Once burned 1/5 (Firefly fic, preslash chapter)
FIC: Once burned 1/5
Author: Ann
Fandom: Firefly
Pairing/character: Preslash chapter. Series will be Simon/Jayne/Mal.
Warnings: Angst
Rating (This chapter): PG13
Sweet Charity fic for denyce, sorry it’s taking a while but I hope you enjoy it. Will be poted to this journal until complete, and then to archives and comms.
Summary: Simon unknowingly commits an infraction that could have severe repercussions for himself, and the crew.
Thanks to bookaddict and Lyn for the great betas. littlealex for the concrit and advice, and itinerant_vae for helping me work through the prompt, months ago when we discussed it.
The market place was busy, a hum of activity flowing around and past Simon. He stood off to one side, knowing how stiff and uncomfortable he looked, especially when River and Inara fit neatly into it, smiling and conversing with all kinds of people that swayed their way. He had a talent for alienating people, Mal had quipped only six months back, when Simon and River had left a less-than-glowing impression on the less-than-savory people of Jiangyin. Simon often found himself in the position of brushing off Mal’s dry observations with a witty retort but at this moment, as River wandered from stall to stall with Inara, Simon couldn’t help wondering if they weren’t oddly apt; closer to the truth than at times he would like to believe.
Now, as the most of the crew left Serenity for downtime, and made a fast exit in various different directions away from Simon, the notion struck him all the harder. He quickly brushed off the brief thought, putting it down to how uncomfortable the planet, Talos, made him. Perhaps he should have felt more at home there, on a planet so far from Alliance control, yet projecting and embracing what the Core planets believed they did; civility and sophistication. Just as importantly, a planet which ignored the Alliance as acutely as the Alliance ignored them. The people were polite and the towns were prosperous. He should have felt relief at such a place, should’ve fit neatly in, but instead he was on edge, a weight in his belly and tightness to his chest.
It was all too polite; the people too careful, too controlled, their every action censored or dictated by a backward set of ideals. The way they walked was back-breakingly upright and stiff, wearing clothes Jayne had snorted at and called prissier than even Simon's. The way they talked, enunciating each word and keeping their voices to one level. It made Simon uneasy. They were so forward, in their attitudes towards education, society and sexuality and yet so backward in others.
He’d wanted to stay aboard Serenity but Mal had insisted they all take downtime. The Mayor of the town had taken to Mal, had been pleased enough to offer them a job, even if he disapproved of their lax attire and had insisted all the crew get a chance to sample the town's delights. An offer Mal wasn’t allowing any of them to refuse, lest they insult the man who was to give them their first honest, and well-paid, job in months.
Only Wash, Kaylee and Book had been given grace to stay aboard, at least for today; the mayor understanding ‘a preacher’s need to solitude’ as Book had phrased it, and Serenity’s need of both mechanic and pilot to keep her flying. It was times like these that Simon wished he was as indispensable to Serenity as he had been to his patients on Osiris.
His hand resting against the side of the stall, Simon shook himself out of his musings, lips curving in a smile as he heard River laugh. A real laugh, the first he’d heard in weeks. She’d been smiling more, been more lucid, ever since Early’s visit strangely enough. Maybe it was odd that she was, given how close they came to losing her. How close they came to losing everything and everyone. Simon had almost insisted they get off there and then, but the crew had drawn together, pulled him in, and he’d let them. For the first time since River had been taken, he’d trusted and almost felt whole again.
Of course, that led to some of his more suppressed ideas coming to the fore again. Ideas, whimsical musings really, which made him uncomfortable, and retreat from them. From the crew. Distancing himself, taking pains to make sure his retorts weren’t bordering on flirtatious and letting the whole ‘verse know exactly who he wanted.
A strangled sound drew Simon’s attention, his body turning as his gaze dropped to the woman who had crumpled to the ground. She was young, petite and bound in a constricting over-top corset that the women seemed to favor; a tightly bound mesh of material that attempted- yet didn’t quite manage - to hide the swell of her belly.
Ma-de, what is she thinking?
