(no subject)
Title: Actions
Series: Haven
Author: Sevangel
Disclaimer: Not mine
Rating: PG-14
Previous chapters
-
"River, are you sure this is the right choice?" Inara asks, casting nervous looks at the building in front of them. "This isn't a decision you can unmake; once you've done this, it's permanent."
"I know." River agrees, her hands clenching and unclenching nervously.
"You ain't gotta do, it little witch." Mal says.
"Jayne isn't one for words." River explains. "Words won't make him change his mind; actions will."
"This is one hellova an action." Mal says. "You sure bout this?"
"Yes." River replies firmly. "I have to show him and this is the best way."
"Okay then." Mal opens the door and waves them in. "After you, ladies."
-
"Jayne, remember what you told me, bout Vera?" Stan asks loudly.
"Which thing?" Jayne grunts, waving at the waitress to bring him another drink. The table in front of the two men is covered with empty mugs though most of them are from Jayne.
"When I was runnin' scared." Stan says. "And was bout to leave her."
"Sure." Jayne takes the mug from the waitress and gulps down half of it. "That if'n you didn't marry her, I was gonna, even if she were ten years older."
"Yeah." Stan punches Jayne on the arm. "Never did hit you for that."
"Did so." Jayne argues. "Clocked me one."
"Oh, yeah." Stan agrees. "You deserved it."
"Did not."
"So if'n I said I was gonna go chase after your girl, you wouldn't do nothin'?" Stan asks.
Jayne's hand tighten around his mug. "Don't gotta girl."
"Oh." Stan grins. "Vera's gotta a couple nephews, bout ten years younger than you; we've been tryin' to find them both a good wife…."
"Finish that sentence and you ain't gonna be talkin' no more." Jayne threatens.
"Whadda think is gonna happen, Jayne?" Stan asks. "Eventually, she's gonna stop bein' scared and get to wantin' to settle down but you're gonna be long gone. She's gonna have to find somebody."
The mug shatters in Jayne's hands.
"Ha!" Stan declares with a huge grin. "You don't want her to be with no one else."
"Course I don't." Jayne growls, waving at the waitress. "Don't ever want nobody else touchin' her but she's done made her choice."
"And you're scared she really means it." Stan says. "That she don't feel no where near what you feel for her."
"Do not."
"Jayne, bein' in love don't make you weak." Stan snags the passing waitress and motions for more drinks. "Hell, not runnin' from love's gotta make ya bout the strongest man in the verse cause there ain't no guarantee that it'll work out but there is one guarantee; pain. Cuz no matter how much ya love someone, you'll hurt them and they'll hurt you."
Jayne grabs the drink the waitress sits down in front of him and takes a drink, a mug in both hands. "Don't wanna talk no more; just wanna get trashed."
-
"Do you want us to go in with you?" Mal asks River, not wanting to let her go in alone.
"No." River replies. "This is something I have to do alone; thank you for offering though."
Mal gives River a one-armed hug. "Anytime, little witch." Then he loops an arm over Inara's shoulder. "C'mon, Nara, let's head back to the boat."
River waits until they fade into the darkness before pushing open the brothel door, her heart pounding in her chest. She's not sure what she'll do if she catches him in the arms of a whore but she's pretty sure it will be violent. It scares her a little, the jealously he brings out so effortlessly but she doesn't run; instead she grits her teeth and starts across the room.
-
"She's purty." Jayne is lounged back in his chair, an empty mug in his hand and his eyes halfway shut. "Real small like and eyes like….somethin' purty that's brown."
"How small?" Stan asks, head leaning back as he looks over the larger man's shoulder.
"Real small." Jayne replies drunkenly. "Can span her waist with me hands and her tits make the perfect little mouthfuls." A lustful look crosses Jayne's face. "She makes all the little noises and purrs real nice."
Stan winces as he watches the little brunette a few feet behind Jayne blush bright red. "You still want the job?"
River's heart stops.
Jayne guzzles down the last of his drink and belches loudly. "Naw."
"You don't?" Stan grins.
River's hand rests against her heart, trying to calm down the irregular beat pattern.
"Nope." Jayne tosses the mug onto the table. "I ain't ready to give up yet. Love her too gorram much." Then sits up. "Just gotta make sure she knows."
