Pained Hearts Chapter 3

Authors Note: Just wanted to remind people this story takes place after the movie… But Wash didn’t die just hurt his shoulder and River is saner than before and speaks with I and myself instead of her and she. Well most of the time. --- This one is kinda weird, it is just more of a pull through till they get to Mattie and to establish thing between certain characters…. ENJOY!

Zoe sat nervously in the infirmary. She had answered Simon’s questions, and it appeared they were both thinking the same thing. The pregnancy test would take a half-an-hour.

“You know we should just ask River.” Simon joked, trying to break the tension that hung heavily in the room. “It wouldn’t take as long.”

They both laughed making Zoe feel a little better. “You think so Doc.” Simon nodded. “She may be young, but since the whole Miranda thing, she has been better. She only needs a shot every few days. And she seems to be able to read people and herself a lot better…” Simon said with a smile. “Though, I still worry about her. She is still a child, but at times she seems older than all of us. It almost scares me.” He confessed. Zoe nodded in agreement.

“She is growing up Doc. And she seems to be attached to Jayne this morning.” She pointed out. Simon sighed. “Oh, I noticed. I can’t say I am pleased with that. I found Jayne asleep in her room, this morning. Though I understand he is going through something rough right now. I kind of know how he feels. The fear of loosing someone you love…” Simon stopped and swallowed hard, trying not to think about loosing River. Zoe smiled knowingly at the doctor. She too almost lost a dear one. -- Meanwhile in Inara’s shuttle Kaylee and River giggled as Inara showed them the dresses she had.

“How about we do both of your hair, make-up and you two can each pick out a dress to wear for the day?” Inara asked with a smile. Kaylee couldn’t help but squeal in excitement. “So we get to look all shiny and proper wearin’ your pretties.” Inara laughed and sat down behind Kaylee.

“How about we straighten your hair? I think it would look real beautiful that way.” Inara said. Kaylee bounced in front of her in agreement. River was enjoying the joyful feeling that danced around the room.

“So how are you and Simon?” The Companion asked teasingly. Kaylee turned bright red. She chewed on her lips with a large smile across her face. “We are shiny. He is so… Oh, he is amazing! No one I have ever been with can compare to him.” She blurted out. Both Inara and River laughed. Kaylee’s face fell.

“I just hope he don’t go meet some Core gal and realize he’s not suposta be with me.” Tears threatened to escape Kaylee’s eyes. It was always something she had feared, even when they weren’t together. Inara stopped brushing Kaylee’s hair and hugged her tightly.

“Nope,” River chimed in. “He has only been with one other woman. A Companion, father bought for him when he turned eighteen.” She put down the dress she was looking at and smiled at Kaylee.

“But what if he gets sick of me?” Kaylee said sharing her fear. “He loves you.” Inara reassured her.

“Like how Capt’n Daddy loves you.” River said matter-of-factly. Finally she settled on the yellow and black dress with silver lining. “I want to wear this one.”

Inara blanched. “Now River, Mal doesn’t love me. That man just-.” “…Loves you.” River interrupted. Inspecting the dress one more time she nodded and started to change. Kaylee giggled and then turned the tables. “So River, I heard Jayne was in your room last night, all night in fact.” River pulled the dress over her had and smiled.

“Yes, Jayne was a nice pillow.” River commented with a smile. Kaylee awed and giggled. “Didn’t think that, that big ‘ld grumpy was really a teddy bear.” The Mechanic chimed in. River smiled at her friends. “Jayne kept me safe and I made his fears go away.” River whispered shocking both Kaylee and Inara. “Jayne, scared?” Kaylee gaped. “Of what?” Inara asked.

“Reavers, loosing Mattie… and me…” River listed and then tried to turn to zip her dress, but just kept turning around, unable to reach the zipper. Inara and Kaylee couldn’t help, but laugh at River’s antics. Kaylee was the first to jump up and go over to River and stop her. River blinked her eyes and swayed as the room moved with out her. “Thanks,” she said as Kaylee zipped her up. Inara came up behind them and smiled. “River, you look gorgeous in that! Come on, let’s continue to pretty you two up.” Inara said with a smile. -- It didn’t take long before Kaylee’s hair was straight and framing her face. Her hair looked noticeably longer, making Kaylee squeal happily. She felt so fancy. “Can I pick out a dress now?” Kaylee asked staring at the large collection. Inara nodded working on River’s hair, which was slightly knotted. -- Wash and Mal were finally done in the kitchen along with checking their course settings. So, they thought they might go check in on the others in the ship. “Mal, I’m gonna go check on my wife, have fun with Inara.” Wash teased. Mal glared at the man as he walked down a separate grate of stairs. As he tried to enter Inara’s shuttle she poked out in front of him.

“You can’t come in.” She stated. Mal looked at her confused, and then his confusion changed to suspicion. “What’d you do to my Mechanic and lil’ Albatross?” Inara couldn’t help, but laugh. “Why Mal, I have done nothing to them, except make them look incredibly gorgeous. But, they are not ready and River doesn’t want them to be seen till they are finished. So if you don’t mind I must go help them.” Inara said, with a smile. She took a chance and went up on her toes and kissed Mal on the cheek before she turned around and dashed into her shuttle. Mal just stood there stunned. -- Simon sighed as he turned to Zoe. They had just received the results. Zoe stared at him anxiously, a pang of fear danced over her features. Simon couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s positive.” He said. Both were too happy to notice Wash had entered the room. “You’re going to be a mother.”