In the eyes of the towns people around her, the woman’s faint appeared to be unseemly and ill-timed, an embarrassment to both herself and her red-faced sister. People merely stepped around her, awaiting an invitation to assist or a plea for help - as was the way in Talos.
Simon was unaware of such things, clueless to the faux pas that he was about to commit. He was being who he was, Doctor Tam, rushing over to drop by her side and bat away the hand of her horrified sibling.
“It’s all right, I’m a doctor.” He didn’t look at her as he spoke, didn’t see the shock and anger that flared across the sister’s face.
Concentrating on the woman by his knees, he was unaware just how still the people around him had become, of how a hush had dropped over them. He didn’t see Inara notice his action, a smile coming over her face, before uncertainty replaced it, as she realized something was very wrong with the people around her. He heard her call his name, but missed the concerned tone, missed the torn expression that came over her face as River twisted away from her in a panic, racing back towards Serenity without a second look at Simon. Simon didn't even notice River's exit, as he checked the woman's breathing, her pulse and color. As he touched his hands to her wrist a collective gasp came across the crowd, the angry mutterings telling Inara that Simon was committing some cardinal sin of their society.
"Wait a moment, Simon!" Inara was moving towards him, having lost sight of River, believing the elder Tam was in more trouble than the younger though Simon was oblivious to it all.
Before Inara could reach him, Simon had worked his fingers through the corset's bindings, and loosened them, allowing mother and baby to breathe more easily. His focus was completely on the woman as her lips lost the bluish tingle; her skin becoming a healthier color than before, as she started to stir.
What was she thinking?
Simon felt annoyance heat him, lips pursed as he checked her pulse, her breathing, all the while oblivious to the dissent around him. The mutterings of the townspeople didn’t even register; the disapproving looks and head shakes, the glares that should have had him turning, given their heat.
“Oh god, Simon.”
Inara’s words surprised him, finally bringing his attention to those around him as the woman at his knees opened her eyes. Bewilderment crossed his face, confusion flooded him at the fury around him, the blatant displeasure, and it was on the tip of his tongue to question it when a scream from his patient made him jerk back.
“It’s alright, I’m a-” Simon’s words were intended to reassure, to pacify, but she screamed again, louder this time, as she tried to crawl away, her fingers on the loosened corset, trying to pull it back together again.
“Doctor, I’m a doctor, I won’t hurt you. You have to take that off; it’s too tight given your condition.” Why she didn’t seem to comprehend him, Simon couldn’t fathom. Irritation dashed through him as she attempted to tighten it again and he placed his hand on hers, speaking more firmly. “You mustn’t wear that. Your lungs are already being constricted by the baby’s position, and this…accessory-” he wanted to say barbarity, wanted to say idiocy, but he censored his words, "-isn’t helping.”
“That’s enough.” The words made Simon pause, anger and disgust so obvious in them that he had to look up. It was easy to identify the speaker. The Sheriff, surprisingly enough; a man who earlier had welcomed them, was now pointing a gun at him.
“I don’t-” Simon paused, looking to Inara who was flanked by the Sheriff’s deputy, "-understand. What‘s going on?”
He couldn’t understand how helping someone and giving them sound medical advice at that, would get him such a cold reception. Every other time he'd jumped in to assist, to help or heal, he’d been thanked, praised even. This was a unique situation to say the least, and one more than slightly ridiculous. The sudden thought crossed his mind that perhaps the town was more Alliance-friendly than they believed and that the next words uttered would be ‘you are bound by Law.’
River…She came to mind instantly, Simon twisting to look past Inara, relief flooding him that River was nowhere to be seen; relief that Inara looked worried for him, rather than rushing around trying to find River. She must have run back to the ship. At least there Simon was sure she’d be safe. Even if they had him, even if they’d turn him over, she’d get away. She’d be protected.
“Do you have a partner here, young man?” The Sheriff was stepping closer now as he holstered his gun, drawing the people around Simon back and stunning him with his question.
“A partner?” Simon wrinkled his nose, not seeing the relevance as he slowly stood up. “No, I-”
“No?” The word echoed with surprise, the Sheriff shaking his head in what looked like resignation, as he gestured in a manner that Simon didn't understand. “That’s a shame. Bring him.”
