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Safe And Sound	By : SpecialFX Category: 1 through F > Firefly Views: 9227 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own FireFly. None of these characters belong to me. They belong to whoever created them and whoever else does. I pay homage to them and I make no profit from this story in any fashion, way or means.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
TITLE: Safe And Sound
AUTHOR: Midknight
CHAPTER: 4 of ?
FANDOM: Firefly
SHIP: Jayne / River
RATING: NC17
CATEGORY: Erotica
SPOILERS: None, so’s I know of.
SYNOPSIS: River just wants to be safe and strangely that’s how Jayne makes her feel.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own FireFly. None of these characters belong to me. They belong to whoever created them and whoever else does. I pay homage to them and I make no profit from this story in any fashion, way or means.
AUTHORS NOTE: I apologize before hand and hope you will forgive any errors or blatant discrepancies. Also I so don’t speak Chinese so all that is just plain made up. This is kind of two chapters that became one when I couldn’t figure out how to break them. Hope this works.
FEEDBACK: Yes Please – midknight_tales@yahoo.com
CHAPTER FOUR
Weeks became months and somehow they didn’t get caught. One way or another she ended up in his bunk every night and after a while Jayne realized he couldn’t really settle down until she did. River still had the disturbing habit of appearing in his cabin as if out of thin air, but he stopped questioning it. The night time hours were not enough for her either, not that he complained having her around, but she seemed to have less regard of the consequences of being discovered than he did. She had climbed into his bed and then his heart, but she was as sneaky as any woman he had ever known. Once she’d figured out that he could not effectively say no to her, she mercilessly used that fact to her advantage, no matter the risks.
Jayne thanked The Verse that Serenity had so many secret nooks and crannies, but it wasn’t always so easy to persuade his avidly adoring, constantly amorous and mischievous little space nymph to search them out when the fancy took her. She would steal kisses and bold caresses at the oddest moments whether they were alone or not. She would whisper lascivious suggestions that were more often than not plucked from his own dreams and fantasies, in his ear forcing him to hide his reactions from those around him. And, when she wanted him, really wanted him, well, she wasn’t exactly subtle and there simply was no denying or dissuading her no matter what the situation. He had, it seems, unleashed a nymph of sorts, a cute, curious, wonderful, amazing nymph, but a stubborn, tenacious one too.
Yet, for all her little trespasses, he couldn’t stay angry with her for long. The sex might have something to do with it, but having her resting warm, soft and sweet smelling in his arms at the end of his day bought a lot of forgiveness. Which, was why, his pants were currently around his ankles, her skirt bunched up around her waist, panties dangling off one ankle while he held her pinned to a stack of crates in the cargo hold with his hand over her mouth as Mal and Zoë stood not two paces away talking. Her tight, slick sex flexed and ripples around his throbbing length as he tried to keep her still and quiet. She wasn’t trying too hard to thwart him, but she did flick her wet, little tongue out to tickle his palm while flexing her legs around him while writhing slowly against him. “Stop that.” He hissed from between his teeth and her soft, muffled laughter vibrated her lips against his skin and he groaned as she tightened herself around him. She was getting way too good at that, she had as much control as she had abandon when she wanted. Mal and Zoë finally moved off and he could lower his hand.
She had caught him on his way to go and workout. Her slim hand appearing from between the large metal crates that made up their present cargo to grab his hand with that surprising strength she sometimes exhibited to dragging him into the shadows amongst them. He barely stifled a yelp of surprise and the urge to reach for a knife or a gun he didn’t have on him. “River?” He used her name as a complaint and a warning. “You were expecting someone else?” She wondered with an overly-dramatized pout, which then suddenly blossomed into a bright smile. It was hard to even be annoyed at her when she flashed him that smile, and she knew it. She worried at her lower lip coyly and swayed her hips. “I want it.” She demanded in a tone that was smoke, honey, need and promise, that was both sexy and a little disturbing coming from her young mouth and her nimble hand started tugging at his belt.
