Familial Encounters
Title: Familial Encounters
Word Count: 7,698
Pages: 20
Chapter: Oneshot
Status: Complete
Sequel to: Not Exactly Casanova/Fight For Him/The Past Catches Up
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: Meeting the family is not as easy as it seems.
Author Notes and translations at the end of the story.
"Have you ever wanted to talk to your parents again?"
Simon looked up from his bandaging a wound on Mal's arm. Zoe was quiet as she sat in the corner and waited her turn for a small gash on her forehead. He glanced between them, but though it seemed as if Mal was just making conversation, he had his doubts that that was all it was. "I hadn't thought about it. Why?"
"Oh, nothing." Simon stared heavily at Mal, prompting the captain to shift awkwardly. "Well...we received a wave yesterday as we were leaving planetside. It was passed through some local contacts of mine and it was a recording from your parents. They apparently got in touch--"
"You mean my mother got in touch. My father would never "stoop", as he calls it, to get in touch with the kind of people that are your contacts." After a moment, he added, "No offense."
"None taken," Mal answered, and Simon really had to wonder if that was true or a lie. It was impossible to tell with Mal's serene face. "Just wanted to let you know your options. If you wanted to, then we'd make sure you could talk to them. Unless, of course, you think it's a trap. These are your parents, after all, and you know them better than we do."
Simon gestured to Mal that he was done and changed his gloves as Zoe took the captain's place on the chair. His mother would never set them up, at least willingly. His father, he didn't know about. The man could screw them over, or end up being pleased to see them. It was really a toss-up, as he'd always found his father to be somewhat unpredictable. He'd thought the man would support him in rescuing River even if they'd argued, but instead he'd been disowned. If his mother initiated it, then there would be no plan willingly set up, but neither one of them had any clue how to talk with the 'contacts' of Mal's. It was possible their inquiries could have gotten some 'attention' and there would be a silent ambush waiting.
There was also the question of if he wanted to see them. He'd grown so resentful of them for their abandonment. During the first few months of their new lives in blackness with the crew of the Serenity, sometimes Simon would stare at the ceiling and compose long-winded and righteous speeches and things he would say if he ever saw them again to make them realize their mistake. His mother would cry, his father would look ashamed, and he would partially enjoy their horrified emotions. Then he would feel vaguely guilty at his vindictiveness and try to put it out of his mind.
How would he even explain to them what had happened with River? He had always laughed off those around him that had 'conspiracy theories'; in fact, had someone told him the story of River if he wasn't related to her, he would have thought they were drunk or pulling his leg. Instead, he had seen firsthand the truth. His parents hadn't though. They had also never understood River, really. They tried to treat her like a normal child, but he could still remember their sometimes stunned faces when she surprised them with some of the things she said.
Then there was Jayne. How was he going to explain Jayne? What words were there to explain the massive 6'4 titan that was his lover? Could he possibly explain to their satisfaction that he had learned to memorize the heavy footfalls of the mercenary, had cataloged the different tones of the man's voice, and even started sharing the occasional shirts with him? He remembered, with some amusement, the expression on Mal's face when he caught Simon wearing one of Jayne's very well-worn green t-shirts.
He wasn't the son they knew. He had changed and the crew of the Serenity was the first to admit that. Simon had tried to keep his distance at first, to maintain who he'd thought he was, but it had seeped away by necessity. He'd found that his loyalty to River had run far deeper than he'd expected, and some of the actions he took surprising. He hadn't even thought that there was any other option except to tackle Early. It had been instinct, something he had done in a split second. He also found that he enjoyed lounging around in 'normal' clothes as Jayne put it. He rarely wore his button-down shirts and slacks that he had brought with him. Jayne had slowly been adding more clothes and most of them would horrify his parents at what they looked like, not even caring that they were often very comfortable.
He hadn't realized that his silent introspection had lasted through the quick bandaging of Zoe's gash and that he was alone, his hands instinctively organizing the tools he'd used in the med bay. Shaking his head, he moved to the guest room that he'd occupied for so long.
"When are you going to just move into my bunk permanently?"
Simon nearly hit the ceiling in surprise. Jayne had moved like a cat; he hadn't even heard a whisper or creak of leather! Arms slid around him from behind and he automatically leaned back into them. "What?"
"I said, when are you just going to move into my bunk permanently? You spend almost every day there anyway and your stuff is still there when Mal made us bunk together."
He didn't answer because he didn't know when. He didn't even know why he kept coming back to this room. Maybe it was because he wasn't used to sharing a room with anyone. He'd always had his own room as a kid, even if River occasionally slept in his at night with him. He'd had his own apartment when he was a doctor and lived by himself. He'd never shared a room with anyone before on a permanent basis and he was finding it hard to let go. Jayne was right, he spent six out of seven days in his lover's bunk, but always on that seventh day, he would come back here. The room was empty, so it wasn't an object. It didn't look like anyone stayed in the room at all. River seemed to enjoy going from room to room, spending her time sleeping with Kaylee or Inara or alone. Even Zoe or Mal would occasionally let her stay with them.
"You knew about the message from my parents?" he asked instead.
There was a conspicuous silence from behind him. "I just happened to be there when it arrived."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"Cap'n said not to, that he wanted to talk to you first."
Simon couldn't tell if he was angry at Jayne or not for not telling him. Mal had brought it up perhaps the best way he could, but there really was no good way of telling him. He leaned back completely until Jayne was holding his entire weight and stared vacantly in front of him. "I don't know if I want to see them, but I also don't want to regret not doing so either."
"Ya got time, you know. Don't have to make a decision immediately. Anyway, I have somethin' I want to talk to you about."
Oh now what?
Simon tilted his head back and looked up Jayne. "What is it?"
"Well...since we're talkin' families and all...I wanted you to meet mine."
Meet...Jayne's family? Simon tried to conjure up what it might be like, but even knowing what he did about them, all he could imagine was just a lot of Jayne's. "Really? You don't think...I mean...how would they react?"
Jayne shrugged. "Don't know. They might be disappointed a little at first." Seeing Simon's look, Jayne hurried to continue before the doctor got upset. "It ain't nothin' to do with you, Simon, just how it is out there. Usually got to be with women 'cause there ain't a lot of choice. More kids mean more people to work. And also, well...ever heard that phrase 'salt of the earth'? Rough and tumble people live out there, work hard in the dirt and plenty of injuries and rough hands and tan skins. It's the expectation out there, Simon."
Simon pulled from his arms, not sure how to feel about that. They came from wildly different worlds. He had no right to be upset at Jayne since his own parents would be the same way. They'd expect a pretty and gentile girl, not 'rough and tumble' Jayne.
"I... I'm sorry, Simon, I shouldn't have said that..." Jayne roughly scratched at his beard, looking like he was desperately searching for words to fix it.
"It's okay, Jayne. I appreciate the honesty," he answered truthfully. "It's...hard to hear, that's all, and my parents would feel the same as yours: the expectation for my family would not be you either. The question is, though...do you care?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you care if you're not the expectation to my family?"
"Hell no," Jayne told him, shoving his hands into his pockets and slouching against the wall. "They're hwan dahns! ...Sorry," he added after.
Simon let the insult slide. "That's the difference, Jayne. You don't care. I do. I care that I'm not up to their expectations. Your family is important to you and--"
A rough hand cupping his chin silenced him. He hadn't even realized that his head had been tilting down, staring at the floor. Jayne had a smile on his face. Why?
The question must have been obvious on his face. "I'm happy you care, Simon, but I don't. I love 'em, but their expectations don't make a bit of diff'rence to me. You're still the guy."
"If...If you're sure..."
"Yah, I'm sure. 'Course...they'll fuss anyway."
"Why?"
"'Cause you'll be the first I ever brought home to meet 'em. They know that means it's serious."
...No pressure at all, Simon thought and sighed.
~!~!~!~!~
They touched down on Jayne's home planet about a week later. While it didn't appear as if the crew had been there before, they fit right in so quickly that Simon felt even more out of place. He had taken Jayne's advice for clothes and had not worn anything fancy. River found everything fascinating and he stuck to her side like a burr, both for her sake and his own nerves. It was a small town, he noted, and it was as if everyone who didn't have a job currently filed out to see who was in the ship. Jayne's grin was big and he greeted everyone who came close by name.
"Jayne Cobb!"
The strident voice lanced over the chatter and he and the crew's eyes were drawn to a figure standing there with her hands on her hips. She looked angry at first, but then smiled widely. Simon, good with faces, recognized her instantly: that was Jayne's oldest sister. Her clothes, shirt and pants, were working types with a rough fabric.
"Josie!"
"What are you doing here, Jayne?" she asked as he grabbed her up in a hug and even lifted her off the ground.
"Wanted to introduce you and Ma to some people."
"You're just in time. Dannie's wedding is in five days."
"Really? Got good timing then."
Josie gave him a look. "Why do I get the feeling that you knew that all along and your visit was hardly coincidental?" She shook her head. "Nevermind, come home!"
They waded through the throng of people in town to a house on the outskirts. It was bigger than Simon expected, a two story house. Of course it looked in a state of disrepair and more than a little 'ramshackle', but it appeared quite sturdy for all that.