“Excuse me? Bring who?” Simon’s words were unanswered, until he felt hands grasping harshly as his arms, holding him in a grip he couldn’t get away from, even as tried to twist away. “Inara?” He craned his neck, catching sight of her pale face before the deputy stepped between them.
“Don’t make this harder for yourself.” The deputy didn't sound all that sympathetic. He didn't look it either, Simon decided, watching the smirk twitch around the man’s lips. “There’s no judge in this town that won’t give you a harsh punishment for that infraction.”
“Shuh muh?” A headache was starting to pulse at Simon’s temples, the cold feeling in his belly lost as worry cramped it. “I don’t understand. What infraction? I’ve done nothing but assist-” His words were cut off in a gasp, his lips twisted into a grimace as the hands holding him clamped down viciously, warningly, sparing Simon from damning himself, unknowingly.
“Bi zui!” The deputy turned his back on Simon’s protest; ignoring the man, however rude it might appear, ready to frog march him to straight to a cell and let the man reflect upon his behavior.
“Look’s like you ain’t as well-behaved as you like to make out, doc.” The familiar voice was a relief to hear, more so to see the man who drawled them. Jayne was in front of the deputy, appearing from god-only-knew where; blocking his way, standing there and looking all manner of amused as he smirked at Simon.
Simon pressed his lips together, relief and indignation rushing through him even as embarrassment stained his cheeks a deep red. “Tianna! I haven’t done anything, Jayne. I have no idea what these people are accusing me of.”
“Unsightly behavior, indecent and uninvited actions, and gross resistance.” The Sheriff sighed as he moved back between his deputy and Jayne. The mercenary struck the Sheriff as the type to happily cause trouble regardless of the consequences, and another uncouth display was not something the town needed to be privy to tonight. “I’m afraid, sir, that unless you are responsible for Simon, he must come with us.”
“Hell, I ain’t got nothin’ against the doc but he’s Mal’s problem, not mine.” Jayne was smiling, fit-to-burst, his grin only widening as Simon scowled his way.
“Mal? Your Captain is responsible?” The Sheriff straightened a little, his eyes moving to his deputy who visibly relaxed. The deputy stepped away from the group before moving toward the pregnant woman, who, Simon noted, seemed less unhappy now as she spoke softly to the small aghast audience who still hovered around her. “Well, that certainly changes matters.”
“Conjure he won’t see it that way. “ Jayne shrugged. “You gonna just dump the doc in a cell for a time?”
“Luckily for the young man, yes, if he is claimed, there‘s no need to bother a judge.” The Sheriff coughed, turning to one side to speak to Jayne quietly, not wanting to agitate Simon. “There’ll be a small matter of the fine, which is standard in most cases, but since your captain is, I believe, working with the Mayor that will probably be waived.“
His words had the desired effect of wiping the glower - which had appeared the moment the Sheriff had spoken the words ‘the fine' - off Jayne’s face. “So you takin’ him ‘til Mal pays up?” The gleam in his eyes had everything to do with embarrassing Simon and watching him squirm, but it disappeared moments after the Sheriff answered him.
“As your captain isn’t here to claim him, yes. Since there’s no one responsible here, it’s up to the law to punish him.”
Responsible. The word caught Simon’s attention, the first words he‘d heard in a while, since they‘d turned their back on him. He couldn’t see what bearing that had on anything and bristled at being ignored and spoken over. And they consider themselves polite. He put all the firmness he could into his voice as he disagreed with them. “I am responsible for myself.”
Evidently they were the wrong words to use, he mused a moment later as the Sheriff shook his head, rested a hand on the holster of his gun and asked Jayne to step aside. He was still unsure just what he had done, but he could catch pieces from behind him, softly spoken words that had him stunned for a moment and were slowly beginning to make him see sense. However embellished the story the woman was now telling had become. Simon's lips pursed together in a line of displeasure and he folded his arms over his chest, glaring down at her as she recounted how she'd been improperly touched and violated. It was a joke, ludicrous that she should see violation in his attempt to help her and her ever-suffering child, which was being corset bound again. Indignation flooding him, It was on the tip of Simon's tongue to demand an explanation, a retraction on the slanderous luh-so she was enthralling her audience with but, before he could cause another infraction, Jayne's question drew his attention away.
