Bermuda was one of them dark towns. Most of the bigger planets just outside of the Core had ‘em. Smaller cities tucked up outta sight of the bigger ones, located in the least desirable locations, too far north or south to get much sunlight. Usually around some mine shaft, or industrial work place. Dark and dirty. Home of the working class. Or slave class, dependin’ on the planet.

Mal liked ‘em cause Serenity didn’t stand out much. And the people there… they were always looking for something bright and new to light up their dreary lives. Give ‘em a bit of hope.

Jayne kinda figured Kaylee liked ‘em cause they liked her. People on Bermuda looked at Kaylee like she were somethin’ special. Now, maybe she noticed and maybe she didn’t. But Jayne liked to think she didn’t. Girl like Kaylee, she was like a mirror. A good mirror. The kind that only reflected back to the good things people wanted t’see ‘bout themselves. Or maybe they was like mirrors to her, the more smiley and happy she got at someone, the more she got sent back at ‘er. Maybe they was both mirrors and there weren‘t nothin‘ real ‘bout any of it. Just a buncha reflectin’.

Whole thing made him a bit dizzy, just thinkin’ about it.

Guess it didn’t matter much t’ him. Meetin’ new people made her happy, an’ he liked it when she was happy.

He watched her as they was walking through town, dusk just beginning to darken the sky. He and Kaylee and Mal and Zoe, marchin’ ahead straight for the rendezvous point, one of them watering holes just like you could find on any ol’ planet or moon. Cap’n wanted to leave her behind, but Kaylee flashed him her prettiest smile and some nonsense about needing a break from Simon, when everyone knew they only split up long enough to recuperate so they could go at it again. But Mal aint never learned how to say no to the girl, so now she was here and kept fallin’ behind, and Jayne slowed, exchanging a nod with Zoe, promising her with a look that he’d keep an eye on the mechanic.

Maybe both.

She was drawn magnetically to one of the store fronts, a tent set up out front to guard the display, blowin’ hot air that made her hair flutter back from her face, leaving her beaming smile for all to see.

Okay. Definitely both.

Jayne approached warily to see what had her smilin’ so big and barely held back a smirk. Woman had a thing for girly stuff, that’s for sure. He watched her fingers glide over the jewelry on display, touchin’ so light that she didn’t even disturb the finely linked strands.

He weren’t exactly one for symbolism and stuff, he liked things plain so’s they made sense, but he felt somethin’ kickin’ in the pit of his stomach, watching her gaze so reverently at them pretties. Her hands smudged with grease no matter how hard she scrubbed ‘em, her fingernails ripped and torn from jugglin’ heavy engine parts and sharp tools, set right up next to the deep shades of green and red and purple and blue, the gems reflecting all the light, like they was too good for it, set against ornate swirls and delicate chains of gold and silver that glowed, like they knew they was too rich for a ship’s mechanic.

Puzzled him some, how a minin’ town got it’s hands on goods like that. But then, they was nearest the Core as could get without bein’ there. An’ even their poorest was richer’n the wealthiest rim world.

The vender appeared outta no where, clearing his throat as he leaned over the table, his beady black eyes narrowin’ in on Kaylee’s hands and she yanked ‘em back. He blinked, his thin lips curlin’ into a dismissive smirk. She backed up a step, her smile fadin’, kept backing’ till she came right up ’gainst Jayne’s chest and he rested his hand on her waist to steady her.

Tilting her head up, she lifted her questionin’ eyes up to him, expecting him to back away with her. Well, Jayne knew better’n most that havin‘ dirt on your hands don‘t mean nothin‘ when you‘re looking at something pretty.

Just makes you stand back a bit further.

He wasn’t movin’ this time, wasn’t even lookin’ at her, his eyes focused on the vendor, the rail thin man seemin’ to shrink smaller ‘n smaller under Jayne’s glower. Weren‘t no one alive gonna make Kaylee feel like she weren’t good enough. Not if he had a say in it. “You wantin’ to pick somethin’ out, Kayls, best be doin’ it quick. Cap’n wont wait on us.”

He could feel her warmth bleedin’ through his t-shirt, and he forced himself not to look down at her. “Oh, but I-- you know I don’t--”

“Pick somethin’.”

Kaylee kept looking up at Jayne, seeing the muscles all tight in his jaw, icy blue eyes fixed on the vendor who looked like he ain’t seen a man of Jayne’s ilk in all his life. Weren’t unusual though, when Jayne was around, people took notice. Sorta made her glad to know him. Made her lean into him just a little, gettin’ comfy with his arm ‘round her to let some o’ that natural charisma rub off. “Jayne, ya know I can’t pay--”

“Pick. Something.” She could hear his growl echo through his chest and her eyes flickered to the vendor, who looked plum terrified that he was gonna get robbed by a walkin’ weapon and a little girl. Bit scared herself that that might become the case.