They were in a regularly frequented part of the ship, so he might have tried to dissuade her a little harder, but once her hand found its way into his fly and around his growing erection, his desire to protest kind of died as another flared to life. He tangled his hand in her wealth of soft, dark tresses and captured her lips as she tilted her head back to offer them to him. He massaged her scalp as their heads tilted and twisted, their lips and tongues dancing sinuously and hungrily together as they kissed. He loved the little sounds she made as they kissed and her lithe body writhed against his. She freed him and then stepped back, sucking at his tongue and then his lower lip as she did. She slowly licked her lips and then tilted her head with a wicked little smile as he watched her reach under her dress and with a wriggle of her hips pulled her panties down her thighs and then let them drop to the deck.
Jayne fleetingly wondered who’s brained she’d picked that sexy little maneuver from, Inara, Zoë or Kaylee’s as his hard dick twitched. “You’re a bad girl.” He whispered with a slow shake of his head and a smile that negated the literal meaning of his words. He closed the distance between them and she took the half step that took one of her feet out of her panties and had her back up against a stack of crates. He slid his hand up her thighs under her dress, flexing and circling his thumbs on the smooth skin on the insides of her thighs. Her dress rode up on his forearms, and bunched around her hips as he grasped her waist and lifted her off her feet. Her hand found the base of his cock and guided him to her entrance as she lifted her legs and curled them around him. The both sighed as he shifted his grip to the curves of her buttocks and she set him at her entrance. Steamy heat radiated from her onto him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and they remained poised like that for a moment.
She made this erotically charged, breathy sound from the back of her throat and her eyelids fluttered as he watched her face and worked at keeping his breathing measured even as his heart sped up when he relaxed his hold and she slowly sank down on him. He groaned with the delight of her greased velvet caress sliding down him and engulfing his length with liquid heat, pressure and friction. He lowered his head and kissed her lips lightly as she slowly opened her eyes to look into his. She kissed him back with a little moan as she slowly rocked her hips to settle herself onto him and he kneaded the firm globes of her ass. Her lips curved into a smile against his as they started to part. “You’re my bad girl.” He told her sincerely and a little possessively and he felt her contract around him with a hot flush of lubrication in response. They started to move slowly, his hips bucking and her arms and legs tightening to help him drive in and out of her. She nipped and sucked at the side of his neck as they found a slow, delightful pace and comfortable rhythm, groaning and moaning with enjoyment of each other. It was at about that point that he’d heard footsteps and the e=increasing volume of voices coming closer.
River nipped at his finger tip before they were out of range. “Next time you want to keep me quiet, use your mouth instead of your hand.” She reprimanded him as her hand tightened in the hair at the back of his head and she pulled his lips to hers to roughly demonstrate. “Yes, Ma’am.” he responded dutifully and breathlessly when she let him up for air. She braced her shoulders against the crates and shifted her legs higher as he started to rock his hip to slide in and out of her with delightful, hot friction. Her lips vibrated against the skin at the side of his neck as she moaned and circled her hips to match him. One of his hands grabbed and fondled her ass while the other burrowed into her dark hair and cradled her head as he thrust harder and faster. They worked together, flexing, thrusting, pumping and grinding to haul her up and down his length with shared surges of delight.
She felt so Gorram good, warm and wet and wonderful. His balls were tight to the point of aching and his dick throbbed and twitched against the snug caress of her with his need for release, but he gritted his teeth and sucked in the sweet, fresh scent of her hair through his nose as a balm to hold himself in check, waiting for her. He felt the telltale quiver, the way her breathing changed, the little sounds she made that told him she was close. Jayne sped up and worked harder and she worked with him. She started to cry out, but silenced herself by the expedience of testing the chorded muscle of his shoulder with her teeth. She whined and mewled as her body shuddered against his as her sex became a flooding, twisting vice with her release. He grunted as his body tensed and he pulled her tight to him as his hips bucked and he emptied himself into her in a rush of blissful sensation. They clutched at each other, sweaty and breathing hard as they rode the waves of their respective climaxes.
River sighed, a warm wisp of air against the side of his neck as her body relaxed and went limp in his arms. The rush of energy from his climax dissipated and he had to lock his knees to stay standing. She rubbed his cheek against her shoulder while her hand caressed the back of his neck. “That was good.” She noted and pressed her lips to his skin in a soft kiss. “Aye, but one of these days you’re gonna get us caught.” He agreed, but cautioned her before he groaned as she wriggled around his slowly shrinking and retreating manhood. She lifted her head and looked into his eyes with an amused smile curving her lips. “But, wasn’t that exciting with Mal and Zoë right there?” She noted, cupping his cheek and caressing it. “I’m not excitement enough for you?” He enquired and let his fingers find the ticklish spots at the sides of her ribs.