“How’d you mean by punish him?” Jayne looked a little disturbed at the idea, or perhaps thoughtful, Simon wasn’t sure. Not as gleeful as before, that was certain.
Punish me?
The impact of the words hit him then and he opened his mouth to demand an answer to Jayne’s question, but he froze at the Sheriff’s calm reply.
“If an individual improperly touches one who is claimed, then both a claim--such as your Captain’s-- must be made upon them. If the claimant is not there to take responsibility and punish their partner then it’s up to the Law to oblige.” The words were recited, undoubtedly used many times before on hapless people with no knowledge of the very special rules and regulations imposed. The Sheriff turned to look at Simon, his eyes on the doctor’s, no sympathy or remorse showing, only surety, dedication to duty.
Simon felt cold creep up his back and his headache came back full-force as the Sheriff added, “Fifty lashes is usually standard in these matters.”
“Lashes?” Simon wasn’t even aware that it was he who croaked the words out, shocked and white-faced as the Sheriff nodded in answer. “Corporal punishment? But that’s…that’s-” Barbaric, out-dated, Simon wasn’t sure of the best description but the Sheriff seemed unwavering and Simon knew that he meant what he said.
He felt sickness creep over him, a tremor running through him at the thought. He’d never been punished in such a way. The threat was always there as a child, but never nearly so severe and never needed, as the promise itself was enough, and what he had received as an adult was blows, the occasional punch. Nothing like this. There was a roaring in Simon’s ears, echoing the fast thump of his heartbeat and he tensed his body unconsciously, not feeling the fingers digging more harshly into his arms.
Suddenly Jayne was in front of him, scowling down and saying something Simon could only nod to. It was an automatic response because he wasn’t sure just what Jayne was saying or doing but the look in the man’s eyes told him that much as Jayne might want to see him humiliated, he felt enough of something else to not want him flayed. Respect perhaps? Simon wasn’t sure.
The Sheriff was nodding too, looking surprised but pleased now, patting Jayne on the arm and muttering about wanting assurances and Simon, really, really wanted to know what had just happened. Annoyed that he had focused so much on himself that he’d missed the tail end of their conversation, he opened his mouth to ask when Jayne forestalled him, his voice low.
“Don’t you be sayin’ a word, now. Don’t be givin’ ‘em any more of an excuse an‘ draggin’ me down, “dong ma“?”
Simon snapped his mouth shut, cutting off the retort that wanted to be voiced. The men on either side of him released his arms and he stumbled a little, catching hold of Jayne for a moment to steady himself. Usually there wasn’t anything all that steadying about Jayne. The merc tended to enjoy jostling and annoying him, taking every opportunity to trip Simon up and fluster him, playing on Simon‘s attraction and making it obvious he was- at least, that’s what Simon believed. It felt almost unnatural for Jayne to stand still letting Simon right himself.
Turning to the Sheriff, Simon was dumbfounded when the man addressed them both respectfully. “If you’d follow us down to the station and sign the forms, we’ll be assured that the matter is dealt with.”
“Shiny.” Jayne’s voice was tight, and he avoided Simon’s eyes when the doctor looked at him. He kept avoiding them the entire walk back to the station, where the reminder, conveniently displayed on the station wall, of capital punishment pressed Simon into quickly following Jayne’s direction. He didn’t read the forms, just skimmed over parts of them. The words, ’punishment waived’ were enough to push him into signing and it was only when the sheriff handed them back the forms, that Simon realized what he’d done.
“If you would please accept our apologies for the rough treatment, Doctor Tam. Your primary partner has expressed his disapproval of our actions and, as a measure of good faith, we’re happy not to witness the punishment that Mr Cobb has guaranteed us you will be given. However we do expect that you will obey our Laws and that, for the duration of your visit, you will be chaperoned by himself, or Captain Reynolds.”
