The Past Catches Up
Title: The Past Catches Up
Word Count: 7,415
Pages: 19
Chapter: Oneshot
Status: Complete
Sequel to: Not Exactly Casanova/Fight For Him
Rating: NC-17 (Just to be safe, but there's really nothing bad in here except some language)
Disclaimer: If I had any control, I would have pounded Fox into the ground and never let it off the air.
Summery: A tattoo and an old flame.
Author Notes and translations at the end of the story.
"Hey you!"
Simon blinked, turning to look at the voice that rose above the crowd noise. He didn't even know if it was being called to him, but he'd instinctively looked. When their eyes met, he was apparently the one that was being hailed. "Yes?"
"You look like you've got some good skin. You want a tattoo?"
"What?" Out of surprise, he found himself stepping to the side, out of the flow of traffic, and next to the stall. There was a small building behind the man, where he assumed the actual tattooing took place.
"You want a tattoo?" the man asked, attempting to sell the idea to him. "You look like a...rose sort. What about a rose tattoo, with a lover's name?" Seeing his unconvinced expression, the man gave him a good once-over in his casual clothes. As casual as Simon could be in his button shirt and somewhat worn pants. "What about a cat? You're a cat person, right?"
Well his neighbors had had a cat that he'd been fond of playing with when he was little. He could remember the soft fur of the Siamese cat and how she'd wind around his ankles. She had always been sort of aloof when she didn't want to be petted, but it appeared more as if she 'humored' him as a child.
The man, clearly wondering if he was getting somewhere, pulled out a worn notebook and started showing him pictures. Simon caught flashes of naked women, men, dragons, and all kinds of things as they passed by while he flipped to the section with cats. "'Course these are just guides, I can make any kind of cat picture. How about on the back of yer shoulder, or yer arm? Bring in the ladies, I bet!"
Simon tilted his head, thinking of Jayne's tattoo. It suited his lover somehow. Was Jayne a 'cat person' too? And was Simon a cat person? He'd never considered himself as a person that leant toward any kind of animal in particular.
"See anything you like? We could put somethin' on yer belly button, or back."
He opened his mouth to tell the man that he wasn't really interested when his name was shouted over the crowd. Inwardly, he rolled his eyes and sighed. Yelling out his name in a crowd was not the best of ideas, but he let it go. A muscled arm was thrown around his shoulders and Jayne looked down at the short man. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Just showin' the man my selection of tattoos so he can find somethin' he likes."
There was a long pause, long enough that Simon looked over his shoulder at Jayne. "He ain't interested," his lover answered, tugging Simon away without his permission.
"Hey," Simon argued. It wasn't that he'd wanted one, but just the fact that he hadn't been allowed to choose.
"What? You wanted one?"
"I might have."
"Hell, Simon, I'll give ya one. I know how it works, but you don't want one from him."
"Why not? What was wrong with him?"
"Didja see his equipment?"
"No. I didn't think to look. I assumed it was inside the building behind him."
"Nah. He does it right there. I seen his type. He sits ya down on a crate and does it right there. Needs to be done in a building at least, so no sand or dirt can get in there."
Simon wrinkled his nose a little. "Or worse."
"Yeah." Jayne, his arm still around Simon's shoulders, led him back inside Serenity. "Didja really want a tattoo?"
"I don't know. I hadn't given it serious thought. What do you think?" he asked out of curiosity.
Jayne looked him up and down and said unexpectedly, "Maybe if it was a small one. You look find the way ya are, but maybe a small one would be fine. Not one like mine."
Seeing as Jayne said he knew how tattooing worked, he asked, "Where would you suggest putting it?"
His lover gave him a smirk and hands slid up the back of his shirt until he could feel thumbs pressing into the small of his back just above his behind. "I'd put it right here," Jayne whispered in his ear. "Maybe tattoo 'Belongs to Jayne Cobb'."
Simon rolled his eyes and smacked Jayne's hands away, but he couldn't help smiling at hearing the mercenary's laughter following his retreating back.
The idea continued to bounce around in his head for awhile, though. If he did get a tattoo, what would he get? He didn't feel a pressing need to get one, but he was curious about it. Jayne surprised him one night, strange how such a big man could move so silently, in his room as he was on the cortex. "Still thinkin' 'bout tattoos?"
He made a sound of agreement and showed him an image he was looking at. Whoever it was had had thorns dancing all up on his spin from the base to his neck. It was kind of elegant, in a way.
"I wouldn't pick that for you."
"Something small," he repeated, seeing Jayne nod. "Why?"
"Ya got beautiful skin, why cover it all up? Still, might be nice to have something somewhere. Like the back idea," Jayne told him, pressing his fingers into the small of Simon's back again.
"Lecher," he teased.
Jayne flashed him a grin. "Yeah, but not only that. Small one right there'd look good."
"In all seriousness, what would you put there?"
"Ain't my body."
"I'm asking you your opinion. If I don't like it, I wouldn't use it. I just want to know what you think."
"Wouldn't pick hearts or anythin', too girly. Skulls and the like ain't right for you either." His lover studied him for a long moment. "Wouldn't pick nothin' medical either. Needs to be you." Simon waited patiently as Jayne fell silent and just stared at him, clearly thinking deeply about it. "Mebbe a cat?"
Cats again? "Why?" he asked, honestly curious why everyone kept telling him to get a cat.
"Well, cats are elegant and kinda stand-offish. No offense, baobei, but you can be like that. Some have bright blue eyes like yours too. They'll go when they want, but if ya treat 'em right, they'll always come back. They also like bein' clean, always washin' themselves and laidback, but they can fight like a banshee if ya piss 'em off. Sharp claws too, like yer scalpels."
"You know a lot about cats?"
Jayne shrugged. "Worked with a crew once that had one. It was always in my bunk waitin' for me. S'posed to belong to the cap'n, but he never took care of it. Jus' started takin' care of it by instinct and he kept comin' back. Brushed 'im, washed 'im, fed 'im. Missed that cat when I left. Kept tryin' to go with me too, but he belonged to the cap'n and cap'n kept him. Kinda felt sorry for leavin' 'im there."
Simon turned to the cortex and idly searched for cat pictures. His lover pulled another chair closer and sat on it backwards, arms resting over the back of the chair as he straddled it. They looked in companionable silence, which was fine with Simon. He knew that Jayne wasn't good with words and sometimes they weren't needed anyway.
Twenty minutes later, Jayne finally spoke. "What 'bout that one?" He pointed to a small black cat that seemed to be in the middle of reclining, but had lifted its head as something got his attention, turning luminous eyes on the camera. "That one, with blue eyes."
"Aren't Siamese cats the one with blue eyes?"
"Don't have to be exact, Simon. If yer gonna have a cat an' I'm the one puttin' it there, it's gonna have blue eyes like yours."
Well he had no real argument there. "All right. Tomorrow then?"
"Yeah. Now..."
Simon laughed as those hands slid under the back of his shirt once more, but this time it was definitely for something more carnal.
As it turned out, he didn't get his tattoo until a week later as a job unexpectedly surfaced. Jayne ushered him into the infirmary with a bag under his arm and closed the door, then tinted the windows. "'Kay, take off the shirt an' sit on the chair backwards. Where's some of yer gloves? Don't want you to get nothin' bad."
"That left-hand second drawer." He eyed Jayne, but did as told after he saw that Jayne had found them. One of his trays was appropriated for his lover's bag and he felt bare hands pressing into his back at various intervals down his spine until he came to the base of it. There was a mutter in Chinese and they slid around his front to undo the button on his pants and push them down until some of his behind was visible.
"Jayne?"
"Need to get a good area. Lean forward and get comfy. Gonna take a bit of time."
Simon leaned forward and braced his arms against the back of it, but since it was more of a bed than anything else, he was mostly laying on his stomach. Something damp touched his back and it felt as if Jayne was making sure the area was clean and sterilized. Legs nudged his to straddle what he could of the side of the chair. It wasn't the most comfortable, but he could see why a moment later as Jayne sat down a little further back. "You want a shot of painkiller, Simon? Probably gonna hurt some."
"I'll be fine."
Jayne eyed him skeptically, but got to work, pressing a small needle into back as he worked to create the cat on his back. After the first minute, he was really starting to wish he had agreed. Apparently by the tension in his shoulders, Jayne got the message. "Thought you'd change yer mind."
"I rather wished you'd insisted on it. Top shelf."
Jayne brought him both the painkiller and the needle and he quickly administered the drug. Only when it had taken effect did Jayne continue what he was doing. Like in his room, they were quiet, but mostly because Simon didn't want to distract Jayne. Fifteen minutes in and he heard voices coming closer, the door opening.
"Doc--oh." Simon was about to turn his head when Jayne growled, using the sound to tell him not to.
"Heya Mal."
"What are you doing?"
Simon wished he could see what was going on. Jayne grunted. "What's it look like?"
"Oh, that's pretty, Simon!" Kaylee told him.
"Really? Is it turning out well?"
"Yeah. Though why'd you get it there? You can't see it for yerself."
"I could with a mirror."
"Could you both not be here right now?"