The way her body shook against his as she giggled and laughed and wriggled and twisted wasn’t unpleasant and he liked how it made her sound young and free, but he realized he was doing exactly what she had been doing, putting them at risk. Whether they were in the act or still in its afterglow, it would be impossible to explain were they to be discovered. Well, it would be possible to explain, but whether they were believed before someone put a bullet in him he wasn’t sure. He grabbed her waist and ignored her pout as he lifted her free and set her on her feet. “Spoil sport.” She accused him and he flashed her a saucy wink as she pulled up her underwear and patted her on the rump as she straightened her skirt while he too brought his clothes to rights. ”Enough for now. There’ll be time for more sports, later, in private.” He promised, but that didn’t stop him from pulling her to him, bending her over his arm and kissing her hard and thoroughly before letting her go again. She stood smiling with a hand on her hip as he left checked that no one was around and slipped away.
A few days later…
River was having a restless night, but Jayne couldn’t quite bring himself to wake her or complain as she squirmed and wriggled her firm little ass against his crotch and the satin of her back against his chest. She’d fallen right to sleep after undressing and joining him in his bunk and he’d cuddled her without comment because she didn’t seem her usually bubbly self. Her muttering was a little disconcerting, but she finally settled with a soft sigh when he wrapped a leg over hers and an arm around her with his hand molding to her breast. He kissed the top of her head and she sighed again. Her scent filled his nose and it was his turn to let out a contented sigh before he drifted off to sleep.
He woke when he felt her squirming again and she turned in his sleep-limp hold. “Jayne?” she called his name softly as she nuzzled against his chest, her hair tickling his skin. “Hmmmm… Is something wrong, Sweetie?” he queried rumbly and tried to clear the sleep from his voice and blinking as he checked his watch and noticed that only a few hours had passed. “I… I don’t know exactly.” She responded in a tremulous little voice while her hand clutched at his shoulder and he felt sporadic little shivers running through her. He frowned, but automatically started to stroke her hair and back in an attempt to sooth her. “That feels nice.” She noted and he felt her relax a little. “Do you want to tell me what’s bothering you?” he asked after several more minutes of slow, steady, rhythmic stroking that left her relaxed in his arms.
“Bad feeling… Dark shadows… Can’t shake it.” She eventually replied with a soft sniffle while her voice sounded haunted. Like, he did so often with her, he felt out of his depth, especially when the little girl was in evidence and not the confident, vivacious woman, so he just held her and found himself crooning nonsense and rocking her. “Do you sense something bad comin’?” He hesitantly enquired when the thought occurred to him. He often preferred to forget her talent and how it had been fostered. “I don’t know and that’s part of the problem.” She answered as she wriggled up along him until they were face to face. “What do you mean?” he wondered as he searched her pretty brown eyes while he shifted a stray lock of her hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. She rubbed her cheek against his palm and her little foot started to slide up and down his calf. Her teeth worried at her lower lips for a moment and then she kissed him. He kissed her back, but kept it light and slow even as she pressed her warm, nubile body against him and his dick started to rouse.
“You don’t want to explain or you don’t know how?” Jayne mused softly after he broke their kiss, knowing a distraction when he saw, felt and tasted one. “Both.” She answered with her usual succinct and enigmatic honesty. He pursed his lips and gave her a look that asked for more of an explanation, knowing from experience that words would be a waste of breath. River took a deep breath which flattened her breasts against his chest in a warm caress and then let it out as a heavy sigh. He couldn’t fail to notice that her nipples were hard, even thought they were both comfortably warm. “My feelings for you… They… They cloud things… I… I worry about you and… And, I’ve never had anyone of my very own before…” She told him plaintively, a little frown marring her smooth forehead under her mass of dark curls as she searched for the words to explain. “So, now I don’t know if the shadows are real or just my own concerns. I… I kind of like not always knowing, but it’s scary too.” She admitted.
