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Archangel – Chapter Fourteen
Friday, January 25, 2008

Jayne wakes, and the crew goes . . . well, anyway, jayne wakes


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2092    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

Archangel – Chapter Fourteen Author owns no rights to Firefly, no copyright infringement is intended ------------------------------------------------ “What?” Mal asked, following. Everyone else followed as well. Simon was trying to prepare a sedative as Jayne convulsed on the bed. It wasn’t easy with his hands shaking. He’d been in the room when Jayne started. . .keening, for want of a better term. He wished he hadn’t. “No Simon!” River ran into the infirmary, Kaylee on her heels. “No drugs! He must fight if he is to live!” “Mei mei, he’s going to re-injure himself, tear the stitches loose! I’ve got to sedate him!” “No!” River yelled. “Not now! He’s fighting! He must be able to fight, or he will not survive. Only the demon will live! No. Drugs.” “Demon?” Mal looked shocked. River turned to him. “That is Jayne’s name for it,” she told him, eyeing Kaylee as she did so. For once Mal caught the hint, and shut up. Jayne continued to convulse sporadically, with the occasional howling sound. Mal’s bones shook at the sound. If he wasn’t seeing it himself, he’d never have believed that such a sound could come from a man’s vocal chords. “River, I’m going to sedate him!” Simon informed her. “He’s going to hurt himself!” “NO!” River was around the table in a flash, grabbing the hypo and tossing it out the door. “You cannot drug him! He fights!” She looked to Inara. “Tell him!” she demanded. Inara looked shocked for a moment, then nodded. “He’s fighting his rage, Simon,” she said quietly, where only Simon could hear. “He has to overcome it, or when he wakes. . . .” She trailed off, her eyes telling him the rest. “Oh,” Simon finally got it. He nodded, and stepped back, watching the monitors carefully. River sagged in relief. “Thank you,” she told Inara. “Both of you,” she added to Simon. He nodded, absently. He was looking at Jayne’s temperature. “His temp is over one hundred, and rising,” he murmured. “It must be an infection.” “No, Simon,” River shook her head. “It is a burning. He must put it out himself. You cannot help him. Not in this.” “She’s right, Simon,” Inara hurriedly agreed. “If he can’t master himself, then he’s lost to us. Let him be, for now.” “We got things to see to,” Mal said suddenly. “‘Tross, need you on the. . .” “No, Captain, not yet,” River cut him off. “I. . .he may need me.” She looked at Simon. “And Kaylee needs to stay as well,” she looked back at Mal. Mal stood there a moment, bordering on arguing, then nodded. “‘Spect Zoe, Inara and I can handle things a spell,” he said reluctantly. “Ladies, we need to get back. Inara, can you take the bridge? Zoe and I’ll see to the folks in the bay, let them know everything’s all right.” He looked at Jayne. “I hope.” The three left, with Simon, River and Kaylee not even noting their departure. Jayne suddenly had fallen silent, and still. He no longer struggled, no longer yelled, and Simon was shocked to see his temperature falling. In no more than a minute, it was at normal. As was everything else. “How did you know?” he turned to River. She shrugged. “He told me,” was all she said. “Told you?” Simon started. “How could he have. . . .” Suddenly, Jayne’s eyes flared open. He looked wild-eyed for a moment, and River would have sworn that, for an instant, his eyes were red. Then suddenly they were the cobalt blue they always were. They settled on Kaylee, and stayed there. “Hi,” he rasped, his throat dry. Jayne had awakened. ---------------------- “Come, Simon,” River said softly. “We should leave them for a few minutes. They have much to discuss.” “But I need to. . .” Simon tried to object. “Not now,” River cut him off, dragging him along. “Kaylee, fifteen minutes, and then Simon will