"Uncle Jayne! It's Uncle Jayne!"
The first boy to reach Jayne was the eldest one, who had longer legs. He was barreling at full force and Jayne snatched him up without breaking the rhythm. "Hey, Sammy!" A smaller hand grabbed Jayne's pant leg and the big man pretended to not see, asking the boy in his arms. "Where's your brother Jeremy?"
"Down here, pick me up too!"
"There ya are! Yer so short, I didn't even see ya!"
"Uncle Jayne!" the boy whined and Jayne laughed, picking up the other boy too.
"You two are heavy!" He carried them a foot or two before setting them down, much to their loud-voice complaints. Josie gave them a 'behave now' sort of glare and once they noticed it, their protests died quickly.
Simon hardly heard the chatter from those around him with Jayne's family. Josie was having a lively conversation with Mal and Zoe and Kaylee was showering attention on the two boys who soaked it up like dry sponges.
A delighted older voice sounded from the doorway. "Jayne!"
"Hey, Ma!"
Simon stared. He couldn't help it. Jayne was so tall that he had half-expected... His lover dwarfed the older woman. She had laugh-wrinkles all over her face and she was doing just that as Jayne lifted her up in his bearhug. It must have been Jayne's father that had the height then. In fact, all her children were surprisingly tall.
"Are you coming?"
He blinked, turning his attention to Kaylee. He and her were the only ones still outside and he had completely failed to notice. "Oh... Yes, of course."
"You're nervous, aren't you?"
"I...can't deny it. To be perfectly honest, I'm petrified," he said quietly.
"Don't worry, we'll be here." She reached out and tugged his hand, pulling him inside. The sun was starting to set now. He hadn't realized that they had arrived on the planet that late; it hadn't taken them that long to get through the town and to the house.
It was noisy inside, the kind of noise that Simon was just not used to. Even meal times on the Serenity were not like this. This was sheer chaos and yet when he watched it, it all somehow made sense. Everyone knew they had a role to play and they were fulfilling that role amid other people and somehow avoided making everything grind to a halt. Sammy and Jeremy ran about underfoot despite their mother's scolding; Jayne's mother commandeered the kitchen to cook; Josie was counting people and studying the plates and utensils situation. All of that being done amid loud voices talking. It would be enough to drive Simon mad, used to quiet dinners with his family and little conversation.
Someone bumped into him from behind and he heard a quiet and slightly reserved voice say 'Sorry'. He shifted closer to Kaylee and River to let the man pass. Said man kissed Josie on the cheek and quickly retreated into another room. He heard Jayne say that was her husband, as if that wasn't obvious, but the name escaped him in the noise. After that, it was a parade of people entering. Jayne had a large family that was only made worse with the entire Serenity crew deciding to stick around for dinner. Josie's husband and Dannie's fiance, a girl who was actually quite pretty and probably of similar height to her mother, were sent next door to grab another table and ended up coming back with two. Of all Jayne's family, the youngest daughter Jamie most resembled her brother. She was tall, though not as tall as Josie, and had a muscular build and short hair.
What was it with the 'J' names? Was it accidental or done on purpose?
Inside was also where he first saw 'Mattie'. He was unclear in what relation the girl was to Jayne, be it sister or niece. He could never get a straight answer from his lover. Sometimes at night he dreamed that maybe she was actually Jayne's daughter. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility, given Jayne's sexual behavior. Yet watching Jayne now, Simon didn't think she was. Before he had a chance to ask, Mal did.
"We've heard a lot about Mattie from Jayne," the Captain said, raising his voice to be heard. "Whose daughter is she?"
"Mine," answered Theresa, Jayne's mother. "We adopted her few years back. Poor girl's parents were in an accident and didn't make it!"
Simon's attention was caught nearby, diverted from the conversation about Mattie, and he watched as Dannie's fiance grew tongue-tied when he talked to Inara. Inara didn't have many 'simple' dresses, though she tried not to be out of place.
"Congratulations on your engagement," Inara told him.
"Th-Thank you."
"Hey, hey!" Jayne's voice was loud as he tried to get everyone's attention. "Get everyone in here, I got an announcement!"
Simon had a damn good guess what this was about and it was only thanks to Kaylee and River each grabbing an arm that he didn't attempt to sidle behind someone bigger than him, like Mal and Zoe.
"Sammy, find your brother and go get your Dad from the living room!" Josie commanded as Jamie went hunting for Dannie.
"What's all this about?" Theresa asked, sitting down in the chair at the head of the table and allowing Mattie, who appeared to be around five, crawl in her lap.
Jayne waited until everyone was in the room and seated, Josie hushing her two children. It was the first time that silence had descended since Simon had stepped into the house and for him, it was a blessed relief. He was used to chaos in the emergency room, but that was somehow different than it was here. He was comfortable in medical chaos; he was not comfortable at all in this sort of situation, with a room that was full to bursting with sixteen people in it, including himself.
Once everyone was present and seated, Jayne's eyes met Simon's. Contrary to what Simon expected, Jayne didn't pull him forward to him; instead, he beckoned, as if hoping that Simon would choose to stand next to him. Simon's eyes flickered back at those watching and then at his lover, but it wasn't until River kicked his heel hard that he moved forward. Jayne's strong arm slipped around his back and Simon felt a blush come to his cheeks. He could feel the crew of the Serenity forming an almost half-circle behind them in a show of support. Mal leaned his hip against the table, watching Jayne's family, as if trying to determine what they were thinking.
"Wanted you to meet the crew I work with and Simon. We're datin'."
Simon waited for more, but nothing came. That was it? That was the only introduction Jayne was going to give? No explaining the circumstances, no explaining what his profession was, not even saying a word about their feelings? No preamble even? Simon had always known that Jayne was blunt, but wasn't that a little too blunt?
The expected outburst didn't come. There was no loud condemnation. There was...nothing at all. There were more than a few glances at Theresa and his attention shifted to her. Obviously whatever she said, how she answered this proclamation, would set the tone for the rest of the family.
"Well?" Jayne prodded, sounding a bit annoyed.
Theresa shifted forward and her eyes looked Simon up and down. "It's the first time you've brought anyone home, Jayne."
"So?"
"So this is a big deal," Josie answered. "You could have at least warned us first that you were bringing someone."
"I shouldn't have to," Jayne argued. His eyes narrowed. "This ain't gonna turn into one of those things 'cause he's a guy, is it?"
Theresa glared at him. "What do you take this household for, Jayne Cobb? We are not so shallow-minded as that! You have been in space too long, young man, and among a bad crowd if you think we would be that bigoted!"
"I hope you're not referring to us as the bad crowd," Mal quipped with a grin, clearly hoping to diffuse the tension.
"I don't know, Captain," she replied with little inflection in her voice. "What do you think of this?"
"I'll be honest with you, I'm surprised at them. Simon here is our medic and he's damn good, but you might say that he's a...bit different from our Jayne here. I didn't expect it to last more than a week or two at best." Those soulful eyes looked at Jayne and Simon. "And here it is, months later and they're still together. Simon's all but moved into Jayne's bunk. I didn't expect it, not at all." He turned back to Theresa. "I didn't like it at first, but not because it's sly. Shipboard romances complicate things. I wanted it to end, but Jayne here did something I hadn't expected: he stood up and fought for Simon, even when I made it clear my orders. Wasn't much I could do about it short of tossing one of them out an airlock and I'll be damned if it hasn't made a difference. Never seen either of them so happy before. Jayne's as loyal as I ever seen a man be and Simon actually smiles."
Theresa's gaze turned from Mal to Simon and he steeled his nerve. He'd broken River out of an Alliance facility and fought overwhelming odds against Reavers. How difficult could it be to face Jayne's mother? That's what he told himself, but it was surprisingly difficult. For all her height, she was a tough woman in will. "Come sit here next to me, Simon. Jayne, you can sit next to Jamie."
Jamie, who was on the farthest end of the table.
"But Ma--"
"No buts," Theresa told him firmly. "I want to talk to Simon."
River, who had been surprisingly quiet up to this point, murmured, "Don't argue. Makes bad impression."
"Right at that, girl," Jayne's mother replied.
Despite clearly wanting to argue, Jayne reluctantly obeyed his mother. Simon sat down next to Theresa and was surprised to find Mal taking the empty chair on his right before anyone else could. Though he doubted Mal would interject anything into the conversation, just the presence of the man was enough to bolster his nerves.
"So you're a doctor then."
"Yes," he answered, though it hardly needed one. Food was passed around the table much like on the Serenity. Simon didn't have much of a stomach for food, considering it felt as if it was tying up in knots, but he didn't want to seem rude either to not take any. So he took what he could without seeming to insult and no more.
"You're not from the border planets, are you?" she asked, flicking a glance at his hands.
Well, given Jayne's family, he wanted to make a good first impression, so lying was out. At the same time, he wasn't thrilled with the idea of letting it be known that he and his sister were fugitives. "I'm not. I was born on Osiris."
"That's a long way from here."
"It is, yes."
"Why did you leave?"
Before he could formulate an answer to that without lying, Mal came to his rescue and met the old woman's eyes fearlessly. "That is a long, involving story best left for another time. This is a happy occasion with your daughter's wedding and the introduction of your son's partner. In depth and sad tales should be set aside for now."