Author: Ann
Fandom: Firefly
Pairing/character: Preslash chapter. Series will be Simon/Jayne/Mal.
Warnings: Angst
Rating (This chapter): PG13
Sweet Charity fic for denyce, sorry it’s taking a while but I hope you enjoy it. Will be poted to this journal until complete, and then to archives and comms.
Summary: Simon unknowingly commits an infraction that could have severe repercussions for himself, and the crew.
Thanks to bookaddict and Lyn for the great betas. littlealex for the concrit and advice, and itinerant_vae for helping me work through the prompt, months ago when we discussed it.
The market place was busy, a hum of activity flowing around and past Simon. He stood off to one side, knowing how stiff and uncomfortable he looked, especially when River and Inara fit neatly into it, smiling and conversing with all kinds of people that swayed their way. He had a talent for alienating people, Mal had quipped only six months back, when Simon and River had left a less-than-glowing impression on the less-than-savory people of Jiangyin. Simon often found himself in the position of brushing off Mal’s dry observations with a witty retort but at this moment, as River wandered from stall to stall with Inara, Simon couldn’t help wondering if they weren’t oddly apt; closer to the truth than at times he would like to believe.
Now, as the most of the crew left Serenity for downtime, and made a fast exit in various different directions away from Simon, the notion struck him all the harder. He quickly brushed off the brief thought, putting it down to how uncomfortable the planet, Talos, made him. Perhaps he should have felt more at home there, on a planet so far from Alliance control, yet projecting and embracing what the Core planets believed they did; civility and sophistication. Just as importantly, a planet which ignored the Alliance as acutely as the Alliance ignored them. The people were polite and the towns were prosperous. He should have felt relief at such a place, should’ve fit neatly in, but instead he was on edge, a weight in his belly and tightness to his chest.
It was all too polite; the people too careful, too controlled, their every action censored or dictated by a backward set of ideals. The way they walked was back-breakingly upright and stiff, wearing clothes Jayne had snorted at and called prissier than even Simon's. The way they talked, enunciating each word and keeping their voices to one level. It made Simon uneasy. They were so forward, in their attitudes towards education, society and sexuality and yet so backward in others.
He’d wanted to stay aboard Serenity but Mal had insisted they all take downtime. The Mayor of the town had taken to Mal, had been pleased enough to offer them a job, even if he disapproved of their lax attire and had insisted all the crew get a chance to sample the town's delights. An offer Mal wasn’t allowing any of them to refuse, lest they insult the man who was to give them their first honest, and well-paid, job in months.
Only Wash, Kaylee and Book had been given grace to stay aboard, at least for today; the mayor understanding ‘a preacher’s need to solitude’ as Book had phrased it, and Serenity’s need of both mechanic and pilot to keep her flying. It was times like these that Simon wished he was as indispensable to Serenity as he had been to his patients on Osiris.
His hand resting against the side of the stall, Simon shook himself out of his musings, lips curving in a smile as he heard River laugh. A real laugh, the first he’d heard in weeks. She’d been smiling more, been more lucid, ever since Early’s visit strangely enough. Maybe it was odd that she was, given how close they came to losing her. How close they came to losing everything and everyone. Simon had almost insisted they get off there and then, but the crew had drawn together, pulled him in, and he’d let them. For the first time since River had been taken, he’d trusted and almost felt whole again.
Of course, that led to some of his more suppressed ideas coming to the fore again. Ideas, whimsical musings really, which made him uncomfortable, and retreat from them. From the crew. Distancing himself, taking pains to make sure his retorts weren’t bordering on flirtatious and letting the whole ‘verse know exactly who he wanted.
A strangled sound drew Simon’s attention, his body turning as his gaze dropped to the woman who had crumpled to the ground. She was young, petite and bound in a constricting over-top corset that the women seemed to favor; a tightly bound mesh of material that attempted- yet didn’t quite manage - to hide the swell of her belly.
Ma-de, what is she thinking?
