Archangel – Chapter Six Author owns no rights to Firefly, and intends no copyright infringement. ----------------- Zoe watched as Jayne pummeled the heavy bag hanging in the cargo bay. She’d never paid him much mind, but now, as she studied his movements, she realized with a start just how formidable Jayne really was. The bag was filled with junk engine parts, and odd hunks of metal, surrounded by sand he’d picked up from some world they’d visited. It weighed well over one hundred pounds. And yet, as Jayne landed blow after blow onto it, it moved like a sheet on a stiff breeze. That took power, she knew. Raw power, the likes of which few men possessed. The Captain had already told her that Jayne was leaving. She had been stunned by the news at first. But as Mal had gone over his conversation with Jayne, Zoe began to realize the right of it. They had wronged him. She moved down the steps, stopping nearby. “You got a minute, Jayne?” she asked, when he made to move to halt his workout. He stopped at once, and looked at her. The bag swung back into him, hitting him solidly. She noted that he didn’t budge. “What you need, Zoe?” Jayne asked. Not in anger, she noted, but not friendly either. “I wanted to talk to you a minute,” Zoe replied. “‘Bout?” “Well, I wanted to apologize for the other day. I kinda. . .” “You can save it,” Jayne told her shortly, turning back to the bag. “It’s worthless, anyway, cause you meant ever bit of it.” He started swinging again. The message was clear. Conversation over. “Jayne, I’m still talkin’,” Zoe told him. “You can keep talkin’,” Jayne told her, never slowing as he worked the bag back up to a swift moving swing. “Can’t stop you, being first mate and all.” “It’d help if you listened while I was doin’ it,” Zoe almost growled. “Same way you listened to me?” he asked, never looking at her. “Same way you listened to me when I told you I hadn’t done nothin’? I can do that,” he nodded, continuing to swing. “Am I doin’ it right?” he asked after a few seconds. “Ain’t got a gun to finger at the moment, but if it’ll help set the mood, I’ll get one.” “Dammit Jayne, I’m trying to apologize!” Zoe almost yelled. Jayne grabbed the bag, stopping it cold, and turned angry eyes on her. “And I said you can keep it,” he snarled, fury boiling forth despite his best efforts. “It ain’t worth nothin’ to me. You won’t mean a word of it, and I just plain don’t care, no how.” “You ain’t got no call to say that,” Zoe was angry now. “You don’t know the first thing about what I mean, or think.” “Yeah, funny how that makes a person mad, ain’t it,” he smiled suddenly. It wasn’t a pretty smile, though. “How it makes you all angry when no one will even listen to what you got to say, just jumps ta conclusions about what you might do. Or what might be runnin’ through your mind.” He released the bag. “You ran down here figuring I’d attacked the girl,” he bit out. “Like I’m some hundan rapist, or woman beater. You don’t know the first thing about me, Zoe, but your head was just full o’ all manner o’ evil things I mighta done to that kid. Fingerin’ your gun, and givin’ me that beady eyed stare o’ yours.” “Well here’s a newswave, for ya,” he leaned forward a bit, and Zoe tensed. “I ain’t never attacked no woman, Zoe. And I won’t never, neither. Rape is one crime that no one will ever rightly accuse me of. Dong ma?” “As for your apology,” he continued, stripping off his gloves, and gathering his things. “You think of the most private, most secret place you got. Then,” he grabbed the last of his things, and started for the stairs, “you roll that apology up in a real tight little roll, and you put it in there.” With that he headed up the steps. Zoe was furious. “You’re so pig headed, you can’t even let someone apologize for makin’ a mistake!” she almost screamed. He looked back at her. “I could if I thought they meant it,” he told her bluntly. “But, as Mal was sayin’ to me the other day, when have you ever gave me reason to think you mean it?” With that he left, walking on out of the bay, leaving Zoe standing there, stunned. ------------------ Mal was sitting in the galley when Jayne walked in. The big man nodded, intending to pass by. Mal looked up at him. “What was all that cater waulin’ in the bay about?” “Have to ask Zoe,” Jayne replied. “She was the one doin’ it. And I ain’t touched her, ‘fore you ask,” he sneered. “She wanted to talk, and I didn’t want to listen. She don’t take rejection well, it seems.” “Might be she wanted to apologize,” Mal told him evenly. “Might