A Jayne Fic Part 1: Boy Meets Girls

The dive bar on Alexis was just the sorta place where Jayne felt most at home. His pockets lined with credits from their latest job, everyone sitting at booth, munching on steaks Mal had ordered out of his cut, everyone was feelin' awful good-spirited, even he and Simon hadn't had an argument for around 3 hours. Mal nudged Jayne quietly "That girl behind the bar's been watchin you since we strolled in." Kaylee heard Mal and laughed loudly, "Which girl's eyein Jayne? Cap'n." That stated the rest of the table, even Zoe who hadn't had much to smile about lately, all began enquiring after the girl who had been dubbed "Jayne's sweety" by Kaylee. Jayne started blushing awful fierce, "I'm gonna go get the next round." He said pushin' past Zoe and Inara to get out.

"Another round for the booth in the corner." He said still blushing. The young redhead that Mal was insistin had a thing for him took his order with a beaming smile. "Where ya from?" She asked as she poured his order. "Ah I just flew in this mornin' on a delivery job." Jayne returned her smile wonderin if there was any truth in what Mal said. "I saw you and your friends walk in, ya'll gonna be round long?" She started loading drinks onto a wooden tray, he handed her a pile of platinum, she shook her head. "It's my last night, I'll shout if you let me have a drink with you." Jayne stared her, not sure how the others would react. "I'll just deliver these drinks to your friends and you find us a table." He stood there, dumbstruck, as she brazenly winked at him. "On the house folks." The redhead announced to the table, and as Mal ordered the crew to raise a glass in her honor she slid into the smaller booth Jayne picked out.

Well Jayne and the redhead, whose name was Abigail, sat there until she glanced at the clock on the wall. "Oh shoot Jayne, I have to go, I really hope I can see you in the morning before you leave, can I?" She stood there looking genuinely hopeful, at first Jayne had a suspicious feeling that his chain was being yanked but then something in him softened. "Yeah, that'd be," he swallowed not wanting to seem to eager "that'd be fine, we're over on the Capeside docks, ship's name's Serenity." She gave him a brief chaste kiss, on the lips, and ran off. The entire crew looked on "Did that waitress just..." Simon trailed off and all of them looked completely shocked. "But Jayne said he didn't..." Kaylee's brow creased in confusion, and Zoe had to bite her tongue to stop from laughing at Kaylee's expression. "I suggest we be discreet." Inara remarked, although she would never say anything her curiosity too had been piqued. "I agree." Mal nodded for the crew to be silent on the subject as Jayne approached.

The crew of Serenity left the bar just on close, everyone feeling more than a little buzzed. When the sound of a scream drifted to their ears. "Feel like helpin' out some more innocents?" Mal asked his crew. Jayne hadn't even waited for an answer, something made him head up the alley towards the sound. He didn't even need to look at the girl lying face down on the ground to know who it was. He threw a punch, dropping the man flat on his back. He kept punching and kicking until he felt Mal's tight grip on his shirt haul him away, back towards the ship. "I'm going to have to take her back to Serenity to treat her." Simon glanced up at the captain, checking for his permission. "Well o'course that's what wer'e doin, we can't just gorram leave her here." For once no one disagreed with Jayne, untangling himself from Mal's grip he asked the Doc if it was ok to move her. With Simon's approval and guidance they got Abbey safely into Simon's infirmary.

"Is she gonna be Ok Doc?" Jayne stood there watching, he'd never felt helpless like this and he was trying hard not to let on, but watching Simon stitch a pretty deep gash along Abbey's neck he couldn't help but look at Simon's hands. They were the hands of a healer, someone who was used to saving and softness. Jayne looked down at his hands, rough and scarred. These hands had been apart of work for so long. Fightin, Killin, Thievin and not the subtle kind of thievin either. He pushed his hands deep into his pockets and looked on. "Yes, she should be fine, a few days rest and she'll be ok. She might carry one or two of these scars and I have no idea about her emotional health, but yes she should be, on the whole fine." He looked up at Jayne and found something in his eyes- was it worry, no concern- he was concerned. Simon smiled at Jayne, "we can't do much more here, let's join the others, I hear Kaylee's cooking stew tonight- with real food." Jayne nodded solemnly and with one last look they headed towards the kitchen.

"So when are we expectin our guest to be patched up?" Mal asked the doc over dinner. "Well, she should be conscious in about a week, I have to keep her heavily medicated or she might-" Mal stopped him short, raising a hand at the doctor. "Spare me the fancy talk." Mal gave his crew all the once over, Jayne looked awful tense "One week huh? We all have to be at Apolo's in two days." He paused, as he watched Jayne's fists clench and unclench. "Do we have any ideas as to what we should be doin with her- I'm open to suggestion." "We could delay the job." Zoe said raising an eyebrow. "Last resort." Mal nodded. "I'm sure we could get her safely to a hospital here." Simon said hesitantly. Everyone noticed Jayne stiffen at that notion, Zoe lowered her hand to her pistol, just in case. "We could take her with us." Jayne said flustered, like he was almost embarrassed about suggesting the notion. "Anyone else got any ideas?" Mal asked, "Now's the time to air 'em." Everyone shook their heads. "Ok well I'll let everyone have my decision in the mornin' rest easy all of ya." He nodded at Jayne as he said that last sentence.

That night Jayne bunked down in the infirmary and at every little twitch, every little sigh he would sat up and looked over at her, sometimes even checking her pulse, just to be certain she was stil Ok. Of course because of his concern, breakfast time rolled around and he felt like it shoulda been dinner. He could smell the coffee and knew that Mal made it. 'I may not agree with all his captaining but the man sure makes great coffee.' He wasn't the only one who looked like he had a rough night. Inara sat there, still with that perfect air, but it just seemed less polished last night. Mal looked as if he'd been up for a long while, and probably on his third cup of coffee. Once everyone had their fill of the coffee Mal stood up. "Well folks, I believe it's time I got to tellin' everyone of you my decision, but first I want to open up the floor one last time, as I figure everyone's done some thinkin' of their own."