"Why is that?" Mal asked him, his voice seeming full of vague amusement as Simon heard another pair of booted feet approach.
"Nice tattoo," Zoe murmured.
"I ain't wantin' all three of ya lookin' at Simon's ass crack! Only I can do that! An' everybody stop leanin' over me, makes me nervous!"
"Jayne!" Simon argued, feeling a blush go all the way up his cheeks.
"...I could do without some of that mental imagery," Mal muttered. "I think we'd best leave it to Jayne."
"Good luck! I've got a mirror you can use later, Simon," Kaylee called.
Silence descended as six feet left the infirmary and Jayne resolutely closed the door. He muttered under his breath in Chinese again. "You okay? You need another shot?"
"No, I'm fine." This time he was telling the truth. The area that Jayne was working on was still pleasantly numb to most sensations.
He honestly had no idea how long it took, as he fell asleep at some point. The next thing Simon knew, Jayne was shaking his shoulder. "Hey, baobei. All done. You know what happens an' all after that? With the skin flakin' an' all?"
"Yes. We've had some come to the hospital after some bad jobs."
Jayne shifted and settled on the long chair, letting Simon sit in his lap. "Gonna let it dry for now an' all. Keep it clean for awhile an' all that."
He leaned in and kissed Jayne lightly. "Does it look good?"
"Yeah. Eyes are just like yers. Black fur and white feet."
"White feet? Wasn't it all black in the picture?"
"Had ta give it white feet. Black for yer hair, and white for yer skin, and blue for yer eyes."
"You put a lot of thought into that."
"It's for my baobei, I had to." He smiled a little. Really, sometimes Jayne could be-- "'Sides, where it is now is right above one of yer best features!" Just to prove his point, Jayne gave him a lecherous smile and squeezed his ass.
Still very crass. Simon just shook his head. That was just like his Jayne.
~!~!~!~!~
The last person Jayne expected to see in his bunk, waiting for him, was River. She was wearing those really tight, skin tight really, shorts and that loose shirt. They were both items that Kaylee had given her and they emphasized her figure. As usual, she was barefoot.
"Uh..."
"Take me shopping."
Jayne blinked. "What?"
"Persephone. Take me shopping."
Well they were landing in two hours, but he really wasn't keen on spending a lot of time with River. He knew that this was the sister of his lover, but she freaked him out. Something about her reading his thoughts scared him. He had things up there that he didn't want anyone knowing, and other things he didn't in particular want Simon knowing.
Still, with the way she was looking at him, he thought it wasn't wise to argue. It was a look that he knew well from Kaylee and Zoe, and placed on River's face, it was instant obedience in him. He'd learned that look meant that womenfolk could make him very sorry if he didn't obey. "...Okay."
Rather than letting him leave, as if reading the fact that he probably would have attempted to 'disappear' just in time, River sat on his bunk and trained her intense eyes on him the entire two hours. He tried to concentrate on cleaning his guns and sharpening his knives, but it was nerve-wracking. She even escorted him to the open cargo bay doors when they landed, pulling shoes she had hidden in his room somewhere on her feet. Simon spotted them and he could see the confusion in his eyes. "River? Jayne? Where are you going?"
"Shopping," she told him, wrapping her arms around one of Jayne's.
Simon glanced between the two and Jayne couldn't begin to decipher the look on the doctor's face. Was he jealous or worried? If he was worried, was it about Jayne or River? Maybe both? What was that expression if it wasn't either of those emotions?
"I don't know if that's wise, River..."
"I'll take care of her," Jayne found himself saying. Surprise flitted over Simon's features and he couldn't help feeling a just a tiny bit annoyed. Did Simon really think that he'd hurt her or turn her in? Hadn't he made it clear that he was sorry? Then again, Simon was always worrying over River no matter what, he told himself.
"Safe with Jayne," River added and started pulling Jayne from the ship. He glanced over his shoulder and there was a different but equally complicated look on Simon's face.
For a bit, River had them wander through the streets with no apparent destination in mind. He didn't know what she planned on 'shopping' for, since he doubted she had any money. Turned out he was right because she eventually led him to a small area where there were no people around. One of the few grassy areas left on Persephone. It was also a hill, which meant he had a good look at the shipyard.
"You love Simon?"
Jayne looked at her, but she was staring down at Serenity instead of him. "Don't you already know that?"
"Do you?" she insisted, looking at him.
"...I do," he answered after a minute.
"You'd do anything for Simon?"
"Yeah."
"Die for him?"
His eyes flickered down, making sure she didn't have any weapons in her hands. Not that she needed weapons to be deadly. She could probably, twig as she was, snap his neck. He didn't trust what he saw with her after seeing her take out the entire bar. "Yeah." Jayne shifted awkwardly. "Look, I know yer Simon's sis an' I--"
"Not relevant."
"What?"
"I'm not relevant." River sat down, drawing her legs up to her chest. "All that matters is Simon and you."
He frowned. "That ain't true."
She looked at him in surprise.
"It ain't!" he argued. "You mean the world to Simon, mebbe more'n me. He can't be with someone that you don't like." Jayne's hands clenched on his belt. "...I'm sorry, 'bout Ariel. Really. Yer freaky and kinda scare me, but I did wrong by you an' Simon."
"...Thank you."
"For what?"
"Honesty." She settled back on the grass. "Glad Simon found you. Glad you found Simon."
That was odd... It wasn't so much found; they were always on the ship. "Uh...yeah."
"Hurt him and I'll kill you with my brain."
Jayne shivered. "I hear that."
He waited, impatient to be off, while she relaxed on the grass for the next two hours. Once she felt ready to go, she wouldn't let him go to Serenity immediately. Instead, she made him buy, from his own money, a shirt. For a minute, he thought it was for Simon, but she held it close to herself and appeared to be measuring it. Just as they reached the cargo bay doors, she stopped him and handed him the shirt she'd been carrying. "Give it to Simon."
"Why don't you give it to him?"
"It's from you, to Simon."
"You picked it out--"
She stared into his eyes. "It's from you to Simon."
Well he wasn't about to argue there if she was going to give him the creepy eyes... "If you say so."
For all that River insisted that he give it to Simon, he had no real reason to. Sure, he'd settled those gifts on Simon's pillow for no reason other than he wanted to, but something this nice should be kept for a special occasion. It wasn't the really high class things that he was sure his lover was used to, but it definitely was more than a random t-shirt. It was the softest cotton that he'd ever felt. It would probably be slightly loose on Simon, but that was nice. It wasn't a button-up kind, so he could lounge around in it and relax. So instead of giving it to him right away, Jayne hid it in his bunk. Being so polite, he knew that Simon wouldn't be going through his things.
Much to everyone's frustration, a brand new warrant for Simon and River flooded the cortex. Apparently that Operative didn't have as much pull as he thought he did, because the Alliance wasn't about to let either of the siblings go without a fight. They had an aggressive ad campaign going, 'debunking' the Miranda broadcast. Jayne privately thought it was a little late for that. They'd fumbled the ball by not replying to the broadcast until months later, so by now, everyone pretty much believed it.
At first, Jayne didn't notice it. It was just a small cough and even seemed under Simon's doctorly radar. Then again, it helped that he distracted his lover, particularly with sex. It wasn't until he was dragged back by Mal and Zoe from a job gone bad. After all, when had a job ever gone right?
"It's just a shallow wound," Simon murmured as he examined the cut on his leg. "It shouldn't even need stitches."
He coughed into his hand without thinking about it. "Great."
Simon looked up in surprise. "How long have you had that cough?"
Jayne blinked. "Huh?" He thought back over the last month. "'Bout a week, why?"
His lover frowned. "Why didn't you mention it?"
"Didn't think I needed to. I feel fine, Simon. Really."
Completely disregarding what he said, Simon turned to grab something from a drawer. Jayne tried to lean around to see what it was, but he might as well not have bothered. His lover held out a thermometer. "Put it under your tongue and leave it there for a bit."
"Awww, Simon, do I hafta? I toldja I feel fine!"
There was no getting out of it no matter how Jayne wheedled and he sat there with Simon watching him the whole time. Whenever he looked as if he was about to speak, a dangerous glint appeared in the doctor's eyes and he thought better of the impulse. After a minute, Simon took the thermometer from him. "Well, it's not particularly unusual. It's a degree or two higher than normal, but nothing to really cause alarm."
"See? An' I was just in a fight, so that could account for it, right?"
"Possibly," Simon acknowledged hesitantly.
"Don't worry about it then." He kissed his lover's forehead and stood up, leaving the infirmary.
A few hours later, he was seriously wishing he hadn't done that. His plan had been to take a shower, clean his guns, go to dinner, and then maybe get in some lovin' time with Simon. Everything went out the air ducts halfway through cleaning his guns. His throat felt unbelievably scratchy and actually hurt when he coughed, something he was keen to note after Simon brought it up. Jayne barely finished reassembling the gun he was cleaning before he laid himself flat out on the bed, hoping a nap would fix it all. Logically, he knew that wouldn't happen, but he was feeling too embarrassed to admit what he felt because he'd been so sure to Simon earlier that he was fine.