Jayne would have liked nothing more than to simply comfort her, but she hadn’t stopped pressing and shifting against him as she explained and his rampant dick had never been good at following either his head or his heart, but he tried to suppress his desire. “You got your brother, don’t you?” He noted and she gave him an exasperated look. “Sure, but we don’t have a choice, we’re family. It’s not like with you. You chose me.” She countered. “What? Now I had a choice?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood and got a punch in the shoulder as a reward. “What?!?” he protested with a chuckle as he playfully restrained her from punching him again. “You shouldn’t worry about me, Sweetie. I’m a big boy… I can take care of myself.” He instructed, changing tack and giving her a hug. “I know that. You are a big boy, but I kinda like taking care of that.” She acknowledged and turned it into a double entendre by running her finger tips along his erect length. That light touch made his eyes narrow and a little growl rumbled from deep in his throat.
“We need to keep talking about this.” He told her warningly, but he couldn’t stop his hands from caressing her lithe curves as she molded her body hard against his. “We can talk later.” She countered softly and nipped at his lower lip. She pressed insistently and with surprising strength at his shoulder until he rolled and shifted onto his back and she could straddle him. Her steamy heat radiated against his throbbing as she trapped it between her and his stomach and he groaned as she slowly rocked her hips to slide along the ridge of his length and her strong, little fingers flexed to massage his chest. She dragged her fingers lower and then splayed them across his ribs and straightened her arm to lift herself up. His erection sprang to full, twitching attention as she let his pointed head slide back and forth through her dewy, blossoming folds until she could settle him at her entrance.
“Still want to talk?” She asked with a coy, little smile and twinkling eyes that belied the pressure she placed on his manhood as she let some of her weight drop onto him to wedge him tightly at her entrance. He slid his hand up the silk of her thighs, kneading the firm muscles underneath until he wrapped his hands around her narrow waist. “Yes, My Sweetling, but perhaps… Not right now.” He replied and her eyes fluttered as her breath hitched as he tightened his grip and slowly pulled her down onto him as he lifted his hips to impale her with a groan of delight. Her tight, but slippery sheath accepted him reluctantly and its tight, pulsing embrace caressed his length inch by slow steady inch until she settled on his lap and he slowly settled his clenched ass back to the bunk. He relaxed his hold on her waist and watched her as she slowly circled and rocked her hips to acclimatize herself with his thick invasion. Her eyes were narrow shifting slits beneath the curve of her dark lashes and her straight white teeth pressed into her full lower lip that still leaked throaty little sounds as she breathed heavily, but steadily through her nose.
River sighed as she opened her eyes to look into his while a smile spread across her lips as the spike of tension from his penetration eased. “Ni shi gawdah! That… That always feels so Gorram good. You always feel so good inside me.” She told him, her voice filled with awe and adoration. “Amen to that.” He agreed hold heartedly as her wonderful sex massaged his length with liquid heat and rippling pressure that made the small of his back twitch and his balls tighten. She took his hands and drew them up the ridges and valleys of her ribs and then cupped them around her breasts as they slowly started to undulate together. He fondled her firm, warm globes and rolled the hard nubs of her nipples with his palms. She moaned and arched her breasts to press her breasts into his squeezing fingers. Her fingers echoed the movements of his, massaging his chest muscles as he let her dictate the pace and increase the length of their strokes.
He made little growls and rumbles of delight to join her gasps and moans as she rode his length, her slick tightness painting his shaft with pleasure. He gave her breasts a firm squeeze and then let his hands slide back to her waist and then around to the small of her back. With, a grunt and a little cry from her he pulled himself up into a sitting position and hungrily captured her lips. Her back curved around the support of his arms as she absorbed the force of his kiss and then straightened again as returned it with equal passion. Their tongues tangled for a few moments and then he broke their kiss. He nipped at the curve of her chin and then let his lips and tongue trail lower down her throat as she let her head loll back with a tinkle of joyful laughter that cut off into a heavy moan as he tightened his arm and circled his hips to grind against her and stir her molten core.
