it. In return, allow me to stay on. I will continue to work for you, just as before, and you can use the extra money for the ship, or anything else. It’s yours.” “That’s mighty generous, Jayne,” Mal looked at him. Jayne merely shrugged. “It’s worth far more than that to me, to stay here, Mal,” he said quietly. Mal considered that. “I’ll have to talk to the crew, Jayne,” he told him. “I can’t make a decision like this without letting them have their say.” “I understand,” Jayne nodded. “Let me know when you decide.” Jayne turned to go. “Jayne?” The big man turned. “Jayne, I owe ya an apology, for the other day,” Mal said. “I pushed you into what happened, and had no kinda reason to do it. I was mad, and took it out on ya when you hadn’t done nothin’ ta deserve it. I’m sorry for that.” “Apology accepted, Captain,” Jayne smiled, and Mal felt a great burden lift from his shoulders. “I’ll let you know, after we talk.” “Thank you.” Jayne turned again, and left the room. Mal watched him go, and let a breath out in a long blow. He didn’t know what to do about any of this. If Jayne was everything he seemed to be, then there was no question he’d be an asset. With him being all, whatever, Mal would rarely ever have to worry about the safety of his ship and crew, so long as Jayne was around. But was it worth the risk? The memory of the cargo bay was still fresh, and Mal shuddered at it. The power, the rage, that had radiated off of Jayne was enough to scare any man. Add in the whole bit with the fangs and what not, and it could curl a grown man’s innards with fear. More like terror, he amended. “I’m very proud of you, Mal,” Inara’s voice startled him, and he whirled in his seat. Inara was standing just outside the doorway, and now walked into the room, joining him at the table. “I promised you I’d make it right,” Mal said simply. “I shoulda done it.” “You have,” Inara told him gently. “You accepted the blame for what happened, and you apologized. I knew you would,” she smiled at him. He looked up at her. “You seein’ the future now?” he asked her jokingly. He was startled by the look in her eyes. “Yes,” she replied, looking into his eyes. “Yes, I believe I am.” With that, she leaned down and kissed him softly. ---------------------

Okay, okay, I know the story is far fetched. I warned ya about that! lol. Like I said, this was an idea I had played with off and on for a while now, and I wanted input from other folks. It’s possible that I may change some parts of the story to try and make it better. Feel free to PM me if you have any useful ideas, and I’ll give credit to anyone whose suggestions I might use to alter the story. In the meantime, I hope you are enjoying the story at least a little, while I indulge in my love of vampire lore, lol. And yes, Shade will return, perhaps sooner than I thought, as it looks like my early hunt permit may not be ‘in the mail’ like I thought, ROFL. Sometimes I feel like I’m on Serenity the way my luck runs. Anyway, happy reading!