need to see to him,” she warned. Kaylee nodded, her eyes never leaving Jayne’s face. “Oh, Jayne, I thought ya was dyin’,” she whispered, hand stroking his face as tears flowed freely down her face. “Nah,” he smiled back, though weakly. His voice was cracked. “Got some water?” “Oh,” Kaylee started at that, and ran to get him a glass. She held it up to his lips and he drank deep. Laying back, he smiled. “Ain’t no call for them tears, xin gan,” he murmured, and Kaylee’s face lit up at that. “Ain’t no call for scarin’ me half ta death, neither, Jayne Cobb!” she slapped his chest gently. “You ain’t ta never do no such thing as that again, you hear me?” “I hear ya,” he smiled. Whatever else he was going to say was lost as Kaylee’s mouth descended on his, kissing him long and hard. When she raised her head, she was blushing. “Second time was even better’n the first,” she grinned, and Jayne chuckled. “Gets even better with practice,” he winked. “Well, I aim for us to have lot’s o’ practice,” she told him, and proved it by kissing him again. “I hate to interrupt,” Mal’s voice broke them apart, “but don’t you reckon you oughta let him recover a mite, ‘fore takin’ his breath away like that?” Kaylee jumped a little at his voice, but she didn’t move away from Jayne’s side. “Ain’t you heard o’ knockin’?” she demanded hotly. Mal smiled at that. “You sound like Inara, now,” he told her. “And if I’d had any idea what was goin’ on, I probably woulda knocked, just to save me havin’ to find some way later to bleach the sight o’ you kissin’ my merc on the mouth outta my brain,” he added, teasing. “That ain’t the least bit. . .” Kaylee started, but Jayne’s laugh cut her off. “He’s just tryin’ to get a rise outta ya, xin gan,” he chuckled, rubbing her hand softly. Kaylee’s face heated again. “It’s workin’,” she muttered, glaring at her Captain. “Kaylee, I need you in the engine room, ‘Tross says somethin’s not right. Ain’t much, she figures, but I don’t want it to get that way.” “All right,” Kaylee nodded. Engine room troubles was serious in the black. She looked at Jayne, then kissed him one more time, less passionately. “I’ll see you in a bit, bao bei,” she whispered. Jayne nodded, and she left, shooting one more glare at her Captain on her way out. “She’s a feisty one, ain’t she,” Mal shook his head, then turned back to Jayne. “How you feeling, Jayne?” “Like I been stomped on,” Jayne told him. “What happened?” “Got stabbed, Doc said,” Mal told him. “Cut inta your lung, and you like ta drowned in blood, way he tells it.” “Well, I ‘spect we’re in the black?” Jayne changed the subject. “Bound for Celeste,” Mal nodded. Jayne started at that. “Celeste?” “Ain’t no big statue o’ you there are they?” Mal asked, seeing the look on Jayne’s face. “Jayne I swear, I can’t take you no where, folks won’t even have you back to apologize for. . .” “Ain’t nothing for me on Celeste,” Jayne assured him, his voice hollow. “Never been there?” Mal asked. Jayne hesitated, then nodded. “Been there,” he replied. “Just not in a long time, s’all.” “Well, you’ll be seein’ it again, soon. We got a bunch o’ folks on board from Beaumond, be droppin’em off there, few days time.” Simon walked in just then. “I need to examine him,” he told Mal. “Jayne, how are you feeling? Any pain other than where you were cut?” “Feel sore all over, Doc,” Jayne managed to grin. “‘Spect I will for a while.” “I’ll be goin’ then,” Mal said, being ignored. “See you later, Jayne.” “You will be sore, for several day in a likelihood. Your armor has prevented any serious injuries, other than the puncture wound, but you’re one very large bruise at the moment.” “I ‘spect I’ll live, Simon,” Jayne said softly, looking at the ceiling. “Jayne, there’s a bite mark on your leg,” Simon said. “It looks like an old wound, but it hasn’t healed. Do you know how you got it?” “Don’t worry over it, Simon,” Jayne replied at once. “Been there long as I can remember,” he told him truthfully. “Well, I want to see