Haven't read the second one? Whispers In Nightmares II- The Silent Pain Behind Those Eyes ------------------------------------------------- Title: Whispers in Nightmares III- Some Things Never Change Author: YouCantStopTheSignal Fandom: Firefly Rating: NC17 Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Firefly characters. Joss Whedon does. Thank him. I make no money from any of this. Notes: I warn you now that this is not going to be a fanfic about the stupid mercenary named Jayne Cobb, who sometimes can’t even form a correct sentence.

This is set after “Objects in Space” but before “Serenity”.

There will be violence, language, etc. should the moment arise.

Would you like to talk more about the fanfic in a thread? Go here: Whispers In Nightmares: General Thread

Enjoy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kaylee stood at the entrance of Inara’s shuttle, quietly watching the companion flick her finger across the handsome men on the screen in front of her.

“Would you like something Kaylee?” Inara asked gently.

“I wasn’t meanin’ to disturb you Inara.” Kaylee answered back.

Inara turned, setting her hands in her lap; a tender smile was fashioned by her lips as she looked at the young woman.

“You never intrude. Come, sit beside me.” Inara stood, elegantly walking over to a crimson colored bench. She sat, tapping the position next to her. She stopped for a moment, thinking. “Aren’t you supposed to be looking for passengers Kaylee?” Inara asked her head tilted to the side.

Kaylee nodded. “Yeah, but Serenity can only hold so many. Got all the passengers we need.” She answered back.

Kaylee gradually sauntered into the room, admiring the tranquil impression the space bestowed. Candles filled the room, leaving the illumination on the walls eternally shifting with the glistening flames. A bizarre aroma filled the quarters, delighting Kaylee’s nose. Her thoughts absorbed the deep, sensual tone of the room; the profound reds and dazzling golds setting her eyes alight.

“Thanks Inara. I didn’t know who else to come to. With Simon so concerned over River, and with Wash and Book so busy, and-” She stopped herself. She was babbling. She needed to calm down so she could tell Inara.

“It’s no trouble Kaylee. I enjoy the talks we have.” Inara beamed at Kaylee, but she could tell something was wrong. The girl no longer held the cheerful smile she always wore, and her eyes seemed faint. “Is…something bothering you?” She asked abruptly.

Kaylee looked at Inara with tear filled eyes; her voice broken as she spoke. “I didn’t mean no harm. Cap’n just asked me to fetch Jayne from his bunk. I wasn’t thinkin’ nothin’ of it. I went to his room, peekin’ inside to see if he was there. His back was turned to me, and he was all undressed…”

Inara tried to suppress a giggle. “Did it disturb you that much?” Inara questioned.

Kaylee gave her a tear filled expression. “It ain’t that Inara. It ain’t that at all. I don’t think Jayne’s that bad lookin’. He just ain’t really my type is all.” She held her head in her hands as she continued. “He had this horrible scar Inara. Scared me. It went from the top of his back all the way down to his rump. Looked like it had been cut deep, and not only that…it looked like he had been marked. You know, like a cattle brand? Jayne ain’t the best person in the world, but he don’t deserve pain like that. I don’t know why he don’t ever talk about ‘em.”

Inara held her breath. This had disturbed Kaylee deeply; the least she could do for her dear friend was to console her. “He is a mercenary Kaylee. Perhaps he got those scars from different fights?”

Kaylee shook her head, her hair falling over her eyes. “He couldn’t have. The scars were odd. Like…like a markin’ or-or a symbol or somethin’. I couldn’t look at it any longer. I had to turn away. The brand was worse though. Could you imagine somethin’ burnin’ your skin like that, and leavin’ a mark there for the rest of your life?” Her breath was ragged.

Inara held the crying woman in her arms. “Shhh Kaylee. It’s alright. Whatever the story behind the scar, and the brand, it’s over with. He’s okay.”

“I-I just don’t know if I should say somethin’ to him. Ask him where he got ‘em.” Kaylee whispered.

“ If he wants you to know, he’ll tell you.” Inara uttered. “Yes, he’ll tell you.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jayne’s brow began to sweat as the gun hovered above his eyesight. He slowly wove his hand in his right pocket, secretly feeling the cool metal of his knife. He stared at Mal and Zoë, watching their gazes settle beyond him.

“Now you listen to me Jayne Cobb. Don’t move. They can’t see my gun from this angle.” Mal whispered.

Jayne swallowed the bulky lump in his throat, but did not speak.

“We’ve got a couple of people followin’ us, and I don’t like it much.” Mal said.

“At least four of them have guns, sir.” Zoë announced softly.

“Now when I tell you to duck Jayne, duck. Dong ma?” Mal ordered.

Jayne nodded; his fingers trembled.

“We ain’t been on this planet for an hour and- DUCK!” Mal unexpectedly howled.

Jayne did as he was told, his heavily built body landing with a thud on the hovercraft’s base. The sound of gunfire, followed by mournful wails pierced his hearing. In a moment’s time, all was silent.

Mal’s heavy breathing slowly settled, and a look of relief flooded the man’s face. “You all right Jayne?” The Captain inquired.