After a minute, she nodded. "You're right at that, Captain. It's also prying and I apologize." Theresa smiled for the first time since the news was uttered. It was small, but it was there. "Terry, dear, have you decided who your best man is?"
Terry, Dannie's husband, looked up and finished his bite of chicken before answering. He was definitely the 'odd man out', much like Simon. Unlike the other men in the room, Terry was slim and not as muscular as the family he was marrying into. "My brother Aiken will do it."
"I want Kaylee to be one of my bridesmaids!" Dannie announced, emerging from a 'deep' conversation with Kaylee.
"I'm still maid-of-honor, right?" Jamie asked, leaning in.
"Of course!"
Simon let the conversations wash over him, eventually tuning them out. He answered whatever question Jayne's mother asked him, but it was very hard to think around all the noise. He excused himself once dinner was slowly starting to wind down and slipped as quietly as he could outside. The wind was cool. He'd been warned that the days were very warm and the nights very cool here, but he hadn't thought to bring a jacket.
"I take it that it's too noisy in there for you?"
He turned, seeing Josie. "I'm not used to it."
"Not many are. The Cobbs is, technically, the biggest family in town. Not in money, but in size, particularly if you're including by-marriage relations." She gestured at two chairs nearby. One was a rocking chair, which Josie claimed.
Simon sat down, put a little more at ease with her relaxed posture and attitude.
"My Cal was like you too. He was an only child and his Ma passed away in childbirth. He all but ran screaming for the door first time he met the family. Jayne, o'course, didn't help matters when he immediately challenged him to a fight. To this day, any time Cal and Jayne 'fight', it's always a standoff. Nobody actually wins."
"It's almost hard to believe," he commented. "Jayne is a great fighter and he works out a lot."
"Don't let Ma's attitude fool you," Josie told him, pulling a flask out of her pocket and taking a swig. It was slipped back in her pocket just as quickly. "She's like that with everyone. Cal, Terry... She's a big softie, for the most part, unless she doesn't like you. Friends of her kids she treats just like her kids, but she knows the damage someone datin' her kids can do to them."
Simon watched as Josie put her feet up on the railing surrounding the covered porch they sat on. "I sense a story there?"
"You could say that, but like your Captain said: it ain't the time for sad tales. Got Dannie's wedding coming up and you're here to meet us all." Josie finally turned to look at him. "Don't mean to make you work on a visit, but before you leave, could you look at our boys and Mattie?"
He was a trauma surgeon, not a regular doctor, but he'd had to take many roles in the past and it didn't bother him. "Of course. I hope you don't mind if I'd like to do it in med bay on Serenity? It has more equipment there."
"Not at all. Now, back inside with ya. Jayne will be wondering where you are."
He stood up, pausing in the doorway when she didn't follow. "Are you--"
"I'll be in soon," she replied, not moving. From the look of her, Josie had not had an easy past and Simon politely left her with her thoughts.
The wedding went off without a hitch and all the crew dressed up as much as their wardrobe would allow. Between Kaylee and Inara, Dannie was a wonder to behold. Given her features, despite what he'd heard of her legendary toughness of beating up Jayne, she looked exactly the type that his parents would expect him to bring home. Simon had met some beautiful women in his life, both in looks and personality. Kaylee was definitely at the top of the charts in that, no doubt. Yet it was Jayne, the 'lumbering oaf', 'the man ape gone wrong thing', that had attracted him the most. It was both physical and mental. Once he got past the barriers, once they'd started talking, it had been almost inevitable. Simon had honestly never been happier.
"Well that was nice of them," Mal commented as they broke atmo into space. He seemed to be enjoying watching Kaylee put away the donated food from Jayne's family. Was Simon the only one that was concerned that after such big meals when they stayed with them, and the wedding, how much food they had left? Perhaps it would be all right; he did remember seeing Jayne hand over some money to his mother...
"I think it turned out well."
Simon paused as he left the galley, spotting Jayne coming his way. "The wedding?"
"Well that, but everything. They loved ya, Simon."
Jayne didn't lie to him that Simon could find, so he took his lover's word for it. True, by the end of the visit, Jayne's family had been far warmer than he had any right to expect. He reached out and pulled his lover closer, stealing a kiss. The goatee was rough on his skin, but he was used to that.
"Did you like them?"
"I did," he answered, letting Jayne pull him toward wherever he wanted him to.
"Now..."
"Now what?"
"Time to get you undressed."
Simon snorted. "Oh really?"
"Yeah. You think Ma would let me so much as touch you like that in her house with two of her grandkids staying over?"
"Well I suppose I can see her point. You're not exactly quiet."
"Me?" Jayne closed the hatch behind them and his fingers immediately went for Simon's shirt. "Yer the one always makin' lots of noise!"
"Hardly," he teased back.
"Shall I prove it to you, baobei?" Jayne whispered heatedly in his ear.
"You'd best, otherwise I won't believe you."
"Fair warning you won't be walking anywhere for awhile."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Simon told him honestly with a smile.
~!~!~!~!~
"You're sure?"
"I am," Simon answered.
Mal nodded after a minute. "I'll talk to them then so they can get a message to your mother."
"One other thing."
"What?"
"I want to do this alone."
Mal's eyebrows rose to his hairline. "Simon, I don't think that's a good idea. What about--"
"Alone," he stated firmly. "Just in case it somehow turned into a trap, I don't want River there. Secondly, well...it's not that I don't want the crew and Jayne to meet my mother. It's that I don't know if it will be just my mother. My father is vocal, to say the least and he'll either be glad to see me...or he'll be saying some very unpleasant things. I'd rather no one on the ship hear it and be caused undue grief. I have other reasons besides that, but those are my main reasons."
"I don't like that idea, Simon."
"And Jayne will like it even less. However, I'd ask that you respect my wishes, Captain."
Mal sighed and shook his head. "Fine, fine."
Simon was skeptical, but he hoped Mal kept his word. His Captain could be stubborn and may do something stupid, like follow or hide out during the meeting. He just didn't need to make the situation anymore explosive than it likely already would be.
As he stepped out of the cockpit and down the stairs, he found a wall of muscle blocking him. Jayne had his arms crossed and by his glare, it was obvious that he'd heard it. Simon sighed. "I'm not trying to hide you, Jayne. I'd be proud to tell them we're dating, but there's a lot more involved than this. It's not just about introducing you; it's about the fact that I was disowned. It's about the fact that they never believed me about River. One thing at a time."
"I'm not letting you walk into that viper pit, 'specially if there's a chance yer old hwan dan old man could be there."
"Jayne, I don't want you there. Period."
"Don't care."
Simon glared, starting to fume. "Jayne, if you love me at all, let me do this my way."
"Shagua! What if it's a trap, huh? I ain't lettin' some Alliance soldiers get their hands on you!"
"I know you're worried. So am I. But I'm doing this without you, Jayne."
Jayne growled under his breath, looking truly angry at him, before spinning on his heel without another word.
~!~!~!~!~
The door wasn't locked and Simon opened it cautiously. The first person he saw was his mother, dressed in black and sitting by the window. Standing next to her, all but pacing while still standing in one spot, was his father. He honestly hadn't thought his father would show up. Had his mother not told him that she was going to meet him?
"Hello, Mother. Father."
Gabriel's head whipped around. It was impossible for Simon to tell whether he was surprised to see him or not. Regan smiled in what he assumed was utter relief. "Simon!" She held out her arms.
Simon didn't step forward to hug her. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he suddenly remembered all the bitter feelings he'd had toward them when he'd tried to help his sister. Even the action of his mother holding out her arms didn't feel very warm. Contrasting Jayne's home with the warm hues, mostly earthy brown, the room had cool colors, like his family had been: affectionate to a point, but also very 'elegant'. There were no rowdy times, there were no 'let's cook in the kitchen together' like Mattie and Theresa.
"You asked to see me?"
His father's face was set in stone, which could mean a lot. Regan's expression faltered a little at the almost cold reception from her son. "We'd like to talk."
"We...or just you?" he asked.
"Apparently being away from home out on the fringes hasn't done your manners much good," Gabriel said stiffly.
Simon had to throttle down a lot of replies to that, mostly ones he'd picked up from Jayne. He resisted the urge to ball his hand into a fist in anger when those critical eyes looked him up and down in the loose shirt and pants that he wore. No button down, no vest, no freshly pressed slacks and shined shoes.
Regan glared at her husband and then turned back to her son. "We wanted to talk," she repeated, even though it was obvious to all three of them there that none of this had been Gabriel's idea. "River--"
"Is safe," he answered. "I got her out and she's safe now."
"Where is she?"
Simon didn't answer. Mal had done a sweep of the perimeter of the hotel and no one had been there, but what if the room was bugged? He couldn't take that chance with River's life and safety.
Regan shifted awkwardly. "Please sit, Simon. Give us a chance to talk, to explain."
He was reluctant at first. Part of Simon wanted to make this meeting as short as possible, but his mother's eyes were so pleading that he found himself sitting down anyway.
"Where are you living now?"
"I'm a medic on a ship," he answered. "It keeps me quite busy and the crew is friendly. I've...well I've made a home there."
"I'm happy in that case."