Another quick glance up at Jayne’s stony face, an’ she figured that this weren’t about her. There was some sorta battle o’ wills goin’ on between the two men. Knowin’ Jayne, was like to become a battle o’ fists if she didn’t do somethin’ to stop it.

“That one,” she pointed to the smallest thing on the table, a filigreed hair comb, one single red gem set in the middle, surrounded by swirling arcs of delicate silver. Looked like something Inara might have thrown in the bottom of one of her trunks. “But we can’t--”

“How much?”

“Jayne!” She spun around, breaking his hold on her. “What are you doing?”

“Ten platinum.” The vendor seemed to perk up some at the thought of getting paid.

“You are not buying that,” she hissed.

“Five.”

“Jayne!”

“We ain’t got time to haggle, old man.” Jayne shifted his considerable weight. “Give ya seven.”

“Deal.“ Kaylee’s eyes widened in disbelief as the vendor wrapped the comb in plain gray paper and exchanged it for Jayne’s money.

He started walking, leaving her to scramble after him or be left behind. “I can’t believe you did that! What were you thinking! Of all the stupid, foolish things t‘ spend your coin on!”

Frowning, he looked down at her as she matched his stride, “Ain‘t no one taught ya to be grateful?” he thrust the small package into her hands. “Figure I owe ya at least a few birthday’s worth, don’t I?”

She tightened her grip on the comb, “You joined up just after my 22nd. Aint had one yet since ya been aboard.”

“Well, see there,” he responded, “I’m still ownin’ ya twenty-some more.”

She turned the a hair comb over in her hands, "Didn't think you put much stock in birthdays."

"Don't."

"Well, then why--"

"Jus' can't accept it, can ya?" He stared straight ahead not looking at her. "Gotta go questionin' something nice just 'cause it came from me."

Her step faltered, "That wasn't what I meant at all, Jayne! But it aint--"

"Stop." He turned so abruptly she nearly ran into him. "Look at me."

"All I meant was--"

"Bizui. Just look at me."

She snapped her mouth closed and looked up at him. He didn't say anything for a moment, the weight of his blue eyes settling on her, the intensity leaving her mouth dry. She hasn't ever been on the receiving end of that kind of look from him.

Kinda took her breath away.

“Say ‘thank you, Jayne‘.”

She swallowed past the lump that had popped in her throat out of no where, her eyes caught in his, leaving her with nothing but the desire to obey. “Xie xie, Jayne.”

“There now,” he started walking again, breaking whatever strange hold he’d had on her. “Wasn’t so hard was it?”

“No,” she murmured confusedly, slowly following after him. “It wasn’t.”

Anren’s wasn’t far from where they’d split off from Mal and Zoe, but by the time they reached the bar, a simple gray door at the side of a dusty building, with the letter ‘A’ unobtrusively stenciled in the corner, Mal and Zoe were already inside. Jayne went in first, always wary of new places, with Kaylee close on his heels. The interior was filled with smoke and poor lighting, the dozen or so occupants scattered randomly about the room.

Too randomly, if you asked Jayne.

Wasn’t for him to decide on though. Kaylee spotted Mal and Zoe first, sitting at a booth in the corner, across from two distinguished looking young men appearing completely out of place and she made to join him, stopped by Jayne’s arm blocking her way. “Don’t.”

She looked up at him, and then back at Zoe and Mal, aching to go join them where it was safe. Not that she didn’t feel safe with Jayne exactly, she didn’t have a doubt in her mind he’d put himself between her and danger, but standing beside him she felt off balance. Like something fundamental had changed and no one had thought to tell her.

“C’mon,” he nodded to the bar, “We’ll get somethin’ t’drink.” She felt his hand at her back, propelling her toward the bar, his breath tickling her ear as he leaned down to whisper, “Don’t look at ‘em. Best no one knows we’s all together.”

Resolutely, she fixed her gaze forward with a shiver of trepidation. “Alright.” She didn’t have to look behind her to know his hand rested on the hilt of his weapon.

He ordered a drink for them both and then led her to a table near the door, but with a perfect view of the Cap’n and Zoe. She wrapped her hands around the mug he placed in front of her, letting the heat of whatever alcoholic beverage he’d thought she’d like warm her chilled hands. “What’s goin’ on, Jayne? Why aren’t we sittin’ with them?”

He eyes slid lazily around the room as he lounged back in his chair, giving all appearances like he was just havin‘ a drink with his girl. “Tactics.”

