River stood in the corridor watching for Jayne “better now?” “For awhile” he agreed and went on to his bunk as River carried on to her sleeping quarters. Of course she had known the answer already, his armour had been renewed and she was not hearing his thoughts any longer. River wondered what the Alliance would think if they knew that their reader, their marvellous weapon couldn’t read the brain of a mercenary from a backworld planet who had not been to school since he was nine. Would they think it as ironic as she did?

Because most times she heard nothing from Jayne’s mind. Occasionally chinks appeared in the armour and River caught his thoughts. For example after Ariel when she had read what he had done, but for the most part he was silent. Not until the battle on Mr Universe’s planet had she known of his feelings for Kaylee. Overwhelmed by the minds of the Reavers and her friends fear, she had been useless at the beginning of the battle. When Kaylee had been wounded she had woken up, her brother’s fright and horror had mingled with the sheer terror in Jayne’s mind to pierce straight through all the other thoughts. Seeing Simon, remembering all he had done for her, his and Jayne’s anxiety for Kaylee had been the impetus which sent her through the door to do battle with the monsters. After the battle Jayne had been able to carry Kaylee to the infirmary and assured that she would survive, the armour was raised again and River had sensed nothing from him, until three days ago when the craving had started.

She had a new appreciation for Simon’s efforts on her behalf after trying to keep Jayne from doing something inappropriate over the last few days. Of course Jayne at least was relatively sane and was cooperating with her. He was treating her more as a friend than an enemy these days and she was grateful for that. Since the battle the other crew were regarding her warily. But he who had always been wary of her was accepting now. He regarded her as a weapon, more like a human version of Vera. Slow brained about everything except fighting, Jayne wasn’t stupid. He was correct when he thought there were problems between Simon and Kaylee. Her brother was in all probability going to ruin the relationship. Of course neither she nor her brother had any real experience of emotional relationships. Their parents while distantly affectionate were uncomfortable with overt displays of emotion and had never encouraged hugs, cuddles or touches. Kaylee required all these things in order to survive. It amazed River that the two most practical people on board craved touching, belonging the most. River had never been touched in friendship and love in her fourteen years on the Tam estate as she had been in the past year on Serenity. Kaylee and Inara brushed her hair. Kaylee hugged her to comfort her. The Captain often put his arm around her shoulders. These people were more her family than the one that had abandoned her and Simon.

Families, that was another point of similarity between Jayne and Kaylee they were the only two on board still in touch with their families. Jayne’s Ma must surely be aware of what he did for a living but she still wrote, sent gifts, and treated him as family even though they had not seen each other for years. Kaylee’s family were never far from her thoughts and they were in contact with her constantly. River envied that mightily and the permanence of these relationships made her realise that single minded, stubborn Jayne was never going to change, whatever happened between Kaylee and her brother. If Kaylee and Simon broke up or stayed together, if she found someone else, it didn’t matter. Jayne was not going to stop loving Kaylee. Whatever the case River had no idea what she should do, perhaps she should acquire some armour of her own. Because while Jayne had been craving Kaylee, she, River was craving Jayne and she didn't think she was ever going to stop.