“Jayne?  We have returned.”

Thirteen days, twelve hours, and sixteen minutes from when he’d heard the cell door close, Jayne looked up and saw the most welcome sight he could imagine: River Tam standing outside the cell door.  She looked sane and rested; exactly what he’d hoped for her and felt something within his chest ease at the sight of her.

And with him being able to sleep through the night now himself, this meant that there was no longer any reason for the two of them to sleep together.  He could finally spread out and have the whole bed—his bed—to himself.

He couldn’t figure out, though, why he wasn’t nearly as happy about that as he’d thought he would be.

Pushing his thoughts aside lest she pick up on them, he put a half-hearted crooked grin on his face and stood up, walking to the door.  “Hey there, girlie.  They ain’t lettin’ me outta here ‘til tomorrow but ‘s good ta see y’all ain’t gone an’ left me.”

The two stared searchingly at each other, both wanting to say something but not sure what.  As River bit her lip hesitantly, he finally spoke up again, “How you doin’?  Ya slept okay?  Ya alright.”

She shyly dipped her head, her cheeks coloring slightly that he’d noticed.  When here hair failed to hide her blush, she also wished she hadn’t let Kaylee braid her hair that morning.  She still didn’t know why but she’d practically rushed off the ship to the jail as soon as the Captain had given them all their leave for the day. 

On their return trip whenever she’d thought of Jayne she’d experienced the strangest feelings in her stomach.  Kaylee seemed to know and understand what was wrong, correctly asking if it felt like butterflies were trapped there once River had managed to explain all of her symptoms.

River had asked how Kaylee knew; Kaylee had just smiled and said, “You’re a smart girl, River.  You’ll figure it out one o’ these days.”

Simon had not been helpful with a diagnosis even though she knew that he knew what was wrong with her.  No one had been concerned.

Although Simon had gotten streaky for a couple of days, which was always fun.

And then he’d turned around and accidentally insulted Kaylee who’d come in with her. 

Boob.

“Yes.  She – I – managed to learn to fight back and kill those who would come for me in the night.  Monsters and Blue Hands all vanquished.”  As she felt his pride in her, she smiled back at him, feeling very proud of her own self.

What confused her, though, was the disappointment that suddenly flared bright and then was gone.  Why was he disappointed in her?  Had she done something wrong?

            They both sat on opposite sides of the cell door, Jayne leaning against the sidewall so they could see each other as they talked.  River gracefully plopped down and sat cross-legged, her long skirt billowing around her, and played briefly with her fingers as she tried to think of things to say.

Neither could figure out why things were awkward between them now.

After another false start on her end, she straightened up, “how did you sleep, Jayne?  Were you able to slay your dragons as well?  Your appearance is too healthy – regardless of the short span of our absence – for you to have succumbed to sedative addiction.”

He cleared his throat and fidgeted uncomfortably; the sudden urge to impress her making him consider an alternate response, but she threw him a look that said she knew what he was thinking and he ultimately settled on the truth. 

“Well, uh, them first couple o’ nights were a, uh, bit rough an’ I didn’t sleep so good.  An’ then it were just like you said, I started takin’ my own advice I gave you an started takin’ care o’ ‘em my own self an’ it got easier ‘til I could sleep normal like again.” 

As he talked, his voice faded to a mumble; he felt a bit silly admitting that he’d had trouble but couldn’t pinpoint as to what had changed.  The two of them had always been able to speak what was on their minds since they’d become friends and it bothered him that it was suddenly different and he didn’t know why.

The two fell into another silence until River perked up again, “We will be docked for at least two days after you are released from your cage.  Captain also has your share waiting for you onboard.”  Her face took on a stubborn expression that made her look far too young, “Was his fault that you were imprisoned, allowing Captain and Zoe to get away; only right to share the spoils.  Zoe insisted,” she added with a smirk.

He was surprised that he was still getting his cut; for some reason though, he didn’t think Mal was given much of a choice, especially if Zoe had “insisted”.  She was one woman he knew better than to ever mess with. 

He liked his John Thomas and he liked him exactly where he was thank you very much.

“What will you do with your cut?  I am going with Kaylee and Inara to get a new dress as well as an outfit that will be more functional on jobs,” she stated proudly as though she were doing something daring, “I’m getting pants!”

He frowned and raised an eyebrow at her, wondering why pants, of all things, were something to be excited about.

But before he could ask, she answered his thoughts for him, “Girl – I – have never worn pants other than leggings, and those were under dresses. On Osiris, men wear trousers or slacks, like Simon and women are expected to wear skirts or dresses.  Pants, like you, Zoe, and the Captain wear – even Kaylee’s coveralls – are considered wearable only by those of low or working class and certainly not something Regan and Gabriel Tam would be caught dead allowing their child to wear.”

Jayne nodded, accepting her explanation and filed it away under his “Things Jayne Cobb don’t understand about Corefolk” folder. 

“So, ya wanna start goin’ out on more jobs then do ya?  Gotta say, it’ll be better for us all if’n you was wearin’ pants.  Easier to strap a leg holster to ya, make your guns easier ta reach.  Make ya look more intimidatin’ too.”  It just weren’t right for a man to get his pi gu kicked by a little slip of a girl, let alone when she’s wearin’ some fru-frued up flowery skirt.  Ain’t right, no sir.