"I've also..." Regan's ears perked up a little at his awkward hesitation. "I'm also in a relationship. Jayne is--"
Reagan smiled. "I bet she's a sweet girl."
"Actually, no. Jayne isn't sweet, so much as... Well, he's rough around the edges, but that's part of his charm, I guess."
"Oh. Well--wait, he?"
"Yes, Mother. Jayne is a man."
There was that awkward silence, but unlike at Jayne's house of just shock, this silence was unpleasant. They didn't like what they heard one bit. His father was all but silently bristling at the knowledge that Simon was dating a man.
"O-Oh. W-Well...he must have some good qualities, if you're with him, Simon."
Bless his mother's heart, she was trying to make this visit work, but it wouldn't. This couldn't be a normal 'how are you' reunion. Simon sighed. "I'm aware this is not what you wanted to hear, but I'm not ashamed of Jayne. I love him."
Gabriel would never stoop to utter flagrant words or curses, but Simon could sense an angry tirade coming on despite that. He braced himself, because this wasn't going to be pretty at all. "I didn't think it could get any worse than when you left, but somehow it did."
"From my vantage point, things have gotten better," Simon snapped and stood up so he could more easily look his father in the eye. "It's shameful that before the crew of the ship I'm on were even close friends, they were willing to fight for me when my own father wouldn't even listen because he's more concerned with other people's opinions!"
"Don't take that tone with me, boy!"
"I'm not a boy!" he spat back. "I grew up when you weren't looking and you can't stand that!"
"What I can't stand is your tsway-niou--"
"Now there's no need for language like that, is there?"
Simon's head snapped toward the door so fast that it gave him whiplash. Mal's hands were lightly clenching the leather pistol belt at his waist. His face was calm, but not serene. There was an unhappy look in his eyes. With his usual attire, he looked very out of place in the pristine room and with his parents' high-class clothes. As he casually stepped in, Zoe followed with her back ramrod straight and a disapproving look on Gabriel and Reagan. With a sinking heart, Simon expected the next person and was not disappointed. Jayne was the last to enter the room and he looked fit to be tied.
"Captain, what are you--"
"So you're the captain of this ship he's on."
"That I am," Mal answered Gabriel's unhappy voice. "Captain Malcom Reynolds. This is my first mate Zoe and...Jayne." Just by the way Mal said it, it was obvious that he knew that Simon had already dropped Jayne's name and relationship.
Even Reagan's impeccable manners could not contain her surprise as she gasped, "That's Jayne? As in..."
"Yes, Mother. As in Jayne, my partner. Boyfriend. Lover. Whatever you want to call it, that's him."
Jayne, armed to the teeth, crossed his muscled arms and glared. At least he hadn't brought Vera. Simon didn't really want to know how three armed people managed to get all way the way to the seventh floor of the hotel without alerting security.
"Captain, what are you doing here?" Simon hissed, livid that they had disregarded his wishes even though part of him knew that this wasn't unusual. He had half-expected it.
"Sorry for barging in, doctor. I know you said you wanted to handle this on your own, but Jayne here was a mite concerned at the meeting. Come to mention it, so was I. Our apologies." Just by the nonchalant way the last two words were said, Simon knew that Mal wasn't sorry one bit. He had done what he felt was necessary and clearly felt he was right to do so. Mal's attention turned to Gabriel and Reagan. "I hate to cut this meeting short, but I have to borrow your son--"
"He is not my son!"
"Gabriel!"
Gabriel tilted his head angrily. "The last time I saw my son, he was set to take over as Head of Surgery at AMI. My son was a brilliant doctor and had a bright future. My son was eager and ready to learn. He cared about his appearance. His passion was surgery, the hospital. My son brought home a sweet, respectful girl to meet us." There was a hefty pause and Gabriel cleared his throat twice before continuing as he tried to compose himself. "My son was a respectful, loving, and smart person who would never throw his life away on the basis of some crazy conspiracy theory! The person before me is not my son. I lost my son long ago. The man before me is nothing to me."
Every word stabbed Simon's heart. Even as he could see Gabriel's eyes become watery as he turned his head away to look out the window, even as Reagan whirled around to berate her husband, Simon felt the floor fall away beneath him. Is this really how his father saw him? Did he really feel that the son he had raised was no longer there? Sure Simon had changed, but not that much, had he? He let out a shaky breath in a 'whoosh', as if he had forgotten to breathe.
"You--"
"Jayne!"
Simon's own watery eyes glanced over, seeing Jayne put his half-drawn gun back in its holster at Mal's authoritative voice. The Captain gave a silent nod toward Simon and the mercenary gently drew the doctor from his parents.
"That's a shame," Mal replied, "because Simon Tam is a very worthwhile person. Since you're no longer willing to be family to him, we're quite willing to be that for him. Aren't we?" Mal's eyes never wavered from Gabriel Tam, who wouldn't look at anyone.
"Of course," Zoe added immediately.
"Hell yeah!" Jayne spat, pulling Simon in close even though he struggled a bit to not appear weak.
"That's not what--Gabriel--He's just stubborn..." Reagan's words floundered and failed.
"If you will excuse us." Jayne, urging Simon with him, left first, then Zoe. Mal lingered a moment more shook his head at them. "Let it never be said that you lost him. You gave him up."
Simon somehow wasn't surprised to see River outside the door and leaning against the wall. Her face was solemn, but not upset. She knew that her father's words bothered Simon far more than her. She gathered him up in her arms and as the door closed, the faintest echos of Reagan's words of 'I wish I had never brought you with me!' floated out. River linked her arm with her brother's after a minute and held his hand all the way back to the mule.
~!~!~!~!~
"I told you I didn't want you there!" Simon yelled at them as they entered the cargo bay to Kaylee and Inara waiting for them.
"I don't let my crew go into fights without backup."
"It wasn't a fight!" he spat back at Mal as he climbed down from the mule.
"That wasn't a fight? It may have been done 'polite' and verbal, all core-like, but that was a fight. It may not have involved guns, but I know what I saw and he was about to tear into you."
"I could handle it by myself!"
"I'm sure you could, Simon, but you're missing the point."
"What point?!"
"You shouldn't have to. There is no harm or shame in relying on friends and family."
Simon knew that Mal was right; he would have said the same thing if the situation were reversed. He had just never been the type of person to accept help. He was stubborn in his own way and wanted to do things on his own. He had been convinced he could handle it, but he hadn't been prepared for his father's own bitterness. In hindsight, perhaps Gabriel's rejection also stemmed from the fact that he felt guilty for not helping him, but Simon just didn't know.
"I take it that it went badly then," Kaylee said in the ensuing silence.
The doctor turned and stalked to the infirmary, but Jayne was right on his heels. Not even Mal would dare bother Simon at a time like that, but Jayne was never the type to let things like that go so easily. The door slammed shut behind them.
"I need to be alone, Jayne."
"We gotta talk. You're upset about us followin' ya."
"I thought that was made abundantly clear just now."
"Well I ain't sorry for doin' it, Simon. Like you said, it wasn't just about us. It was about yer sis, it was about you. I mighta left it alone if it was just 'bout us. You were gonna need help and I wasn't gonna let you do it alone." There was a pause. "It hurt when you said I couldn't come. Not 'cause I thought you were ashamed, but 'cause I want you to rely on me. I like that you can stand on your own most of the time, but I want you to rely on me when you can't do it on your own. You weren't doin' that. Facing down yer family is a lot tougher than killin' people, 'specially in that situation."
Simon took a few deep breaths. "He was hurting too. It hurt him to say--"
"Don't care if it hurt him," Jayne told him, lifting up Simon's chin to look into his watery eyes. "I care that it hurt you."
He hated breaking down, but with Jayne giving him that look, it was impossible not to. "You won't tell anyone about this?"
Jayne shook his head.
Simon hiccuped once or twice as he cried, buried in Jayne's arms. He didn't know what his mother would do, whether she would attempt to contact him again in the future. At least he knew for sure that his father would never accept him. He had always thought they'd had a good relationship. He had always thought his father understood him. If he had, wouldn't he have seen Simon's motivations for what he did? Wouldn't he have seen that Simon would have gone to the same lengths to save his parents? Simon's family had always come first in his heart before his career despite the fact that he loved being a surgeon and what he did. Did Gabriel feel that Simon had somehow let him down the way that Simon felt his parents had let him down?
"You thinkin' stupid stuff again?" Jayne asked quietly as they lay in bed that night, naked after some very soft, loving sex.
"Probably," Simon answered quietly as fingers were gently combing through his hair.
"Well stop that. Like Mal said: crew's your family now."
"I'd hope we weren't family in that way," he teased with a ghost of a smile even if he didn't feel much like it.
"Nah, that'd be gross. I like sexin' ya way too much ta be family." The moment of levity passed and Jayne turned his head, kissing Simon's forehead. "I'm here."
"I know. Thank you."
(Author's Notes: I pretty much, for Jayne's family, used a lot of creative license. As for Gabriel and Reagan, I just can't imagine Gabriel forgiving Simon after only a year or two. He cares, but he has his pride and is still angry.)
baobei: sweetheart
shagua: fool, damned fool, idiot
hwun dan: bastard
tsway-niou: bullcrap
Word Count: 7,698
Pages: 20
Chapter: Oneshot
Status: Complete
Sequel to: Not Exactly Casanova/Fight For Him/The Past Catches Up
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: Meeting the family is not as easy as it seems.
