Archangel – Chapter Fifteen Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. ------------------ Incredibly, Jayne was on his feet the next morning. Simon walked into the infirmary, only to find him gone. Running from the infirmary, Simon hurried up the stairs where he nearly bumped into Jayne, coming from the shower. “Jayne! Are you out of your mind?” Simon almost screeched. “You shouldn’t be up!” “I’m fine, Simon,” Jayne assured him. “You are most definitely not fine!” Simon shot back, trying to get a look at the incision. “Simon,” Jayne said gently, “I’m fine. Take a look.” He raised his arm, and Simon gawked at the scar. It wasn’t completely healed, but it was far better looking than it should have been. “Jayne, how. . .? That shouldn’t even be closed. It’s almost growing over the stitches I used!” “I heal pretty quick, Doc,” Jayne told him, lowering his arm. “Always have.” “Jayne, I’ve never seen anything like that,” Simon told him sincerely. “I should have noted it sooner, though. As often as you get hurt, I should have noticed it before now.” “Ain’t like you ever wanted to spend any time with me you could avoid, Doc,” Jayne grinned. There was no malice in it, Simon noted, just wry humor. “Well, why would I?” Simon asked, though not unkindly. “After what you did. . .” “Be glad that’s all I did,” Jayne told him, nodding. “And be glad you showed me what had been done to your sister before they got there. Not for that, I would have left you.” Simon blinked at that. Those were almost the exact same words that Inara had used. “Why did you do it, Jayne?” Simon asked. “Aside from the money, I mean.” “Money didn’t come into it,” Jayne shook his head. “I’d a took it, mind,” he grinned. “But it was just an excuse. I did it,” he looked at Simon with cold eyes, now, “because you were willing to let Kaylee bleed to death, knowing it was ‘cause o’ you she’d been shot, unless Mal agreed to help you first.” “I was desperate, Jayne,” Simon said softly. “That didn’t make it her fault,” Jayne told him flatly. “I started to kill you,” Jayne admitted. “But I didn’t think we could take care of the girl. And I knew Mal would keep her on board.” “And you changed your mind when she saw what had been done to her?” Simon asked. “Yes,” Jayne nodded. “Up until then, I figured you were criminals, and after the girl stabbed me, that you were dangerous. To all of us,” he added. “The fact that you’d done what you did to Kaylee just made it easier.” “I’m sorry for that,” Simon said sincerely. “And I’m sorry for turning you in,” Jayne said just as sincerely. “I do understand doin’ what you have to for family, Simon,” he added. “But Kaylee was family to me.” “I know,” Simon nodded. “I. . .well,” Simon shook off the rest. “I need to get you back to the infirmary.” “No,” Jayne shook his head. “I’m tired o’ layin’ there. I won’t do nothin’ to undo your handiwork, but I don’t aim to go back. I will sleep there, though, if it makes you feel any better,” Jayne conceded. “All right,” Simon nodded. “It’s not like I can make you go back, anyway,” he grinned suddenly. Jayne chuckled at that. “How about we rustle up some breakfast, then?” ------------------ The crew stumbled into the kitchen in time to hear Jayne berating Simon. “I cannot for the life o’ me, Simon, see how a doctor, trained in all manner o’ using lab stuff, can’t even make coffee, in a gorram automatic coffee maker!” “I just didn’t put enough coffee in it!” Simon groused back, dumping the contents into the sink to try again. “That’s what that little scoop is for, Simon,” Jayne pointed. “Two scoops, rounded. Not leveled with the precision of a grader. Dong Ma?” “I get it, Jayne,” Simon sighed. “Jayne, should you be outta bed?” Zoe asked, looking at the big man goggle eyed. “Simon said I could,” Jayne told her. Simon looked shocked. “I did not say you could!” he spluttered. “You told me you weren’t going back, and I gave up! That’s not the same thing.” “Close enough,” Jayne shrugged, and Zoe burst out laughing. “Are you two actually gettin’ along?” she asked. “Don’t tell anyone,” both men said at the same time, then laughed. Zoe shook her head in wonder. “Always did hear tell of miracles,” she said, taking her seat. “Never expected to actually see one, though.” River was the next one in, and smiled brightly at the sight of Simon and Jayne working together to fix breakfast. “So, the destroyer and the physician find common ground in culinary pursuits,” she laughed. Jayne looked at Simon. “You and I can get along in the kitchen,” Simon interpreted. Jayne nodded, and turned back to the stove. “Morning, mei