"She does." Stan nods over Jayne's shoulder.
Jayne cranes his head and then jumps to his feet, knocking the table over. "River, what in the gorram hell you doin' here? This ain't no place for you."
"I came to find you." River replies quietly. "We need to talk."
"Ain't in the mood to talk." Jayne grumbles, stumbling over towards her. "You need to get your ass back to the boat and outa this place."
River arches an eyebrow.
"Wait, ain't you gonna yell at me for bossin' your round?" Jayne asks bitterly.
"You're drunk." River sighs. "You're in no position to have the discussion I want to have."
"Hey, I can gorram discuss if'n I want to." Jayne waves an arm wildly. "Don't go tellin' me what to do."
"It's time to come home." River holds out her hand to Jayne. "Come on."
"I ain't no dog." Jayne grumbles stubbornly. "Don't go…."
River gasps as Jayne falls face forwarded. She looks behind him to see the older man he was drinking with holding a bottle and wearing a huge grin.
"He's a stubborn sonafbitch." Stan comments. "Easier just to knock him out and drag him home."
"I can't carry him." River kneels down to examine Jayne. "You didn't hit him that hard."
"Hell, he damn near drank the bar dry." Stan says. "Good thing my wife's family owns it or I'd be gettin' my ass kicked." He then nods to two of the men in the back. "These two are my nephews; they'll be carryin' his heavy ass home."
"Thank you." River says gratefully.
Stan studies the small girl and nods. "You can thank me by takin' care of him."
River smiles at Jayne's unconscious body being carried by the two large teenagers and takes the arm that Stan offers her. "I will."
-
Jayne groans as he wakes up, the back of his head throbbin' like hell. He manages to open his eyes but closes them immediately. He opens them again, slower this time, but still finds himself in River's room. An arm dragged over the mattress reveals its emptiness; he sits up with a growl.
River opens her door, a tray balanced effortlessly in her hands.
"We're flyin'." Jayne mumbles out the first thing that pops in his head.
"Yes." River agrees, setting the tray down beside her bed. "As we have been for the last nine hours; you slept a long time."
Jayne puts his feet onto the floor and then cups his head, trying to lessen the pounding. After a few moments, he feels hands nudge his and looks up to see River. "What?"
"Here." River holds out a handful of pills and a glass of water.
Jayne takes them without comment; throwing back the pills and downing the water. "Thanks." Then he stands up. "See ya."
"Jayne, we need to talk." River says quietly.
"Don't got nothin' to say." Jayne grabs his boots and stuff off her dresser. "And I don't appreciate you takin' off without askin' me; I was plannin' on stayin'."
"No, you weren't." River replies.
Jayne's jaw clenches. "Guess it ain't smart to tryin' and lie to a reader, is it?"
"Jayne." River says softly.
"I ain't wantin' to hear this." Jayne pushes past her. "Not now."
River's bottom lip trembles and she bites it harshly, wanting to control it. "Jayne?"
Jayne ignores the tear-filled voice and starts to open the door.
"I love you." River blurts out in a rush.
Jayne's back tenses. "What?"
"I love you." River grabs his hand and pulls him away from the door. She empties his arms and leads him back to her bed. Pushing on his chest, she shoves him down and then crawls on his lap to keep him from leaving.
Jayne's hands grip the mattress to keep from encircling her body. Against his will, his cock starts to harden at the feel of her on his lap. "Don't mean nothin'."
River gasps, her eyes filling with tears at his dismissal of her feelings.
"Oh, hell." Jayne grumbles. "Don't you go cryin'; it ain't fair."
"You don't love me anymore?" River asks with huge eyes.
"Don't matter if'n I do or not." Jayne mutters.
"Yes, it does." River argues, her hands cupping his face. "Do you?"
"Yes!" Jayne growls angrily. "There, that make you happy? Give ya a thrill to know you got me wrapped round your finger? That I spent last night in a whore house but never once gave thought to buyin' company cuz it wouldn't compare to you? You like that kinda power? Bet you do. Bet after Mike, you love havin' the ability to bring a man to his knees." Then Jayne kisses her roughly and breaks it just as fast. "There ya go, baby, now ya can get to shovin' me away."