She leaned forward, keeping her voice low, “Thought we was just meetin’ with a contact?”

“So did I,” he replied, taking a drink from his bottle so his mouth was obscured by the glass. “But they was followed inside an’ that ain’t part of the plan. Whoever the hundans are, they don’t know we’re with ’em, so we’re just gonna sit here all nice and quiet like. Dong ma?”

She nodded, her fingers gripping her mug tightly. “I think so.”

“Good girl.” He took another drink, keeping his voice low as he surveyed the rest of the room through lowered lashes. “Try and look relaxed some. Pretend you’re with the doc.” Her brow furrowed, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You two were lookin’ mighty relaxed that time on Higgin’s moon,” he reminded her, turning the bottle around in his hand.

“We was drunk, Jayne. Things happen when you’re drunk.”

He shrugged, “Been drunk plenty a times with me that didn’t end with you in my lap.”

She rolled her eyes, “That’s different.”

“Yeah, ‘cause I ain’t some prissy little doc don’t know what to do when he’s got a pretty girl all eager for ‘im.”

She was offended for all of a moment before her face split into a grin, “Don’t you worry none, Jayne. The good doctor figured it out right quick after that. Pretty eager his own self once he let relaxed good an’ proper.”

Jayne’s only response to that was a grunt and a huge gulp of his beer.

“Don’t know why you always gotta pick on Simon so much. He’s patched you up nice more’n a time or two.”

He smirked, “Can’t help it if the sha gua makes it easy.”

“Simon’s not a fool. He’s--”

Her thought was cut off by the boom of gunfire behind her, “Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds, your head is mine.”

The dart of fear barely had time to pierce her before Jayne had her tucked safely behind him, his gun drawn and looking to Mal for direction. She could hear the familiar tenor of the Captain’s voice just before the explosion of renewed gunfire. Huddling behind Jayne, her fingers twisted in the material of his shirt, she tried to get as small as possible.

“Get her out of here!”

Jayne only paused for half a heartbeat before spinning around and upending her. Tossing her easily over his shoulder, he was hardly aware that she beat against his back as he forced his way to the exit. The last thing she saw as she struggled for release was Zoe and Mal facing off against a dozen armed men, their grim faces obscured by smoke.

“Put me down! I ain’t goin’ without them! Jayne!” She kept up a litany of protests, using a few inventive phrases of her own as she struggled. “We have to go back! They need you!”

He kept his gun at the ready, his eyes narrowing as he stepped into the darkened road, the market that was lively just minutes ago, now closed down and empty. Without missing a step, he lifted his firearm and took out a man in a gray coat who looked like he was rushing to help his buddies inside. He felt Kaylee jump in his arms as the weapon discharged, and tightened his hold on her as he quickened his pace down the empty street toward Serenity, grounded just within sight.

“We can’t go without them!” She insisted through her tears, giving up her assault on his back. “Jayne! Listen to me! Wash’s wont leave without Zoe!” She choked on her words, “They ain’t able to fight ‘em off without you!” Wo de ma, why wasn’t he listening! “We have to go back!”

“The hell we do,” he growled a few paces from Serenity.

A sob broke from her throat as he carried her inside and dropped her back on her feet, already moving past her to the arms locker. “Jayne, please we have to go back and--”

“Not we,“ he didn’t bother to look at her, his movements rapid and sure as he grabbed extra clips and shoved them in his pockets, strapping Vera over his chest before tucking another gun into his boot and two more into the holsters at his side. “Me.”

Satisfied he had all he could carry, he turned back to the open cargo door, Kaylee still standing where he’d left her, tears staining her cheeks. “Lock it up. We ain’t back in fifteen minutes, we ain’t comin’ back. Don’t you let Wash wait for us, dong ma?”

She nodded, her eyes searching his face, realizing then that he didn’t expect to make it back at all. Biting her lip, she rested her hand on his bicep, “Jayne…”

Looking down at her hand, his gaze swept up to her face. With his free hand, the other still cradling Vera, he suddenly hauled her up against him, his whole arm around her waist and caught her mouth in a long, hard kiss.

Stunned, she didn’t even realize he’d released her until he’d already passed through the doors, hurrying back to the fight. Dazed, she watched until she couldn’t see him anymore and then shook herself, hitting the lock for the door and rushing to the stairs to tell the others that the job had gone sour.