Wash’s eyes shot wide. WHAT? He was going to be a father? “Lamby-toes?” He asked uncertainly. Zoe turned and smiled at him, tears were brimming in her eyes. She rushed over to Wash and hugged him forgetting about his shoulder. “Ah!” He yelped in pain. Zoe pulled away only to be sucked back into the hug.

“We’re gonna be parents!” Wash exclaimed happily. “Let’s go tell the others… Wait… We’re havin’ a BABY!” Wash said realizing the long terms of what this meant. Zoe couldn’t help but laugh at her husband.

Simon couldn’t stop grinning. Someday Kaylee will make a great mother. He thought to himself. He moved past the happy couple and went to go find her. “Where ’ya headin’ to Doc?” Zoe asked. “To find Kaylee...” He replied blushing slightly.

They all moved into the Cargo bay to find Jayne lifting weights. He had been at it all morning from the amount of sweat that was saturating his shirt. The sight of his anguish that covered his face made the happiness they were all feeling almost fades away. Before the sorrow that wafted off of Jayne could swallow them, Mal spoke up, “So what is wrong with you Zoe?”

Their smiles returned in full force. “I think we need the whole crew out here before I say anything, Sir.” Zoe said. “You’re not diein’ are you?” Mal asked just to make sure. Jayne grunted at the word ‘dieing’ and sat up suddenly unable to lift weights anymore.

“No, Sir.” Zoe laughed out. Wash snuggled against his wife like a content kitten.

Inara stepped out of the shuttle and moved next to Mal. “River said you needed us out here?” Mal nodded and turned to her. “Yea’, Zoë’s got somethin’ to tell us.” He said with a smile as we looked over her. She had changed in the few minute she was in her shuttle. She was no longer wearing her multi patterned dress. Now she wore a black dress, much shorter than the ones she usually wears. “Where they at, if she told ya’?” Jayne asked standing from his weight bench wiping the sweat from his face and neck.

Just then, River shoved Kaylee out the shuttle door not letting her back in. Everyone stared in shock. Kaylee stood there in a knee length silky blue dress with beautiful flowers on it. Her hair framed her face highlighting the blue hued make-up Inara had done her up with.

“Hey.” She said meekly. Simon didn’t know what to say, his mouth hung open and he continues to just stare. “Wow…” Wash was the first to speak and his words seem to be what everyone was thinking. “Ya lookin’ mighty fine.” Mal complimented.

“Thank ya’ Capt’n.” Kaylee blushed making her way down to Simon. Passing Jayne she put her hand on his shoulder.

“Capt’n’s right… Ya look like one of those fancy core gals.” Jayne said.

Simon was still gaping at her, when she came down to him. “What do you think?” She asked doing a little spin and gave him her best ‘come hither’ look. Simon did the only thing he could think of… He pulled Kaylee to him and gave her a deep, very passionate kiss. Simon was very coy about showing affection in front of people, but with Kaylee so radiant all of his logic went out the window.

River’s giggle echoed through the Bay, and all eyes darted to the shuttle’s opening. Slowly River emerged, but she definitely didn’t look like the slightly crazy little genius they knew, but a lovely woman who graced them with her presence. She could have been mistaken for a Companion, her long straggly hair was in long loose curls, her face looked as if she was porcelain and her eyes were dark and piercing, not lost and calculating as they usually were. She wore the yellow, black, and silver lined dress that showed off her long legs, as if she had always dress this way.

“Ta ma duh…” Jayne muttered. Barefooted River padded over to the rail. She leaned over it, all her hair cascaded down past her shoulders. “Gladly,” she mouth to Jayne. His mouth snapped shut.

“Mei-mei!” Simon shouted in protest. Zoe put her hand on his shoulder to keep him in his place. “Let her be…” Zoe said knowingly.

“Et’em.” Mal coughed. “So Zoe you had somethin’ to tell all of us.” He tried turning the conversation. Wash wrapped his arms around Zoe’s waist and snuggled into her. “Go ahead Wify, tell them.” He encouraged. Zoe sighed and laughed. “I’m pregnant.” She said simply.

“Wo de tien ah!” Mal said staring down at Zoe. “Congratulations.” Inara said happily elbowing Mal. He glared at her then went back to stare at Zoe in disbelief.

“Oh, yay!” Kaylee cried out. “Let’s celebrate! Can we capt’n?” She asked all excited like. Mal nodded dumbly, making Kaylee squeal with happiness. Simon smiled at her antics as they kissed again. River smiled also but her smile was more of knowingly than joyful surprise.

“He is very small.” She stated. “You will have to be careful as he grows.” She said moving down the catwalk. River closed her eyes as pain pierced her thoughts. Sorrow and pain flooded her.

A woman was holding a baby…It was a newborn, but his cry wasn’t as loud as it should be, suddenly the baby was gasping for air. The doctor rushed over and started to hook the baby to an oxygen cage. A little boy with messed brown hair and sad little eyes, watched as his brother was struggling to breath.

River was snapped back into reality when Simon was calling her name. “Sorry, drifted… Yes it’s a boy…” River answered, turning to look at Jayne, who was sitting on his weight bench staring very intently on the floor. Wash was cheering and Kaylee and Inara were talking about setting up the party, so they could enjoy lunch along with it. River didn’t move she just watched Jayne stand up and he moved up the catwalk and past the others without a word.

Her Black, her safety, her anchor holder her down, was no more. The calming peaceful effect Jayne had on her mind was gone. She needed it back; she had to save Jayne from himself. Quickly, River darted into the passenger’s quarters and up the stairs trying to get to Jayne without anyone interfering.

:: Okay so that is it for now. Please review and if you have any ideas let me know, I am always open to suggestions. THANKS!