On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me five gold rings

Jayne woke from his light doze with a start, gazing round to see what had woken him.

After his defeat of Squinty everyone had left em alone for the rest of the afternoon and night. Didn’t mean he could let his guard down ‘n’ go to sleep though. Night time was a good time to sneak up on folks and Kaylee was a magnet for every man in the yard. When they had arrived, he hadn’t missed the lustful looks most of ‘em had directed at her. Only his fighting skills and intimidatin’ manner had kept the bastards away so far. Kaylee doin’ her Zoë act had helped deter them as well.

The sound that woke him was Kaylee whimperin’ in her sleep. Since they’d been taken she’d been sleepin’ with her head on his shoulder all cuddled up to his side. Made him feel way too protective and all manner of nervous. Havin’ her so close and not be able to touch the way he wanted would have killed him ‘cept for the situation they were in.

Kaylee was goin’ to scream, wake everyone up, and attract their attention again. He tried smoothin’ her hair, shakin’ her gently to wake her. But she was too deep in the dream, so he stopped her scream with his mouth.

That was a big mistake, ‘cause she kissed him back. Her lips were soft and she tasted of honey, sweet and moresome. His hand went driftin’ all by itself down the length of her side. He had to stop. She was still asleep, trusted him. With a groan he reluctantly tore his mouth from hers. He slid his free arm under her knees and lifted her onto his lap. She snuggled into his chest, her hair brushin’ his chin as his arms cradled her close. There were only a couple more hours till mornin’, he could stand it that long. Gorram it he hoped the hunt would start today. They’d have more chance out in the open than trapped in this yard with crowds of horny desperados.

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Inara stretched her arms in the air to get the kinks out. She had been talking to her contacts all through the night and had finally found out some information.

When Zoë contacted her yesterday, she’d been pleased. With the exception of Kaylee, she hadn’t spoken to anyone from Serenity since the day she left. Several times she’d been tempted to either write or call but had thought better of it. The break should be clean, and then perhaps they could all get on with their lives.

But she hadn’t been able to ignore Zoë’s request for help. With Kaylee in trouble, she must put aside her own wishes and do her utmost to help. The mechanic had been her best friend aboard Serenity, accepting her as she was, never criticising. It was Kaylee’s presence that had made life on the ship always bearable. Now Inara had a chance to repay her and she was going to do it even if it meant leaving her sanctuary for awhile.

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Kaylee woke to the sound of a steady thuddin’ in her ear and opened her eyes to an expanse of shirt covered chest. She was curled up on Jayne’s lap his arms wrapped around her. How’d she get here? Not that she didn’t like it, but how’d she get here?

Course the man was awake, looking at her with his clear blue eyes “Ya had a bad dream.” He explained and lifted her off his lap.

“Want to tell me ‘bout it?” he asked “was it the fight yesterday?”

“No Jayne, it wasn’t yesterday.” She shook her head “it’s somethin’ I don’t wanna talk ‘bout. Dong ma?”

He nodded and got to his feet “Ya did good yesterday Kaylee. I’m proud of ya.”

He looked so tired. As far as she could tell Jayne hadn’t had a proper sleep since they’d left Serenity. Dozin’ here and there weren’t the same. Tonight wherever they were, she was goin’ to be lookout and he was goin’ to sleep.

And he was goin’ to have ‘t tell her if he was hurtin’. No more macho stuff. The way he was limpin’ toward her with their food showed that his knee must hurt worse than she thought.

Before she could talk to him ‘bout it she saw him tense up and following his gaze saw their captors approachin’ guns trained on them.

**************************

“Captain” Zoë’s voice came over the intercom. “Inara’s found something out. She needs to talk to us.”

Mal ran up the ladder to the flight deck, he was really starting to miss Kaylee…and Jayne. Never thought he’d see the day where he missed Jayne. He just hoped that whatever Inara had found out was helpful enough to find his crew.

“You were partially correct Shepherd” the companion began “fighters are being forcibly recruited for contests. But not for fighting contests, they are being used in hunts.”

“Hunts?” questioned Simon “they’re hunting something?”

“No” Inara answered “they are the hunted.”

“Are you telling me that my crew are going to be the prey in one of these contests?” Mal couldn’t believe it.

Inara sighed “Unfortunately, yes, that’s what I’m telling you.” She went on “People pay substantial amounts of money to take part in these hunts. Those that participate hire mercenaries to assist them. Those that don’t want to participate can watch the hunt on screens. Everyone on the planet, except for the prey is there by special invitation.”

“Ai ya. How are we goin’ to get there then?” Wash asked.

“The next contest starts today on a moon called Trinity. It will take Serenity two days to get there. I will rendezvous with you there. I took the liberty of contacting Sir Warwick Harrow, he has obtained six invitations.”

Inara knew Mal wouldn’t like her involving anyone outside their circle but it had to be done. She, by herself wasn’t eligible for an invitation. Better keep talking before she was interrupted.

“Sir Warwick has the contacts and it appears he remembers Kaylee from the ball. Some of his friends were most impressed with her mechanical knowledge.”

“Alright Inara” the captain interrupted “you can stop justifying yourself. I ain’t gonna argue this time. I just want to know if my crew are ‘taking part’ in the next contest.”

“Yes” she answered “they are.”

***********************

Jayne pulled Kaylee behind him and swept his eyes around the clearing the shuttle had dropped them in. There was only a couple of hours of daylight left and they needed to get movin’.

Kaylee stopped him before he could move or start talkin’. “Jayne I need to look at your knee.”

“I know what’s wrong with it girl. The kneecap’s shifted.” He was so casual ‘bout it as if his bein’ hurt didn’t matter.

“Jayne” she was exasperated “ya can face down a yard full of killers but won’t let me look at your knee? Ya need to be fit for the hunt; I don’t know what to do, so just let me look already.”

He sat down in resignation and watched as she rolled up his trouser leg. Kaylee held down a gasp when she saw the area all round the knee was black ‘n blue and the kneecap was pushed out of shape.

“Just push it back will ya Kaylee. We got to get goin’” Jayne was impatient “just treat it like a piece of your engine and fix it.”

Kaylee’s clever little mechanic’s hands probed gently round his kneecap, feeling where it should go. Carefully she placed one hand above, one below and before she could think ‘bout what she was doin’, pushed the kneecap up with the heel of her hand.

Jayne groaned, takin’ slow breaths to try and ease the pain.

Kaylee tentatively smoothed his hair “Best sit for a bit and rest” she advised.

He guessed a little rest wouldn’t hurt. His knee hurt like go se. Maybe they could use the time to talk ‘bout what was comin’ next.

“Ya been huntin’ afore Kaylee?” he asked

“Back home with Dad and the boys” she answered “Dad said I was good at it.”

“Shiny. We ain’t runnin’. We’re goin’ huntin’. That should shock ‘em a bit, I hope. Gonna turn it round on them. Goin’ to hunt us some men” he grinned nastily “Get us some weapons, maybe rations.”

He saw the doubtful look on her face. “Don’t worry” he said “won’t ask ya to hurt no-one, that’s my job. Just need ya to be real quiet.”

“I can do that, I promise.” Kaylee answered

Jayne grinned at her “Good. We might get out of this after all.”