In the eyes of the towns people around her, the woman’s faint appeared to be unseemly and ill-timed, an embarrassment to both herself and her red-faced sister. People merely stepped around her, awaiting an invitation to assist or a plea for help - as was the way in Talos.
Simon was unaware of such things, clueless to the faux pas that he was about to commit. He was being who he was, Doctor Tam, rushing over to drop by her side and bat away the hand of her horrified sibling.
“It’s all right, I’m a doctor.” He didn’t look at her as he spoke, didn’t see the shock and anger that flared across the sister’s face.
Concentrating on the woman by his knees, he was unaware just how still the people around him had become, of how a hush had dropped over them. He didn’t see Inara notice his action, a smile coming over her face, before uncertainty replaced it, as she realized something was very wrong with the people around her. He heard her call his name, but missed the concerned tone, missed the torn expression that came over her face as River twisted away from her in a panic, racing back towards Serenity without a second look at Simon. Simon didn't even notice River's exit, as he checked the woman's breathing, her pulse and color. As he touched his hands to her wrist a collective gasp came across the crowd, the angry mutterings telling Inara that Simon was committing some cardinal sin of their society.
"Wait a moment, Simon!" Inara was moving towards him, having lost sight of River, believing the elder Tam was in more trouble than the younger though Simon was oblivious to it all.
Before Inara could reach him, Simon had worked his fingers through the corset's bindings, and loosened them, allowing mother and baby to breathe more easily. His focus was completely on the woman as her lips lost the bluish tingle; her skin becoming a healthier color than before, as she started to stir.
What was she thinking?
Simon felt annoyance heat him, lips pursed as he checked her pulse, her breathing, all the while oblivious to the dissent around him. The mutterings of the townspeople didn’t even register; the disapproving looks and head shakes, the glares that should have had him turning, given their heat.
“Oh god, Simon.”
Inara’s words surprised him, finally bringing his attention to those around him as the woman at his knees opened her eyes. Bewilderment crossed his face, confusion flooded him at the fury around him, the blatant displeasure, and it was on the tip of his tongue to question it when a scream from his patient made him jerk back.
“It’s alright, I’m a-” Simon’s words were intended to reassure, to pacify, but she screamed again, louder this time, as she tried to crawl away, her fingers on the loosened corset, trying to pull it back together again.
“Doctor, I’m a doctor, I won’t hurt you. You have to take that off; it’s too tight given your condition.” Why she didn’t seem to comprehend him, Simon couldn’t fathom. Irritation dashed through him as she attempted to tighten it again and he placed his hand on hers, speaking more firmly. “You mustn’t wear that. Your lungs are already being constricted by the baby’s position, and this…accessory-” he wanted to say barbarity, wanted to say idiocy, but he censored his words, "-isn’t helping.”
“That’s enough.” The words made Simon pause, anger and disgust so obvious in them that he had to look up. It was easy to identify the speaker. The Sheriff, surprisingly enough; a man who earlier had welcomed them, was now pointing a gun at him.
“I don’t-” Simon paused, looking to Inara who was flanked by the Sheriff’s deputy, "-understand. What‘s going on?”
He couldn’t understand how helping someone and giving them sound medical advice at that, would get him such a cold reception. Every other time he'd jumped in to assist, to help or heal, he’d been thanked, praised even. This was a unique situation to say the least, and one more than slightly ridiculous. The sudden thought crossed his mind that perhaps the town was more Alliance-friendly than they believed and that the next words uttered would be ‘you are bound by Law.’
River…She came to mind instantly, Simon twisting to look past Inara, relief flooding him that River was nowhere to be seen; relief that Inara looked worried for him, rather than rushing around trying to find River. She must have run back to the ship. At least there Simon was sure she’d be safe. Even if they had him, even if they’d turn him over, she’d get away. She’d be protected.
“Do you have a partner here, young man?” The Sheriff was stepping closer now as he holstered his gun, drawing the people around Simon back and stunning him with his question.
“A partner?” Simon wrinkled his nose, not seeing the relevance as he slowly stood up. “No, I-”
“No?” The word echoed with surprise, the Sheriff shaking his head in what looked like resignation, as he gestured in a manner that Simon didn't understand. “That’s a shame. Bring him.”