be you sent her to apologize,” Jayne stopped, looking at Mal. “I don’t get it, Mal,” he said suddenly, his voice calm. “I mean, you ain’t never liked me. You don’t trust me. Hell, you can’t even leave me unsupervised on the ship. So what’s the problem? I’m leavin’. Already told you that. Soon as we make port on Beaumond, I’m gone.” “I ain’t never said I wanted you gone, Jayne,” Mal shot back. “That was all you.” “Right,” Jayne nodded, as if reminded of something. “Just all the airlock talks, all the threats, all the. . .you know what? You’re right. You ain’t never even insinuated you wanted me gone, have you? I just totally misread all those lovin’ little gestures. Gee, Mal, I’m glad we worked all that out. I feel so much better now.” Mal’s face reddened at the sarcasm in Jayne’s voice, but he held his tongue. He figured he deserved it. Jayne went on past, down into his bunk. Just as his hatch hissed shut, Zoe cam tromping in. “That is the most stubborn, hard headed jackass I’ve ever seen!” she exclaimed, sitting down at the table with Mal. “Wouldn’t even talk to me. Said my apology didn’t mean anything, cause I meant what I said, and did, the other day.” “Did you?” River’s voice spooked them. She glided into the room and set down. “River, this ain’t really your concern,” Mal said kindly. “Is,” River shot back at once. “Not for me, never have happened. Not his fault, you know. He did not ask for a reader to feel his emotions.” “That ain’t the point, River,” Zoe argued. “Is,” River repeated. “You accused him. Refused to entertain any notion that he was innocent of crimes that you invented in your own heads. Bad enough not to be trusted. I know how it is, to be untrusted. But to be accused? Wrongfully?” The girl shook her head. “He works very hard to hide his anger. This time, it wasn’t enough,” she shrugged. “And I handled things badly. Just like the rest of you.” “Except Kaylee,” she added as an afterthought. “She handled things well. Had you forced a confrontation, you would likely have won, since you were armed and he was not. Jayne is very formidable.” “You handled him well enough,” Mal snickered, and Zoe fought off a grin. “Used his trust against him,” River surprised them. “He was unaware that she had been triggered. Sought to help me, and did not expect to be attacked. If not for that?” She shook her head. “Jayne would win, if we were to meet in open combat. He has no equal, that I am aware of.” “No equal?” Mal started at that. “Jayne?” “Jayne,” River nodded firmly. “Much is hidden, Captain. Jayne scratches only the surface of what is there. And,” she rose, heading to the bridge, “you will need him soon. There is a better than seventy percent chance that, in his absence, two or more of the crew will perish in the near future.” “What?” Zoe started. “What did you say?” “We will need him, soon,” River repeated, speaking slowly, amused. “He is all that will stand between us and death. Yet, he may not be here, when it comes. If he is not, then some of us will not survive.” With that the little pilot spun and resumed her walk to the bridge. “Did she just say that Jayne would stand between us and death?” Zoe asked quietly. “I mean, I know that’s what she said, right?” “Yup,” Mal nodded. “I wouldn’t think much of it, ‘cept that Albatross has that uncanny knack o’ seeing what’s comin’. Hate that, sometimes,” he shook his head. “No, actually, I don’t,” he amended. “Just rattles me a might.” “It ain’t doin’ my calm much good either,” Zoe admitted. “I don’t like thinkin’ my life depends on Jayne Cobb.” “It has before,” Inara chimed in, entering the galley. “Why would it bother you now?” “What?” Mal asked. “Zoe was nearly killed by reavers,” Inara pointed out as she went about making tea. “I know that,” Mal nodded. Zoe was strangely quiet. “Jayne walked straight into them to drag her back behind the barricade,” Inara told him. “Risked his life to keep her from being killed.” “You never told me that!” Mal looked at Zoe, who was looking at the table. “I’d. . .I’d forgotten,” she admitted. “You forgot?” Mal was incredulous. “How do you forget someone draggin’ you outta the hands o’ reavers, Zoe?” Zoe could only shrug, embarrassed. “And,” Inara went on, “while the two of you were laid up, Jayne was the one helping me watch after all of you, and get the ship back into some kind of order. Gunshot and all. Not to mention some broken bones,” she added. “He did?” Mal’s eyes shot up. “He did all that?” “He did,” Inara nodded firmly, taking a seat. “And, in the year since