Touching her fingers to her bruised lips, she wondered if she’d kissed him back.

~~~

“’Bout time you scarred up some o’ that pretty skin o’ yours,” Jayne grunted through gritted teeth, bearing most of Zoe’s weight, though the Captain was doing his best to help on her other side. “Right distractin’ sometimes; all smooth and perfect. Like chocolate. An‘ you know how I gotta sweet tooth.”

“Jayne?” Her voice was weak, but the good-natured threat was still lurking in it. “I can still hurt you.”

Relieved, he grinned, “Prob’ly so.”

“Serenity’s just ahead,” Mal wheezed, his breathing rough and uneven, leaving Jayne to wonder if the Cap’n weren’t hurt worse’n Zoe after all. “Thought you told ‘em to leave.”

“Y’know Kaylee. Wont follow no one’s orders but yours.”

Kaylee.

Wo de ma, he’d kissed her.

He didn’t have long to dwell on that particular dizzying thought before Serenity’s ramp began to lower and the crew was spilling out into the night to greet them. Simon was there, that gorram red bag in hand as he and Book took Zoe away from him, which was just fine, since he wasn’t feelin’ so steady himself just that moment. Inara was rushin’ to Mal’s side in a flurry of red and gold, her panicked voice just audible over the rushin’ in his ears.

And next thing he knew, they was all hurrying back to the ship leavin’ him standin’ there with only Kaylee, looking at him expectantly.

Gorram it, he’d kissed her. On the mouth.

She took a step closer and he moved one back.

Cringing at the hurt that flashed across her face he searched for somethin’ to say.

“I gotta…go.”

Rolling her eyes, she stepped closer again, too fast for him to stop her from puttin’ an arm around his waist and leading him toward Serenity. “Only place you gotta go’s the infirmary with the rest of ‘em.”

“Don’t need any doctorin’.” He grumbled and pulled away, refusing to let her take any of his weight. Likely crush her.

“Quit tryin’ to be so tough. Ain’t no harm admittin’ you got hurt.”

“I ain’t hurt.”

“All that blood says otherwise.” He could feel her eyes trailin’ over his blood soaked clothes, growing wider as the light from Serenity illuminated the red caking his once-yellow shirt.

“S’not mine.” He frowned, “Not most of it, leastwise. Fight was mostly over when I got back, Mal an‘ Zoe… they got the worst of it.”

She nodded, lowering her eyes as they came aboard, “How bad?”

“Bad.”

He watched her move to the Com, tellin’ Wash that they were all aboard and there were injuries. Jayne figure it was right smart of her not to mention Zoe’s condition, even though he figured Wash knew it wasn’t good. Little man had a talent for knowin’ when his wife was in trouble.

Tryin’ to get away from her, he headed for the infirmary, planning to keep watch on the others for a spell, ‘till he felt like movin’ again. Figured it would be a while. Kaylee caught him quick enough, since he wasn’t movin’ quick as normal, but least she didn’t seem keen on talkin’ his ear off.

With a groan of pain, he dropped onto the couch, tryin’ to make out the flurry of activity in the infirmary. Couldn’t see past Inara an’ Book an’ Kaylee, but he could hear Simon’s terse voice givin’ orders for the others to back off, Inara’s panicked questions, River’s cryptic voice makin’ no sense at all, the rumble of Serenity as she lifted off the ground, and inexplicably, underneath it all, Mal’s desperate attempts to breathe.

Taking a deep breath himself, he closed his eyes to wait.

~~~

When next he opened them, Kaylee was kneelin’ on the floor beside him, a bowl of warm water and bandages laid out on the table beside her. He glanced to the infirmary, where Simon was laboring over Mal’s unconscious form, River across from him with a tray of instruments and gauze at the ready. He watched as Simon opened his mouth to ask for something, only to find it already in River’s hand. He assumed Zoe was on the other bed, but all he could see was Book leanin’ over her.

Inara and Wash were no where to be seen, but he figured neither of ‘em was far, at a time like this. He looked back to Kaylee, “What’s wrong with ‘em?”

Worriedly, she looked back to the infirmary, like she was checkin’ to make sure things hadn’t changed in the last few seconds. “Zoe’s arm is all tore up good and Simon thinks it’s broken--”

“Thinks?”

“Ain’t had much time to look on her before Mal went unconscious. Said his lung collapsed, ‘s why he was breathin’ so funny.” Her face was grim. “Simon’s operatin’ now, and Book’s got Zoe’s bleedin’ under control ‘till it’s her turn.”

Jayne nodded, weren’t much he could say to that.

“No one thought to check on you.”

“You did.” He cleared his throat, “Not that I need it. Not but a few scratches.”

“Jayne,” she released an exasperated breath, “You’re still bleeding.”

He looked down at his shirt, and the slow ooze of blood that had soaked into the blanket on the couch. “So I am.” She reached for the hem of his shirt, “Jus’ what are you doing?”