“Excuse me? Bring who?” Simon’s words were unanswered, until he felt hands grasping harshly as his arms, holding him in a grip he couldn’t get away from, even as tried to twist away. “Inara?” He craned his neck, catching sight of her pale face before the deputy stepped between them.
“Don’t make this harder for yourself.” The deputy didn't sound all that sympathetic. He didn't look it either, Simon decided, watching the smirk twitch around the man’s lips. “There’s no judge in this town that won’t give you a harsh punishment for that infraction.”
“Shuh muh?” A headache was starting to pulse at Simon’s temples, the cold feeling in his belly lost as worry cramped it. “I don’t understand. What infraction? I’ve done nothing but assist-” His words were cut off in a gasp, his lips twisted into a grimace as the hands holding him clamped down viciously, warningly, sparing Simon from damning himself, unknowingly.
“Bi zui!” The deputy turned his back on Simon’s protest; ignoring the man, however rude it might appear, ready to frog march him to straight to a cell and let the man reflect upon his behavior.
“Look’s like you ain’t as well-behaved as you like to make out, doc.” The familiar voice was a relief to hear, more so to see the man who drawled them. Jayne was in front of the deputy, appearing from god-only-knew where; blocking his way, standing there and looking all manner of amused as he smirked at Simon.
Simon pressed his lips together, relief and indignation rushing through him even as embarrassment stained his cheeks a deep red. “Tianna! I haven’t done anything, Jayne. I have no idea what these people are accusing me of.”
“Unsightly behavior, indecent and uninvited actions, and gross resistance.” The Sheriff sighed as he moved back between his deputy and Jayne. The mercenary struck the Sheriff as the type to happily cause trouble regardless of the consequences, and another uncouth display was not something the town needed to be privy to tonight. “I’m afraid, sir, that unless you are responsible for Simon, he must come with us.”
“Hell, I ain’t got nothin’ against the doc but he’s Mal’s problem, not mine.” Jayne was smiling, fit-to-burst, his grin only widening as Simon scowled his way.
“Mal? Your Captain is responsible?” The Sheriff straightened a little, his eyes moving to his deputy who visibly relaxed. The deputy stepped away from the group before moving toward the pregnant woman, who, Simon noted, seemed less unhappy now as she spoke softly to the small aghast audience who still hovered around her. “Well, that certainly changes matters.”
“Conjure he won’t see it that way. “ Jayne shrugged. “You gonna just dump the doc in a cell for a time?”
“Luckily for the young man, yes, if he is claimed, there‘s no need to bother a judge.” The Sheriff coughed, turning to one side to speak to Jayne quietly, not wanting to agitate Simon. “There’ll be a small matter of the fine, which is standard in most cases, but since your captain is, I believe, working with the Mayor that will probably be waived.“
His words had the desired effect of wiping the glower - which had appeared the moment the Sheriff had spoken the words ‘the fine' - off Jayne’s face. “So you takin’ him ‘til Mal pays up?” The gleam in his eyes had everything to do with embarrassing Simon and watching him squirm, but it disappeared moments after the Sheriff answered him.
“As your captain isn’t here to claim him, yes. Since there’s no one responsible here, it’s up to the law to punish him.”
Responsible. The word caught Simon’s attention, the first words he‘d heard in a while, since they‘d turned their back on him. He couldn’t see what bearing that had on anything and bristled at being ignored and spoken over. And they consider themselves polite. He put all the firmness he could into his voice as he disagreed with them. “I am responsible for myself.”
Evidently they were the wrong words to use, he mused a moment later as the Sheriff shook his head, rested a hand on the holster of his gun and asked Jayne to step aside. He was still unsure just what he had done, but he could catch pieces from behind him, softly spoken words that had him stunned for a moment and were slowly beginning to make him see sense. However embellished the story the woman was now telling had become. Simon's lips pursed together in a line of displeasure and he folded his arms over his chest, glaring down at her as she recounted how she'd been improperly touched and violated. It was a joke, ludicrous that she should see violation in his attempt to help her and her ever-suffering child, which was being corset bound again. Indignation flooding him, It was on the tip of Simon's tongue to demand an explanation, a retraction on the slanderous luh-so she was enthralling her audience with but, before he could cause another infraction, Jayne's question drew his attention away.