Jayne gave him a look of disbelief. “Am I all right? Am I all right! Hell Mal, you just put a gun to my face and got this wild look in your eyes.” Jayne grumbled. “Am I all right? Humph.”

The trio uneasily settled back into the hovercraft; their faces set in stone.

A silence settled over the small group as they returned to the crowded street. The loud bustling on the street had kept passerby’s attention diverted. No one had hurt the gunshots. Jayne wiped the sweat off his brow. That had been close…too close for his comfort.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of the ride was monotonous. Jayne apprehensively kept his hand on the chilly blade in his pocket; his gray eyes set ahead of him. He slowly licked his lips in anticipation. The deal wasn’t the only thing that was running through his mind.

“Jayne?” Mal spoke.

He hadn’t seen Rose Throlf in such a long time…

“Jayne!” Mal yelled.

Jayne’s trance was broken as he looked over at Mal and Zoë standing in front of a shabby, dimly lit structure.

Jayne only grunted in reply, jumping off the vessel. He walked toward Mal and Zoë, watching their steady gazes settle on him. As soon as he stood in front of them, Mal started to speak.

“This is how it goes. We get the cargo. We go in. We make the deal. We get out. Dong ma?” The Captain looked at both of them for a response.

Jayne and Zoë both nodded, closely following the Captain into a dilapidated building; a building labeled with a glowing sign that read “Bar”.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The deal’s gone bad, and you know it.” Jayne whispered to Mal.

The saloon was unusually large; private tables were set up in the back of the place hidden by heavy draped curtains. Large, lively pool tables sat in random places on the emerald colored carpet. The illumination inside the building was faint. The structure gave off a strange alcoholic odor. Men’s gruff voices carried throughout the place. A few monitors were situated here and there a loud buzzing and vibrant colors filling the screen. Scantily clad women danced around the place, grabbing many a man’s attentions. Yes, it was a perfect place to work out a deal.

“The deal ain’t gone bad. Keep your mouth shut Jayne.” The Captain harshly whispered back.

A man with long dark hair, and pale skin sneered. He gracefully took a drink from his long cup, only to slam it back down on glassy table. He motioned for one of his men, keeping his eyes on the trio before him. He stood quickly, brushing aside the curtain that gave the table its privacy.

“I think you should listen to your large friend here.” His cold green eyes locked on Jayne. “He seems to have more brains than you.” His thin wrist flicked toward Mal in disapproval.

Jayne held his stoic expression, but inside he was doubling over with laughter. A comment like that had to be more than a slap in the face for Mal.

“There’s no reason this deal should’ve gone bad. You mind tellin’ me what went wrong?” Mal’s stare fell to the dark haired man as he responded.

“Certain people have…caught wind of your little stolen commodities. I’m not going to be some…businessman for you to hand it off to so easily. In a weeks time they’ll be swarming me for every little piece of illegal merchandise I have. I’m no fool.” With that the man turned, heading for the outside door in a hurry.

“Told ya the deal’d gone bad.” Jayne persisted.

Mal sighed. “Let’s get off Lutheran.”

Jayne gave Mal a sly look. “Do we have to go now?”

Mal sighed, shaking his head. “Meet us on Serenity in two hours; if your there a minuet later and you’re stayin’.”

Jayne grinned as he watched his two comrades exit the building.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jayne stayed at the table, eyeing an attractive whore that was quickly approaching him. Her long raven hair dangled past her delicate shoulders; she was well endowed, curves filling all the right places. A thin waist and long legs were evident with her see through attire. Sensuous lips, a thin nose, brilliant eyes with long lashes, and arched eyebrows were visible as she advanced. She stood next to him now, quickly jerking his hand to her hip, motioning for him to get up. He complied, following the woman into one of the private rooms in a slim hallway.

As the door slammed shut, the woman’s lips met his in a burning fury of passion. He shoved her away in disgust.

“Long time Rose.” He snarled.

The woman gave him a sensuous smile. “Agreed Logan.”

“Being a whore is no fun, well at least pretending to be.” She pouted.

“Really? I thought it suited you well.” Jayne replied, walking next to the bed.

She followed, running her hand along his chest.

Jayne pulled out a small device from his pocket. “Got the replacement?” He asked while eyeing her.

“Right here.” A finger traced from her slim neck down to the middle of her breasts.

“Give it to me.” He growled.

“Get it yourself.” Rose teased.

“I don’t feel like playing games, Rose.” Jayne said, his eyes peering in anger.

She sighed, picking up the small object in her garment. “Here.” She glowered handing the small device to him. “You know Logan Slade,” She started, “You still haven’t changed.”

He didn’t reply; his mind and digits were busy fiddling with the object in his hands.

She tapped her foot in the floor in agitation. “Any man would love the invitation to touch me, but you…” She caught Jayne’s proud jaw in her hands. “You have always thrown me aside like a piece of trash. Why?”

He jerked his jaw from her soft hands; striding over to the door, he opened it quickly. Once he was outside, he stopped,looking at her one last time.

Jayne gave a careless shrug. “I like a challenge.” He said as he slammed the door in her face. -------------------------------------------------