Fandom: Firefly Characters: Jayne, Book Prompt: Jayne – “It ain’t gettin’ any prettier” For: Cheshire_monkey Title: My Spiritual Leader Rating: PG Summary: Jayne and Book talk Word Count: 564 Warning: Post BDM

Author’s Note: Not Betaed, all mistakes are my own. Sorry if this doesn’t make any sense, I’m not so great at the Book & Jayne friendship fic thing.

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“Stop starin’, it ain’t getting’ any prettier,” Jayne growled at the shepherd.

“What?” Simon asked.

“Just keep sewin’ Doc,” Jayne said. Book didn’t react, just continued to inspect the knife wound in the mercenary’s arm from over Simon’s shoulder. When the doctor was done he cleaned the outside of the wound and told Jayne he was free to go.

The mercenary hopped off the examine table and headed out, Book following quickly after him. “Son?” Book called after him. Jayne didn’t slow, just kept walking towards his bunk. The preached finally caught up with him, stepping in front of Jayne.

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about this?” Shepherd asked.

“I’m sure,” Jayne nodded, trying to step around the preacher. Book side stepped him, blocking the way. The two men stared at one another, silence filled the air between them before Jayne finally groaned. He turned, nodding his head towards the cargo bay. “Fine.”

Book followed Jayne as the two men headed for the cargo bay. It was thankfully empty and Jayne quickly took a seat on the workout bench. “Are you sure it’s wise to be lifting weights with your arm cut like that?” Book asked.

Jayne’s face contorted in confusion and he laid back on the bench. “Ain’t hardly a scratch,” the mercenary shrugged.

“You did a great thing today,” Book said, moving around to the other end of the bench so he could spot Jayne. The mercenary scoffed and got a good grip on the barbell as he started to lift.

“Just did my job,” Jayne said, breathing out as he lowered the bar towards his chest.

“You saved her life,” Book pointed out, “job or not. No one else knew Zoe wasn’t wearing her bulletproof vest. You were watching out for her.” The preacher paused as a thought seemed to suddenly dawn on him. “How did you know?” Book asked. Jayne paused, pushing the bar up and setting it on its hooks again.

“Arm’s sorer than I thought,” the mercenary said. Book raised an eyebrow and watched Jayne for a long moment.

“Son…is there something else you would like to tell me?” Shepherd asked. Jayne looked up at him with haunted eyes. What could he say that the man didn’t already know? “You and Zoe?” Book’s eyes went wide and Jayne’s head hung low for a moment.

“Don’t tell Wash, he don’t need t’know ‘bout it. Zoe took it off in my bunk, we were runnin’ so late she just plum forgot when she was gatherin’ her clothes up. Ain’t no one on the crew knows ‘bout it though,” Jayne said. He stared down at the ground and let out a breath.

“Jayne?”

The mercenary’s head popped up and relief flooded his face when it was only Kaylee. “Yeah?” he asked, rubbing his goatee and standing.

“Who were ya talkin’ to?” Kaylee asked, taking a couple steps into the cargo bay and looking around. There wasn’t anyone to find though, Jayne knew that much. Since Haven and Miranda, Shepherd came and went, talking to him every now and then, but as far as Jayne knew, no one but him could see the preacher.

“No one,” Jayne shrugged her off. Kaylee nodded and stuffed her hands in the pockets of her coveralls.

“Okay, well, chow’s up. Just thought I’d let you know.” Kaylee gave him a smile and headed out of the cargo bay leaving Jayne with his thoughts.