then, he’s taken a lot of work off the two of you, especially at first, when you were both still weak, and Zoe was. . .distracted.” Inara sipped her tea calmly. “Nothing ever went undone, thanks to him. I’ve seen him going through the ship at all hours, doing this or that.” “Up at all hours, huh?” Mal frowned. “Why’s that?” “I’ve found it difficult to sleep, at times,” Inara admitted. “Sometimes, I just go up on the bridge, and sit, looking into the black. Others, I go and sit in the cargo bay.” “With Jayne?” Mal demanded, and Inara shot him a scathing look. “That’s none of your business, Captain,” she replied icily. “But, no,” she relented. “Jayne and I talked a great deal when we were trying to keep things together,” she admitted. “Afterward, however, he simply closed himself away. I miss it, sometimes,” she admitted, almost wistfully. “Jayne is actually a good conversationalist, when he wants to be. And he has manners, as well. Why he normally chooses not to use them, I don’t know.” “Sounds like you and Jayne got awful friendly,” Mal almost accused. Inara’s face contorted at that. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear the accusatory tone of your voice, Mal,” she grated. “He was a great help to me, when you were down. I would like to think that he considers me a friend, though I don’t really think he does. If there is anyone on this ship he’d truly consider a friend, or be a friend to, it would be Kaylee.” Mal’s face fell at that. He’d jumped to another conclusion. Would he never learn to just keep his peace? “He’s done a lot for you,” Inara told them, rising. “Both of you. I shouldn’t have to tell you that, of course.” She retreated to her shuttle. “I guess she told us,” Zoe sighed. Mal nodded, knowing he’d be using his own bunk tonight. “I guess she did.” --------------------- River felt him coming before she heard his steps. Jayne walked up onto the bridge. “Arrival on Beaumonde in thirty-six hours, twelve minutes, eight seconds,” she offered, and Jayne surprised her by chuckling. “Thanks, River,” he nodded, turning to go. River was stunned. Since when did Jayne call her by her name? “Jayne?” He turned back. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. He waved a hand. “Don’t sweat it,” he told her, smiling. “Ain’t your fault. You can’t help what you can’t help.” “Are you leaving us?” She asked, hesitantly. “Yeah,” he nodded. “Reckon I am. When we hit Beaumond.” “Is it. . .is it because of me?” River’s voice was small, almost fearful. “Nope,” Jayne assured her with a smile. “Ain’t got a thing to do with you. Put it outta your mind, girl.” “I wish you would not go,” she almost whispered. “Needed here.” “No, I ain’t,” he shook his head. “Just a gun hand, girl. Dime a dozen. Mal’s said that himself, a hun’erd times. Mostly just to make me feel bad, mind,” he winked. River giggled. “Not just a gunhand, though,” she looked at him knowingly, and he looked away. “My mind ain’t no place for you to be, girl,” he said quietly. “Best you stay clear. You got enough worries.” “If you leave, some of us will suffer,” River told him after a minute. “I don’t know how, yet. Can’t see. But it’s there,” she assured him. “Just out of reach. Without you in the equation, the odds are heavily slewed against us. Some will fall.” “Tryin’ to appeal to my sentimental side?” he asked, not quite smiling. “No, trying to appeal to your sense of family,” she argued. “I know that you hide something, Jayne. I’ve never tried to see what it is,” she hastened to add. “But I know it’s there. And that it will be needed, soon.” “I told you, River,” Jayne’s voice caught an edge. Not threatening, so much as warning. “My head ain’t no place for you to be.” “I’m not trying to pry, Jayne,” she assured him. “Talked to Kaylee?” she asked suddenly, changing the subject. “No, but I’m gonna, ‘fore I go,” he told her. “She will not wish to see you go, you know,” River told him, smiling. “I can’t help that,” Jayne shook his head. “It’s past time I was gone from here. Ain’t gonna help none to stay. And there’s no point in you sayin’ it will. Mal will tell anyone who’ll listen he don’t need me.” “But he will,” she insisted quietly. “I’m sure of it.” “I got packin’ to do,” he said suddenly. “Don’t hit no rocks,” he teased her, and left. River watched him go, dread spreading in her belly. There was something wrong. She couldn’t place it, couldn’t place her finger on it. Not yet. But Jayne was there. They needed him. She had to figure out why. Before it was too late. -----------------