He shouldn't have worried. The next time he woke up, Simon was already there and giving him a shot. "Nngh. Simon? Whatcha doin'?"
"You missed dinner, so I came to check on you. Good thing I did, you're running a fever."
"I am?" He swallowed thickly and winced when it only made his throat hurt. "What is it?"
Simon set the needle aside and sat down next to Jayne on his bed. There was a grave look on his face that made Jayne's heart plummet to his feet. "Jayne, I don't know how to tell you this. I'm sorry to say..."
How was he going to explain that he was going to die to his Mum?
"...that you have the common cold."
She'd cry--wait, what? "Wait, what?" he demanded hoarsely.
Simon, the little bastard, was smirking at him! Even...was that a fucking giggle?! "Little shit..."
"I-I'm sorry," Simon told him, in between laughter. "R-Really. I couldn't help it. You just looked so concerned and worried!"
Jayne growled. "I'll show you worry!" He yanked Simon onto the bed and loomed over him before he proceeded to tickle Simon in places that he was sure his lover hadn't known he'd noticed. Cold or no, Jayne found a grin coming to his face. He was proud of Simon for even thinking of teasing him like that! How dare he use his doctor-background to scare a man silly like that!
"No, no, you really should rest!" Simon managed to get out of his laughter as he attempted to squirm away from Jayne.
"Where d'ya think yer goin'?" Jayne pinned Simon onto his back with his own body weight, but he at least stopped torturing Simon for a short bit. "Didn't think my baobei would be so evil and cruel to torture a guy worried over his health."
"You honestly didn't think it was anything serious, did you?" Simon retorted, looking over his shoulder.
"Nah, not really, but ya had me goin' there for a minute."
There was that smirk again. "Yes, I did, didn't I?"
"I must be a bad influence on you."
"Just terrible, I know. Now rest!"
It wasn't so bad, having Simon pamper him while he was sick. He took advantage wherever he could get it, having Simon fetch him near everything. The rest of the crew seemed to find amusement in this, even River. However, by the time Jayne managed to kick the cold, it had already spread. It was as if it had bounced from him to Simon, then Simon to Zoe and on and on. River was one of the last to get it, but get it she did. Inara had to cancel her appointments and all jobs they'd had on the line were canceled or put on hold.
Jayne didn't like how Simon stayed in the infirmary during the cold-crisis. Even when he was nearly coughing up a lung himself, he was in there with someone else and trying to fix them. He also seemed to ignore Jayne when he stood in the doorway with his arms crossed and glared. How was anyone supposed to get better when their doctor was just as sick as them? It seemed particularly virulent because the atmosphere was entirely made up of recycled air. Simon was the first to notice this, and the fact that likely, any who got over the cold would just get sick again in short order because of that.
Mal put them down on the nearest moon he could find. Jayne opened the cargo bay to allow fresh air to get inside the ship, noting that there was a small town nearby, but not much else. Pretty sparse, all things considered. Still, the fresh air helped. Kaylee started to perk up a bit despite still being sick as a dog and Jayne was often sent into town to pick up whatever it was Simon decided they needed to recover.
Stuck on the planet for a week and a half didn't do much for Jayne. He spent most of the time working out or in the cargo bay. The doors were open most of the time and no one wanted any 'unfriendly' people on board. It was a hard thing to kick and Kaylee, when she was better, flushed the entire system and brought in new air, just to make sure that it was gone.
Mal and Zoe disappeared for a few hours and when they came back, Jayne could tell something was up even before the crew was gathered in the galley.
"As I'm sure we've all noticed by now, we're better. What you don't know is how low we are on money. We damn near spent all of our combined shares on fresh food and medicine. We'll run low on fuel soon and we don't have enough to buy more at this juncture."
"You wouldn't have brought us here if you didn't have a solution," Simon said.
"You're right about that. In town, Zoe and I ran across a mercenary band that are looking to get offworld. They're willing to give us half now and half later. That half now will get us the fuel for a five day push to where they want to go and the rest we can start saving money again, or get whatever else we need. The amount isn't anything to sneer at. However, given the renewed warrants and the fact that mercenaries by nature are rarely good at keeping quiet, much less not taking advantage of what they see, I don't want them seein' hide nor hair of Simon and River. This means that for five days, you two will be confined to a bunk. Simon, you'll stay with Jayne for obvious reasons. There are a few of these mercenaries and we'll put them in the guest rooms, so move your stuff to Jayne's bunk. River, you'll stay in mine." Seeing Kaylee's look, Mal explained, "I know you two are good friends and all, but these are rough guys. In fact, I want you to stay in Zoe's room and keep yours locked. Inara, keep your shuttle locked at all times and someone will 'escort' you back and forth without making it obvious that we're doing just that."
"Are they really that bad?" Inara asked quietly.
"They have a...mixed reputation and I don't want to chance behaviors, particularly if they decide to get rowdy or drunk or both. That's why at night, we'll rotate who stays up. Zoe, Jayne, and myself will take turns keeping an eye on the ship at night just to make sure no one 'wanders'. I don't like this any more than the rest of you, but we need the fare."
There were silent nods and Jayne followed behind Simon as he headed for his room to pick up his things. River didn't seem to have much more than a handful, mostly clothes. Simon actually had things to pack and move.
"I realize that the Captain is right, but I still don't like it."
Jayne sighed. "This time I think ya got a right to worry. Mercenaries ain't the most trustworthy of folk." He pulled Simon close, disrupting him from packing. "I'll make sure ya safe, though. You an' River."
"...Thank you, Jayne."
He was infinitely glad that Mal didn't tell him that he couldn't wear any guns when the mercenaries boarded. There were four men and one woman, all dressed in as good a fashion as money could afford in the mercenary business. Obviously they had had some good times. As Mal pasted on a smile and greeted them, Jayne studied the leader of their guests. He looked shifty as all hell and his hand unconsciously began to creep toward the gun on his holster...
"Jayne?!"
Everyone blinked at the bright, feminine voice and Jayne turned just in time. She leapt up into his arms and he nearly fell over at the sudden weight. He finally got a good look at her and almost gasped. "Carrie?"
Mal was giving him that look that said he was in for it, but he'd honestly had no idea that his former sex buddy was part of the mercenary group. Once he'd left the last group they'd been in together, he hadn't seen her for a good two years or more.
"Heya, cute stuff!"
Jayne leaned back against the mule as he attempted to divest himself from the new Carrie-Vest he had attached to his front. She sensed his struggling and thankfully stood on her own two feet. "Carrie, yer part of this group?"
Carrie winked at him. "Well, yeah. Good pay, exciting work, I can see all kinds of new places. Talk about shiny, right? Why don't you join? You'd like it here."
He could feel Mal and Zoe's intent eyes on him. "Nah, I'm good here. Got my own bunk an' everythin'."
As soon as he said the words, Jayne knew that it was a mistake. She smirked at him and leaned in close. "I look forward to seeing it."
"Captain, if you wouldn't mind?" Mal muttered, addressing the leader of the group.
"Carrie!" The voice was harsh and uncompromising in its authority, and much to Jayne's surprise, Carrie scampered over back to the group. He could still see her energy and brightness in her eyes that said she'd rather be doing what she had been doing, but she was obedient to her boss.
Jayne didn't listen too closely to Mal's long rundown of what was and wasn't allowed for their group. In truth, he was feeling very uncomfortable with Carrie around. He was a man and she had a great body, that didn't leave much choice in the matter of his arousal, but he certainly wasn't about to act on it with Simon in the picture. His biological reaction notwithstanding, he couldn't help but feel bad that Simon was going to be stuck in his room for five days and he'd have to dodge Carrie for five days, and hope she didn't just go in his room without his permission and find Simon and--
This was going to be a really long week.
Mal gestured at him as the group broke up and Zoe showed their guests to their temporary quarters.
"So?"
Jayne grimaced. "Carrie was a sex buddy coupla years ago. That's all we was, Mal. Carrie didn't want nothin' permanent, neither did I. In fact, I don't really want her on this ship at all after everythin' with Simon." Mal's face was deceptively blank and Jayne wondered what was going on in there. "An' don't you even start thinkin' that I'm gonna cheat on Simon, I can--"
"I know."
"What?"
Mal actually smiled at him a little. "I know. You might love sex, Jayne, but you can control your impulses. In that at least, I'm sure you'll remain faithful to Simon. Just don't expect him to be happy about the fact that she's clearly going to be chasin' tail the entire time she's on this ship and he's stuck in a room constantly worrying."
"He should learn to trust me!"
"It ain't a matter of trust, Jayne. It's a bit of jealousy and while I'm sure he trusts you, there's still that thought in the back of his head. He trusts you; he won't trust her."
"Hell, if Carrie ever attempts to force me, I'd actually be kinda humbled. Pretty rare for a woman to try shovin' a man down, ya know. I'm kiddin'!" Jayne added, seeing a disapproving look sent his way.
"I want you to be very alert. You're responsible for Simon's safety."