Author Notes and translations at the end of the story.
"Have you ever wanted to talk to your parents again?"
Simon looked up from his bandaging a wound on Mal's arm. Zoe was quiet as she sat in the corner and waited her turn for a small gash on her forehead. He glanced between them, but though it seemed as if Mal was just making conversation, he had his doubts that that was all it was. "I hadn't thought about it. Why?"
"Oh, nothing." Simon stared heavily at Mal, prompting the captain to shift awkwardly. "Well...we received a wave yesterday as we were leaving planetside. It was passed through some local contacts of mine and it was a recording from your parents. They apparently got in touch--"
"You mean my mother got in touch. My father would never "stoop", as he calls it, to get in touch with the kind of people that are your contacts." After a moment, he added, "No offense."
"None taken," Mal answered, and Simon really had to wonder if that was true or a lie. It was impossible to tell with Mal's serene face. "Just wanted to let you know your options. If you wanted to, then we'd make sure you could talk to them. Unless, of course, you think it's a trap. These are your parents, after all, and you know them better than we do."
Simon gestured to Mal that he was done and changed his gloves as Zoe took the captain's place on the chair. His mother would never set them up, at least willingly. His father, he didn't know about. The man could screw them over, or end up being pleased to see them. It was really a toss-up, as he'd always found his father to be somewhat unpredictable. He'd thought the man would support him in rescuing River even if they'd argued, but instead he'd been disowned. If his mother initiated it, then there would be no plan willingly set up, but neither one of them had any clue how to talk with the 'contacts' of Mal's. It was possible their inquiries could have gotten some 'attention' and there would be a silent ambush waiting.
There was also the question of if he wanted to see them. He'd grown so resentful of them for their abandonment. During the first few months of their new lives in blackness with the crew of the Serenity, sometimes Simon would stare at the ceiling and compose long-winded and righteous speeches and things he would say if he ever saw them again to make them realize their mistake. His mother would cry, his father would look ashamed, and he would partially enjoy their horrified emotions. Then he would feel vaguely guilty at his vindictiveness and try to put it out of his mind.
How would he even explain to them what had happened with River? He had always laughed off those around him that had 'conspiracy theories'; in fact, had someone told him the story of River if he wasn't related to her, he would have thought they were drunk or pulling his leg. Instead, he had seen firsthand the truth. His parents hadn't though. They had also never understood River, really. They tried to treat her like a normal child, but he could still remember their sometimes stunned faces when she surprised them with some of the things she said.
Then there was Jayne. How was he going to explain Jayne? What words were there to explain the massive 6'4 titan that was his lover? Could he possibly explain to their satisfaction that he had learned to memorize the heavy footfalls of the mercenary, had cataloged the different tones of the man's voice, and even started sharing the occasional shirts with him? He remembered, with some amusement, the expression on Mal's face when he caught Simon wearing one of Jayne's very well-worn green t-shirts.
He wasn't the son they knew. He had changed and the crew of the Serenity was the first to admit that. Simon had tried to keep his distance at first, to maintain who he'd thought he was, but it had seeped away by necessity. He'd found that his loyalty to River had run far deeper than he'd expected, and some of the actions he took surprising. He hadn't even thought that there was any other option except to tackle Early. It had been instinct, something he had done in a split second. He also found that he enjoyed lounging around in 'normal' clothes as Jayne put it. He rarely wore his button-down shirts and slacks that he had brought with him. Jayne had slowly been adding more clothes and most of them would horrify his parents at what they looked like, not even caring that they were often very comfortable.
He hadn't realized that his silent introspection had lasted through the quick bandaging of Zoe's gash and that he was alone, his hands instinctively organizing the tools he'd used in the med bay. Shaking his head, he moved to the guest room that he'd occupied for so long.
"When are you going to just move into my bunk permanently?"
Simon nearly hit the ceiling in surprise. Jayne had moved like a cat; he hadn't even heard a whisper or creak of leather! Arms slid around him from behind and he automatically leaned back into them. "What?"
"I said, when are you just going to move into my bunk permanently? You spend almost every day there anyway and your stuff is still there when Mal made us bunk together."
He didn't answer because he didn't know when. He didn't even know why he kept coming back to this room. Maybe it was because he wasn't used to sharing a room with anyone. He'd always had his own room as a kid, even if River occasionally slept in his at night with him. He'd had his own apartment when he was a doctor and lived by himself. He'd never shared a room with anyone before on a permanent basis and he was finding it hard to let go. Jayne was right, he spent six out of seven days in his lover's bunk, but always on that seventh day, he would come back here. The room was empty, so it wasn't an object. It didn't look like anyone stayed in the room at all. River seemed to enjoy going from room to room, spending her time sleeping with Kaylee or Inara or alone. Even Zoe or Mal would occasionally let her stay with them.
"You knew about the message from my parents?" he asked instead.
There was a conspicuous silence from behind him. "I just happened to be there when it arrived."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"Cap'n said not to, that he wanted to talk to you first."
Simon couldn't tell if he was angry at Jayne or not for not telling him. Mal had brought it up perhaps the best way he could, but there really was no good way of telling him. He leaned back completely until Jayne was holding his entire weight and stared vacantly in front of him. "I don't know if I want to see them, but I also don't want to regret not doing so either."
"Ya got time, you know. Don't have to make a decision immediately. Anyway, I have somethin' I want to talk to you about."
Oh now what?
Simon tilted his head back and looked up Jayne. "What is it?"
"Well...since we're talkin' families and all...I wanted you to meet mine."
Meet...Jayne's family? Simon tried to conjure up what it might be like, but even knowing what he did about them, all he could imagine was just a lot of Jayne's. "Really? You don't think...I mean...how would they react?"
Jayne shrugged. "Don't know. They might be disappointed a little at first." Seeing Simon's look, Jayne hurried to continue before the doctor got upset. "It ain't nothin' to do with you, Simon, just how it is out there. Usually got to be with women 'cause there ain't a lot of choice. More kids mean more people to work. And also, well...ever heard that phrase 'salt of the earth'? Rough and tumble people live out there, work hard in the dirt and plenty of injuries and rough hands and tan skins. It's the expectation out there, Simon."
Simon pulled from his arms, not sure how to feel about that. They came from wildly different worlds. He had no right to be upset at Jayne since his own parents would be the same way. They'd expect a pretty and gentile girl, not 'rough and tumble' Jayne.
"I... I'm sorry, Simon, I shouldn't have said that..." Jayne roughly scratched at his beard, looking like he was desperately searching for words to fix it.
"It's okay, Jayne. I appreciate the honesty," he answered truthfully. "It's...hard to hear, that's all, and my parents would feel the same as yours: the expectation for my family would not be you either. The question is, though...do you care?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you care if you're not the expectation to my family?"
"Hell no," Jayne told him, shoving his hands into his pockets and slouching against the wall. "They're hwan dahns! ...Sorry," he added after.
Simon let the insult slide. "That's the difference, Jayne. You don't care. I do. I care that I'm not up to their expectations. Your family is important to you and--"
A rough hand cupping his chin silenced him. He hadn't even realized that his head had been tilting down, staring at the floor. Jayne had a smile on his face. Why?
The question must have been obvious on his face. "I'm happy you care, Simon, but I don't. I love 'em, but their expectations don't make a bit of diff'rence to me. You're still the guy."
"If...If you're sure..."
"Yah, I'm sure. 'Course...they'll fuss anyway."
"Why?"
"'Cause you'll be the first I ever brought home to meet 'em. They know that means it's serious."
...No pressure at all, Simon thought and sighed.
~!~!~!~!~
They touched down on Jayne's home planet about a week later. While it didn't appear as if the crew had been there before, they fit right in so quickly that Simon felt even more out of place. He had taken Jayne's advice for clothes and had not worn anything fancy. River found everything fascinating and he stuck to her side like a burr, both for her sake and his own nerves. It was a small town, he noted, and it was as if everyone who didn't have a job currently filed out to see who was in the ship. Jayne's grin was big and he greeted everyone who came close by name.
"Jayne Cobb!"
The strident voice lanced over the chatter and he and the crew's eyes were drawn to a figure standing there with her hands on her hips. She looked angry at first, but then smiled widely. Simon, good with faces, recognized her instantly: that was Jayne's oldest sister. Her clothes, shirt and pants, were working types with a rough fabric.
"Josie!"
"What are you doing here, Jayne?" she asked as he grabbed her up in a hug and even lifted her off the ground.
"Wanted to introduce you and Ma to some people."
"You're just in time. Dannie's wedding is in five days."
"Really? Got good timing then."
Josie gave him a look. "Why do I get the feeling that you knew that all along and your visit was hardly coincidental?" She shook her head. "Nevermind, come home!"
They waded through the throng of people in town to a house on the outskirts. It was bigger than Simon expected, a two story house. Of course it looked in a state of disrepair and more than a little 'ramshackle', but it appeared quite sturdy for all that.
"Uncle Jayne! It's Uncle Jayne!"
