Inferno – Chapter Eight No ownership claimed or insinuated. No money being received. Just fun and entertainment. ------------------- Simon had corralled the four injured members of the Frye family into the infirmary to treat their wounds. One man, the brother-in-law, had a moderate concussion, and Kaylee’s brother, Charlie, had a broken leg. The women were bruised and contused, but otherwise unharmed. “I think everything will be fine,” he told them, finishing up. “You’ll need to stay off that leg for a few weeks,” he warned Charlie. “Once we’re in the black, I’d like to take the bone mender to it, but you’ll need a cast to support your weight and protect the healing bone.” “I’d like for your husband,” Simon told Samantha, “to stay here overnight. We’ll need to keep an eye on that concussion. Everything looks fine,” he assured her, “but I don’t like to take chances. That cut on your arm was fairly deep,” he went on, “but there’s no permanent damage. The weave will help it mend quicker, and so long as you keep if clean and dry, it should heal fine.” “Thanks, Doctor,” Charlie said for all of them. “It’s just Simon,” the young doctor smiled. “And you’re welcome. I’ll talk to Zoe about getting you a passenger room, if you like. Or, if you’d rather, I’m sure we can set up something in the cargo bay, where you can be out and about. Either way,” Simon warned, “you’re going to have to be careful moving about.” “Whatever you think best, Simon,” Charlie nodded. “I’m sorry about Ethan,” Simon told them softly. “I’d only just met him. He seemed like a good boy.” “He was,” Charlie nodded. “He shouldn’t have been there.” “He volunteered to show River and Jayne where you lived,” Simon informed him. “So they could come and get you.” “Well, your River and Jayne didn’t do a very good job looking after him, did they?” Samantha didn’t quite snarl. “Sam, that’s not right,” Charlie told her quietly. “They were trying to help us. Keep that in mind.” “And it helped us to get Ethan killed?” Samantha shot back. “That man probably didn’t even. . .” “I’ll leave you all to talk,” Simon interrupted stiffly. He didn’t want to say anything, but he wasn’t going to sit and listen to Kaylee’s sister deride his own sister, or his brother-in-law. “You don’t have to leave doctor,” Samantha smiled. “I’m afraid I do,” Simon replied. “I need to check everyone else over, make sure no one’s having any difficulties.” With that, Simon took his leave. -------------- “Kaylee, I’m sorry about Ethan,” Simon said a few minutes later, as he and Kaylee found a quiet moment, almost alone. She lay her head on his shoulder. “So am I,” she replied, her voice soft. “He was a good boy. Always laughing and happy.” “Unlike his big sister,” Simon hugged her, and despite herself, Kaylee giggled. “Sam’s not usually like that,” she told him. “I meant you,” Simon smiled at her, and this time Kaylee laughed outright. “Oh,” she squeaked. “I should have known.” “Hey, now. I’ve always loved that about you. Always so cheerful, and optimistic. If he was anything like you, then he was special. Very special.” “Thank you, Simon,” Kaylee sighed, leaning heavily against him. He stroked her back, comforting her as best he could. “They gonna be allright?” she asked, after a minute. “Yes,” Simon nodded. “Charlie won’t be dancing for a few weeks, and your brother-in-law has a mild concussion. Otherwise, it was bruises and contusions, all of which will heal just fine in a week or two. They’ll be fine.” “Thank you for taking care of them, Simon,” she breathed. “They’re your family, bao bei,” Simon told her, smiling. “I’m glad to look after them.” The two huddled together for a few moments longer. Isolated in the eye of the storm that swirled around them. ------------------ River slipped into their bunk, where Jayne was already cleaning his guns. He looked up, and smiled at the sight of her. “My favorite girl,” he said with a grin. River fixed him with a mock glare. “I better be you only girl, buster,” she told him, pointing her dainty finger at him. “Well, you are,” he nodded. She sat beside him on the bed, leaning against him. “Long day,” she said tiredly. He lowered his rifle to the floor and snaked an arm around her shoulders. “Ain’t over, yet,” he told her. “We should probably get back into the black, now that all the Fyre’s are on board. We can take a shuttle to look for the Mann’s.” “Might be a good idea,” she nodded. “Though I would prefer not to have to bring a shuttle into the atmosphere. The winds are terrible.” “Hadn’t thought of