“How’d you mean by punish him?” Jayne looked a little disturbed at the idea, or perhaps thoughtful, Simon wasn’t sure. Not as gleeful as before, that was certain.
Punish me?
The impact of the words hit him then and he opened his mouth to demand an answer to Jayne’s question, but he froze at the Sheriff’s calm reply.
“If an individual improperly touches one who is claimed, then both a claim--such as your Captain’s-- must be made upon them. If the claimant is not there to take responsibility and punish their partner then it’s up to the Law to oblige.” The words were recited, undoubtedly used many times before on hapless people with no knowledge of the very special rules and regulations imposed. The Sheriff turned to look at Simon, his eyes on the doctor’s, no sympathy or remorse showing, only surety, dedication to duty.
Simon felt cold creep up his back and his headache came back full-force as the Sheriff added, “Fifty lashes is usually standard in these matters.”
“Lashes?” Simon wasn’t even aware that it was he who croaked the words out, shocked and white-faced as the Sheriff nodded in answer. “Corporal punishment? But that’s…that’s-” Barbaric, out-dated, Simon wasn’t sure of the best description but the Sheriff seemed unwavering and Simon knew that he meant what he said.
He felt sickness creep over him, a tremor running through him at the thought. He’d never been punished in such a way. The threat was always there as a child, but never nearly so severe and never needed, as the promise itself was enough, and what he had received as an adult was blows, the occasional punch. Nothing like this. There was a roaring in Simon’s ears, echoing the fast thump of his heartbeat and he tensed his body unconsciously, not feeling the fingers digging more harshly into his arms.
Suddenly Jayne was in front of him, scowling down and saying something Simon could only nod to. It was an automatic response because he wasn’t sure just what Jayne was saying or doing but the look in the man’s eyes told him that much as Jayne might want to see him humiliated, he felt enough of something else to not want him flayed. Respect perhaps? Simon wasn’t sure.
The Sheriff was nodding too, looking surprised but pleased now, patting Jayne on the arm and muttering about wanting assurances and Simon, really, really wanted to know what had just happened. Annoyed that he had focused so much on himself that he’d missed the tail end of their conversation, he opened his mouth to ask when Jayne forestalled him, his voice low.
“Don’t you be sayin’ a word, now. Don’t be givin’ ‘em any more of an excuse an‘ draggin’ me down, “dong ma“?”
Simon snapped his mouth shut, cutting off the retort that wanted to be voiced. The men on either side of him released his arms and he stumbled a little, catching hold of Jayne for a moment to steady himself. Usually there wasn’t anything all that steadying about Jayne. The merc tended to enjoy jostling and annoying him, taking every opportunity to trip Simon up and fluster him, playing on Simon‘s attraction and making it obvious he was- at least, that’s what Simon believed. It felt almost unnatural for Jayne to stand still letting Simon right himself.
Turning to the Sheriff, Simon was dumbfounded when the man addressed them both respectfully. “If you’d follow us down to the station and sign the forms, we’ll be assured that the matter is dealt with.”
“Shiny.” Jayne’s voice was tight, and he avoided Simon’s eyes when the doctor looked at him. He kept avoiding them the entire walk back to the station, where the reminder, conveniently displayed on the station wall, of capital punishment pressed Simon into quickly following Jayne’s direction. He didn’t read the forms, just skimmed over parts of them. The words, ’punishment waived’ were enough to push him into signing and it was only when the sheriff handed them back the forms, that Simon realized what he’d done.
“If you would please accept our apologies for the rough treatment, Doctor Tam. Your primary partner has expressed his disapproval of our actions and, as a measure of good faith, we’re happy not to witness the punishment that Mr Cobb has guaranteed us you will be given. However we do expect that you will obey our Laws and that, for the duration of your visit, you will be chaperoned by himself, or Captain Reynolds.”