The first boy to reach Jayne was the eldest one, who had longer legs. He was barreling at full force and Jayne snatched him up without breaking the rhythm. "Hey, Sammy!" A smaller hand grabbed Jayne's pant leg and the big man pretended to not see, asking the boy in his arms. "Where's your brother Jeremy?"
"Down here, pick me up too!"
"There ya are! Yer so short, I didn't even see ya!"
"Uncle Jayne!" the boy whined and Jayne laughed, picking up the other boy too.
"You two are heavy!" He carried them a foot or two before setting them down, much to their loud-voice complaints. Josie gave them a 'behave now' sort of glare and once they noticed it, their protests died quickly.
Simon hardly heard the chatter from those around him with Jayne's family. Josie was having a lively conversation with Mal and Zoe and Kaylee was showering attention on the two boys who soaked it up like dry sponges.
A delighted older voice sounded from the doorway. "Jayne!"
"Hey, Ma!"
Simon stared. He couldn't help it. Jayne was so tall that he had half-expected... His lover dwarfed the older woman. She had laugh-wrinkles all over her face and she was doing just that as Jayne lifted her up in his bearhug. It must have been Jayne's father that had the height then. In fact, all her children were surprisingly tall.
"Are you coming?"
He blinked, turning his attention to Kaylee. He and her were the only ones still outside and he had completely failed to notice. "Oh... Yes, of course."
"You're nervous, aren't you?"
"I...can't deny it. To be perfectly honest, I'm petrified," he said quietly.
"Don't worry, we'll be here." She reached out and tugged his hand, pulling him inside. The sun was starting to set now. He hadn't realized that they had arrived on the planet that late; it hadn't taken them that long to get through the town and to the house.
It was noisy inside, the kind of noise that Simon was just not used to. Even meal times on the Serenity were not like this. This was sheer chaos and yet when he watched it, it all somehow made sense. Everyone knew they had a role to play and they were fulfilling that role amid other people and somehow avoided making everything grind to a halt. Sammy and Jeremy ran about underfoot despite their mother's scolding; Jayne's mother commandeered the kitchen to cook; Josie was counting people and studying the plates and utensils situation. All of that being done amid loud voices talking. It would be enough to drive Simon mad, used to quiet dinners with his family and little conversation.
Someone bumped into him from behind and he heard a quiet and slightly reserved voice say 'Sorry'. He shifted closer to Kaylee and River to let the man pass. Said man kissed Josie on the cheek and quickly retreated into another room. He heard Jayne say that was her husband, as if that wasn't obvious, but the name escaped him in the noise. After that, it was a parade of people entering. Jayne had a large family that was only made worse with the entire Serenity crew deciding to stick around for dinner. Josie's husband and Dannie's fiance, a girl who was actually quite pretty and probably of similar height to her mother, were sent next door to grab another table and ended up coming back with two. Of all Jayne's family, the youngest daughter Jamie most resembled her brother. She was tall, though not as tall as Josie, and had a muscular build and short hair.
What was it with the 'J' names? Was it accidental or done on purpose?
Inside was also where he first saw 'Mattie'. He was unclear in what relation the girl was to Jayne, be it sister or niece. He could never get a straight answer from his lover. Sometimes at night he dreamed that maybe she was actually Jayne's daughter. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility, given Jayne's sexual behavior. Yet watching Jayne now, Simon didn't think she was. Before he had a chance to ask, Mal did.
"We've heard a lot about Mattie from Jayne," the Captain said, raising his voice to be heard. "Whose daughter is she?"
"Mine," answered Theresa, Jayne's mother. "We adopted her few years back. Poor girl's parents were in an accident and didn't make it!"
Simon's attention was caught nearby, diverted from the conversation about Mattie, and he watched as Dannie's fiance grew tongue-tied when he talked to Inara. Inara didn't have many 'simple' dresses, though she tried not to be out of place.
"Congratulations on your engagement," Inara told him.
"Th-Thank you."
"Hey, hey!" Jayne's voice was loud as he tried to get everyone's attention. "Get everyone in here, I got an announcement!"
Simon had a damn good guess what this was about and it was only thanks to Kaylee and River each grabbing an arm that he didn't attempt to sidle behind someone bigger than him, like Mal and Zoe.
"Sammy, find your brother and go get your Dad from the living room!" Josie commanded as Jamie went hunting for Dannie.
"What's all this about?" Theresa asked, sitting down in the chair at the head of the table and allowing Mattie, who appeared to be around five, crawl in her lap.
Jayne waited until everyone was in the room and seated, Josie hushing her two children. It was the first time that silence had descended since Simon had stepped into the house and for him, it was a blessed relief. He was used to chaos in the emergency room, but that was somehow different than it was here. He was comfortable in medical chaos; he was not comfortable at all in this sort of situation, with a room that was full to bursting with sixteen people in it, including himself.
Once everyone was present and seated, Jayne's eyes met Simon's. Contrary to what Simon expected, Jayne didn't pull him forward to him; instead, he beckoned, as if hoping that Simon would choose to stand next to him. Simon's eyes flickered back at those watching and then at his lover, but it wasn't until River kicked his heel hard that he moved forward. Jayne's strong arm slipped around his back and Simon felt a blush come to his cheeks. He could feel the crew of the Serenity forming an almost half-circle behind them in a show of support. Mal leaned his hip against the table, watching Jayne's family, as if trying to determine what they were thinking.
"Wanted you to meet the crew I work with and Simon. We're datin'."
Simon waited for more, but nothing came. That was it? That was the only introduction Jayne was going to give? No explaining the circumstances, no explaining what his profession was, not even saying a word about their feelings? No preamble even? Simon had always known that Jayne was blunt, but wasn't that a little too blunt?
The expected outburst didn't come. There was no loud condemnation. There was...nothing at all. There were more than a few glances at Theresa and his attention shifted to her. Obviously whatever she said, how she answered this proclamation, would set the tone for the rest of the family.
"Well?" Jayne prodded, sounding a bit annoyed.
Theresa shifted forward and her eyes looked Simon up and down. "It's the first time you've brought anyone home, Jayne."
"So?"
"So this is a big deal," Josie answered. "You could have at least warned us first that you were bringing someone."
"I shouldn't have to," Jayne argued. His eyes narrowed. "This ain't gonna turn into one of those things 'cause he's a guy, is it?"
Theresa glared at him. "What do you take this household for, Jayne Cobb? We are not so shallow-minded as that! You have been in space too long, young man, and among a bad crowd if you think we would be that bigoted!"
"I hope you're not referring to us as the bad crowd," Mal quipped with a grin, clearly hoping to diffuse the tension.
"I don't know, Captain," she replied with little inflection in her voice. "What do you think of this?"
"I'll be honest with you, I'm surprised at them. Simon here is our medic and he's damn good, but you might say that he's a...bit different from our Jayne here. I didn't expect it to last more than a week or two at best." Those soulful eyes looked at Jayne and Simon. "And here it is, months later and they're still together. Simon's all but moved into Jayne's bunk. I didn't expect it, not at all." He turned back to Theresa. "I didn't like it at first, but not because it's sly. Shipboard romances complicate things. I wanted it to end, but Jayne here did something I hadn't expected: he stood up and fought for Simon, even when I made it clear my orders. Wasn't much I could do about it short of tossing one of them out an airlock and I'll be damned if it hasn't made a difference. Never seen either of them so happy before. Jayne's as loyal as I ever seen a man be and Simon actually smiles."
Theresa's gaze turned from Mal to Simon and he steeled his nerve. He'd broken River out of an Alliance facility and fought overwhelming odds against Reavers. How difficult could it be to face Jayne's mother? That's what he told himself, but it was surprisingly difficult. For all her height, she was a tough woman in will. "Come sit here next to me, Simon. Jayne, you can sit next to Jamie."
Jamie, who was on the farthest end of the table.
"But Ma--"
"No buts," Theresa told him firmly. "I want to talk to Simon."
River, who had been surprisingly quiet up to this point, murmured, "Don't argue. Makes bad impression."
"Right at that, girl," Jayne's mother replied.
Despite clearly wanting to argue, Jayne reluctantly obeyed his mother. Simon sat down next to Theresa and was surprised to find Mal taking the empty chair on his right before anyone else could. Though he doubted Mal would interject anything into the conversation, just the presence of the man was enough to bolster his nerves.
"So you're a doctor then."
"Yes," he answered, though it hardly needed one. Food was passed around the table much like on the Serenity. Simon didn't have much of a stomach for food, considering it felt as if it was tying up in knots, but he didn't want to seem rude either to not take any. So he took what he could without seeming to insult and no more.
"You're not from the border planets, are you?" she asked, flicking a glance at his hands.
Well, given Jayne's family, he wanted to make a good first impression, so lying was out. At the same time, he wasn't thrilled with the idea of letting it be known that he and his sister were fugitives. "I'm not. I was born on Osiris."
"That's a long way from here."
"It is, yes."
"Why did you leave?"
Before he could formulate an answer to that without lying, Mal came to his rescue and met the old woman's eyes fearlessly. "That is a long, involving story best left for another time. This is a happy occasion with your daughter's wedding and the introduction of your son's partner. In depth and sad tales should be set aside for now."