that,” Jayne admitted. “Might be better to stay on the ground, then.” He kissed her forehead. “See, that’s why I need you so much. Keep me out of trouble, and from making mistakes.” “So that’s the attraction,” River muttered, punching him lightly in the ribs. “Well, it ain’t the only attraction,” he smirked. Before she could reply, they were interrupted by the comm. “Jayne, River, get up here! We got trouble!” ----------------- “Ma’am, might want to back off the throttle for a bit,” Holly’s voice filled the bridge. “Is something wrong, Holly?” Inara called, reducing speed. “It’s the coolant mix, again,” his voice was apologetic. “I think the valve’s got some wear in it. I just need a minute to reset the mix, and then we’re good. I’ll see about replacing the valve, once we’re home.” “Okay,” Inara replied. “Let me know if you need anything.” “Will do ma’am.” Inara sat back in the pilot’s chair, sighing. It was a problem, but it wasn’t a big deal, according to both Holly and Kaylee. She wondered, idly, what Mal was doing right that minute. -------------- Mal sat behind his desk, drumming his fingers on it’s hardwood top. He looked out the window, wondering what Inara was doing. If things were going okay. He considered waving her, but resisted the temptation. She needed to know that he trusted her. If he started waving, she might think he didn’t. Trust, and thoughts thereof, made him think about Jayne. The conversation in the shuttle played in his mind, and he remembered the look on the big man’s face when Mal had stressed he, Mal, needed to be there. Jayne had assumed that was because Mal didn’t trust him. But Mal did trust him, at least some. True, he was wary of the big man. Knowing the kind of violence Jayne was capable of would make any man wary. But still, Jayne should know, by now, that he had Mal’s trust. Or should he? Mal considered that. There had been a number of incidents over the last year-and-a-half where Mal had misjudged Jayne’s actions, and his misjudgements, each time, had been based on a lack of trust. Jayne wasn’t educated, but he was far from stupid. He would have realized those things, just as Mal did. In all that time, Jayne had said nothing, instead working harder and harder to gain Mal’s trust. He had known he had a long road to travel, and had done so without comment or complaint. And, Mal admitted, he’d done nothing to assure Jayne that he trusted him. Which was the same as saying that he didn’t, to a man like Jayne. “Boss,” Mal’s door opened, pushing his thoughts on the former mercenary aside. He looked up to see Toby Bontrager standing in his office door. “Yeah, Toby?” “We got a problem.” ---------------- Jayne and River had erupted from their bunk, going different ways. River scurried the short distance to the bridge, while Jayne ran for the cargo bay. When he arrived, Zoe and Liam were in the open door, looking out. “What’s up, Zoe?” Jayne asked, ignoring the looks shot him by several members of the Frye clan. “Three vehicles coming,” Zoe said, never taking her eyes off the approaching dust. “Don’t know who they are, or what they want, but after your run-in with whoever, I want us ready.” “Makes sense,” Jayne nodded. “What you want me to do?” Just be here,” Zoe told him, looking up at him. “You know what to do, and when.” Jayne blinked at that, but nodded. That had almost sounded like she trusted him. It was a little scary, he decided. He looked to Liam. “Okay, kid?” “Yep,” came the calm reply. He unconsciously pulled at his shirt. Jayne had given him River’s old body armor. It had been big on her, and fit the slender Greggs well. “Make sure you keep that on, when you’re out and about,” Jayne told him, and Liam nodded. “Appreciate it,” he offered, and Jayne waved it off. “Glad it fit,” Jayne told him honestly. The kid had been a welcome asset to the crew, so far as Jayne was concerned. “We can lift off if needed, Zoe,” River announced. “Hold for now, River,” Zoe ordered. “I’d rather not have to fly in this soup but once more, if we can help it.” “Affirmative.” “Goldie in the engine room?” Jayne asked. Zoe nodded absently. “Why not send Kaylee, and get Goldie up here?” Jayne suggested. Zoe looked at him blankly for a moment. She hadn’t even thought of that. “Kaylee!” “Yeah, Zoe?” Kaylee appeared seconds later. “Go relieve Goldie in the engine room, mei mei,” Zoe said softly. “Tell him to get up here. We got company coming.” “On it,” Kaylee said at once, running for the stairs. Several of the Frye’s called out to her, but she only waved, and