River curled her hands around his head and neck and arching back pulled his mouth to her breast as she offered him the dusky, taut peaks of her nipples. He worried at one of them lightly with his teeth, drawing a hiss and a moan from her before lovingly laving, flicking and rolling it with his tongue. He lavished the same attention to the other before drawing it into his mouth and sealing his lips to her flesh and suckling at it. She pulled his mouth tighter to her breast and he felt a series of shudders run through her along with sharp contractions of her sex around his in response to his sucking lips. His lips vibrated against her skin as surges of pleasure bloomed and he groaned when she rocked and rolled her hips with tight, sharp movements and dug her fingers into his hair to massage his scalp.
Jayne caressed and massaged her smooth back as he switched to her other breast while she continued to pleasure them both, stimulating his length and her clit with her gyrations. With, her weight resting on his lap he couldn’t participate as actively as he wanted. He had feelings for her, could even admit to himself that he loved the slim, dark-haired woman who now shared his blankets and believe it, which was a miracle unto itself, but now that he knew her as a woman, accepted her as a woman she also stirred deep, rampant and passionate physical desire in him. This time, it was her show, she seemed to need it and he was happy to curbed the urge to roll her onto her back and be the aggressor, to be the one taking pleasure even as he gave it, to be the one that made her wail as her climax ripped through her.
Her hand tightened in his hair and he growled as she pulled his head back and his mouth off the succulent delicacy of her nipple. Her face was flushed, her eyes bright as she licked her lips and marshaled her breath. “I’ve… I’ve told you… Told you before… Don’t… Don’t hold back… Take… Take me like that… I’m… I’m yours… I… I want you like that too.” She haltingly told him her voice breathy, tight and vibrant with strained control, reprimand and a needy plea as she continued to move on him. His own battle for control had his nostrils flared to drag in air, his jaw clenching, his teeth gritted and his belly tight with the effort of holding back his building need to simply climax. His growl of acquiescence morphed into a grunt of effort as he lifted her and himself. She groaned and mewled ass he shifted jerkily inside her without rhythm as reposition them and laid her on her back.
She sighed as he settled on top of her and the insides of her thighs were a silken caress as she drew her legs up and curled them around him, lovingly opening herself to him as he hovered over her. She wriggled against him as she pulled his head down to hers and he kissed her hard. Jayne used one arm to hold most of his weigh and worked the other under her shoulder blade and his fingers into her wealth of soft, dark curls to cradle the column of her neck, massaging it as he braced her when he started to thrust with powerful, full length strokes. River cried out against his lips and he could feel the shockwave of his pelvis’s collision with hers as he lanced into her.
He was once again glad that his cabin was soundproof as the volume of her cries and his grunts of exertion increased and his bunk set up a clamber of creaking and scraping under the barrage of their writhing, straining bodies. He found her heated core again and again, her snug, greased channel flexing and pulsing around him as her hands grabbed and squeezed his ass cheeks in encouragement. He had to blink stinging sweat from his eyes as he found her lips for a short intense kiss and then nuzzled at her neck while sucking in air to cool his burning lungs and fuel his pumping hips. Her skin was satin and silk against his as the pressure in his loins built and built and begged for release, which he working hard at denying in preference to the pleasure he was giving and receiving. But, nature was as cruel as it was wonderful in creating the heavenly little creature beneath him as the needs of his body started to override his will.
He tried to hold on, but she felt so wonderful and the pleasure drove an ever-widening wedge between his mind and his body. He wanted to slow down to savor her for longer, but his hips just pumped harder and faster. Deeper, raspier cries from him joined hers and then he had to throw his head back when his spine contracted into a taut, vibrating bow as he bucked hard into her and then roared his release to the bulkhead above. She barely felt her nails rake across his shoulders as he ground and emptied himself into her. Electric fingers crawled up and down his spine and hopscotched across his nerves carrying bliss and delight with it and making him twitch as energy surged through him. His heart felt like it was trying to pound its way out of his chest and lungs didn’t seem to be able to find enough air, but he had never felt better as a radiant, pulsing warmth enveloped him along with the bliss of satiation.
The dark-haired angel beneath him gasped and then let out a stuttering cry, her supple body arching up against his as her sex clamped down around his and she joined him in release. Another strangled cry escaped his lips as the small of his back seized and he tensed again and bucked into her. His balls ached with sharp little stabs of pain as they tried to empty what was already spent while River writhed, shuddered and tossed her head beneath him in the grips of her climax. Jayne clenched his teeth and breathed hard through his nose, fighting for control as his arms started to shake with the effort of holding his weight off her as the wild energy of his orgasm started to leave him. His body begged him for complete surrender, to limp and relaxed in the afterglow, but he had told her he was a big boy and she certainly was not. He grunted and she sort of whimpered when he mustered the last of his strength to pull out of her and roll off her onto his side.
