BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - GENERAL

HISGOODGIRL

Old Warriors - Part Four: Resolution
Thursday, April 12, 2007

Set long after the Rebellion triggered by events in the BDM. In the aftermath of their U-Day brawl, Mal makes Jayne an offer and ghosts appear.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 2734    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

Title: Old Warriors – 4 of 4 Chapter Title: Resolution Author: hisgoodgirl

Disclaimer: All belong to Joss. They just come play in my head. Paring: References to Jayne/Kaylee. Warning: PG-15 for profanity. Some characters are deceased Setting: Long after the Rebellion triggered by events in the BDM. Word Count: 1,366

A/N: This little tale started out as a one-shot look at reunion between a couple of BDHs, but took on a life of it’s own. Herein be some answers about what might have happened to whom… Please let me know what you think

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

Old Warriors Part Four: Resolution

Mal stretched gingerly and leaned back against the bricks. “I guess that brings things back around to the two of us, don’t it?”

“I guess it does.”

“Let’s try to get some shut-eye.”

“Fair ‘nuff.”

~ * ~ * ~

Jayne had finally fallen asleep curled on his side, while Mal had propped himself with his back braced against the cell wall and an elbow resting on the merc’s hip. The cell was chilly by morning and Mal dozed fitfully, grateful for Jayne’s warmth.

He’d just finished taking a leak in the cell’s urinal when the deputy made his way down the corridor to their cell, bearing a couple of mugs of steaming coffee.

“Rise and shine, boys. Sheriff Hicks is gonna cut ya lose after breakfast.” He passed the dark beverage to Mal through the cell bars and announced, “I’ll be back with some food in a minute.”

Mal glanced back at Jayne. The big man was dead to the world, his loud snores rhythmically punctuating the gray light of dawn. Mal nudged him gently. “Hey, Sleepin’ Beauty -- gotcha some coffee.”

The old mercenary opened blurry eyes and yawned, swaying as he sat up. “Whoa… Guess my gyro’s are down,” he muttered as Mal handed him a mug.

Mal tipped his head to look at Jayne’s wound. “Don’t suppose that mightta had anything to do with that crack to the head you took yesterday? Had us one helluva fight, didn’t we?”

Jayne blew on the hot beverage and took a careful sip. “Yep, right on up there with the best of em.”

The deputy returned with a pot of oatmeal garnished with butter and brown sugar, spoons and bowls. Jayne stood and took the items from the jailer.

“Hell,” he told Mal, “it’s oatmeal. I had enough a that gorramned stuff, I’d be happy to never see another bowl.” He set the pot on the bunk and scooped portions into each of their bowls, then tasted his. “Folks don’t never put enough sugar in their oatmeal,” he griped, shaking his head.

The two old friends ate their breakfast in companionable silence. The clock at the end of the corridor showed 0900 when Sheriff Hicks came to unlock the cell door.

“You boys think you can behave yerselves, stay outta trouble?”

He looked from the grizzled merc to the graying Browncoat. “I got no problem with a man drinkin’ with a friend, but I ain’t tolleratin’ no brawlin’ in this town, y’hear? Best might be if you two’d clear on outta town soon as possible. You made yerselves a goodly lot of ill will in that fight yesterday.”

Both prisoners nodded, and Mal spoke up. “I got a ship in dock, makin’ some repairs. We’ll be off world by late tomorrow, so you got no cause to worry.”

“What about him?” Hicks pointed at Jayne.

“He’s part a my crew, “Mal replied without hesitation.

“Well, keep yer noses clean. You can pick up your sidearms and personal belongings up at the front desk on the way out.”

~ * ~ * ~

Armed up and back out on the busy street, Jayne queried his old boss, “I ain’t worked fer you in ten years, Mal. So, how come you told that lawman I was part a your crew?”

“I thought we settled that question with a wrench and an airlock, way back after that job on Ariel.” He cocked an eyebrow and glanced at the merc pointedly.

“Look, Jayne, I ain’t one to tell another man how to live his life, but you said yerself, things ain’t gettin’ any easier out here. You’re between jobs, plus you’re the oldest damn merc I ever heard tell of. I could use you, if you think you can handle bein’ back on Serenity. She’s been upgraded some since you left, even managed to get her cleaned up and painted awhile back.”