"Speaking of which..." Jayne paused them near the cockpit. "Why'd you put River in yer room? You ain't movin' from Inara to River, are ya?"
Mal stared at him as if he'd just lost his mind. "Are you crazy? She's sixteen, Jayne! No, I put her with me for the same reason I insisted that Kaylee stays with Zoe in her bunk and doesn't wander around the engine room at night. Hell, if there was one more person here, I'd bunk Inara up with someone too, but there ain't no one else and she can lock that shuttle door good and tight. That, and I hope she doesn't show up all that often in five days so there's less of a target."
"What's the thinkin'?"
"I just don't want any temptation around. I'm not saying I don't trust their word that they'll behave, but I'd rather not tempt it all the same. Like I said, they don't exactly got the shiniest reputation in this side of the 'verse. I'll take rounds tonight, Zoe tomorrow night, and you after that. Then me, and Zoe, and if all goes to plan, they'll be off the day after that."
"Shiny," Jayne said in acknowledgment.
~!~!~!~!~
"You're...what?"
"Sex friend."
Simon's face was flat and disapproving as he sat on the bed. "Sex friend."
"Yeah. Coupla years ago we got into the habit of sexin' each other in between jobs. We was only friends with some sexin' on the side, Simon. It ain't like what I feel for you." Jayne paused. "Ya trust me not to cheat on ya? 'Cause it has to cross yer mind while yer sittin' in here all day and I'm out there."
"I can't say it didn't cross my mind when you mentioned her, but I know you won't. I just don't trust her not to put you in some ambiguous situations that will make you uncomfortable." Simon did something Jayne had rarely seen the doctor do: fidget. "After all, heat of the moment sort of thing. I'm not saying you would, but it might get a little...frisky before you can pull away?"
Jayne couldn't tell if he was annoyed or not over what Simon was thinking, but at least he told him about it and that he gave his lover points for. He was glad that Simon at least was confident enough in their relationship to speak his mind. "She can be a bit pushy, an' she might get me aroused, but first place I'll come is here, 'cause yer the only one I want to be sexin'." He leaned over Simon, enjoying the way it forced Simon to bend his neck to look straight up at him. "Only one I love is you, baobei, so stop thinkin' like that. I need you to trust me."
They both knew that this would be a big test of their relationship. Would Simon get jealous and how bad? How far would that trust go, particularly after Ariel? Simon had said that he'd forgiven him, but what about in his subconscious? If Simon couldn't trust him when faced with an old sex friend, Jayne couldn't see how the relationship was going to last when he had never stayed his sexual desires before now. It didn't mean he couldn't, but that he just hadn't had a reason to.
Now he did.
"I do and I will," Simon told him, his face resolute, and Jayne nodded. He'd believe him, but still watch.
Jayne wasn't surprised at Carrie's aggressiveness so soon; Carrie had never waited to get what she wanted and so therefore when she showed up during his weight-lifting sessions, he expected her in some degree. "Need a spotter?"
"Sure." He put down the hand weights and relaxed on the bench as she lowered the bar in his hands. Jayne had always viewed Carrie as a good male friend stuck in a female body. She enjoyed weight-lifting, cleaning guns, a good fight. There wasn't anyone better to have as an ally, and no one worse to have as an enemy, except for maybe Mal. He'd known people that she'd carried a grudge against for years and the moment she saw them again, she tried to tear their eyes out.
As she spotted him, he spotted her and their weight-lifting was also a way to catch up. They swapped outrageous job stories to see which trumped them all, but Jayne privately thought he won, hands down, after the jobs that went completely wrong since meeting Mal. Still, most of the really good ones that would have beat hers, he couldn't tell because they involved Simon and his sister. Before long, Jayne felt as if they had never parted. Kaylee gave them concerned glances as she made her way up from the engine room to dinner, but didn't say anything.
It was as Jayne was putting away the equipment that her first advance came. Her arms slipped around him from behind to stroke his chest. "What, is this a new scar I feel beneath this shirt? It runs...almost the length of your chest."
He shivered as she lightly touched the scar left behind by River and her butcher's knife before he stepped away. "No, Carrie."
"No what?"
"We ain't pickin' up the sex. I'm bein' faithful."
She burst out laughing, much to his annoyance. He didn't like to be questioned about that because he took real relationships very seriously. "To who? Must be someone on the ship." She pursed her lips as she thought about it. "The warrior woman? What was her name, Zoe? Nah, she's not your type. The little mechanic? I don't mind a threesome, if you don't."
Damn! Jayne couldn't help the fact that two hot women in bed with him was one tasty image, but he restrained himself, remembering Simon waiting anxiously in worry in his bunk, both in regards to their relationship and being caught. "Well the one I'm datin' isn't a threesome type."
"Then do they have to know?"
Jayne frowned. "Carrie, I realize ya don't mean any disrespect, but I don't like that kind of question. I ain't gonna be unfaithful."
Carrie stared at him in a surprised manner, and he didn't blame her. This side of himself he hadn't any reason to show her before. "You really love her, don't you? Whoever you're with, that is."
"Yeah."
"I...have to think about that." At the sound of stomachs rumbling, she added in an almost shaky fashion that he didn't understand, "Time for chow. Let's go."
For a day after that, Carrie seemed to avoid him. Just like the random nature of her mind, though, she showed up at his workout time again on the third day and acted as if nothing happened. Jayne forgot what they'd talked about and just enjoyed being one of the few that he could actually honestly call a friend. However, things were going too good and apparently some God was attempting to smote him for this horrible crime because it came up again.
"Just a one-last-time?"
"No, Carrie." He was trying to be patient, he really was, but it was starting to fray on his last nerve.
Not two hours later, as he was sitting in his bunk with Simon testing out a new game one of the other mercenary men had taught him that somehow took poker and replaced the cards with five six-sided dice, Kaylee abruptly entered the bunk. He looked up as he rolled them out and attempted to show Simon rules that he hadn't quite grasped himself yet. "Hey, Kaylee."
"What'd you say to that woman?!"
Simon stiffened in front of him.
"Whaddaya mean?"
"She just came up to me and talked to me. Said things like askin' if I minded a threesome! Did you tell her we was sweeties or somethin'?!"
Jayne groaned. "Damn it! I didn't! She assumes we are an' I told her to lay off!"
"Well of course she ain't layin' off!"
He blinked at the response, for a moment forgetting how quiet Simon was being. "Why's that?"
"It's obvious, Jayne! She's in love with ya!"
"...Huh?"
Kaylee rolled her eyes. "Ya don't know a lot about women, do ya, Jayne? Yeah, some women can play the 'sex partners' game fine, but most don't and she ain't an exception. She prolly agreed to start with 'cause she loved ya and figured she'd take what she can get!"
"Why didn't she say nothin' then?"
"Because it's obvious you didn't feel the same, or otherwise she would have said something a long time before. She knows your in love now, but she just has a hard time givin' up somethin' she's held onto for so long!"
Part of him wondered if Kaylee was speaking from experience regarding Simon, but there didn't seem to be any pain in her eyes, only annoyance at his stupidity. "Well...uh...what do I do now?"
"Ugh, you figure it out!" The bright mechanic, obviously disgusted at his lack of knowledge in regard to emotions, climbed up the stairs from his bunk and closed the door behind her.
Jayne turned to Simon, who was rolling some of the dice around in his palm. "I didn't, ya know."
"I know."
There wasn't a hint of uncertainty in Simon's voice and Jayne couldn't help smiling at the belief his lover had in him. "Here, I got somethin' for ya."
He nudged Simon off the bed so he could hunt around beneath the mattress for the t-shirt that he'd bought in what seemed eons ago. "Here."
Simon took the somewhat rumpled shirt and softly felt it in his hands. "It looks so comfortable." Jayne watched as the doctor pulled off the shirt he was wearing and exchanged it for the black cotton shirt he had given him. The sleeves were elbow-length but loose and it fell attractively around Simon's shoulders.
Jayne stepped up and wrapped his arms around his lover. "Love you, baobei."
"Thank you, Jayne."
"Welcome."
The next two days were full of tension between Carrie and Jayne even though she acted as if nothing had changed. Mal seemed only too happy to get rid of the group when they landed on Athens and collected the other half of the payment. Nothing untoward had happened, which was clearly making Mal happy that their plan hadn't gone awry. Jayne leaned against some crates as the mercenaries filed out, Carrie stopping at the edge of the ramp.
"I love you, you know," she whispered, her back to him.
Jayne might not have noticed her feelings, but he did notice the shaky tone in her voice as if she was about to cry. "I know," he answered quietly. That was all he had to say and she understood, or he hoped she did, that he couldn't love her back. He had never felt that way about her even before Simon.
"Good."
That was the last he saw of Carrie.
baobei: sweetheart
shagua: fool, damned fool, idiot
tzao gao: crap
(Note: I don't know how tattooing works, or whether it would have changed in the future. Just figure Jayne's probably got the tools and know-how since he mentions it in 'Ariel'. )
Chinese translations: http://fireflychinese.kevinsullivansite.net/)
Sorry about taking so long getting this out. School just started, so...