River wraps her arms around his neck, burying her face in his neck as her body is racked with sobs.
"Gorramit, I'm sorry." Jayne rumbles, his hand stroking her shoulders. "I'm an ass."
"No, you're entitled." River pulls back, her eyes wet and red and her bottom lip trembling. "I pushed you away because I got scared."
"Of me?" Jayne cups her face, his thumbs brushing the tears way. "Baby, I'd never hurt you."
"You make me feel whole." River whispers. "When we made love, I lost myself in you and I got scared that over time, I would disappear."
"That ain't gonna happen." Jayne kisses her forehead gently. "Gorram, I've missed you."
"Me too." River whispers, bringing his mouth to hers in a gentle and deep kiss.
Jayne groans at the feel of her in his hands again, realizing how close he came to loosing her. Then he starts to remember why he walked away and all the doubts come flooding back. He pulls away with a sigh. "Baby, I ain't too sure if'n this is the right choice. What happens when somethin' else scares you? What happens the first time another man hits on you and I beat the shit outa him cuz you're supposed to be mine even if you don't wanna be…."
River places a finger of his lips and then pulls her dress off.
"Them ain't kocherized rules." Jayne groans. "Ain't no way I'm gonna keep focused on nothin' but the shiny in front of me." As he says it, his hand moves up to cup and kneed her tits.
"Mmm." River purrs happily, arching her breasts towards him.
"Like that, baby doll?" Jayne twists her nipple, all doubts fleeing from his mind.
"Mm hmm." River grabs his hand and pulls it away, fixing him with a stern look.
"Ta ma'de." Jayne groans. "You look all kinds of sexy tryin' to be all tough."
"Jayne." River smacks his hands away from her body with a giggle. "Wait. Must show."
"You're showin' alright." Jayne leers.
River moves off his lap and pushes her panties off.
Jayne leans back against the wall behind him, enjoyin' the soft planes of her body. His eyes roam over her shoulders and down to those perky tits topped with tight nipples. Then down her toned belly to her hipbones. "What the gorram hell happened to you?" He sits up with a growl, his arm pulling her towards him, his eyes focused on the vivid white bandage on her right hipbone. "Baby doll, someone hurt you?"
"No." River replies. "Okay, yes it did hurt a little…."
"Who?" Jayne growls, his finger tips tracing the bandage.
"Shh." River carefully peels the tape away and removes the white gauze.
"That's my…" Jayne looks from her hipbone and up to her face and then back down. "You got…"
"Yes." River cups his face moving it back towards her. "I'm still going to get scared and I'm still going to want to hide but I won't push you away anymore. I love you and I love Mattie."
"Love you too." Jayne kisses her forehead and then lays her down on her back, his face moving to hover inches from her hipbone. "Wait one gorram, second, you let some…"
"It was a female." River assures him with a smile. "I knew my Jayne wouldn't approve otherwise."
Jayne's gaze moves back to her hipbone, amazed by what's there. Across her pale flesh at the top of her hipbone, in a blue that he's pretty gorram sure matches his eyes, is his name; the letters bout the size of his pinkie.
"I want to be here." River traces his bicep, images of her name rippling as he works out.
"K." Jayne agrees as he blows softly on her tattoo. "It hurts?"
"A little." River replies honestly. "But well worth the pain."
Jayne crawls up her body, careful to keep his own from rubbing against her hip, and nudges her lips with his. "Wanna be on top?"
"Yes." River nips his bottom lip, giggling when he growls.
Jayne starts to move them over when there's a knock on the door followed by Kaylee's panicked voice.
"Jayne, River, you two up?"
"Yes." River replies. "Kaylee, what's wrong?"
"Somethin' is wrong with Mattie." Kaylee says. "She was pukin' and is hot as the dickens. Mal took her down to the infirmary."
River grabs her dress and throws it on, wincing as the fabric rubs against her uncovered tattoo. Her heart pounds in her chest as she runs through the boat with Jayne. They make it to the infirmary in record time and she comes to an halting stop at the sight of Mattie lying so lifelessly on the sickbed.
Mattie's eyes flutter open. "Mommy, daddy."
"Right here, pumpkin." Jayne says.
"Don't feel good." Then her eyes flutter shut and machines start beeping erratically. "Help me."
