On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six geese a-laying

Kaylee watched as Jayne slithered away through the grass. He’d only gone a little way and she’d already lost sight of him. As for hearing him, huh, the man moved so silently it amazed her.

Used to his more obvious presence when aboard Serenity Kaylee admired the professionalism Jayne was showin’ in his huntin’. Of course the captain wouldn’t have kept him around if he wasn’t good at his job. It puzzled her mightily why Mal didn’t praise Jayne up more for it, instead of critisin’ him all the time. It seemed to her that no-one on Serenity, includin’ her, appreciated Jayne like they should.

She was appreciatin’ him now. She knew the only reason she were still alive was cause of Jayne Cobb.

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Mal cursed roundly as the crate ran straight over his foot.

“Oh, sorry Mal” Wash was apologising all over the place “it just slipped out of my hands and it’s so heavy.”

“Perhaps I could help Captain” the shepherd’s voice was calming as usual. He felt his intervention would have more effect on the captain if the doctor hadn’t chosen that moment to appear and start complaining.

“Captain why is it that River and I have been allocated Christmas decoration duty? Should we be worrying about such things when Kaylee is missing?”

“Since we don’t have much else to do I thought you would welcome the opportunity to keep busy doctor.” The captain was trying to keep his temper. Anxiety always made him antsy, and now added to his worry ‘bout his missing crew was the worry of the up coming rescue.

They wouldn’t arrive at Trinity till the next day, and after arrival they still had to make a rescue plan. Jayne was good, but Mal was worried that his crew might not survive the wait.

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Jayne moved through the undergrowth stealthily. The man he was trackin’ weren’t far away now. He had scouted round till he’d found someone on his own. Fella was still at the campfire eatin’ breakfast.

He was feelin’ on the top of his game after a good nights sleep. Kaylee had insisted on standin’ watch last night. Used all her tricks on him she had, arguin’ with him till he gave in and let her do what she wanted.

She’d done good at it too, kept good watch and now she was provin’ to be a valuable huntin’ partner. Followed his signals well, anticipated his moves. Didn’t need to see the mayhem though, so he left her hidden while he closed in on his prey.

Man was packin’ up his gear, his attention occupied. Jayne came up behind his target snaking his arms around the man’s neck. Twisting powerfully till he felt the bone give and the neck snap.

Jayne looked round the campsite pickin’ up the food, weapons and the man’s other stuff and headed back for Kaylee.

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Inara was worried. Although Mal had agreed to the plan so far, she was afraid that something would go wrong.

After a year on Serenity she knew that something always went wrong with any plan that Mal was involved in. She had tried her best to ensure that everything would go smoothly. Enlisting Sir Warwick’s help, procuring the outfits they would all wear. It was the outfits Mal was baulking at now. She could see his frown even over the wave.

“Didn’t need you to supply our clothes Inara” she always made him feel defensive.

“Excuse me son” interrupted Sir Warwick “but you did. If you and your companions are not correctly dressed you will never get past the front door.”

“Who are my companions going to be?” asked Mal “who do the clothes fit?”

“You, River, Book and Zoe” Inara answered “See you tomorrow at the rendezvous.”

Inara sighed she hoped there would still be someone left to rescue; she was so concerned about Kaylee.

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“Jayne” Kaylee’s voice had that ‘I know I’m askin’ somethin’ ya won’t like’ tone.

She’d been goin’ through the dead man’s bag while Jayne checked the weapons he’d looted.

“There was some soap in the bag and here we are next to a creek ‘n I could do with a wash.” She looked at him hopefully.

“We’re goin’ to be chased and hunted all over the planet and you want to take a bath?” he couldn’t believe his ears. He would never understand women.

She fired up a bit at that “Don’t tell me you ain’t gonna stop and clean those guns afore ya use them?”

“Well yeah, if I get a chance, safer that way.” Gorram girl knew him too well.

“Why not stop here then?” she demanded “and I can have a wash. It’s been six days Jayne and I needed a shower before we went shoppin’”

She looked at him with her beautiful brown eyes and he was lost. He always gave in. “Ya got fifteen minutes then, that’s all” he growled at her. “I’ll sit up here ‘n keep lookout and clean the guns.”

“Turn ya head, won’t ya Jayne.” She ordered

“Ya ain’t got nothin’ I haven’t seen before” he objected grinnin’ at her standin’ there with her hands on her hips and obediently turnin’ his head and pickin’ up the largest gun.

Wo de tian a he was regrettin’ that decision. The little noises Kaylee was makin’ were drivin’ his imagination wild.

The little squeak she gave when the cold water first hit her. The moan of pleasure as she made splashin’ noises; he wondered what the hell she was washin’. He concentrated fiercely on the gun in front of him, cleaning the pieces rapidly. Ai ya she was hummin’ again, real soft it was, but he could hear it. Amid Kaylee’s distracting noises he heard the faint cackle of a comm unit.

“Kaylee” his voice was soft, warnin’ her of danger as he turned his head tryin’ to mark where the sound was comin’ from.

She moved up quietly beside him and he glanced sideways at her to see if she were ready to go, and what little of his brain that worked, seized.

Kaylee must have washed her shirt as well as herself pullin’ it on wet when he spoke. Since she hadn’t pulled her overalls up yet he got a clear view of her shirt which clung to her in all the right places makin’ her nipples stand out.

“Cain’t think ‘bout that now” he reminded himself “Stop watchin’ gorram it.”

He heard the tell tale crackle comin’ closer and finally his brain started workin’ again. He signalled Kaylee to follow as he started to track the sound, movin’ slowly through the brush.

The two men were standin’ just up ahead and weren’t even keepin’ good watch. Sloppy work, but good for him, gave him the advantage. He motioned to Kaylee to lay down and take cover.

Drawin’ the knife he crept closer till he was only a couple of feet from them. Takin’ the dumb asses by surprise he jumped out of the bushes landin’ straight in front of them, knife flashin’ across one body to the other in one motion. Bendin’ down he drew the knife across their throats, snatched up the packs and ran grabbin’ Kaylee on the way past.

“We gotta keep movin’”