Archangel Chapter Twenty-Three Author owns no rights to Firefly, and no copyright infringement is intended. Fanfic only. -------------------------- The crew gathered around the galley table the next morning. Jayne and Kaylee had prepared breakfast together, and Mal had watched the two from the passageway door for a few minutes before making his presence known. Kaylee was still her bubbly self, but seemed more, there, than before. Like she was suddenly whole, Mal thought. Maybe Jayne was the charm for her, too, he decided. Thinking on how nearly he had wrecked that gave him pause. “Well, now,” he said, walking on into the galley. “Seems like you two are in fine fettle this morning.” “Mornin’ Cap’n,” Kaylee kissed his cheek, hugging him. Mal noticed that Jayne had no reaction to that other than a smile. Interesting. “Mornin’, mei mei,” Mal smiled in return. “Mornin’ Jayne.” “Mornin’ Cap’n,” Jayne nodded, smiling. “Sleep well?” “After all that, it’s a wonder I slept at all,” Mal admitted. “It’s enough to make a body’s blood run cold.” “Is that,” Jayne agreed. “None o’ that til after we eat!” Kaylee scolded. “I mean it, so don’t be frownin’ at me like that, either, Cap’n,” she added when Mal’s brow creased. “Ain’t no need o’ talkin’ ‘bout reavers an’ such over breakfast.” “Fair enough,” Mal nodded. The rest of the crew wandered in, and soon breakfast was over with. Mal pushed his plate back, and rested his elbows on the table. “All right, Kaylee, breakfast is over, so it’s time we started talkin’,” he smiled. Kaylee grinned back, and nodded. “Reckon everyone knows what’s goin’ on,” Mal said. “We need to decide what we aim to do. What we ain’t gonna do, is go anywhere near that Operative,” he added, and noted the looks of relief on everyone’s face. “Well, that’s a relief,” Simon nodded. River agreed silently. Jayne’s face was stony, but he nodded as well. “So what else is there to do?” Inara asked. “If we aren’t helping him, then what can we do?” “Been thinkin’ on that,” Mal replied. “And truth is, there’s several things we can do, ‘thout bein’ involved directly.” Everyone looked at him, expectantly. “First off, we seen that blue glove in the film,” Mal pointed out. “Two weird lookin’ fellas in blue suits stand out. We can get the word out for everyone to be watchin’ for’em. Link them to the reavers. Might be they wander into the wrong place, and get shot a mite.” “Unlikely,” River said tonelessly. “They are smarter than that.” River had few fears, but Blue Hands were at the very top of the list. “But they’re arrogant hundans, Albatross. Never underestimate the power of arrogance.” River nodded at the point. “Second, we’ll put together what the Doc’s figured out about the Pax, and the virus, attach it to the Miranda wave, and hand it over to Miss Carter,” Mal nodded to the reporter. “Just call me Jazz, Captain,” she smiled. “Everyone, in fact.” “All right, Jazz,” Mal smiled. “Can you get all that broadcast out, without it bein’ traced back to you and your friends?” “Probably,” she nodded, thoughtful. “Might not make it everywhere, but it’ll go a long way.” “That should warn folks, right enough, at least in some areas,” Mal pointed out. “Won’t help Rim folk,” Jayne pointed out. Mal nodded. “Thought about that, too,” Mal agreed. “So, I aim to put the word out to all the former Independents, especially them who run ships, or supply stations, and the like. Gathering places. Send them everything, and let them spread the word as they go.” “And we’ll be doin’ that, too,” he added. “This ain’t gon’ be one o’ them ‘I aim to misbehave’ kinda things, is it Cap’n?” Jayne asked, the faintest trace of a grin haunting his lips. Everyone chuckled at that, and Mal laughed outright. “I’m afraid it might, Jayne,” Mal told him. “Well, we best get some grenades, then.” ------------------------- Serenity remained planet side, as the crew each went about their various duties. Jasmine worked to gather the information they needed, and then sent it to her friends in the Independent Press. He editor was aghast at what she had learned, and thrilled to have a copy of the Miranda Wave in it’s entirety. He readily agreed to start broadcasting the story at every available opportunity, and also to send it to the Rim planets where he had contacts. Mal, meanwhile, contacted various ship captains and others who either traveled, or were a destination for travelers. He shared with them everything he knew, and most agreed to spread the word. The one’s who couldn’t, for fear of reprisal, offered other support, including fuel, provisions, and to send word of anything they got wind of. It was nearing mid-day when Jayne’s voice cracked across the com. “Cap’n, we got a passel o’ folks headed this way. Looks like they’re from town.” Mal and Inara headed down to the ramp, where some twenty of the townspeople were approaching the ship. “Afternoon, folks,” Mal smiled in welcome. “Captain,” the old store owner Jayne had saved nodded. “Glad to see you folks still about. We’d like to have a word with your man, there,” he pointed at Jayne. “Sure,” Mal agreed. “What can I do for you?” Jayne asked warily. “We’d like you to stay on, be our marshal,” the old man said without preamble. “Pays decent, and. . . .” “I can’t, sir,” Jayne cut him off. “I’m right flattered, but I can’t leave Serenity.” “Now, son, we ain’t rich folks, but we