kept going. Caleb came over to where Zoe and Jayne were standing. Jayne stepped away, slightly, uncomfortable around the older man. “Trouble?” he asked, either not noticing or not caring that Jayne moved away. “Don’t know, yet,” Zoe admitted. “Might want to move everyone back a ways,” she added. “Get the women and children into the lounge area.” “I’ll see to it,” Simon offered, and went to start moving people. Caleb looked over at Jayne. “Son,” he said quietly, “don’t pay no mind to Sam. Ethan was her favorite. He was a good boy, and we’ll all miss him, but no one blames you for what happened.” “I do,” Jayne said softly. So softly that Caleb almost missed it. “Don’t,” the older man insisted firmly. “Wasn’t you that did it. And you brought back two of my children.” “He was my responsibility,” Jayne shook his head. “I should’a been more aware.” “You was carrying my son to the shuttle, on account’a he couldn’t walk,” Caleb told him. “You can’t do everything, boy. No man can. All we can do is all we can do. If it ain’t enough, then it ain’t.” Jayne looked at Caleb Frye, and saw the man he had once been, not the old man he was now. Jayne nodded. “Thank you, sir,” he said quietly. Caleb clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll get out of your way, now.” The older man walked away, and Jayne looked back out the ramp at the approaching vehicles. “Quite a man,” Zoe murmured. Jayne nodded, a terrible weight shifting from him. He hadn’t wanted to believe that he had been responsible for Ethan’s death, but it had weighed heavily on him. Caleb Frye had helped that. Some. “You called, my magnificent Captain?” Goldie’s voice came from behind them. Zoe turned to see him standing there, a grin on his face. He was carrying a rifle, and she could see the bulk of body armor under his shirt. “As a matter of fact, I did,” she resisted the temptation to grin, but he could see the light twinkling in her eyes. “Looks like we got company coming.” “Oh dear, and the house in such a mess,” Goldie chuckled. “And I must look a fright.” He pantomimed fixing his hair. “I don’t think it’s a social call,” Zoe said drily. “Oh, borrowing neighbors,” Goldie hefted his rifle. “The worst kind. We should think about moving to a better neighborhood.” “Amen,” Liam Greggs muttered. The three vehicles were approaching now, and Jayne scowled. There were at least four men in each vehicle, and he could see several rifle barrels gleaming in the sunlight. “This it gonna be trouble,” he said to no one in particular. “Looks like,” Zoe nodded, hefting her shotgun. She watched as the vehicles plowed to a stop, and the men unloaded. Greggs slipped to the side, hovering near the bulkhead, out of sight. Jayne nodded at him, pleased with his actions. Behind him, he heard Goldie doing the same on the other side, leaving Jayne and Zoe alone in the open door. Watch yourself, ai ren, he heard River’s voice in his mind, and smiled. I will, he promised. “Help you, friend?” Zoe asked, as one man left the group and started forward. “We’re the local constabulary,” the men said loftily. “Saw your ship light down. We were concerned you might be looting.” “No looting here,” Zoe assured him, not buying his story for a second. “One of my crew hails from here. We set down to collect his family.” “These folks are friends of ours,” the man said. “Asked us to keep an eye out. Seems we got here a little late,” he added eyeing the house. “Known the Wakefields long, have you?” Jayne asked calmly, his voice that of simple curiosity. “All my life,” the man smiled, failing to notice the change in Jayne’s demeanor as he bit the bait offered him. “I’m gonna have my men search your ship, make sure you ain’t lootin’. After that, you can go.” “Ain’t no one settin’ foot on this ship,” Zoe told him, hefting her shotgun. “We done told you why we’re here, and you ain’t got call to doubt it. And, just for your general information, it ain’t the Wakefield place, it’s the Frye place. Seeing as how you didn’t know that, we’ll just assume you’re lying about everything else, too.” “You need to move along,” she finished, her shotgun pointing in the leader’s general direction. The man’s smile faded. “There’s two o’ you, and twelve o’ us,” he sneered. “How long you think you gonna last?” “Won’t matter none, to you,” Jayne shot back. “Seeing as how you’ll die first.” The man’s sneer died on his lips. “Now how about you drift, like the Captain said. Ain’t gotta be no trouble, less’n you make it.”

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