She giggled in response to his thought and he smiled sheepishly at being caught thinking it. 

“Them ain’t for you!  You get to look but no eatin’ ‘em now,” they heard Kaylee irately bicker with the guard. “Ya ain’t gotta be so thorough, ‘specially since ya just said that he’s gettin’ out early t’night at sundown anyway.  What’s the point of breakin’ him out or anything now?” 

Craning his neck, Jayne could see Inara imperiously standing beside her, looking as far down her nose as possible at the young man.

Finally allowed to pass (the guard not having the guts to try and search Inara after the look she sent him for implying she might be smuggling something in) the two women made their way down the hall to the cell. 

“Hey Jayne!  How ya holdin’ up?”  Kaylee asked cheerily, there was a grin on her face that was not unlike the one she’d had when she’d made Simon’s cake that one time.  “We brought ya somethin’!”

With a poor attempt as being surreptitiously discreet, Kaylee then elbowed Inara in the ribs.  The Companion rolled her eyes and gave Kaylee a look before dramatically whipping off the covering to the thing Kaylee held.  “Muffins!” 

River played along and clapped happily and Inara’s embarrassment eased at the flicker of looking touched that crossed Jayne’s face.  The mercenary still had a hard time believing that any of the rest of the crew would go out of their way to do something nice for him, other than River. 

He felt River’s hand patting his foot, prompting him to smile.  He didn’t know how, but Kaylee’s smile got even bigger as he said, “Thanks Kaylee,” and she passed him the basket through the bars.  It was the crew’s bread basket that they used at dinner so he was also informed that he had to bring it back to the ship when he returned but it was the only one that would fit through the bars.

Inara stepped forward, “Jayne, we were hoping we could steal River away to take her shopping, if you think you could spare her,” she said, giving him a genuine smile, knowing he would be starved for company but wanting to work up her surprise, knowing what Simon had in mind for Kaylee tonight.  Judging by the atmosphere between the two killers, it looked to be an ideal time to separate the two guns.

Jayne started a bit and blinked in surprise, “Uh, yeah, sure, I guess.  Y’all go an’ have fun,” he said with a shooing motion of his hand as he stuffed a muffin in his mouth.  “Do them girlie things y’all spend so much gorram time goo-gawin’ ‘bout when we’s in the black.”

Kaylee good-naturedly stuck her tongue out at him as she pulled River up from the floor.  Inara made a moue of distaste as she brushed off the young pilot’s skirt, muttering an exasperated, “Mei mei,” under her breath. 

Yes, a makeover was definitely in need, she thought.  Jayne would never fully be able to see her as a woman if she still acted like a little girl.

---

            It was only another eight or nine hours until Jayne was released just after sundown, but it felt like a longer period of time than the entire two weeks previous.  As the same guard from earlier came to let him out, the young man leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered, “How’d you get so many fine women like you got?”

            The man’s expression took on a look of awe and admiration as he continued despite Jayne’s frown of confusion, “I mean you got that young girl who came in here first and was right eager to see ya, an’ then you had that one who – is she really a Companion?  Well, she was a right bitch but –,” the man let out a long whistle of appreciation.  “Wow!  And with her was that other hot girl, ya know with the pretty blonde hair?  An’ now, now you got that one comin’ here for ya.” 

The young deputy looked up at him with a look of awe akin to those of the Mudders on Canton.  It made him right uncomfortable.

            Jayne stepped out of the cell and looked down the hall to see Zoe out front.  The deputy asked again, “You got women like that on your ship?”

            Jayne smirked as they walked down the hall, “Yep.”

            The deputy looked yearningly at Zoe and then with pleading puppy dog eyes at Jayne, “Can – can I come and work with you?”

            “Nope.  We’s full up.  Thanks for comin’ Zoe,” he said, nodding to her as she handed him his guns and waited while he put them on.

            She nodded.  With a look at the deputy, she asked, “What was that about?”

            Jayne gave a snort as they walked out into the dying sunlight, “He wanted ta know how I got me so many fine lookin’ women lookin’ after me.”

            She raised an eyebrow at him, “And?”

            He chuckled, “An’ could he come work with us, but the poor kid ‘d fair turn to dust w’thin a day what with all the droolin’ he’d be doin’ at the womenfolk.” 

            This earned an amused chuckle from Zoe as the two slowly headed back to the ship, “Captain figured you’d like a chance to go play tonight so I’m takin’ tonight’s watch and you can pull for me tomorrow.  He’s out tonight so I got your share waitin’ for ya back at the ship.”

            He cleared his throat and looked at his feet as they walked, “I hear tell I mostly got you to thank for that.  Right appreciative,” he said nodding.

            She didn’t look at him as she said the next part, knowing how Jayne was about such things, “The crew also each put in a percent o’ theirs, on account that it was you gettin’ yourself thrown in jail to get the job done. So you got a fair bit extra in there to do with as you like.”

            Jayne ground to a halt, looking at her in shock.  The crew all gave up some of their share…for me?