The morning sun shown silver and gold through Mal’s tousled hair and illuminated a face both careworn and caring. “You could probably even talk Rodney into movin’ outta your old bunk. Never did take down your gun racks, and I ‘magine the ‘Girls’ would feel right at home.”

Jayne stood quietly, hearing him out.

Mal was right – at his age, he was running out of options, and it wasn’t like he had a home or family to go back to. He knew it would be hard, bein’ back on Serenity, but he’d hung up his guns there longer than anywhere. There’d be ghosts, especially that of the woman he’d loved, but for Jayne Cobb, the ‘verse was full of ‘em.

Whatcha think I oughtta do, babygirl? he asked silently.

Like the faint rustle of leaves on the wind, he could have sworn he heard Kaylee answer, Come back home to us, ai ren…

* * * *

Postlude

The party was the event of the season in Capitol City, attended by the cream of Osirian society. The ballroom was vast, a marble and glass jewel box, ornately decorated and brilliantly illuminated, appointed with towering arrangements of fresh flowers and luscious refreshments. The orchestral music soared over the conversations of the crowd as the room fluttered with richly dressed people, hoping to see and be seen.

Near the fountain stood a woman of exquisite grace, slender and lovely. Her long, dark hair was arranged in a tiara upon her head and her dark eyes sparkled with intelligence. The sleeveless gown she wore was a fluid fall of deep blue hammered satin, low at the bosom and back and flowing to pool about her feet.

She studied the crowd intently and smiled as a stocky man of advanced years made his way over to her. He wore the sash and badge that marked his rank over a formal cutaway suit and bowed genteelly, lightly taking her right hand and brushing it with his lips. “It’s delightful to make your acquaintance, my dear,” he pronounced, admiring the antique jeweled ring she wore. “That’s quite lovely. Rather unique, I’d say.”

“Why, thank you, Chancellor. It’s an heirloom of sorts.”

“Would you care to dance, my dear?”

The woman laughed musically. “I’ve always loved to dance, and it would be a pleasure.” She gracefully gathered the train of her gown.

The Chancellor led her out into the swirl of couples, and with practice born of many years’ experience, placed one liver-spotted hand upon the small of her back while clasping one of hers lightly in the other. As they stepped forward to join the waltz, she reached up to rest the palm of her right hand familiarly upon the back of his neck.

“Ouch!” He flinched, face puzzled. “This damnable collar must be too tight.”

“Or perhaps my ring scratched you. You must forgive me.”

“If so,” he spun her in time to the crescendo of the dance, “I’m sure it was by accident. I cannot imagine someone so lovely as yourself to be capable of deliberately harming another.”

Her eyes held his, their depths unreadable, as they whirled and turned and the waltz wound down to its ending.

The Chancellor blanched and perspiration bloomed on his mottled cheeks. “Oh, dear… I find I am surprisingly winded.” His voice quavered and his hand, where it grasped hers, trembled faintly. He glanced about and found the huge bronze doors that marked the exit from the hall.

“I’m afraid I must ask you to excuse me, my dear. I find that I am suddenly unwell…”

The woman graced him with a hint of concern in her faint smile. “I do hope that your discomfort is a fleeting thing, Lord Chancellor. I understand that you are scheduled to address Parliament on Monday regarding plans to wipe out the last remaining shreds of the rebel forces.”

His fleshy face reflected his confusion. “I was… was unaware that my address had been announced to members of the public. How…?” He swayed, his breathing now coming ever more quickly, eyes shifting in and out of focus.

He glanced more urgently at the exit. “I must go now, but please, if you would be so kind, tell me your name, my dear…”

Her dark eyes were bottomless as she pursed her lips and whispered to him.

“Miranda.”

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

The End

COMMENTS

Thursday, April 12, 2007 5:42 AM

VERASAMUELS


Oooh, nice ending!! If you ever decide to revisit this end of the 'verse, I'd be keen to read some more.

Vera

Thursday, April 12, 2007 6:09 AM

NCBROWNCOAT


Loved the ending too! Not quite the ending I envisioned for certain characters but good none the less.