His sweaty back pressed against the blanket that covered the bulkhead next to his bunk and he could feel the cool metal shape of Vera and the rest of his weapons through it as he panted to catch his breath. River rolled onto her side, pressing her back into his chest as she drew up her knees and hugged them to her chest. Her body shook against his and he dragged his blankets over them and wrapped his arms around her underneath it. “I’m sorry... I… I didn’t mean to hurt you.” He apologized in concern, kissing her ear where it peeked out of her wild tumble of hair as she continued to shake and make little, muffled noises. His joy turned to misery and his concern to worry as she made no response. Jayne started to gently brush the hair out of her face when he nearly jumped out of his skin as she suddenly stretched out with a joyous peal of laughter and a bright smile on her flushed and sweaty face.
“Gorram, Girl, you’re gonna be the death of me.” He admonished her with a sigh of relief that she appeared to be okay. “I’m kind of hoping for the opposite effect.” She countered and turned her head to kiss his chest. “Then you shouldn’t worry me like that.” He continued his admonishment, but softened his words by caressing the curve of her cheek. “Sorry.” She apologized contritely after a moment and pressed her lips to his fingers. It just felt so good, the way you came and the way I did and the way it all merged. I was just sought of luxuriating in it. I didn’t mean to worry you.” She explained, her small fingers playing with his as they readjusted themselves until she was comfortably ensconced against his side with her head resting on his chest and his chin resting on the top of her head.
“You feeling better, now?” he wondered softly as he let his fingers rub slow circles over her flat midriff. “I always feel better after we… you know.” She replied, suddenly going all coy, the little girl returning to replace the wanton woman as she nestled against him. “But, do see how it’s hard to not worry, even if you know you shouldn’t, when there isn’t any cause.” She told him, letting him know her fears and doubts still existed, but that she was coming to terms with it. She remained still and quiet after that and he thought she’d fallen asleep, his own eyes growing leaden and ready for satisfied slumber. He blinked back to alertness when she said his name. “Hmmmm.” He acknowledged her when she called it again. “I won’t be here when you wake up, so… Will you promise to be careful down on the planet tomorrow?” She informed him and requested softly.
“Come on, River. It’s a milk run. We’re delivering honest cargo to honest folk for honest pay. The pay’s so slim it can’t be nothin’ other than honest. It’s so honest it almost feels wrong.” Jayne tried to allay her fears. “Promise?” She insisted, ignoring his rationale. “If it means that much to you, I promise. I’ll be careful. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for anything that looks wrong and bring Vera along for the ride with lots of ammo to boot.” He solemnly promised, originally intending to only humor her, but at the last moment deciding that erring on the side caution was never a bad thing, besides, she would know if he was fibbing. “Take your knives too,” She told him sleepily, her hand tapping his chest lightly and he finally felt the tension go out of her. She snuggled just that little bit close to him and then with a sigh she went to sleep. Jayne lay awake for a few more minutes, luxuriating in her still warmth and the mixed scent of her hair, sweat and sex.
Several hours later…
“Reavers! Gorram Reavers!” Jayne swore quietly, but vehemently and repeatedly as he pressed his back up against the bulkhead of Serenity’s cargo bay and slid down to sit on its floor, feeling it thrum and vibrate as Wash accelerated to take them out of orbit and back into the black. River had tried to warn him, he should have listened. He shuddered, a cold shiver running through him even as sweat trickled down his back, his skin pulsing with heat and his heart still pounded in his chest from the exertion of fighting and running for his life. He could still hear the screams and smell the blood, and worse, his imagination kept filling in the rest of the gruesome details. It was supposed to have been a simple, legal and an easy supply run, neat and shiny, and then suddenly there were Reavers and people were dying and him and the rest of the crew of Serenity was running for their lives.