if I can. . .” “You can’t, Simon,” Jayne told him abruptly. “I appreciate your concern, but don’t bother with it. It won’t ever heal no more than it is right now.” “Surely there’s something that will. . .” “Leave it, Simon,” Jayne’s voice had taken an edge now. “You can’t fix it, so don’t mess with it.” “All right,” Simon threw his hands up in defeat. “I’m just trying to help.” “I know that,” Jayne relented a bit. “And I do appreciate it. But, like I said, you can’t help with that. Just. . .forget it.” “Well, I have plenty more to worry about, anyway,” Simon told him. “And it looks like you’ll be fine, now. Though you had me worried, for a bit.” “I’ll be fine, I reckon, with you seein’ after me,” Jayne nodded. Simon’s eyes almost goggled. “Jayne, did you just say something nice about me?” he asked. “Ain’t no one else around,” Jayne shrugged. “Figured it was safe.” Simon sputtered for a minute, then broke out laughing. “Why, that’s almost witty, Jayne!” Simon told him between gasps. “I didn’t know you had it in you.” “I have these flashes, Simon,” Jayne grinned. “Don’t usually last too long, though.” “Well, I’ll just go see to the people in the bay, then,” Simon told him, collecting his bag. “Do you need anything?” “Tell River I’d like to talk to her, when she gets time,” Jayne said after a minute. Simon’s eyes narrowed. “Why?” “Need to talk to her,” Jayne said simply. “She helped me, some.” “I’ll tell her,” Simon nodded, wondering what River had done to help the ape man. ------------------------ “You wanted to see me?” River smiled, walking into the infirmary a bit later. “I wanted to say thanks,” Jayne nodded, serious. “You hadn’t come to fetch me, girl, I’d still be there.” “I know,” River told him. “But there are things here for you to do, yet.” “What things?” Jayne asked. “I’m ‘bout done out, I think.” “Don’t know,” River shrugged. “Have to see. But I know it’s true,” she added. “Just like I knew you’d wake up, today,” she added, smiling. “Well, wasn’t for you, I’d likely not. And I wanted to say thanks.” “What friends are for, Jayne,” River smiled again. “And now, I think I’ll go and tell Kaylee that you are rested, and want to see her.” Jayne smiled at that. “Thanks for that, too,” he told her. She nodded. “Anytime, Jayne. Anytime.” “And River?” Jayne’s voice stopped her. She turned. “‘Bout what we talked about?” he asked. “Don’t let on you know that stuff, hear? I. . .I ain’t sure how well it’ll set, just yet.” “Not mine to tell, Jayne,” she smiled at him. “But I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me.” “Me too, nizi,” he smiled. “Me too.” ------------------ Kaylee came bounding into the infirmary ten minutes later. She went straight to Jayne’s bedside, and kissed him enthusiastically without saying a word. “Gotta admit, I like the way you say hello,” Jayne smiled when their lips parted. “Thought ya might,” she grinned, blushing. “How ya feeling, bao bei?” “Like I got caught in a stampede,” Jayne admitted. “But I reckon that’s preferable, compared to the alternative,” he winked. Kaylee laughed at that, and Jayne let the sound roll over him. “Well, Simon says you’re doin’ better,” she nodded. “Might be up and around some, time we hit Celeste.” “That’d be good,” Jayne nodded. “Be good to be outta this bed.” “Hm mmm,” Kaylee smiled. “Lookin’ forward to that myself.” “Kaylee, about what we was talkin’ ‘bout, for the reavers got here,” Jayne said quietly. “I was tryin’ to tell ya that, if’n you wanted me to, I’d stay here with ya.” “I knew that,” Kaylee beamed confidently. “Good to hear you say it, though,” she leaned down and kissed him again. “Well, I don’t know how Mal will react to all that,” Jayne warned. “He ain’t like to want me to stay after what I did.” Kaylee frowned. “What’s that ‘sposed ta mean?” she demanded. “Just what I said,” Jayne shrugged. “He’s seen now,” he pointed out. “No more trust than he had for me before, I can’t rightly see him wantin’ me to stay on, no more.” “You ain’t