“Gettin’ you cleaned up,” she responded determinedly.

“Wont the doc have somethin’ to say about that?”

“Doubt it,” she murmured, “Sit up.”

For the first time in his life, he obeyed, letting her pull the ruined t-shirt over his head and drop it to the floor beside her. She didn’t move for a moment, just kept lookin’ at him. Like she ain’t ever seen a man shirtless ‘fore.

“That ain’t just a scratch.”

Okay, well, ain’t seen a shirtless man bleedin’ all over the place before.

He lifted his arm to glance down at the gash over his ribs that continued to trickle blood. Kaylee dipped the cloth in hand into the bowl of warm water and raised it to his skin, “Ya don’t gotta do that.”

Biting her lip, she shook her head. “You can’t, not with one arm. Mal and Zoe are laid up, Book’s tending to Zoe and River and Simon are in surgery. So unless you want me to get Wash or Inara to do it…”

He seriously considered it, but she’d already started mopping up the blood, her hand shaking only a bit. She worried her lower lip, “Think the bullet might still be in there. Simon’ll have to fish it out later.”

She worked silently after that, and he was awful glad that she hadn’t asked about that gorram kiss, but he wasn’t at all used to her being all close-mouthed. Weren’t natural for Kaylee t’ be so quiet.

“They’ll come through,” he found himself saying. “Take more’n a bullet or two to end Mal. An‘ Zoe… the devil and the Almighty are both too scared o‘ her to go lettin’ her die just yet.”

“I know,” she kept her voice low and her eyes focused on his wound. “Simon said as much. Only in doctor-speak.”

“Yeah, all them big words that mean more,” he leaned his head back against the couch with a sigh.

She set aside the cloth and reached for the bandages and tape, intending to slow the bleeding until Simon could look at him. “Must hurt,” she nodded to the bullet wound.

“It does.”

“You ain’t compainin’ much.”

“No point. Nothin’ anyone can do just now to make it better. ‘Sides. I’ve had worse.”

Satisfied she had the bandage well secured, she reached for the cloth again, wringing the pinkish water out and moved to kneel between his splayed legs to reach his other shoulder, where a bullet had grazed him. He watched her tend the scrape as gently as possible, and knew he should be pushing her away, but couldn’t seem to bring himself to do it.

“You kissed me.”

He blinked, jerking his eyes to her face, but she was still cleaning the wound, that same quiet determination in her eyes. Maybe he was hearin’ things.

“Jayne?”

Guess not.

He swallowed, “Yeah. I did.”

She waited a beat and rinsed the cloth again, moving to another shallow cut across his chest. “Any reason why?”

Any reason? Hell, he could think of a few hundred if she gave him the time.

“Kao pei, kao pei kao bu. Woulda kissed anybody right then. Thought we was goin’ to die.”

“Oh.”

An’ damn it If the girl’s shoulders didn’t slump some. “Not that it weren’t a good kiss,” he rushed to add. “It just didn’t mean nothin’.”

She nodded, still not looking at him as she dipped the cloth back into the water, now cold, and wrung it out. Carefully, she started washing off the rest of the blood caking his arms and neck, even though she didn’t need to.

“Kaylee--”

“I lost it,” she interrupted him.

“Huh?”

“The comb ya got me,” she rubbed extra hard on his arm. “Musta fell outta my pocket when we were comin’ back. It’s gone now.”

“Was a dumb idea in the first place.” He furrowed his brow, tryin’ to work out why she was worried over a stupid little comb. “Shoulda got ya a converter or synchronizers. Better even, a pistol.”

A smile flickered across her lips, and Jayne felt a mountain move off his shoulders, “Maybe it wasn’t practical, but it was pretty. Like somethin’ Inara might have.” She chanced a glance at him. “No one’s ever gotten me somethin’ like that.”

He shrugged, scowling instinctively in the face of her gratitude. “Still think a pistol woulda been better.” He shifted on the couch, reaching into his pocket, wincing when the pain shot through his side.

“Jayne, ya gotta sit still,” she pushed his shoulders back. “Fidgeting is only gonna make it--”

The look on her face was worth the pain it took to fish the comb out and them some. “Found it outside the bar on the way out, ‘fore Zoe got all faint on me.”

Taking the comb from him, she unwrapped it, turning the silver piece over in her hand, the jewel catching in the bluish light from the infirmary. Smiling, she drew her hair up, tucking the comb into place. A lock of honeyed hair were looped out of place, lone strands pointed every which direction and the comb itself was stickin‘ off center and to the left.

“How’s it look?”

He had to clear his throat before he could find his voice. “Jus’ perfect.”