Jayne looked at the rest of the crew scattered around the cargo hold. All of them were still breathing hard and getting tended to. No one would be walking away from this unscathed, even if they hadn’t gotten hurt. Inara was tending to Mal’s arm, after the doc had checked it and told her what to do. The Captain had taken some shrapnel and looking past the captain he saw the large chunk of razor sharp metal it had come off of embedded in the side of the mule. Simon was fussing over Kaylee who got pretty banged up, but didn’t seem the worse for wear to him. Zoë had rushed up the stairs, her boots clattering on the steel steps on her way to Wash. He checked his rifle automatically, making sure there wasn’t a round chambered and that the magazine was indeed empty while trying to get his breathing back under control and to dispel the shakes that trembled his hands. He was glad that River had not come with them and then as if his thoughts made her flesh, she was rushing toward him as if she’d appeared out of thin air.
He barely made it to his feet in time to catch her as she threw herself at him. He grunted when his back crashed into the bulkhead as he absorbed her momentum, but he held onto her, very grateful for the heat of her lithe body as she pressed herself against him. “You’re okay! You’re okay! You’re okay!” She repeated joyfully, her hands patting him here and there before she curled her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist, wildly kissing his face and neck until she found his lips. He returned her kiss with life affirming abandon, cuddling her against him, her breasts flattening against his chest so that he could feel the stiff points of her nipples through the thin layers of material that separated them.
It was the unnatural silence that first got his attention although it was very hard to think of anything else except the slowly writhing young woman in his arms, the feel, taste and scent of her washing away the horror and the fear that lingered. He broke the kiss and had to restrain her from re-engaging it as he peered around her wild cascade of dark curls and at the audience who were watching them in silent shock. “River, Darlin’.” He said gently, trying to get her attention without much success as she continued to try and reach his lips. “River! We’re not alone.” He hissed in controlled consternation and she froze. She blinked and then a gentle smile curved her kiss-swollen lips. “Oops.” She noted softly and he gave her a shrewd, speculative look before nervously casting his eyes passed her head once more.
Mal, Simon, Inara and Kaylee were still staring and he wasn’t sure how much time had passed. His guns were empty, but he had two knives. He wasn’t sure how River would take it if he killed her brother, but he was more concerned with the captain whose shock had not prevented his hand from finding the pommel of the sidearm at his hip. There was an eighty / twenty chance that Mal was out of ammo too. Simon’s shock was wearing off too and he could see the anger growing in the young doctor. Inara’s stare was speculative and her hand hovered over Mal’s shoulder, but she didn’t quite touch him. Kaylee’s shocked stare had become a hostile glare. “I don’t think they’re happy.” River told him and he returned his stare to her, incredulous at her knack for understatement and the stark reminder that River Tamm often saw the world differently than the rest of them.

River disentangled herself from him and turned to face the rest of the crew. He noticed that Simon had a scalpel in his hand and his hand found the hilt of one of his knives. “Oh relax.” She admonished him with a roll of her eyes he could hear even if he couldn’t see it. “Jayne, do you care to offer an explanation before the doctor here makes a fairly good attempt at killing you and then I have to kill you for killing him or kill River if she kills you or she tries to kill me for killing you?” The Captain started off strong and then his tone became sort of uncertain as he started to list the possibilities and their permutations. “Explain.” He came back strong and stern. Mal still seemed to be in a fairly reasonable mood and Simon was dangerous, but manageable, but to be honest, he was a little more worried about Kaylee, the look she was giving him was deathly and he didn’t quite know what the petite mechanic was capable of.

“Errrr… It just kinda happened. We got to know each other a little better and… And, well, she’s special, a little out there, but I kinda love her, Mal.” He told the angry little assembly and found himself shocked by the admission because it was completely true. “You say the sweetest things.” River commented softly, so that only he could hear, over her shoulder. “You what?” Simon shouted and started to move forward until Inara put a restraining hand on his shoulder. “And, I love him…” River told the assembled crew continuing his explanation and defining her position in the situation. Jayne started to have some hope that the discovery of their relationship would not end in violence. “It isn’t his fault I went to his bed. I never really gave him a choice in the matter. He makes me feel safe and good and right.” She went on and he stifled a groan and tightened his grip on the knife hilt as he braced himself. He knew she didn’t see the physical nature of their relationship as a problem, but the people in front of them would, especially her brother. Mal took Inara’s hand off Simon’s shoulder, but made no other move. “Mal?!?” Inara questioned his inactivity. “This has got to happen and better here and now than later.” He explained as Simon advanced on Jayne.