Still open to further suggestions for plotsies or ideas.
Word Count: 7,415
Pages: 19
Chapter: Oneshot
Status: Complete
Sequel to: Not Exactly Casanova/Fight For Him
Rating: NC-17 (Just to be safe, but there's really nothing bad in here except some language)
Disclaimer: If I had any control, I would have pounded Fox into the ground and never let it off the air.
Summery: A tattoo and an old flame.
Author Notes and translations at the end of the story.
"Hey you!"
Simon blinked, turning to look at the voice that rose above the crowd noise. He didn't even know if it was being called to him, but he'd instinctively looked. When their eyes met, he was apparently the one that was being hailed. "Yes?"
"You look like you've got some good skin. You want a tattoo?"
"What?" Out of surprise, he found himself stepping to the side, out of the flow of traffic, and next to the stall. There was a small building behind the man, where he assumed the actual tattooing took place.
"You want a tattoo?" the man asked, attempting to sell the idea to him. "You look like a...rose sort. What about a rose tattoo, with a lover's name?" Seeing his unconvinced expression, the man gave him a good once-over in his casual clothes. As casual as Simon could be in his button shirt and somewhat worn pants. "What about a cat? You're a cat person, right?"
Well his neighbors had had a cat that he'd been fond of playing with when he was little. He could remember the soft fur of the Siamese cat and how she'd wind around his ankles. She had always been sort of aloof when she didn't want to be petted, but it appeared more as if she 'humored' him as a child.
The man, clearly wondering if he was getting somewhere, pulled out a worn notebook and started showing him pictures. Simon caught flashes of naked women, men, dragons, and all kinds of things as they passed by while he flipped to the section with cats. "'Course these are just guides, I can make any kind of cat picture. How about on the back of yer shoulder, or yer arm? Bring in the ladies, I bet!"
Simon tilted his head, thinking of Jayne's tattoo. It suited his lover somehow. Was Jayne a 'cat person' too? And was Simon a cat person? He'd never considered himself as a person that leant toward any kind of animal in particular.
"See anything you like? We could put somethin' on yer belly button, or back."
He opened his mouth to tell the man that he wasn't really interested when his name was shouted over the crowd. Inwardly, he rolled his eyes and sighed. Yelling out his name in a crowd was not the best of ideas, but he let it go. A muscled arm was thrown around his shoulders and Jayne looked down at the short man. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Just showin' the man my selection of tattoos so he can find somethin' he likes."
There was a long pause, long enough that Simon looked over his shoulder at Jayne. "He ain't interested," his lover answered, tugging Simon away without his permission.
"Hey," Simon argued. It wasn't that he'd wanted one, but just the fact that he hadn't been allowed to choose.
"What? You wanted one?"
"I might have."
"Hell, Simon, I'll give ya one. I know how it works, but you don't want one from him."
"Why not? What was wrong with him?"
"Didja see his equipment?"
"No. I didn't think to look. I assumed it was inside the building behind him."
"Nah. He does it right there. I seen his type. He sits ya down on a crate and does it right there. Needs to be done in a building at least, so no sand or dirt can get in there."
Simon wrinkled his nose a little. "Or worse."
"Yeah." Jayne, his arm still around Simon's shoulders, led him back inside Serenity. "Didja really want a tattoo?"
"I don't know. I hadn't given it serious thought. What do you think?" he asked out of curiosity.
Jayne looked him up and down and said unexpectedly, "Maybe if it was a small one. You look find the way ya are, but maybe a small one would be fine. Not one like mine."
Seeing as Jayne said he knew how tattooing worked, he asked, "Where would you suggest putting it?"
His lover gave him a smirk and hands slid up the back of his shirt until he could feel thumbs pressing into the small of his back just above his behind. "I'd put it right here," Jayne whispered in his ear. "Maybe tattoo 'Belongs to Jayne Cobb'."
Simon rolled his eyes and smacked Jayne's hands away, but he couldn't help smiling at hearing the mercenary's laughter following his retreating back.
The idea continued to bounce around in his head for awhile, though. If he did get a tattoo, what would he get? He didn't feel a pressing need to get one, but he was curious about it. Jayne surprised him one night, strange how such a big man could move so silently, in his room as he was on the cortex. "Still thinkin' 'bout tattoos?"
He made a sound of agreement and showed him an image he was looking at. Whoever it was had had thorns dancing all up on his spin from the base to his neck. It was kind of elegant, in a way.
"I wouldn't pick that for you."
"Something small," he repeated, seeing Jayne nod. "Why?"
"Ya got beautiful skin, why cover it all up? Still, might be nice to have something somewhere. Like the back idea," Jayne told him, pressing his fingers into the small of Simon's back again.
"Lecher," he teased.
Jayne flashed him a grin. "Yeah, but not only that. Small one right there'd look good."
"In all seriousness, what would you put there?"
"Ain't my body."
"I'm asking you your opinion. If I don't like it, I wouldn't use it. I just want to know what you think."
"Wouldn't pick hearts or anythin', too girly. Skulls and the like ain't right for you either." His lover studied him for a long moment. "Wouldn't pick nothin' medical either. Needs to be you." Simon waited patiently as Jayne fell silent and just stared at him, clearly thinking deeply about it. "Mebbe a cat?"
Cats again? "Why?" he asked, honestly curious why everyone kept telling him to get a cat.
"Well, cats are elegant and kinda stand-offish. No offense, baobei, but you can be like that. Some have bright blue eyes like yours too. They'll go when they want, but if ya treat 'em right, they'll always come back. They also like bein' clean, always washin' themselves and laidback, but they can fight like a banshee if ya piss 'em off. Sharp claws too, like yer scalpels."
"You know a lot about cats?"
Jayne shrugged. "Worked with a crew once that had one. It was always in my bunk waitin' for me. S'posed to belong to the cap'n, but he never took care of it. Jus' started takin' care of it by instinct and he kept comin' back. Brushed 'im, washed 'im, fed 'im. Missed that cat when I left. Kept tryin' to go with me too, but he belonged to the cap'n and cap'n kept him. Kinda felt sorry for leavin' 'im there."
Simon turned to the cortex and idly searched for cat pictures. His lover pulled another chair closer and sat on it backwards, arms resting over the back of the chair as he straddled it. They looked in companionable silence, which was fine with Simon. He knew that Jayne wasn't good with words and sometimes they weren't needed anyway.
Twenty minutes later, Jayne finally spoke. "What 'bout that one?" He pointed to a small black cat that seemed to be in the middle of reclining, but had lifted its head as something got his attention, turning luminous eyes on the camera. "That one, with blue eyes."
"Aren't Siamese cats the one with blue eyes?"
"Don't have to be exact, Simon. If yer gonna have a cat an' I'm the one puttin' it there, it's gonna have blue eyes like yours."
Well he had no real argument there. "All right. Tomorrow then?"
"Yeah. Now..."
Simon laughed as those hands slid under the back of his shirt once more, but this time it was definitely for something more carnal.
As it turned out, he didn't get his tattoo until a week later as a job unexpectedly surfaced. Jayne ushered him into the infirmary with a bag under his arm and closed the door, then tinted the windows. "'Kay, take off the shirt an' sit on the chair backwards. Where's some of yer gloves? Don't want you to get nothin' bad."
"That left-hand second drawer." He eyed Jayne, but did as told after he saw that Jayne had found them. One of his trays was appropriated for his lover's bag and he felt bare hands pressing into his back at various intervals down his spine until he came to the base of it. There was a mutter in Chinese and they slid around his front to undo the button on his pants and push them down until some of his behind was visible.
"Jayne?"
"Need to get a good area. Lean forward and get comfy. Gonna take a bit of time."
Simon leaned forward and braced his arms against the back of it, but since it was more of a bed than anything else, he was mostly laying on his stomach. Something damp touched his back and it felt as if Jayne was making sure the area was clean and sterilized. Legs nudged his to straddle what he could of the side of the chair. It wasn't the most comfortable, but he could see why a moment later as Jayne sat down a little further back. "You want a shot of painkiller, Simon? Probably gonna hurt some."
"I'll be fine."
Jayne eyed him skeptically, but got to work, pressing a small needle into back as he worked to create the cat on his back. After the first minute, he was really starting to wish he had agreed. Apparently by the tension in his shoulders, Jayne got the message. "Thought you'd change yer mind."
"I rather wished you'd insisted on it. Top shelf."
Jayne brought him both the painkiller and the needle and he quickly administered the drug. Only when it had taken effect did Jayne continue what he was doing. Like in his room, they were quiet, but mostly because Simon didn't want to distract Jayne. Fifteen minutes in and he heard voices coming closer, the door opening.
"Doc--oh." Simon was about to turn his head when Jayne growled, using the sound to tell him not to.
"Heya Mal."
"What are you doing?"
Simon wished he could see what was going on. Jayne grunted. "What's it look like?"
"Oh, that's pretty, Simon!" Kaylee told him.
"Really? Is it turning out well?"
"Yeah. Though why'd you get it there? You can't see it for yerself."
"I could with a mirror."
"Could you both not be here right now?"
