The Last Spartan – Chapter Sixteen Author owns no rights to Firefly, and makes no money for his labor ------------------ Mal sat on the bridge, his anger almost consuming him. Inara sat with him, saying nothing. She could understand Mal’s revulsion, but she could also sympathize with Simon’s plight. It had been three days since Jayne had. . .whatever he had done. Zoe sat in the galley, contemplating her own actions. Tension was thick aboard Serenity, and very few words had been spoken by anyone over the past seventy-two hours. For the first time since they’d been together, she had openly defied Mal’s wishes. She didn’t know what would come of that. The uncertainty was damaging to her calm, but she was comforted by the fact that she was certain she’d done the right thing. Mal was too prone to make life altering decisions for other people. And this time he’d been flat wrong. No one had the right to deny River the chance to live, even if it meant being like Jayne. She smiled faintly at the thought of Jayne and River being alike. It was obvious to anyone with a brain, except Mal, that River was head over heels for Jayne. Jayne would never accept that, not while River was. . .River. But now? If this worked? Jayne just might come around to River’s way of thinking. And if it didn’t, then River wouldn’t be any deader than she would have been otherwise. Simon sat with Kaylee in the galley, tears running freely from both of them. Simon hopeful that River survived, Kaylee hoping that Simon could forgive himself. Kaylee felt in her heart that River would be glad, if she awoke like Jayne. Jayne sat in the infirmary, watching over his charge as Neethos had once watched over him. He could see that River was healing, which was a good sign. She might yet perish, of course, yet the healing gave him hope. And worry. He liked River, very much. A strong, willful young woman who was determined to overcome the injuries she had suffered at the hands of others. Such courage was a rare thing in the ‘verse these days. If anyone deserved to live, she did. He wrung out the cloth in his hands, and laid it once again on her forehead. He had placed ice packs around and beneath her head and neck to combat the fever that would burn within her until the change either took hold, or killed her. His work was otherwise finished. It was up to fate, now. Fate, and a tiny organism that now worked to heal the girl lying before him. He had set up a blood transfusion, knowing that River needed more blood than he could give her. Already he was weak. Jayne had not prayed in a long time. Not since a wintery day long ago in the forests of Germany, on Earth-that-was. On that day Jayne had watched mortals who had been his friends through years of training and battles falling like so many leaves in autumn. But now he murmured an ancient prayer, feeling better as the words of comfort fell from his lips. Despite his longevity, his immense personal power, Jayne believed firmly in a higher power, having seen a man make the ultimate sacrifice one afternoon that others might find life. As he sat beside the young woman he had come to call friend, he thought back to the years he had spent since Neethos had found him on the plains before Plataea.

“Neethos!” Janos exclaimed, seeing his mentor for the first time in many long years. He was in Paris, France, just at the start of the revolution. “Janos, my son,” the older man had smiled warmly. “It is good to see you.” The two had embraced as father and son should. “It gives me great pleasure to see you, old father,” Janos said happily. “What brings you to the center of the world?” “This city has always intrigued me, Janos,” Neethos had smiled. “Ever since it was simply a collection of huts and tents.” “There is a magic about this place, is there not?” Janos had smiled. “You have done well, my son,” Neethos told him, pride in his eyes, and his voice. “From afar I have watched you, over the years. You have made me very proud.” Janos blushed at the compliment. “I have merely done as I thought you would do,” he murmured, and Neethos laughed. “You mean as I would have liked to do,” the old man laughed. “I lack your great strength, and your skills.” “So you say,” Janos smiled at that. “But I know better.” “So you do,” Neethos nodded. “Let us take a meal together, my son. Drink to excess, and rejoice that we are in each other’s company once more.”

He wondered what his relationship with River would be like, now? Would he and River enjoy the same warmness that Neethos had shared with him? Or would she hate him forever for having made her what he was? He hoped for anything but hate, as he stroked her face softly. Inside, Jayne felt a warmth he had not known in many years uncoil. Feelings that he had kept suppressed for so long that he had thought them dead for all time. A man could do so much worse for a companion through the ages than a smart, beautiful, resourceful woman like River Tam. She has courage and strength as well as beauty. Compassion, wisdom, tenderness when warranted, hardness when needed. As he looked upon her sleeping beauty, Janos realized that he had allowed himself to fall weak, and had developed feelings for the young woman lying before him. Feelings he had ruthlessly denied himself for centuries. He might even go so far as to admit that he. . . . River moaned, softly, and Jayne’s heart threatened to seize. Had she survived? Or was this the end? There was no way to know until. . .until. River stirred slightly, and Jayne took one of her small hands in his own, stroking her forehead with the other in what he hoped was a calming touch. The touch seemed to bring her closer to consciousness, and suddenly her eyes opened wide. She looked about her in confusion, until her eyes settled on Jayne. When they did, she smiled. “Was it a dream?” she asked, or tried to. Her throat was dry. Jayne reached for a glass of water, and held it to her lips. “Gently now,” he soothed. “Just a little at first. Long have you been asleep.” She drank as he had ordered, and felt the cool water as it ran down her throat. When he removed the glass, she looked up at him again. “Was it?” she asked. “A dream, I mean?” “No, it was not a dream,” he told her. “You are . . . you live, my sweet.” She smiled brightly at that. She noticed the look on his face, and her smile gave way to concern. “What is it, Jayne?” River asked. “Why are you troubled?” “River,” Jayne looked at her carefully. “There is something I must tell you. Do you notice anything different?” “I