mei,” Simon hugged River. “How are you?” “Fine,” River assured him. “Should Jayne be up?” she asked. “No,” Simon shook his head. “But there’s no way to make him stay down, either, so. . .” Simon shrugged. River laughed again, and sat down, just as Kaylee walked in. She stopped short seeing Jayne, and then ran to him, throwing her arms around him. “Mornin’, ai ren,” she whispered. Simon eased away from them, and sat down. He couldn’t hide his distress from his sister, and River patted his arm softly. “Do not despair,” she smiled sweetly. “A glorious flower awaits you on Celeste.” “What?” Simon asked, but River just smiled, and said nothing else. “How you feelin’, Jayne?” Kaylee was asking. “Better, xin gan,” Jayne smiled. “Better.” She kissed him soundly, not caring if the others were in the room. “Good,” she said firmly when their lips parted. “I’m glad to see you up.” “Glad to be that way,” Jayne smiled. Kaylee began setting the table as Jayne finished their breakfast. Mal walked in just then, and stopped short when he saw Jayne. “No, he’s shouldn’t be up, no I didn’t say he could, and no I can’t make him go back, and yes he does seem to be a great deal better,” Simon rattled off before Mal could repeat all the earlier questions. “Huh,” Mal grunted, and sat down. Inara followed closely, and smiled when she saw Jayne in the galley. “Good morning, Jayne,” she beamed. “I’m glad you’re feeling better!” “Thanks, Inara,” Jayne grinned, taking his seat after placing the meal on the table. The crew bantered back and forth for a time, preparing the list of what had to be done today. They were still almost three days from Celeste, and the refugees needed to be fed, and seen to. Finally, when all other topics of discussion were settled, Mal turned to Jayne. “That was a mighty fine display o’ fightin’ ability, Jayne,” he said evenly. “Mind tellin’ us where you learned it?” “Yes,” was all Jayne said. Mal’s face turned beet red. “That wasn’t really a question, Jayne,” Mal shot back. “You been hidin’ all that from us, and I wanna know why.” “No reason for you to know,” Jayne shrugged. “Ain’t like I told no one else, either.” “You ain’t one someone else’s crew!” Mal said hotly. “Mal, please,” Inara said softly. “Not at the table.” Mal shot her a look, then turned back to Jayne. “I’m still waitin’,” he said shortly. Jayne finally stopped eating, and looked at Mal steadily. “And you’ll keep waitin’,” he said evenly. “It ain’t somethin’ I talk about. Ever.” “You want to stay on this ship, you’ll talk about it!” Mal screeched. “I thought I’d already made it clear I don’t want to stay on this ship,” Jayne growled. Kaylee reached over and laid her hand softly on his arm, and Jayne felt his impending explosion ease away. He looked at her, smiling. “I thought I told you two there ain’t gonna be none o’ that!” Mal snapped again. Jayne turned back to Mal. “You’ve done about all the tellin’ you’re gonna do where the two o’ us are concerned, Mal,” he warned softly. “This ain’t none o’ your concern, so butt out.” “I quite agree,” Inara said loudly. “Sir, you need to back off,” Zoe said quietly, where only Mal could hear her. He fumed at that, but nodded. “Well, since Jayne’s so well, he can carry the food down to the folks in the bay, I expect,” he settled for saying. “I’m afraid not, Captain,” Simon smiled weakly. “While he is better, and able to move about, he cannot lift and strain at all, until the stitches are removed. Nor should he be climbing the stairs so much, either.” “I’ll see to it,” Kaylee said quietly, rising to make the meal. “And I’ll assist,” River piped in, glaring at Mal. “So will I,” Inara offered, not bothering to glare. “I need to check on the injured,” Simon rose, “but I’ll help with the hauling. According to Jayne, my cooking isn’t really up to the preparation, anyway.” Jayne chuckled at that. “Might as well pitch in myself,” Zoe got to her feet. “More the merrier.” Mal sat watching as everyone pitched in. Finally he got up and stomped to the bridge, muttering as he went. When he’d gone, Zoe walked back over to the table and sat down next to Jayne. “Jayne, I wanted to say thank you,” she said softly. “You saved my life, again. And unlike some, I’m grateful.” Jayne eyed her cautiously for a moment, then nodded. “You’re welcome,” he said. “Glad I was there.” “So am I,” Inara said, also coming to sit down again. “And I second that thanks, by the way. If not for you, we’d be dead. If we were lucky,” she added softly. “Just needed doin’s all,” Jayne shrugged. “Jayne,” Inara said quietly, “I have to tell you that I recognized