            Without looking back, Zoe called, “If you’re thinkin’ ‘bout giving it back, don’t.  You don’t feel right ‘bout keepin’ it, then use the extra to do somethin’ nice for everybody.”

---

            They got back to the ship and Jayne immediately went to his bunk and grabbed his stuff for the shower; first on his list was going to get an all night appointment at one of the local cathouses.  It had been too gorram long since he’d woken up to some gorram good morning sex!

---

            Zoe watched Jayne hurry up the stairs toward the galley before she headed to the infirmary where Simon was watching six month old Derrial Hoban Washbourne, her little man happily in his child seat while Simon finished the child’s check up. 

            Her brow furrowed with worry, “Somethin’ wrong with him, Doc?”

            “Hm?”  Simon looked up, surprised and then blushed bashfully, “No, no, nothing’s wrong.  I just thought since we needed to do a six month check up and I was watching him, now would be a good time.  Good news, he’s in perfect health.”

            Zoe smiled, relieved, and picked up Der, kissing his forehead gently and cradling him to her.  “Ah, good thing.  Had me worried there for a minute.”

            Something clicked in Simon’s mind, “Jayne’s back?  How is he?  Should I go check on him?”

            She shook her head, “No, he’s same as always.  He headed up to his bunk, whistlin’ to himself so I gather he’s gonna be going out pretty quick so you’ll probably get a chance to see him on his way out.”

---

            “You look gorgeous mei mei!”  Inara enthused as the last of the alterations on the dress she’d purchased for River were finished and the young pilot twirled and preened delightedly in front of the mirror, her lightly painted face flushed with pleasure. 

            Kaylee clapped delightedly, dressed in a brand new dress herself, “Oh, thanks, ‘Nara!  These are so shiny an’ fancy, I’m gonna knock Simon for a loop when he sees me in this!”

            Inara smirked to herself as she was the only one aboard Serenity – except possibly River – who knew what Simon had planned for Kaylee this evening.  Simon might be impressed with the dress but it was going to be Kaylee who would soon be over the moon.

            River giggled, “Brother Boob will have no words to open his mouth and stick his foot in.  Will be too busy staring.” 

Her face fell as they all left the seamstress’s arm in arm and they watched couples walking together around town.  Sighing sadly, “I wish I had someone to take me out.  Show off my new dress to someone, for someone other than just me.” 

Kaylee leaned over to hug her friend, “Aww, you’ll find somebody.  Just gotta be patient is all.” 

The mechanic’s face lit up with an idea, “Hey!  Jayne should be home by the time we get back to the ship!”  Inara shot Kaylee a glare, willing her to shut up, but it was ignored as Kaylee rolled along with her enthusiastic momentum, “You could show him your new dress an’ may how get ‘im to take you out, just for fun an’ all.”

River thought about it for a few seconds before feeling the excitement sprout within her before it swiftly turned to nervousness.  What would Jayne think?  Would he think her pretty?  She then wondered why it suddenly mattered so much to her that he would.

Over her head, Kaylee finally noticed and semi-cowered from the chilling glare Inara sent her way.  The Companion knew her friend had meant well but now River was going to be nervous and desperately hope for a compliment rather than being happily surprised when Jayne paid her one out of the blue – if he did at all.  The idea had been to not set River up with potentially false expectations.

Sighing inwardly, Inara prayed to Buddha, please let this turn out well…

---

            Simon and Zoe were still waiting for Jayne in the cargo bay, playing with Der, when the three women arrived back at the ship.

            He looked up when Zoe’s face unexpectedly cracked a radiant smile and felt his breath sucked from his chest; Kaylee was…wow. 

And River was…, “Meimei you look so grown up and beautiful!”  He exclaimed, unconsciously bypassing his girlfriend altogether as he complimented his sister.

Out of the corner of her eye, River saw Kaylee deflate a little as Brother Boob once again stuck his foot in it.  She leaned over and whispered, “Noticed you first, but has no words yet.  Went with what he knows.”

Frustrated, Kaylee grumbling back, “Well it’d still be nice ta be told first, ya know?”

As Simon approached, River hurriedly whispered, “Only has ‘wow’ for you so far.  Blew his brainpan, no longer thinking with primary head.” 

Kaylee answered her with a giggle as Simon stepped up to them as Inara walked over to Zoe and picked up Der, cooing to him softly.  The Companion could never resist the lure of the small child; he made her long for one for herself, though it could never happen as long as she kept her Active status as a Companion.

“Kaylee,” he breathed, suddenly having only eyes for her once again, his heart faltering as she beamed at him. “You look...amazing.” 

Knowing how she loved the over-the-top gallantry in her romance novels, he bowed low and offered her his arm.  “Will you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you to dinner Miss Frye?”

            Flashing him a radiant smile, she eagerly bounced forth and looped her arm into the one he held out to her, “Yes sir, Mr. Tam!”  The couple strode down the ramp arm in arm with Kaylee calling back over her shoulder, “Don’t wait up!”

            Inara and Zoe were so involved with Der that they didn’t notice River traipsing up the stairs toward the crew bunks.

She wondered what Jayne would think of her makeover…