After a minute, she nodded. "You're right at that, Captain. It's also prying and I apologize." Theresa smiled for the first time since the news was uttered. It was small, but it was there. "Terry, dear, have you decided who your best man is?"
Terry, Dannie's husband, looked up and finished his bite of chicken before answering. He was definitely the 'odd man out', much like Simon. Unlike the other men in the room, Terry was slim and not as muscular as the family he was marrying into. "My brother Aiken will do it."
"I want Kaylee to be one of my bridesmaids!" Dannie announced, emerging from a 'deep' conversation with Kaylee.
"I'm still maid-of-honor, right?" Jamie asked, leaning in.
"Of course!"
Simon let the conversations wash over him, eventually tuning them out. He answered whatever question Jayne's mother asked him, but it was very hard to think around all the noise. He excused himself once dinner was slowly starting to wind down and slipped as quietly as he could outside. The wind was cool. He'd been warned that the days were very warm and the nights very cool here, but he hadn't thought to bring a jacket.
"I take it that it's too noisy in there for you?"
He turned, seeing Josie. "I'm not used to it."
"Not many are. The Cobbs is, technically, the biggest family in town. Not in money, but in size, particularly if you're including by-marriage relations." She gestured at two chairs nearby. One was a rocking chair, which Josie claimed.
Simon sat down, put a little more at ease with her relaxed posture and attitude.
"My Cal was like you too. He was an only child and his Ma passed away in childbirth. He all but ran screaming for the door first time he met the family. Jayne, o'course, didn't help matters when he immediately challenged him to a fight. To this day, any time Cal and Jayne 'fight', it's always a standoff. Nobody actually wins."
"It's almost hard to believe," he commented. "Jayne is a great fighter and he works out a lot."
"Don't let Ma's attitude fool you," Josie told him, pulling a flask out of her pocket and taking a swig. It was slipped back in her pocket just as quickly. "She's like that with everyone. Cal, Terry... She's a big softie, for the most part, unless she doesn't like you. Friends of her kids she treats just like her kids, but she knows the damage someone datin' her kids can do to them."
Simon watched as Josie put her feet up on the railing surrounding the covered porch they sat on. "I sense a story there?"
"You could say that, but like your Captain said: it ain't the time for sad tales. Got Dannie's wedding coming up and you're here to meet us all." Josie finally turned to look at him. "Don't mean to make you work on a visit, but before you leave, could you look at our boys and Mattie?"
He was a trauma surgeon, not a regular doctor, but he'd had to take many roles in the past and it didn't bother him. "Of course. I hope you don't mind if I'd like to do it in med bay on Serenity? It has more equipment there."
"Not at all. Now, back inside with ya. Jayne will be wondering where you are."
He stood up, pausing in the doorway when she didn't follow. "Are you--"
"I'll be in soon," she replied, not moving. From the look of her, Josie had not had an easy past and Simon politely left her with her thoughts.
The wedding went off without a hitch and all the crew dressed up as much as their wardrobe would allow. Between Kaylee and Inara, Dannie was a wonder to behold. Given her features, despite what he'd heard of her legendary toughness of beating up Jayne, she looked exactly the type that his parents would expect him to bring home. Simon had met some beautiful women in his life, both in looks and personality. Kaylee was definitely at the top of the charts in that, no doubt. Yet it was Jayne, the 'lumbering oaf', 'the man ape gone wrong thing', that had attracted him the most. It was both physical and mental. Once he got past the barriers, once they'd started talking, it had been almost inevitable. Simon had honestly never been happier.
"Well that was nice of them," Mal commented as they broke atmo into space. He seemed to be enjoying watching Kaylee put away the donated food from Jayne's family. Was Simon the only one that was concerned that after such big meals when they stayed with them, and the wedding, how much food they had left? Perhaps it would be all right; he did remember seeing Jayne hand over some money to his mother...
"I think it turned out well."
Simon paused as he left the galley, spotting Jayne coming his way. "The wedding?"
"Well that, but everything. They loved ya, Simon."
Jayne didn't lie to him that Simon could find, so he took his lover's word for it. True, by the end of the visit, Jayne's family had been far warmer than he had any right to expect. He reached out and pulled his lover closer, stealing a kiss. The goatee was rough on his skin, but he was used to that.
"Did you like them?"
"I did," he answered, letting Jayne pull him toward wherever he wanted him to.
"Now..."
"Now what?"
"Time to get you undressed."
Simon snorted. "Oh really?"
"Yeah. You think Ma would let me so much as touch you like that in her house with two of her grandkids staying over?"
"Well I suppose I can see her point. You're not exactly quiet."
"Me?" Jayne closed the hatch behind them and his fingers immediately went for Simon's shirt. "Yer the one always makin' lots of noise!"
"Hardly," he teased back.
"Shall I prove it to you, baobei?" Jayne whispered heatedly in his ear.
"You'd best, otherwise I won't believe you."
"Fair warning you won't be walking anywhere for awhile."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Simon told him honestly with a smile.
~!~!~!~!~
"You're sure?"
"I am," Simon answered.
Mal nodded after a minute. "I'll talk to them then so they can get a message to your mother."
"One other thing."
"What?"
"I want to do this alone."
Mal's eyebrows rose to his hairline. "Simon, I don't think that's a good idea. What about--"
"Alone," he stated firmly. "Just in case it somehow turned into a trap, I don't want River there. Secondly, well...it's not that I don't want the crew and Jayne to meet my mother. It's that I don't know if it will be just my mother. My father is vocal, to say the least and he'll either be glad to see me...or he'll be saying some very unpleasant things. I'd rather no one on the ship hear it and be caused undue grief. I have other reasons besides that, but those are my main reasons."
"I don't like that idea, Simon."
"And Jayne will like it even less. However, I'd ask that you respect my wishes, Captain."
Mal sighed and shook his head. "Fine, fine."
Simon was skeptical, but he hoped Mal kept his word. His Captain could be stubborn and may do something stupid, like follow or hide out during the meeting. He just didn't need to make the situation anymore explosive than it likely already would be.
As he stepped out of the cockpit and down the stairs, he found a wall of muscle blocking him. Jayne had his arms crossed and by his glare, it was obvious that he'd heard it. Simon sighed. "I'm not trying to hide you, Jayne. I'd be proud to tell them we're dating, but there's a lot more involved than this. It's not just about introducing you; it's about the fact that I was disowned. It's about the fact that they never believed me about River. One thing at a time."
"I'm not letting you walk into that viper pit, 'specially if there's a chance yer old hwan dan old man could be there."
"Jayne, I don't want you there. Period."
"Don't care."
Simon glared, starting to fume. "Jayne, if you love me at all, let me do this my way."
"Shagua! What if it's a trap, huh? I ain't lettin' some Alliance soldiers get their hands on you!"
"I know you're worried. So am I. But I'm doing this without you, Jayne."
Jayne growled under his breath, looking truly angry at him, before spinning on his heel without another word.
~!~!~!~!~
The door wasn't locked and Simon opened it cautiously. The first person he saw was his mother, dressed in black and sitting by the window. Standing next to her, all but pacing while still standing in one spot, was his father. He honestly hadn't thought his father would show up. Had his mother not told him that she was going to meet him?
"Hello, Mother. Father."
Gabriel's head whipped around. It was impossible for Simon to tell whether he was surprised to see him or not. Regan smiled in what he assumed was utter relief. "Simon!" She held out her arms.
Simon didn't step forward to hug her. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he suddenly remembered all the bitter feelings he'd had toward them when he'd tried to help his sister. Even the action of his mother holding out her arms didn't feel very warm. Contrasting Jayne's home with the warm hues, mostly earthy brown, the room had cool colors, like his family had been: affectionate to a point, but also very 'elegant'. There were no rowdy times, there were no 'let's cook in the kitchen together' like Mattie and Theresa.
"You asked to see me?"
His father's face was set in stone, which could mean a lot. Regan's expression faltered a little at the almost cold reception from her son. "We'd like to talk."
"We...or just you?" he asked.
"Apparently being away from home out on the fringes hasn't done your manners much good," Gabriel said stiffly.
Simon had to throttle down a lot of replies to that, mostly ones he'd picked up from Jayne. He resisted the urge to ball his hand into a fist in anger when those critical eyes looked him up and down in the loose shirt and pants that he wore. No button down, no vest, no freshly pressed slacks and shined shoes.
Regan glared at her husband and then turned back to her son. "We wanted to talk," she repeated, even though it was obvious to all three of them there that none of this had been Gabriel's idea. "River--"
"Is safe," he answered. "I got her out and she's safe now."
"Where is she?"
Simon didn't answer. Mal had done a sweep of the perimeter of the hotel and no one had been there, but what if the room was bugged? He couldn't take that chance with River's life and safety.
Regan shifted awkwardly. "Please sit, Simon. Give us a chance to talk, to explain."
He was reluctant at first. Part of Simon wanted to make this meeting as short as possible, but his mother's eyes were so pleading that he found himself sitting down anyway.
"Where are you living now?"
"I'm a medic on a ship," he answered. "It keeps me quite busy and the crew is friendly. I've...well I've made a home there."
"I'm happy in that case."