-
Series: Haven
Author: Sevangel
Disclaimer: Not mine
Rating: PG-14
Previous chapters
-
"River, are you sure this is the right choice?" Inara asks, casting nervous looks at the building in front of them. "This isn't a decision you can unmake; once you've done this, it's permanent."
"I know." River agrees, her hands clenching and unclenching nervously.
"You ain't gotta do, it little witch." Mal says.
"Jayne isn't one for words." River explains. "Words won't make him change his mind; actions will."
"This is one hellova an action." Mal says. "You sure bout this?"
"Yes." River replies firmly. "I have to show him and this is the best way."
"Okay then." Mal opens the door and waves them in. "After you, ladies."
-
"Jayne, remember what you told me, bout Vera?" Stan asks loudly.
"Which thing?" Jayne grunts, waving at the waitress to bring him another drink. The table in front of the two men is covered with empty mugs though most of them are from Jayne.
"When I was runnin' scared." Stan says. "And was bout to leave her."
"Sure." Jayne takes the mug from the waitress and gulps down half of it. "That if'n you didn't marry her, I was gonna, even if she were ten years older."
"Yeah." Stan punches Jayne on the arm. "Never did hit you for that."
"Did so." Jayne argues. "Clocked me one."
"Oh, yeah." Stan agrees. "You deserved it."
"Did not."
"So if'n I said I was gonna go chase after your girl, you wouldn't do nothin'?" Stan asks.
Jayne's hand tighten around his mug. "Don't gotta girl."
"Oh." Stan grins. "Vera's gotta a couple nephews, bout ten years younger than you; we've been tryin' to find them both a good wife…."
"Finish that sentence and you ain't gonna be talkin' no more." Jayne threatens.
"Whadda think is gonna happen, Jayne?" Stan asks. "Eventually, she's gonna stop bein' scared and get to wantin' to settle down but you're gonna be long gone. She's gonna have to find somebody."
The mug shatters in Jayne's hands.
"Ha!" Stan declares with a huge grin. "You don't want her to be with no one else."
"Course I don't." Jayne growls, waving at the waitress. "Don't ever want nobody else touchin' her but she's done made her choice."
"And you're scared she really means it." Stan says. "That she don't feel no where near what you feel for her."
"Do not."
"Jayne, bein' in love don't make you weak." Stan snags the passing waitress and motions for more drinks. "Hell, not runnin' from love's gotta make ya bout the strongest man in the verse cause there ain't no guarantee that it'll work out but there is one guarantee; pain. Cuz no matter how much ya love someone, you'll hurt them and they'll hurt you."
Jayne grabs the drink the waitress sits down in front of him and takes a drink, a mug in both hands. "Don't wanna talk no more; just wanna get trashed."
-
"Do you want us to go in with you?" Mal asks River, not wanting to let her go in alone.
"No." River replies. "This is something I have to do alone; thank you for offering though."
Mal gives River a one-armed hug. "Anytime, little witch." Then he loops an arm over Inara's shoulder. "C'mon, Nara, let's head back to the boat."
River waits until they fade into the darkness before pushing open the brothel door, her heart pounding in her chest. She's not sure what she'll do if she catches him in the arms of a whore but she's pretty sure it will be violent. It scares her a little, the jealously he brings out so effortlessly but she doesn't run; instead she grits her teeth and starts across the room.
-
"She's purty." Jayne is lounged back in his chair, an empty mug in his hand and his eyes halfway shut. "Real small like and eyes like….somethin' purty that's brown."
"How small?" Stan asks, head leaning back as he looks over the larger man's shoulder.
"Real small." Jayne replies drunkenly. "Can span her waist with me hands and her tits make the perfect little mouthfuls." A lustful look crosses Jayne's face. "She makes all the little noises and purrs real nice."
Stan winces as he watches the little brunette a few feet behind Jayne blush bright red. "You still want the job?"
River's heart stops.
Jayne guzzles down the last of his drink and belches loudly. "Naw."
"You don't?" Stan grins.
River's hand rests against her heart, trying to calm down the irregular beat pattern.
"Nope." Jayne tosses the mug onto the table. "I ain't ready to give up yet. Love her too gorram much." Then sits up. "Just gotta make sure she knows."