givin’ him enough credit, Jayne,” Kaylee said quietly. “He ain’t like that.” “I hope you’re right,” he smiled, knowing she wasn’t. “I’d rather stay here with you than anything I can think of,” he added honestly. “Well, even if it’s like you think, me an’ you are gonna be together, somewhere,” Kaylee said firmly. “If it ain’t here, then it’ll be somewhere else. I done made up my mind, even if you ain’t,” she added mischievously. “Well, I guess if you’ve decided, that’s it then,” Jayne laughed quietly. “Good thing you’re acceptin’ that,” Kaylee grinned. “Cut down on arguin’ later.” “Ain’t gonna argue with you wantin’ me, girl,” Jayne said seriously. “But now you know what that means. You changed your mind, I wouldn’t blame ya none.” Jayne’s voice was quiet, and his tone serious. “I ain’t scared o’ you, Jayne,” she rubbed his jaw softly. “Not none at all. Know I ain’t got to be,” she added. “I’m glad,” he told her truthfully. “Don’t think I could stand it, if you were.” “Well, I ain’t,” she kissed him again. “Ahem,” Mal clearing his throat at the door made Kaylee jump. “I hate to interrupt,” Mal said, his tone saying he hated it not at all. “I doubt that,” Kaylee murmured. “I need a word with Jayne, Kaylee,” Mal said pointedly. “Alone.” “Reckon whatever you got to say to him, you can say to me,” Kaylee told him flatly. “He’ll tell me later, anyway,” she added, grinning. “Likely he will, but I still wanna talk to him in private,” Mal said sternly. “Give us a minute or two.” “I’ll just stay here,” Kaylee shook her head. “Ain’t no sense in him havin’ to repeat it.” “That wasn’t a suggestion, Kaylee,” Mal told her. “You head on out and check on the engine room.” “Just come from there, and it’s fine,” Kaylee threw back. “And I ain’t leavin’ so you can say nothin’ bad to Jayne.” “What makes you think I’m gonna say something bad?” Mal asked, frowning. “Wasn’t bad, you wouldn’t be wantin’ me gone,” she pointed out. “Well, I still want you gone,” Mal told her. “Now.” “No,” Kaylee folded her arms. “I ain’t leavin’. Not right now. I’m visitin’. You want to talk to Jayne alone, reckon you can come back when I ain’t in here.” “I need to remind you who run’s this ship?” Mal demanded, almost crossly. “Nope,” Kaylee assured him. “But you ain’t runnin’ me outta here, neither.” Mal noted her stance was set. She was determined. “Fine, then,” Mal didn’t quite snarl. “I wanna remind you two about my no romancin’ rule. That applies to you two,” he pointed at them. “I ain’t havin’ it.” “Mal, can you give that a rest, at least till I’m on my feet, and feel more like arguin’?” Jayne asked nicely. “Ain’t no point in waitin’,” Mal said stiffly. “And ain’t gonna be no arguin’, neither. It ain’t happ’nin. Period.” “Reckon I can decide what I do, and with who, Cap’n,” Kaylee huffed, hurt in her voice. Seems Jayne had been right, after all. “You don’t belong with someone like him, Kaylee,” Mal told her flatly. “And you ain’t gonna be.” “Oh, I ain’t, ain’t I?” Kaylee demanded. “Well, then, you think on this, Cap’n,” she stressed the word. “When this boat hits the ground on Celeste, reckon me and Jayne can find us somewhere else to be, and then it won’t be your worry no more, will it?” “You ain’t leavin’ this boat,” Mal scoffed. “I aim for me and Jayne to be together,” Kaylee told him flatly. “If it ain’t here, then it’ll be somewhere else. And I don’t much care, one way or ‘nother, happens you’re gonna be like you are right now.” “This ain’t a discussion, Kaylee,” Mal started. “You’re right, it ain’t,” Kaylee cut him off. “This is me tellin’ you how it is. You decided ‘tween here and Celeste whether you want the two o’ us on this ship or not. Don’t make me no never mind, ‘cept where ever Jayne is, that’s where I’m gonna be, and we ain’t gonna be kept apart. Not by you, nor nobody else. Dong Ma?”

COMMENTS

Friday, January 25, 2008 8:23 PM

KIMBER


Go Kaylee!! It's about time you stood up to Mal ;)


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