Jayne stepped onto the bridge and frowned when he heard crying. Not the frantic cry that he was so used to hearing from her, this cry was soft. Concerned, he stepped up and pushed the Pilot’s chair around. River was sitting with her knees pressed against her head and her arms wrapped around them. She looked up into his concerned eyes. “What is it, baby girl?” he asked worriedly. Her eyes blurred and two lines of tears running down both cheeks, she looked so helpless he thought his chest might tear in half with pain. “What’s wrong?” he asked and she shook her head, looking off out the window. “It hurts,” she said softly. Jayne knelt down beside her, not knowing what to say. She looked at him. “I feel all of them…can’t stop it…can feel their pain, even those that did this to me....never told you what they did to me, did I?” she asked, and Jayne shook his head. He didn’t know what else to do. Half of him didn’t want to hear what was done to her, but the other half wanted to know what she went through. She looked away. “It started with another lie…always did…they said I had to undergo a medical evaluation…standard protocol…they led me to a room and said the doctor would take care of everything…it was a blue room….examination table in the middle with tools…doctor greeted me, then closed the door behind me…he grinned, but it wasn’t friendly….found out later that he had wormed his way in…they overlooked his crimes because they needed him…said he would be good to break down subject’s barriers...last time I saw that dress…” “Stop!” Jayne shouted, suddenly and stood up. “I ain’t gonna hear no more, ya hear? Ya ain’t there no more and I ain’t gonna have you thinkin bout that when there ain’t no need, ya hear?” He had a finger pointed at her and had a furious face. She looked up at him. “It’s okay, Jayne…I understa…” “No you don’t,” he said roughly. “You ain’t got no ruttin idea why I don’t wanna hear those sai di goit kaing tai sei poaie touchin you. Ya ain’t got no gorram idea why I wish I could….how I wanna…” he stammered, then broke down. River stood up and he enfolded her in his arms and squeezed. “Gorramit, baby girl, I’m so….so sorry I weren’t there to kill them fer you….wish I could get my hands on em fer ever touchin you…I’d…” “Sh…” River whispered. “I know you would…it’s why I know I’m safe…because you’re protecting me.” “You gorram right I’ll protect ya…I ain’t gonna let another man touch you cept me.” “And Simon,” River reminded, and Jayne grunted. “Thought maybe we might leave him out…..he spends too much time with ya…time ya could be in bed with me,” he said, and River giggled against him. They pushed away slightly, and she looked into his eyes and didn’t need to touch his mind to feel his love. She hugged him to her once more and laid her head on his shoulder. “I love you Jayne,” she said softly. “Don’t know a reason in the verse why,” he grunted. She closed her eyes and smiled, feeling the pain and the hurt ease and only his love to replace it. “Because you filled my heart.”