Thursday, April 12, 2007 11:15 AM

AMDOBELL


Loved Mal and Jayne both hooking up again after leaving that jail - Serenity will be pleased to have both of them back on board. The part in the ballroom felt like another story tacked on the end of this one and would I be right in thinking the Companion-like lady was not Inara but River? I have a feeling that Chancellor will never get to make his order become law. Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me

Thursday, April 12, 2007 12:18 PM

HISGOODGIRL


While the Postlude was quite different in feel from the main body of the story, it was very much intended as a follow up on the third surviving warrior.

Our fellas had been musing over what might have happened to River, and I found it interesting that she might have gone underground, only to surface in a Companion-like role and systematically go about assasinating any surviving members of the old Parliment.

In other words, their "Human Weapon" came back to bite 'em in the pigu.

Thursday, April 12, 2007 1:41 PM

GWENFREWI


First off, Mal bringing Jayne back onto Serenity. Loved it.

The voice of Kaylee's ghost telling him to go, priceless.

River killing off members of Parliment. Appropriate.

Please, please say you'll continue this. I loved it!

Thursday, April 12, 2007 4:19 PM

PHYRELIGHT


Another shiny chapter! I love the postlude. Please continue writing this, it has great potential to go somewhere unforgettable!

Sunday, April 15, 2007 9:57 AM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER


Oh hell yeah! Now this is how you do a wrap-up!

Amazing work here, HGG! Definitely am overjoyed at both the decision to have Mal and Jayne team back up AND to have River take up the mantle of avenging angel for the White Hats. Only thing I could ask for is this mini-storyverse gets continued, that River meet up with the remaining BDHs still with the good ship Serenity for a mission;)

BEB

P.S. Any thoughts on addressing what happened to Inara? Because, while it's been a little while since the last Jaylee tale before this one, I am pretty sure Inara was alive in your other works;)

Monday, April 16, 2007 10:07 PM

BRERRABBIT


Just wondering if River missed Simon at all, and if her assasinations had anything to do with her feelings about how he was killed. Also, did I miss what happened to Inara? I don't recall what happened to her.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007 5:14 AM

HISGOODGIRL


Actually, Inara's death was discussed by Mal and Jayne in the first chapter, "Old Warriors":

“You hear from ‘Nara lately?”

Mal looked startled, fresh pain behind his eyes. “Then you ain’t heard?”

Jayne’s brows knotted and he shook his head. “Uh-uh. What the hell happened, Mal?”

“I got a wave from Sheydra about six couple months back. Cancer. Musta been pretty far gone before they caught it. Said she went real fast.”

Monday, August 22, 2011 4:31 AM

BARDOFSHADOW


oh my, I didn't expect this kind of ending... shiny, though!


POST YOUR COMMENTS

You must log in to post comments.

YOUR OPTIONS

OTHER FANFICS BY AUTHOR

A Different Point of View
Increasingly frustrated with her limited love life, Kaylee puts her creativity to good use and sneaks a peek at the big man across the hallway.


How A Gun Is Like A Woman
A late night gun cleaning session has Kaylee looking at Jayne Cobb in a new way.

Show and Tell
An unexpected change in circumstances on Serenity cause Mal to reconsider the concept of family. One-shot, post BDM.

Adventuresome
Growing up isn’t easy, and that first step to independence can be a big one. Just ask Kaylee Frye.

What’s to Understand?
A little one-shot snippit in which Simon learns that that love can manifest in unexpected ways.

Thankful
A thoughtful Jayne Cobb reflects on how his life has turned out.

Big Fella - 1/1
Jayne Cobb makes quite an impression on a “working girl” from Albion. Thought I’d post this over the weekend 'cause it’s most definitely NOT workplace safe.

Give and Take
A little scene from “Our Mrs. Reynolds” that we don’t get to see in the episode, wherein Jayne contemplates the fine art of barter.

Handle With Care
Jayne’s up late, cleaning his gun, and can’t help appreciating a late night visitor.


Taking Up Arms – Part 3 of 3

Jayne and Kaylee set out to establish a new life together when Mal joins the Rebellion that follows the Miranda announcement. The big man must reconsider his solemn vow to Kaylee to hang up his guns when Alliance raiders hit the rim world of Ezra.