"She does." Stan nods over Jayne's shoulder.
Jayne cranes his head and then jumps to his feet, knocking the table over. "River, what in the gorram hell you doin' here? This ain't no place for you."
"I came to find you." River replies quietly. "We need to talk."
"Ain't in the mood to talk." Jayne grumbles, stumbling over towards her. "You need to get your ass back to the boat and outa this place."
River arches an eyebrow.
"Wait, ain't you gonna yell at me for bossin' your round?" Jayne asks bitterly.
"You're drunk." River sighs. "You're in no position to have the discussion I want to have."
"Hey, I can gorram discuss if'n I want to." Jayne waves an arm wildly. "Don't go tellin' me what to do."
"It's time to come home." River holds out her hand to Jayne. "Come on."
"I ain't no dog." Jayne grumbles stubbornly. "Don't go…."
River gasps as Jayne falls face forwarded. She looks behind him to see the older man he was drinking with holding a bottle and wearing a huge grin.
"He's a stubborn sonafbitch." Stan comments. "Easier just to knock him out and drag him home."
"I can't carry him." River kneels down to examine Jayne. "You didn't hit him that hard."
"Hell, he damn near drank the bar dry." Stan says. "Good thing my wife's family owns it or I'd be gettin' my ass kicked." He then nods to two of the men in the back. "These two are my nephews; they'll be carryin' his heavy ass home."
"Thank you." River says gratefully.
Stan studies the small girl and nods. "You can thank me by takin' care of him."
River smiles at Jayne's unconscious body being carried by the two large teenagers and takes the arm that Stan offers her. "I will."
-
Jayne groans as he wakes up, the back of his head throbbin' like hell. He manages to open his eyes but closes them immediately. He opens them again, slower this time, but still finds himself in River's room. An arm dragged over the mattress reveals its emptiness; he sits up with a growl.
River opens her door, a tray balanced effortlessly in her hands.
"We're flyin'." Jayne mumbles out the first thing that pops in his head.
"Yes." River agrees, setting the tray down beside her bed. "As we have been for the last nine hours; you slept a long time."
Jayne puts his feet onto the floor and then cups his head, trying to lessen the pounding. After a few moments, he feels hands nudge his and looks up to see River. "What?"
"Here." River holds out a handful of pills and a glass of water.
Jayne takes them without comment; throwing back the pills and downing the water. "Thanks." Then he stands up. "See ya."
"Jayne, we need to talk." River says quietly.
"Don't got nothin' to say." Jayne grabs his boots and stuff off her dresser. "And I don't appreciate you takin' off without askin' me; I was plannin' on stayin'."
"No, you weren't." River replies.
Jayne's jaw clenches. "Guess it ain't smart to tryin' and lie to a reader, is it?"
"Jayne." River says softly.
"I ain't wantin' to hear this." Jayne pushes past her. "Not now."
River's bottom lip trembles and she bites it harshly, wanting to control it. "Jayne?"
Jayne ignores the tear-filled voice and starts to open the door.
"I love you." River blurts out in a rush.
Jayne's back tenses. "What?"
"I love you." River grabs his hand and pulls him away from the door. She empties his arms and leads him back to her bed. Pushing on his chest, she shoves him down and then crawls on his lap to keep him from leaving.
Jayne's hands grip the mattress to keep from encircling her body. Against his will, his cock starts to harden at the feel of her on his lap. "Don't mean nothin'."
River gasps, her eyes filling with tears at his dismissal of her feelings.
"Oh, hell." Jayne grumbles. "Don't you go cryin'; it ain't fair."
"You don't love me anymore?" River asks with huge eyes.
"Don't matter if'n I do or not." Jayne mutters.
"Yes, it does." River argues, her hands cupping his face. "Do you?"
"Yes!" Jayne growls angrily. "There, that make you happy? Give ya a thrill to know you got me wrapped round your finger? That I spent last night in a whore house but never once gave thought to buyin' company cuz it wouldn't compare to you? You like that kinda power? Bet you do. Bet after Mike, you love havin' the ability to bring a man to his knees." Then Jayne kisses her roughly and breaks it just as fast. "There ya go, baby, now ya can get to shovin' me away."