Jayne let go of the knife, knowing that River wouldn’t forgive him if he cut her brother, even in self-defense and reached for the slim girl’s shoulder to push her aside and attempt to subdue the doctor without bloodshed. “Simon, stop. He’s my choice.” River told her brother in a cool, clear voice and despite the situation; Jayne could not stop himself smiling fondly. Her brother didn’t seem to hear her or care as he continued to advance with anger in his eyes, fists clenched and light gleaming off the scalpel in his hand. Jayne braced himself, but then everything seemed to slow down or more accurately River just moved very fast. Her foot hit her brother square in the chest and he went flying backwards. She remained perfectly still and gracefully balanced on the ball of one foot while the other was extended up and outward at the end of the roundhouse kick she’d delivered.

Mal had to shift Inara out of the way to avoid a collision and Simon hit the side of the mule with a thud and collapsed limply. Everybody including himself was staring at the slight girl who was his lover as she slowly lowered her foot. His surprise was heavily tainted with pride. “I asked him to stop, and he didn’t.” She said, holding up her hands, palms up to indicate that she didn’t have a choice and that her actions were perfectly normal and justified. But, it was a groggy groan and a weak cough from Simon that broke the spell and sent Kaylee rushing to his side. “Is… Is he okay?” River asked the mechanic as she knelt next to the doctor. “I’m… I’m fine, but this… This isn’t… Isn’t over, River. We… We will… Will talk about this.” He answered her query, panting and grimacing as he rubbed his sternum and tried to catch his breath.

“You can talk and I will listen, but it won’t make any difference, Simon. I’m with Jayne and I have been for months.” She informed him and Jayne winced at the pain that passed across Simon’s face before the anger returned. Jayne didn’t know if it was River’s deceit or him as a choice that hurt and angered the doctor, but the result was the same. Mal finally stepped between them. “Okay, so that happened.” The captain noted awkwardly. “Kaylee, would you mind helping the good doctor to the infirmary or his room, whichever he feels best?” he asked the dark-haired mechanic as he tried to create order out of chaos and take command of the situation. Kaylee nodded her acknowledgement and started to help Simon to his feet. “Jayne, River…”, He started, his voice tired, but paused and turned to look at Inara who gave him a shrug of her shoulders and an I-don’t-know look. Mal looked back and forth between the two groups and then shook his head. “River, Jayne, just… Just go and not be here.” He instructed with a weary sigh.
“Captain!” Simon began, but Mal cut him off with a raised hand, his palm right in the doctor’s anger-mottled face. “Lords above and below couldn’t tell you why, but River’s made her choice, and it’s…” He took a deep breath and seemed to brace himself before continuing, “It’s to be with Jayne. She’s made that clear. Didn’t you break her out of that Alliance facility so that she could be free to make her own choices? Well, now she’s made one. You’re her brother and… I understand what you’re feeling. If a sister of mine… with him…”, Mal shook his head, “But, it is her choice, you can try to change her mind, but if it escalates to more rough housing… And, that goes for the lot of you.” Mal more or less decreed and left a threat hanging to reinforce it. Simon’s eyes flashed defiance, but Mal’s went cool and flat, his jaw set, his “This-is-my-ship-and-I’m-the-Captain-which-means-you-do-as-I-say” face starkly in place while his hand dropped to rest on the pommel of his pistol in blatant warning of the consequences of not doing so. He saw River tense and he could see her calculating whether she could reach Mal before he drew and fired. Jayne re-evaluated his previous assessment, Mal’s pistol was loaded. Kaylee whispered something Jayne couldn’t hear into the doctor’s ear and then he reluctantly dropped his gaze and let her lead him away, taking the bulk of the tension in the room with them. Mal watched them until they exited Jayne was sure he should be insulted by some of what Mal had said, but he was just glad that the confrontation was at an end if not over and even more so when River took his arm and draped it over her shoulders and pressed herself against his side with a smile.

TO BE CONTINUED?
- 3
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- 5
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