you as an Archangel. And I’m afraid I shared what I know with the crew. It didn’t. . .I didn’t think about your not being happy with them knowing, and I’m sorry.” “Don’t matter,” Jayne shrugged. “I’ll be gone in a couple days, and Mal and the rest of ya can relax, anyway.” “Jayne, are you still intending to leave?” Inara asked sadly. “Is Mal still Captain?” Jayne smirked. “Course I am. Ain’t nothin’ changed. Or gonna change, least not for me. Sooner I’m off this boat, the better.” “Wish you’d reconsider,” Zoe said evenly. “You’re handy to have around, spite o’ all your failin’s,” she chuckled at her joke, but Jayne didn’t even smile. “Yeah,” he nodded. “I’m handy to have around, when you need me. Rest o’ the time, I’m someone to watch, case I steal the silverware, or attack any little girls,” he retorted scathingly. Zoe stiffened at that, then nodded, and got to her feet. Without a word she walked back to where the others were fixing a meal for the refugees. “Was that really necessary, Jayne?” Inara asked softly. “Ain’t none of it necessary, Inara,” Jayne snorted. “I took, and took, and took some more from them two. That the other day was the last straw. You know I’d never attack a woman, Inara,” he looked at her. “I’ve been crude and lewd at times, and ain’t no secret I’ve visited my share o’ brothels and the like. There’s reasons for that, which I won’t share.” “But it’s like I said. I ain’t crew, and ain’t never been. Ever after Miranda, after everything, I’m still just the merc. Mal’d sacrifice me in a second to save anyone o’ you, and smile when he did it. Zoe’d help him. So don’t talk to me ‘bout what’s necessary.” Inara nodded at the truth on the statement, hating to have to. “Jayne, perhaps you could give it a bit more time,” she suggested. “If for no other reason than Kaylee’s sake.” “That’s up to Kaylee,” Jayne surprised her. “I already told her if she wants to stay, I’ll stay with her. But if Mal butt’s in, or tries to, then we’ll have a problem.” “I’ll see to Mal,” Inara promised. “If you can do that, then if Kaylee wants to stay, so will I,” Jayne agreed. “Why’s it matter to you, Inara?” he asked suddenly. “I mean you ain’t never cared much for me, neither. Beneath you and what not, I guess.” Inara flushed as the statement hit a bit too close to home. “I’m sorry for that, Jayne,” she told him evenly. “Though you might remember that you made every effort possible to be repulsive to everyone, you know,” she pointed out. Jayne nodded. “That’s true,” he agreed. “And I ain’t blamin’ no one for how they treated me ‘fore a year or so ago, mind. But even after I tried to get along more, to fit in, nobody else bothered to try the same. Just like Zoe and Mal runnin’ down there to shoot me the day River took to yellin’. I hadn’t been nowhere near her, hell they saw her fall to the floor, with me still in the deck, my gloves on and all.” “Still just figured on shootin’ me,” he shook his head. “You have to try and understand how they felt, what they were thinking, Jayne,” Inara told him. “You mean the way they work so hard tryin’ to understand anything about me?” he asked, though not unkindly. “I’m sorry, ‘Nara, but it looks to me like I’m the only one what has to be understandin’ or forgivin’ on this boat. Everyone else can say or do as they please, and no one turns a hair to it, or threatens to throw’em out the airlock.” He stood suddenly. “Now that I think on it, I don’t know that givin’ it more time’s such a good idea, or not,” he said, and walked away. Inara sighed, watching him go. She wondered what she would say to Mal. ---------------- Inara walked up onto the bridge, where Mal sat fuming. “Are you calm enough to talk to me, or should I wait?” she asked. Mal looked at her. “What you want to talk about?” he asked, smiling. “Jayne,” Inara said simply. Mal frowned. “I don’t wanna hear it,” he snapped back around. Inara sighed. “That’s what I expected,” she said sadly. “But I had to try, for Kaylee’s sake.” She turned to go. “What d’you mean by that?” Mal asked. “I don’t want Kaylee to leave,” Inara said simply. “And if Jayne leaves, so will she. I was hoping to talk reason to you, but I can see that’s not possible.” “Kaylee ain’t leavin’,” Mal said flatly. “Yes, she is,” Inara told him. “If Jayne goes, she’ll follow him. Though he said that he’d left the decision to her. That if she wanted to stay, he would stay here with her.” “We don’t need Jayne,” Mal told her. “And Kaylee ain’t leavin’. Not with Jayne.” “Mal, you can’t keep her here against her will,” Inara replied. “There’s no point in threatening it, either. She’s