River wraps her arms around his neck, burying her face in his neck as her body is racked with sobs.
"Gorramit, I'm sorry." Jayne rumbles, his hand stroking her shoulders. "I'm an ass."
"No, you're entitled." River pulls back, her eyes wet and red and her bottom lip trembling. "I pushed you away because I got scared."
"Of me?" Jayne cups her face, his thumbs brushing the tears way. "Baby, I'd never hurt you."
"You make me feel whole." River whispers. "When we made love, I lost myself in you and I got scared that over time, I would disappear."
"That ain't gonna happen." Jayne kisses her forehead gently. "Gorram, I've missed you."
"Me too." River whispers, bringing his mouth to hers in a gentle and deep kiss.
Jayne groans at the feel of her in his hands again, realizing how close he came to loosing her. Then he starts to remember why he walked away and all the doubts come flooding back. He pulls away with a sigh. "Baby, I ain't too sure if'n this is the right choice. What happens when somethin' else scares you? What happens the first time another man hits on you and I beat the shit outa him cuz you're supposed to be mine even if you don't wanna be…."
River places a finger of his lips and then pulls her dress off.
"Them ain't kocherized rules." Jayne groans. "Ain't no way I'm gonna keep focused on nothin' but the shiny in front of me." As he says it, his hand moves up to cup and kneed her tits.
"Mmm." River purrs happily, arching her breasts towards him.
"Like that, baby doll?" Jayne twists her nipple, all doubts fleeing from his mind.
"Mm hmm." River grabs his hand and pulls it away, fixing him with a stern look.
"Ta ma'de." Jayne groans. "You look all kinds of sexy tryin' to be all tough."
"Jayne." River smacks his hands away from her body with a giggle. "Wait. Must show."
"You're showin' alright." Jayne leers.
River moves off his lap and pushes her panties off.
Jayne leans back against the wall behind him, enjoyin' the soft planes of her body. His eyes roam over her shoulders and down to those perky tits topped with tight nipples. Then down her toned belly to her hipbones. "What the gorram hell happened to you?" He sits up with a growl, his arm pulling her towards him, his eyes focused on the vivid white bandage on her right hipbone. "Baby doll, someone hurt you?"
"No." River replies. "Okay, yes it did hurt a little…."
"Who?" Jayne growls, his finger tips tracing the bandage.
"Shh." River carefully peels the tape away and removes the white gauze.
"That's my…" Jayne looks from her hipbone and up to her face and then back down. "You got…"
"Yes." River cups his face moving it back towards her. "I'm still going to get scared and I'm still going to want to hide but I won't push you away anymore. I love you and I love Mattie."
"Love you too." Jayne kisses her forehead and then lays her down on her back, his face moving to hover inches from her hipbone. "Wait one gorram, second, you let some…"
"It was a female." River assures him with a smile. "I knew my Jayne wouldn't approve otherwise."
Jayne's gaze moves back to her hipbone, amazed by what's there. Across her pale flesh at the top of her hipbone, in a blue that he's pretty gorram sure matches his eyes, is his name; the letters bout the size of his pinkie.
"I want to be here." River traces his bicep, images of her name rippling as he works out.
"K." Jayne agrees as he blows softly on her tattoo. "It hurts?"
"A little." River replies honestly. "But well worth the pain."
Jayne crawls up her body, careful to keep his own from rubbing against her hip, and nudges her lips with his. "Wanna be on top?"
"Yes." River nips his bottom lip, giggling when he growls.
Jayne starts to move them over when there's a knock on the door followed by Kaylee's panicked voice.
"Jayne, River, you two up?"
"Yes." River replies. "Kaylee, what's wrong?"
"Somethin' is wrong with Mattie." Kaylee says. "She was pukin' and is hot as the dickens. Mal took her down to the infirmary."
River grabs her dress and throws it on, wincing as the fabric rubs against her uncovered tattoo. Her heart pounds in her chest as she runs through the boat with Jayne. They make it to the infirmary in record time and she comes to an halting stop at the sight of Mattie lying so lifelessly on the sickbed.
Mattie's eyes flutter open. "Mommy, daddy."
"Right here, pumpkin." Jayne says.
"Don't feel good." Then her eyes flutter shut and machines start beeping erratically. "Help me."
-