"Why is that?" Mal asked him, his voice seeming full of vague amusement as Simon heard another pair of booted feet approach.
"Nice tattoo," Zoe murmured.
"I ain't wantin' all three of ya lookin' at Simon's ass crack! Only I can do that! An' everybody stop leanin' over me, makes me nervous!"
"Jayne!" Simon argued, feeling a blush go all the way up his cheeks.
"...I could do without some of that mental imagery," Mal muttered. "I think we'd best leave it to Jayne."
"Good luck! I've got a mirror you can use later, Simon," Kaylee called.
Silence descended as six feet left the infirmary and Jayne resolutely closed the door. He muttered under his breath in Chinese again. "You okay? You need another shot?"
"No, I'm fine." This time he was telling the truth. The area that Jayne was working on was still pleasantly numb to most sensations.
He honestly had no idea how long it took, as he fell asleep at some point. The next thing Simon knew, Jayne was shaking his shoulder. "Hey, baobei. All done. You know what happens an' all after that? With the skin flakin' an' all?"
"Yes. We've had some come to the hospital after some bad jobs."
Jayne shifted and settled on the long chair, letting Simon sit in his lap. "Gonna let it dry for now an' all. Keep it clean for awhile an' all that."
He leaned in and kissed Jayne lightly. "Does it look good?"
"Yeah. Eyes are just like yers. Black fur and white feet."
"White feet? Wasn't it all black in the picture?"
"Had ta give it white feet. Black for yer hair, and white for yer skin, and blue for yer eyes."
"You put a lot of thought into that."
"It's for my baobei, I had to." He smiled a little. Really, sometimes Jayne could be-- "'Sides, where it is now is right above one of yer best features!" Just to prove his point, Jayne gave him a lecherous smile and squeezed his ass.
Still very crass. Simon just shook his head. That was just like his Jayne.
~!~!~!~!~
The last person Jayne expected to see in his bunk, waiting for him, was River. She was wearing those really tight, skin tight really, shorts and that loose shirt. They were both items that Kaylee had given her and they emphasized her figure. As usual, she was barefoot.
"Uh..."
"Take me shopping."
Jayne blinked. "What?"
"Persephone. Take me shopping."
Well they were landing in two hours, but he really wasn't keen on spending a lot of time with River. He knew that this was the sister of his lover, but she freaked him out. Something about her reading his thoughts scared him. He had things up there that he didn't want anyone knowing, and other things he didn't in particular want Simon knowing.
Still, with the way she was looking at him, he thought it wasn't wise to argue. It was a look that he knew well from Kaylee and Zoe, and placed on River's face, it was instant obedience in him. He'd learned that look meant that womenfolk could make him very sorry if he didn't obey. "...Okay."
Rather than letting him leave, as if reading the fact that he probably would have attempted to 'disappear' just in time, River sat on his bunk and trained her intense eyes on him the entire two hours. He tried to concentrate on cleaning his guns and sharpening his knives, but it was nerve-wracking. She even escorted him to the open cargo bay doors when they landed, pulling shoes she had hidden in his room somewhere on her feet. Simon spotted them and he could see the confusion in his eyes. "River? Jayne? Where are you going?"
"Shopping," she told him, wrapping her arms around one of Jayne's.
Simon glanced between the two and Jayne couldn't begin to decipher the look on the doctor's face. Was he jealous or worried? If he was worried, was it about Jayne or River? Maybe both? What was that expression if it wasn't either of those emotions?
"I don't know if that's wise, River..."
"I'll take care of her," Jayne found himself saying. Surprise flitted over Simon's features and he couldn't help feeling a just a tiny bit annoyed. Did Simon really think that he'd hurt her or turn her in? Hadn't he made it clear that he was sorry? Then again, Simon was always worrying over River no matter what, he told himself.
"Safe with Jayne," River added and started pulling Jayne from the ship. He glanced over his shoulder and there was a different but equally complicated look on Simon's face.
For a bit, River had them wander through the streets with no apparent destination in mind. He didn't know what she planned on 'shopping' for, since he doubted she had any money. Turned out he was right because she eventually led him to a small area where there were no people around. One of the few grassy areas left on Persephone. It was also a hill, which meant he had a good look at the shipyard.
"You love Simon?"
Jayne looked at her, but she was staring down at Serenity instead of him. "Don't you already know that?"
"Do you?" she insisted, looking at him.
"...I do," he answered after a minute.
"You'd do anything for Simon?"
"Yeah."
"Die for him?"
His eyes flickered down, making sure she didn't have any weapons in her hands. Not that she needed weapons to be deadly. She could probably, twig as she was, snap his neck. He didn't trust what he saw with her after seeing her take out the entire bar. "Yeah." Jayne shifted awkwardly. "Look, I know yer Simon's sis an' I--"
"Not relevant."
"What?"
"I'm not relevant." River sat down, drawing her legs up to her chest. "All that matters is Simon and you."
He frowned. "That ain't true."
She looked at him in surprise.
"It ain't!" he argued. "You mean the world to Simon, mebbe more'n me. He can't be with someone that you don't like." Jayne's hands clenched on his belt. "...I'm sorry, 'bout Ariel. Really. Yer freaky and kinda scare me, but I did wrong by you an' Simon."
"...Thank you."
"For what?"
"Honesty." She settled back on the grass. "Glad Simon found you. Glad you found Simon."
That was odd... It wasn't so much found; they were always on the ship. "Uh...yeah."
"Hurt him and I'll kill you with my brain."
Jayne shivered. "I hear that."
He waited, impatient to be off, while she relaxed on the grass for the next two hours. Once she felt ready to go, she wouldn't let him go to Serenity immediately. Instead, she made him buy, from his own money, a shirt. For a minute, he thought it was for Simon, but she held it close to herself and appeared to be measuring it. Just as they reached the cargo bay doors, she stopped him and handed him the shirt she'd been carrying. "Give it to Simon."
"Why don't you give it to him?"
"It's from you, to Simon."
"You picked it out--"
She stared into his eyes. "It's from you to Simon."
Well he wasn't about to argue there if she was going to give him the creepy eyes... "If you say so."
For all that River insisted that he give it to Simon, he had no real reason to. Sure, he'd settled those gifts on Simon's pillow for no reason other than he wanted to, but something this nice should be kept for a special occasion. It wasn't the really high class things that he was sure his lover was used to, but it definitely was more than a random t-shirt. It was the softest cotton that he'd ever felt. It would probably be slightly loose on Simon, but that was nice. It wasn't a button-up kind, so he could lounge around in it and relax. So instead of giving it to him right away, Jayne hid it in his bunk. Being so polite, he knew that Simon wouldn't be going through his things.
Much to everyone's frustration, a brand new warrant for Simon and River flooded the cortex. Apparently that Operative didn't have as much pull as he thought he did, because the Alliance wasn't about to let either of the siblings go without a fight. They had an aggressive ad campaign going, 'debunking' the Miranda broadcast. Jayne privately thought it was a little late for that. They'd fumbled the ball by not replying to the broadcast until months later, so by now, everyone pretty much believed it.
At first, Jayne didn't notice it. It was just a small cough and even seemed under Simon's doctorly radar. Then again, it helped that he distracted his lover, particularly with sex. It wasn't until he was dragged back by Mal and Zoe from a job gone bad. After all, when had a job ever gone right?
"It's just a shallow wound," Simon murmured as he examined the cut on his leg. "It shouldn't even need stitches."
He coughed into his hand without thinking about it. "Great."
Simon looked up in surprise. "How long have you had that cough?"
Jayne blinked. "Huh?" He thought back over the last month. "'Bout a week, why?"
His lover frowned. "Why didn't you mention it?"
"Didn't think I needed to. I feel fine, Simon. Really."
Completely disregarding what he said, Simon turned to grab something from a drawer. Jayne tried to lean around to see what it was, but he might as well not have bothered. His lover held out a thermometer. "Put it under your tongue and leave it there for a bit."
"Awww, Simon, do I hafta? I toldja I feel fine!"
There was no getting out of it no matter how Jayne wheedled and he sat there with Simon watching him the whole time. Whenever he looked as if he was about to speak, a dangerous glint appeared in the doctor's eyes and he thought better of the impulse. After a minute, Simon took the thermometer from him. "Well, it's not particularly unusual. It's a degree or two higher than normal, but nothing to really cause alarm."
"See? An' I was just in a fight, so that could account for it, right?"
"Possibly," Simon acknowledged hesitantly.
"Don't worry about it then." He kissed his lover's forehead and stood up, leaving the infirmary.
A few hours later, he was seriously wishing he hadn't done that. His plan had been to take a shower, clean his guns, go to dinner, and then maybe get in some lovin' time with Simon. Everything went out the air ducts halfway through cleaning his guns. His throat felt unbelievably scratchy and actually hurt when he coughed, something he was keen to note after Simon brought it up. Jayne barely finished reassembling the gun he was cleaning before he laid himself flat out on the bed, hoping a nap would fix it all. Logically, he knew that wouldn't happen, but he was feeling too embarrassed to admit what he felt because he'd been so sure to Simon earlier that he was fine.