"I've also..." Regan's ears perked up a little at his awkward hesitation. "I'm also in a relationship. Jayne is--"
Reagan smiled. "I bet she's a sweet girl."
"Actually, no. Jayne isn't sweet, so much as... Well, he's rough around the edges, but that's part of his charm, I guess."
"Oh. Well--wait, he?"
"Yes, Mother. Jayne is a man."
There was that awkward silence, but unlike at Jayne's house of just shock, this silence was unpleasant. They didn't like what they heard one bit. His father was all but silently bristling at the knowledge that Simon was dating a man.
"O-Oh. W-Well...he must have some good qualities, if you're with him, Simon."
Bless his mother's heart, she was trying to make this visit work, but it wouldn't. This couldn't be a normal 'how are you' reunion. Simon sighed. "I'm aware this is not what you wanted to hear, but I'm not ashamed of Jayne. I love him."
Gabriel would never stoop to utter flagrant words or curses, but Simon could sense an angry tirade coming on despite that. He braced himself, because this wasn't going to be pretty at all. "I didn't think it could get any worse than when you left, but somehow it did."
"From my vantage point, things have gotten better," Simon snapped and stood up so he could more easily look his father in the eye. "It's shameful that before the crew of the ship I'm on were even close friends, they were willing to fight for me when my own father wouldn't even listen because he's more concerned with other people's opinions!"
"Don't take that tone with me, boy!"
"I'm not a boy!" he spat back. "I grew up when you weren't looking and you can't stand that!"
"What I can't stand is your tsway-niou--"
"Now there's no need for language like that, is there?"
Simon's head snapped toward the door so fast that it gave him whiplash. Mal's hands were lightly clenching the leather pistol belt at his waist. His face was calm, but not serene. There was an unhappy look in his eyes. With his usual attire, he looked very out of place in the pristine room and with his parents' high-class clothes. As he casually stepped in, Zoe followed with her back ramrod straight and a disapproving look on Gabriel and Reagan. With a sinking heart, Simon expected the next person and was not disappointed. Jayne was the last to enter the room and he looked fit to be tied.
"Captain, what are you--"
"So you're the captain of this ship he's on."
"That I am," Mal answered Gabriel's unhappy voice. "Captain Malcom Reynolds. This is my first mate Zoe and...Jayne." Just by the way Mal said it, it was obvious that he knew that Simon had already dropped Jayne's name and relationship.
Even Reagan's impeccable manners could not contain her surprise as she gasped, "That's Jayne? As in..."
"Yes, Mother. As in Jayne, my partner. Boyfriend. Lover. Whatever you want to call it, that's him."
Jayne, armed to the teeth, crossed his muscled arms and glared. At least he hadn't brought Vera. Simon didn't really want to know how three armed people managed to get all way the way to the seventh floor of the hotel without alerting security.
"Captain, what are you doing here?" Simon hissed, livid that they had disregarded his wishes even though part of him knew that this wasn't unusual. He had half-expected it.
"Sorry for barging in, doctor. I know you said you wanted to handle this on your own, but Jayne here was a mite concerned at the meeting. Come to mention it, so was I. Our apologies." Just by the nonchalant way the last two words were said, Simon knew that Mal wasn't sorry one bit. He had done what he felt was necessary and clearly felt he was right to do so. Mal's attention turned to Gabriel and Reagan. "I hate to cut this meeting short, but I have to borrow your son--"
"He is not my son!"
"Gabriel!"
Gabriel tilted his head angrily. "The last time I saw my son, he was set to take over as Head of Surgery at AMI. My son was a brilliant doctor and had a bright future. My son was eager and ready to learn. He cared about his appearance. His passion was surgery, the hospital. My son brought home a sweet, respectful girl to meet us." There was a hefty pause and Gabriel cleared his throat twice before continuing as he tried to compose himself. "My son was a respectful, loving, and smart person who would never throw his life away on the basis of some crazy conspiracy theory! The person before me is not my son. I lost my son long ago. The man before me is nothing to me."
Every word stabbed Simon's heart. Even as he could see Gabriel's eyes become watery as he turned his head away to look out the window, even as Reagan whirled around to berate her husband, Simon felt the floor fall away beneath him. Is this really how his father saw him? Did he really feel that the son he had raised was no longer there? Sure Simon had changed, but not that much, had he? He let out a shaky breath in a 'whoosh', as if he had forgotten to breathe.
"You--"
"Jayne!"
Simon's own watery eyes glanced over, seeing Jayne put his half-drawn gun back in its holster at Mal's authoritative voice. The Captain gave a silent nod toward Simon and the mercenary gently drew the doctor from his parents.
"That's a shame," Mal replied, "because Simon Tam is a very worthwhile person. Since you're no longer willing to be family to him, we're quite willing to be that for him. Aren't we?" Mal's eyes never wavered from Gabriel Tam, who wouldn't look at anyone.
"Of course," Zoe added immediately.
"Hell yeah!" Jayne spat, pulling Simon in close even though he struggled a bit to not appear weak.
"That's not what--Gabriel--He's just stubborn..." Reagan's words floundered and failed.
"If you will excuse us." Jayne, urging Simon with him, left first, then Zoe. Mal lingered a moment more shook his head at them. "Let it never be said that you lost him. You gave him up."
Simon somehow wasn't surprised to see River outside the door and leaning against the wall. Her face was solemn, but not upset. She knew that her father's words bothered Simon far more than her. She gathered him up in her arms and as the door closed, the faintest echos of Reagan's words of 'I wish I had never brought you with me!' floated out. River linked her arm with her brother's after a minute and held his hand all the way back to the mule.
~!~!~!~!~
"I told you I didn't want you there!" Simon yelled at them as they entered the cargo bay to Kaylee and Inara waiting for them.
"I don't let my crew go into fights without backup."
"It wasn't a fight!" he spat back at Mal as he climbed down from the mule.
"That wasn't a fight? It may have been done 'polite' and verbal, all core-like, but that was a fight. It may not have involved guns, but I know what I saw and he was about to tear into you."
"I could handle it by myself!"
"I'm sure you could, Simon, but you're missing the point."
"What point?!"
"You shouldn't have to. There is no harm or shame in relying on friends and family."
Simon knew that Mal was right; he would have said the same thing if the situation were reversed. He had just never been the type of person to accept help. He was stubborn in his own way and wanted to do things on his own. He had been convinced he could handle it, but he hadn't been prepared for his father's own bitterness. In hindsight, perhaps Gabriel's rejection also stemmed from the fact that he felt guilty for not helping him, but Simon just didn't know.
"I take it that it went badly then," Kaylee said in the ensuing silence.
The doctor turned and stalked to the infirmary, but Jayne was right on his heels. Not even Mal would dare bother Simon at a time like that, but Jayne was never the type to let things like that go so easily. The door slammed shut behind them.
"I need to be alone, Jayne."
"We gotta talk. You're upset about us followin' ya."
"I thought that was made abundantly clear just now."
"Well I ain't sorry for doin' it, Simon. Like you said, it wasn't just about us. It was about yer sis, it was about you. I mighta left it alone if it was just 'bout us. You were gonna need help and I wasn't gonna let you do it alone." There was a pause. "It hurt when you said I couldn't come. Not 'cause I thought you were ashamed, but 'cause I want you to rely on me. I like that you can stand on your own most of the time, but I want you to rely on me when you can't do it on your own. You weren't doin' that. Facing down yer family is a lot tougher than killin' people, 'specially in that situation."
Simon took a few deep breaths. "He was hurting too. It hurt him to say--"
"Don't care if it hurt him," Jayne told him, lifting up Simon's chin to look into his watery eyes. "I care that it hurt you."
He hated breaking down, but with Jayne giving him that look, it was impossible not to. "You won't tell anyone about this?"
Jayne shook his head.
Simon hiccuped once or twice as he cried, buried in Jayne's arms. He didn't know what his mother would do, whether she would attempt to contact him again in the future. At least he knew for sure that his father would never accept him. He had always thought they'd had a good relationship. He had always thought his father understood him. If he had, wouldn't he have seen Simon's motivations for what he did? Wouldn't he have seen that Simon would have gone to the same lengths to save his parents? Simon's family had always come first in his heart before his career despite the fact that he loved being a surgeon and what he did. Did Gabriel feel that Simon had somehow let him down the way that Simon felt his parents had let him down?
"You thinkin' stupid stuff again?" Jayne asked quietly as they lay in bed that night, naked after some very soft, loving sex.
"Probably," Simon answered quietly as fingers were gently combing through his hair.
"Well stop that. Like Mal said: crew's your family now."
"I'd hope we weren't family in that way," he teased with a ghost of a smile even if he didn't feel much like it.
"Nah, that'd be gross. I like sexin' ya way too much ta be family." The moment of levity passed and Jayne turned his head, kissing Simon's forehead. "I'm here."
"I know. Thank you."
(Author's Notes: I pretty much, for Jayne's family, used a lot of creative license. As for Gabriel and Reagan, I just can't imagine Gabriel forgiving Simon after only a year or two. He cares, but he has his pride and is still angry.)
baobei: sweetheart
shagua: fool, damned fool, idiot
hwun dan: bastard
tsway-niou: bullcrap