feel . . . strong, yet weak at the same time,” River told him. “And hungry,” she added with a grin. “That is not unexpected,” he assured her. “You were terribly wounded, my lady,” he told her, his voice soft. “Your brother did not believe himself able to save you. As you lay dying before him, he turned to me for help. He asked that I. . .” “Bite me?” River almost giggled. Jayne started at that. “Yes,” he nodded. “He asked that I try and save you. To make you. . .that you become as I am. I have done so. I ask your forgiveness for this, should it displease you.” “Displease me?” River asked in confusion. “Do you remember your promise, Janos?” she asked softly, reaching up to stroke his face gently. “To teach you? Of course I do,” he frowned. “I fail to see. . .” “No,” she shook her head. “You promised me that when we met again, you would not turn me away,” River smiled at him, the sight making him soft inside. “And here we are, meeting again,” she added softly. Jayne stared at her. “You have given me life, through the gift that you bear as a burden, Janos. I asked you before, if I were like you, would you love me.” Jayne nodded, remembering. “Now, I am like you, am I not?” River pressed, raising from the bed slightly. “And how can any warrior fail to love the incarnation of Athena herself?” she grinned impishly. “You are, indeed, a brat,” Jayne laughed at her, leaning his forehead against her own. The relief he felt at her having survived left him weaker than his actions over the past few days. “A live brat,” she pointed out. “One that will not die, will not leave you, or whither away in old age while you are forced to watch.” “Perhaps this is a discussion saved for another time,” Jayne smiled in spite of himself. “Simon will want to see you. I think he has not slept in the three days you have lain here, worried if you would survive, and if you would hate him if you did.” “I could never hate Simon,” River frowned. “Very well, call him. I think I will rest a while longer.” She lay back, closing her eyes. “There will be a great deal for you to learn,” Jayne warned, and she smiled again, though her eyes remained closed. “Then it is good that I have a magister who loves me enough to teach me that which I need to know.” Jayne shook his head at that, unable to hide his own smile. He went to the comm, and pressed the button. “Simon, I need you to come to the infirmary,” he said. ---------------------- Simon raced to the infirmary, Kaylee on his heels. He saw the open door, and hesitated, fearing what he might see. “It is all right, Simon,” Jayne told him from the door. “She is awake, and seems well. She wishes to see you.” Simon ran the final few steps to the door. “Mei mei?” he called, seeing River lying on the table, her eyes closed. But her eyes opened at his voice. “Ge ge,” she smiled, and Simon thought he would faint. Kaylee slipped her hand into his, and together they walked into the infirmary. “Mei mei, how do you feel?” Simon asked hesitantly. “I am tired, Simon,” River admitted. “I feel weak, but otherwise well.” “That is not unexpected,” Jayne assured the young doctor. “The process is not yet complete, but the danger has passed. She is weak, and needs rest, but she will survive.” “That’s wonderful!” Kaylee gushed, happy for her friend. She looked at Jayne. “I knew you could do it, Jayne.” Jayne smiled tolerantly. “Can I get up, Jayne?” River asked. “Perhaps later,” Jayne allowed. “When you are rested. You should stay off your feet for at least a day, and allow your brother to monitor you. Eat as much as you can, it is important. Simon you will need to monitor her blood volume. She may need a transfusion. But mostly, for now, she needs rest. Speaking of which, I myself am weary. I think I will rest as well. Simon, should anything happen, do not hesitate to call me.” “Thank you, Jayne,” Simon said quietly. “I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve done.” “It is freely given,” Jayne told him, remembering another time. “Use it well, little one.” “I intend to,” River smiled at him, and once more Jayne felt his heart seize. He’d never really noticed how pretty her smile was. “Wasn’t looking,” River grinned at him, and Jayne frowned. “Are you still able to read others, little one?” “Yes,” she said simply, almost in confusion. “Well, perhaps your gifts are intact then,” Jayne nodded with a slight smile. He left them, then, to visit. He headed for his quarters. When he reached the galley, he found Zoe sitting there, alone. Her body posture was that of someone suffering from depression. “Zoe, are you okay?” he asked. She looked up at him, and he was shocked to see tears in her eyes. “I don’t know, Jayne,” Zoe admitted, surprising them both. “Mal?” Jayne asked knowingly, and she nodded. “The right thing isn’t always the easy one, Zoe,” he told her softly. “But it is always the right thing.” “I know,” she murmured, her head dropping again. “But this has caused a chasm between us, and I don’t know if it can be repaired.” “He is a willful and stubborn man, even for a mortal,” Jayne joked, and was rewarded with a smile. “He will forgive you, though it is only in his mind that you have need of forgiveness. I must speak to him,” Jayne added, moving through the galley toward the bridge. “Might should wait a bit,” Zoe warned. “No, better it was done quickly,” Jayne shook his head. “He will want me gone, so I will offer to pay him to take me home. Any and all of you are welcome there. Always.” “Thanks, Jayne,” Zoe said. “That means a lot to me.” “To me as well,” he told her, a hand on her shoulder. Then he made his way to the bridge. Mal heard him coming, and fought the urge to leave. Jayne stepped up on the bridge. “It is done,” he said without preamble. “She lives.” Inara smiled at the news, but Mal sat stoically in his chair, refusing to look around. “I want you off my boat,” he said quietly. “I assumed as much,” Jayne was unsurprised. “Set a course for Londinium, if you will. I will pay you to take me home.” Mal nodded jerkily, and began entering the course. Jayne watched him for a moment, then turned to go. “Jayne,” Ianra said softly. “Can we see her?” “Yes,” he nodded. “Simon and Kaylee are with her now. She is tired, and weak, but otherwise in good health.” He departed then, going to his own bunk. Inara sat quietly for a moment, then rose from her seat. “Would you come with me?” she asked. Mal shook his head. “Got Captainy things to see to,” was his terse reply. Inara nodded sadly, and headed for the infirmary.