He shouldn't have worried. The next time he woke up, Simon was already there and giving him a shot. "Nngh. Simon? Whatcha doin'?"
"You missed dinner, so I came to check on you. Good thing I did, you're running a fever."
"I am?" He swallowed thickly and winced when it only made his throat hurt. "What is it?"
Simon set the needle aside and sat down next to Jayne on his bed. There was a grave look on his face that made Jayne's heart plummet to his feet. "Jayne, I don't know how to tell you this. I'm sorry to say..."
How was he going to explain that he was going to die to his Mum?
"...that you have the common cold."
She'd cry--wait, what? "Wait, what?" he demanded hoarsely.
Simon, the little bastard, was smirking at him! Even...was that a fucking giggle?! "Little shit..."
"I-I'm sorry," Simon told him, in between laughter. "R-Really. I couldn't help it. You just looked so concerned and worried!"
Jayne growled. "I'll show you worry!" He yanked Simon onto the bed and loomed over him before he proceeded to tickle Simon in places that he was sure his lover hadn't known he'd noticed. Cold or no, Jayne found a grin coming to his face. He was proud of Simon for even thinking of teasing him like that! How dare he use his doctor-background to scare a man silly like that!
"No, no, you really should rest!" Simon managed to get out of his laughter as he attempted to squirm away from Jayne.
"Where d'ya think yer goin'?" Jayne pinned Simon onto his back with his own body weight, but he at least stopped torturing Simon for a short bit. "Didn't think my baobei would be so evil and cruel to torture a guy worried over his health."
"You honestly didn't think it was anything serious, did you?" Simon retorted, looking over his shoulder.
"Nah, not really, but ya had me goin' there for a minute."
There was that smirk again. "Yes, I did, didn't I?"
"I must be a bad influence on you."
"Just terrible, I know. Now rest!"
It wasn't so bad, having Simon pamper him while he was sick. He took advantage wherever he could get it, having Simon fetch him near everything. The rest of the crew seemed to find amusement in this, even River. However, by the time Jayne managed to kick the cold, it had already spread. It was as if it had bounced from him to Simon, then Simon to Zoe and on and on. River was one of the last to get it, but get it she did. Inara had to cancel her appointments and all jobs they'd had on the line were canceled or put on hold.
Jayne didn't like how Simon stayed in the infirmary during the cold-crisis. Even when he was nearly coughing up a lung himself, he was in there with someone else and trying to fix them. He also seemed to ignore Jayne when he stood in the doorway with his arms crossed and glared. How was anyone supposed to get better when their doctor was just as sick as them? It seemed particularly virulent because the atmosphere was entirely made up of recycled air. Simon was the first to notice this, and the fact that likely, any who got over the cold would just get sick again in short order because of that.
Mal put them down on the nearest moon he could find. Jayne opened the cargo bay to allow fresh air to get inside the ship, noting that there was a small town nearby, but not much else. Pretty sparse, all things considered. Still, the fresh air helped. Kaylee started to perk up a bit despite still being sick as a dog and Jayne was often sent into town to pick up whatever it was Simon decided they needed to recover.
Stuck on the planet for a week and a half didn't do much for Jayne. He spent most of the time working out or in the cargo bay. The doors were open most of the time and no one wanted any 'unfriendly' people on board. It was a hard thing to kick and Kaylee, when she was better, flushed the entire system and brought in new air, just to make sure that it was gone.
Mal and Zoe disappeared for a few hours and when they came back, Jayne could tell something was up even before the crew was gathered in the galley.
"As I'm sure we've all noticed by now, we're better. What you don't know is how low we are on money. We damn near spent all of our combined shares on fresh food and medicine. We'll run low on fuel soon and we don't have enough to buy more at this juncture."
"You wouldn't have brought us here if you didn't have a solution," Simon said.
"You're right about that. In town, Zoe and I ran across a mercenary band that are looking to get offworld. They're willing to give us half now and half later. That half now will get us the fuel for a five day push to where they want to go and the rest we can start saving money again, or get whatever else we need. The amount isn't anything to sneer at. However, given the renewed warrants and the fact that mercenaries by nature are rarely good at keeping quiet, much less not taking advantage of what they see, I don't want them seein' hide nor hair of Simon and River. This means that for five days, you two will be confined to a bunk. Simon, you'll stay with Jayne for obvious reasons. There are a few of these mercenaries and we'll put them in the guest rooms, so move your stuff to Jayne's bunk. River, you'll stay in mine." Seeing Kaylee's look, Mal explained, "I know you two are good friends and all, but these are rough guys. In fact, I want you to stay in Zoe's room and keep yours locked. Inara, keep your shuttle locked at all times and someone will 'escort' you back and forth without making it obvious that we're doing just that."
"Are they really that bad?" Inara asked quietly.
"They have a...mixed reputation and I don't want to chance behaviors, particularly if they decide to get rowdy or drunk or both. That's why at night, we'll rotate who stays up. Zoe, Jayne, and myself will take turns keeping an eye on the ship at night just to make sure no one 'wanders'. I don't like this any more than the rest of you, but we need the fare."
There were silent nods and Jayne followed behind Simon as he headed for his room to pick up his things. River didn't seem to have much more than a handful, mostly clothes. Simon actually had things to pack and move.
"I realize that the Captain is right, but I still don't like it."
Jayne sighed. "This time I think ya got a right to worry. Mercenaries ain't the most trustworthy of folk." He pulled Simon close, disrupting him from packing. "I'll make sure ya safe, though. You an' River."
"...Thank you, Jayne."
He was infinitely glad that Mal didn't tell him that he couldn't wear any guns when the mercenaries boarded. There were four men and one woman, all dressed in as good a fashion as money could afford in the mercenary business. Obviously they had had some good times. As Mal pasted on a smile and greeted them, Jayne studied the leader of their guests. He looked shifty as all hell and his hand unconsciously began to creep toward the gun on his holster...
"Jayne?!"
Everyone blinked at the bright, feminine voice and Jayne turned just in time. She leapt up into his arms and he nearly fell over at the sudden weight. He finally got a good look at her and almost gasped. "Carrie?"
Mal was giving him that look that said he was in for it, but he'd honestly had no idea that his former sex buddy was part of the mercenary group. Once he'd left the last group they'd been in together, he hadn't seen her for a good two years or more.
"Heya, cute stuff!"
Jayne leaned back against the mule as he attempted to divest himself from the new Carrie-Vest he had attached to his front. She sensed his struggling and thankfully stood on her own two feet. "Carrie, yer part of this group?"
Carrie winked at him. "Well, yeah. Good pay, exciting work, I can see all kinds of new places. Talk about shiny, right? Why don't you join? You'd like it here."
He could feel Mal and Zoe's intent eyes on him. "Nah, I'm good here. Got my own bunk an' everythin'."
As soon as he said the words, Jayne knew that it was a mistake. She smirked at him and leaned in close. "I look forward to seeing it."
"Captain, if you wouldn't mind?" Mal muttered, addressing the leader of the group.
"Carrie!" The voice was harsh and uncompromising in its authority, and much to Jayne's surprise, Carrie scampered over back to the group. He could still see her energy and brightness in her eyes that said she'd rather be doing what she had been doing, but she was obedient to her boss.
Jayne didn't listen too closely to Mal's long rundown of what was and wasn't allowed for their group. In truth, he was feeling very uncomfortable with Carrie around. He was a man and she had a great body, that didn't leave much choice in the matter of his arousal, but he certainly wasn't about to act on it with Simon in the picture. His biological reaction notwithstanding, he couldn't help but feel bad that Simon was going to be stuck in his room for five days and he'd have to dodge Carrie for five days, and hope she didn't just go in his room without his permission and find Simon and--
This was going to be a really long week.
Mal gestured at him as the group broke up and Zoe showed their guests to their temporary quarters.
"So?"
Jayne grimaced. "Carrie was a sex buddy coupla years ago. That's all we was, Mal. Carrie didn't want nothin' permanent, neither did I. In fact, I don't really want her on this ship at all after everythin' with Simon." Mal's face was deceptively blank and Jayne wondered what was going on in there. "An' don't you even start thinkin' that I'm gonna cheat on Simon, I can--"
"I know."
"What?"
Mal actually smiled at him a little. "I know. You might love sex, Jayne, but you can control your impulses. In that at least, I'm sure you'll remain faithful to Simon. Just don't expect him to be happy about the fact that she's clearly going to be chasin' tail the entire time she's on this ship and he's stuck in a room constantly worrying."
"He should learn to trust me!"
"It ain't a matter of trust, Jayne. It's a bit of jealousy and while I'm sure he trusts you, there's still that thought in the back of his head. He trusts you; he won't trust her."
"Hell, if Carrie ever attempts to force me, I'd actually be kinda humbled. Pretty rare for a woman to try shovin' a man down, ya know. I'm kiddin'!" Jayne added, seeing a disapproving look sent his way.
"I want you to be very alert. You're responsible for Simon's safety."
"Speaking of which..." Jayne paused them near the cockpit. "Why'd you put River in yer room? You ain't movin' from Inara to River, are ya?"