a grown woman, and she’s made up her mind. And there’s nothing you can do about it,” she added. “So you want me to keep Jayne on, even after this mornin’,” Mal groused. “What about this morning?” Inara countered. “You wanted to know something that’s very personal to him, and he refused to talk about it. That is his right, Mal. And it wouldn’t do you any harm to remember that he saved our lives, while you’re at it.” “That’s what I pay him for!” Mal bit out. “How much did you pay him to face those reavers, Mal?” Inara asked. “For that matter, how much did you pay him for Miranda? We’ve talked about this before. There’s more to it than money, where Jayne is concerned. These days, anyway.” “You’re just stuck on him being one o’ them Archangels,” Mal told her. “That’s all you can see, Inara. You can’t, or won’t see him for what he really is.” “And what is that, Mal?” Inara demanded. “Since you seem to know all about him, tell me what it is that I’m missing.” “He’s just a mercenary,” Mal replied darkly. “That’s all he’ll ever be.” “A mercenary doesn’t do what Jayne did on Beaumond, Mal,” Inara said quietly. “And you know that, Mal. You’re smarter than this, you know,” she told him softly. “Why won’t you act it?” “Inara, why can’t you trust me to know what’s best for this ship and it’s crew?” Mal asked her. “Why do you have to fight me on everything?” “I’m not fighting, Mal,” Inara told him. “I’m just asking. And it’s not like you listen to me, anyway. I just wanted Kaylee to stay, and the only way to make that happen is if Jayne stays aboard, and you leave them alone. But that isn’t going to happen, so she’ll leave when he does.” “That’s all I wanted, Mal” she finished, and turned again to leave. “I wanted my friend to stay here, and be allowed to be happy. I’m sorry I asked it of you.” She left then, anxious to be away from him, lest he see her tears, and accuse her of using ‘wiles’ to get her way. She often wondered why she was fool enough to believe that he would change. She had so wanted to believe that he would. Wanted it so badly that she’d given up her life for it. The very thing she had worked for since her teens. -------------------- “Jayne, are ya set on leavin’ Serenity?” Kaylee asked, sitting down next to him on the catwalk. “That’s up to you,” Jayne smiled. “And Mal,” he added, frowning. “I told you, I’d do whatever you wanted, if I was allowed. But the days of me takin’ abuse from him or Zoe are gone, bao bei. Ain’t gonna do it no more.” “I don’t blame ya,” Kaylee said sadly. “I wish it wasn’t like this, though.” “So do I, Kaylee,” Jayne said honestly. “I tried, girl, really I did. But it ain’t no use. I don’t know what else to do. And now, with what happened, Mal really ain’t gonna want me to stay on.” He shrugged helplessly. “But if I hadn’t done it, they’d all be dead. There wasn’t no way to win that one, Kaylee. No way at all.” “I’m proud o’ ya, Jayne,” Kaylee said softly. “Ain’t ever man woulda done all that for someone he didn’t like, and knew didn’t like him. That makes you a bigger and better man, ta my way o’ thinkin’.” Jayne looked at her. “You’re really somethin’, you know that?” he smiled, and leaned over to kiss her lightly. “You’re nothin’ but sunshine and good thoughts girl. Can’t be no one else like you anywhere in the ‘verse.” Kaylee blushed in pleasure at that. “We get to Celeste, if things ain’t worked out by then, I. . .I gotta place there, Kaylee,” he admitted. “Belonged to my ma. House, good spot o’ land. Ain’t been there in years, but there’s an old feller named Crowfeather, he tends the place. And Ma Higgins, she looks after him, and the place.” “I been sending money over the years, to pay the upkeep. And I gotta good bit put away.” “A house?” Kaylee brightened at that. “You got a house, Jayne?” “Well, I can’t rightly have you livin’ outta no box, now can I?” he smiled, and she blushed again at that. “Yeah, I gotta house. And ‘bout a hundred acres o’ land. It’s a good place,” he finished. “A good place for a home.” “Sounds like it,” she sighed, leaning against him. “Well, ‘least we got somewhere to be, things don’t work out here.” “You sure you wanna do that?” he asked softly. “I wouldn’t blame ya none, if you didn’t, you know. This place is special to ya, Kaylee. I don’t want you to have to choose like that. Ain’t right.” “Jayne, there ain’t no choice ta make,” she told him, looking him in the eye. “I wanna be with you, where ever that is. If it’s here, then that’d be wonderful. But if it ain’t,” she shrugged, “then it ain’t. We’ll still be together, and that’s really all I care about.”