Mal stared at him as if he'd just lost his mind. "Are you crazy? She's sixteen, Jayne! No, I put her with me for the same reason I insisted that Kaylee stays with Zoe in her bunk and doesn't wander around the engine room at night. Hell, if there was one more person here, I'd bunk Inara up with someone too, but there ain't no one else and she can lock that shuttle door good and tight. That, and I hope she doesn't show up all that often in five days so there's less of a target."
"What's the thinkin'?"
"I just don't want any temptation around. I'm not saying I don't trust their word that they'll behave, but I'd rather not tempt it all the same. Like I said, they don't exactly got the shiniest reputation in this side of the 'verse. I'll take rounds tonight, Zoe tomorrow night, and you after that. Then me, and Zoe, and if all goes to plan, they'll be off the day after that."
"Shiny," Jayne said in acknowledgment.
~!~!~!~!~
"You're...what?"
"Sex friend."
Simon's face was flat and disapproving as he sat on the bed. "Sex friend."
"Yeah. Coupla years ago we got into the habit of sexin' each other in between jobs. We was only friends with some sexin' on the side, Simon. It ain't like what I feel for you." Jayne paused. "Ya trust me not to cheat on ya? 'Cause it has to cross yer mind while yer sittin' in here all day and I'm out there."
"I can't say it didn't cross my mind when you mentioned her, but I know you won't. I just don't trust her not to put you in some ambiguous situations that will make you uncomfortable." Simon did something Jayne had rarely seen the doctor do: fidget. "After all, heat of the moment sort of thing. I'm not saying you would, but it might get a little...frisky before you can pull away?"
Jayne couldn't tell if he was annoyed or not over what Simon was thinking, but at least he told him about it and that he gave his lover points for. He was glad that Simon at least was confident enough in their relationship to speak his mind. "She can be a bit pushy, an' she might get me aroused, but first place I'll come is here, 'cause yer the only one I want to be sexin'." He leaned over Simon, enjoying the way it forced Simon to bend his neck to look straight up at him. "Only one I love is you, baobei, so stop thinkin' like that. I need you to trust me."
They both knew that this would be a big test of their relationship. Would Simon get jealous and how bad? How far would that trust go, particularly after Ariel? Simon had said that he'd forgiven him, but what about in his subconscious? If Simon couldn't trust him when faced with an old sex friend, Jayne couldn't see how the relationship was going to last when he had never stayed his sexual desires before now. It didn't mean he couldn't, but that he just hadn't had a reason to.
Now he did.
"I do and I will," Simon told him, his face resolute, and Jayne nodded. He'd believe him, but still watch.
Jayne wasn't surprised at Carrie's aggressiveness so soon; Carrie had never waited to get what she wanted and so therefore when she showed up during his weight-lifting sessions, he expected her in some degree. "Need a spotter?"
"Sure." He put down the hand weights and relaxed on the bench as she lowered the bar in his hands. Jayne had always viewed Carrie as a good male friend stuck in a female body. She enjoyed weight-lifting, cleaning guns, a good fight. There wasn't anyone better to have as an ally, and no one worse to have as an enemy, except for maybe Mal. He'd known people that she'd carried a grudge against for years and the moment she saw them again, she tried to tear their eyes out.
As she spotted him, he spotted her and their weight-lifting was also a way to catch up. They swapped outrageous job stories to see which trumped them all, but Jayne privately thought he won, hands down, after the jobs that went completely wrong since meeting Mal. Still, most of the really good ones that would have beat hers, he couldn't tell because they involved Simon and his sister. Before long, Jayne felt as if they had never parted. Kaylee gave them concerned glances as she made her way up from the engine room to dinner, but didn't say anything.
It was as Jayne was putting away the equipment that her first advance came. Her arms slipped around him from behind to stroke his chest. "What, is this a new scar I feel beneath this shirt? It runs...almost the length of your chest."
He shivered as she lightly touched the scar left behind by River and her butcher's knife before he stepped away. "No, Carrie."
"No what?"
"We ain't pickin' up the sex. I'm bein' faithful."
She burst out laughing, much to his annoyance. He didn't like to be questioned about that because he took real relationships very seriously. "To who? Must be someone on the ship." She pursed her lips as she thought about it. "The warrior woman? What was her name, Zoe? Nah, she's not your type. The little mechanic? I don't mind a threesome, if you don't."
Damn! Jayne couldn't help the fact that two hot women in bed with him was one tasty image, but he restrained himself, remembering Simon waiting anxiously in worry in his bunk, both in regards to their relationship and being caught. "Well the one I'm datin' isn't a threesome type."
"Then do they have to know?"
Jayne frowned. "Carrie, I realize ya don't mean any disrespect, but I don't like that kind of question. I ain't gonna be unfaithful."
Carrie stared at him in a surprised manner, and he didn't blame her. This side of himself he hadn't any reason to show her before. "You really love her, don't you? Whoever you're with, that is."
"Yeah."
"I...have to think about that." At the sound of stomachs rumbling, she added in an almost shaky fashion that he didn't understand, "Time for chow. Let's go."
For a day after that, Carrie seemed to avoid him. Just like the random nature of her mind, though, she showed up at his workout time again on the third day and acted as if nothing happened. Jayne forgot what they'd talked about and just enjoyed being one of the few that he could actually honestly call a friend. However, things were going too good and apparently some God was attempting to smote him for this horrible crime because it came up again.
"Just a one-last-time?"
"No, Carrie." He was trying to be patient, he really was, but it was starting to fray on his last nerve.
Not two hours later, as he was sitting in his bunk with Simon testing out a new game one of the other mercenary men had taught him that somehow took poker and replaced the cards with five six-sided dice, Kaylee abruptly entered the bunk. He looked up as he rolled them out and attempted to show Simon rules that he hadn't quite grasped himself yet. "Hey, Kaylee."
"What'd you say to that woman?!"
Simon stiffened in front of him.
"Whaddaya mean?"
"She just came up to me and talked to me. Said things like askin' if I minded a threesome! Did you tell her we was sweeties or somethin'?!"
Jayne groaned. "Damn it! I didn't! She assumes we are an' I told her to lay off!"
"Well of course she ain't layin' off!"
He blinked at the response, for a moment forgetting how quiet Simon was being. "Why's that?"
"It's obvious, Jayne! She's in love with ya!"
"...Huh?"
Kaylee rolled her eyes. "Ya don't know a lot about women, do ya, Jayne? Yeah, some women can play the 'sex partners' game fine, but most don't and she ain't an exception. She prolly agreed to start with 'cause she loved ya and figured she'd take what she can get!"
"Why didn't she say nothin' then?"
"Because it's obvious you didn't feel the same, or otherwise she would have said something a long time before. She knows your in love now, but she just has a hard time givin' up somethin' she's held onto for so long!"
Part of him wondered if Kaylee was speaking from experience regarding Simon, but there didn't seem to be any pain in her eyes, only annoyance at his stupidity. "Well...uh...what do I do now?"
"Ugh, you figure it out!" The bright mechanic, obviously disgusted at his lack of knowledge in regard to emotions, climbed up the stairs from his bunk and closed the door behind her.
Jayne turned to Simon, who was rolling some of the dice around in his palm. "I didn't, ya know."
"I know."
There wasn't a hint of uncertainty in Simon's voice and Jayne couldn't help smiling at the belief his lover had in him. "Here, I got somethin' for ya."
He nudged Simon off the bed so he could hunt around beneath the mattress for the t-shirt that he'd bought in what seemed eons ago. "Here."
Simon took the somewhat rumpled shirt and softly felt it in his hands. "It looks so comfortable." Jayne watched as the doctor pulled off the shirt he was wearing and exchanged it for the black cotton shirt he had given him. The sleeves were elbow-length but loose and it fell attractively around Simon's shoulders.
Jayne stepped up and wrapped his arms around his lover. "Love you, baobei."
"Thank you, Jayne."
"Welcome."
The next two days were full of tension between Carrie and Jayne even though she acted as if nothing had changed. Mal seemed only too happy to get rid of the group when they landed on Athens and collected the other half of the payment. Nothing untoward had happened, which was clearly making Mal happy that their plan hadn't gone awry. Jayne leaned against some crates as the mercenaries filed out, Carrie stopping at the edge of the ramp.
"I love you, you know," she whispered, her back to him.
Jayne might not have noticed her feelings, but he did notice the shaky tone in her voice as if she was about to cry. "I know," he answered quietly. That was all he had to say and she understood, or he hoped she did, that he couldn't love her back. He had never felt that way about her even before Simon.
"Good."
That was the last he saw of Carrie.
baobei: sweetheart
shagua: fool, damned fool, idiot
tzao gao: crap
(Note: I don't know how tattooing works, or whether it would have changed in the future. Just figure Jayne's probably got the tools and know-how since he mentions it in 'Ariel'. )
Chinese translations: http://fireflychinese.kevinsullivansite.net/)
Sorry about taking so long getting this out. School just started, so...
Still open to further suggestions for plotsies or ideas.