can offer. . . .” “It’s not money, sir,” Jayne said politely. “My girl,” he hugged Kaylee to him, and she smiled, “she’s the engineer on the ship, and this is where she wants to be. Which makes it where I want to be. Wasn’t for that, I might consider it. But I can’t.” “Well, I can understand that,” the old man nodded. “This here,” he offered a small bag, “is the reward for killin’ them heathen that were terrorizin’ the town. Reckon you earned it.” “Sir, I can’t take your money,” Jayne shocked everyone. Well, except River and Kaylee. And Inara, who smiled. “Son, you can, and you will,” the old man insisted. “This here was a collection we took up some time ago, only no one was ever able to lay claim to it. You earned it, and we aim for you to have it.” He shoved the bag into Jayne’s hand. “Sir, it ain’t right for me. . . .” “Don’t argue with me, young man,” the old man told him stiffly. “We’re right beholden to you.” “Yes, sir,” Jayne nodded. “Well, Captain, we hope to see you again,” the old man shook Mal’s hand. With that, the townsfolk headed home. Mal turned to Jayne, only to find him looking at River. The girl smiled slightly, and nodded. Jayne nodded back, and then turned to Mal, thrusting the bag into his hands. “Use it for whatever you got planned a’gin the reavers and such,” he said. Kaylee beamed at him. Zoe’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Jayne, I can’t. . . .” “Me and River earned that money,” Jayne pointed out. “Reckon we can decide how it’s spent.” His tone left no room for argument. “I agree,” River nodded firmly. “Family money.” Mal smiled at that. “Thanks, you two,” he managed. ---------------------- Kaylee was tending to her girl when River slipped into the engine room. “You wanted to talk to me?” she asked, startling Kaylee. “River, dang it!” she scolded playfully. “Like to give me heart failure!” “Sorry,” River smiled impishly. “Didn’t mean to.” “I know,” Kaylee giggled. She had been near giddy all morning, she knew. She and Jayne had. . . . “Please,” River rolled her eyes. “Not in my hearing.” Kaylee blushed a little, and smiled. “Sorry,” she grinned. “Can’t help it, mei mei,” she added. “I know,” River giggled. “You glow like a sunrise, Kaylee. Have all day. Must have been some night.” “It was,” Kaylee giggled. “But it ain’t just that,” she added. “River he just makes me feel. . .special, ya know?” “Yes,” River smiled. “Loves you very much. But you wonder about he and I. The bond we share, now.” “Well, he told me about it,” Kaylee shrugged. “It ain’t that I wonder. I mean I do,” she amended, “but not like that. I mean. . .what I’m tryin’ ta say, River, is I ain’t jealous.” “No reason to be,” River nodded firmly. “We are close, now, Kaylee,” River admitted. “But it’s more of a bond between us, that anything like you and he share. We are connected, in some ways. Because of what I did, I believe. When he was. . . .” River trailed off, unsure of how to. . . . “Dyin’?” Kaylee did it for her. “River, he told me that. I can’t never thank you for it, neither, mei mei,” she hugged River tightly. “Not proper like. Ain’t no way to.” “They aren’t necessary,” River smiled, hugging her back. “He just needed a good. . .” “Kick?” Kaylee asked in amusement, and River giggled. “Yes,” she grinned. “Several of them, actually. He’s very stubborn.” “So he is,” Kaylee sighed. “But I’m workin’ on that,” she smiled again. “You are so good for him,” River told her pointedly. “And I think he is for you, as well. You seem more. . .well, more, somehow. I cannot quantify it, but it is tangible.” “I can’t name it myself,” Kaylee shrugged. “But I like it, I know that,” she added with a smile. “I do not want the bond that Jayne and I share to come between you and I, Kaylee,” River said seriously. “It would hurt me to lose you as my friend, or as my sister.” “Oh, sweetie,” Kaylee hugged her again, a tear forming at the corner of her eye. “That ain’t gonna happen! I know what’s between you two, and I wouldn’t change it for nothin’. And it makes me feel good, knowin’ the two o’ ya are lookin’ out for each other. Both o’ ya are important to me.” “I’m glad you feel that way,” River nodded. She was glad. And relieved. She didn’t want to have to give up her closeness with Jayne. It had provided her with a strong place to anchor herself. Jayne did not fear the blue hands. He was the only one on the ship who did not. She drew on him for strength. “Do you need any help?” River asked, closing the subject between the two. “Nah,” Kaylee grinned, waving her offer away. “Just a little maintenance, while I ain’t rushed. You could sit here, and keep me comp’ny, though!” “Then I will,” River nodded.

--------------------- Zoe limped into the cargo bay, coming from the infirmary where she’d just seen Simon. She found Jayne, working in the cargo bay, sweeping the floor and squaring things away. They didn’t have a cargo at the moment, the delivery here being the last one. They hadn’t gotten their cargo on Beaumond. Likely wouldn’t, either. “Jayne,” Zoe nodded, as Jayne looked up. “Zoe,” Jayne nodded back, and kept sweeping. Zoe sighed. Always the hard way. “River told me that you got the last of the men who attacked me,” she offered calmly. “I wanted to say thank you.” “You’re welcome,” Jayne nodded, not looking up. “Wasn’t nothin’.” “It was to me,” Zoe said simply. Jayne looked up at her, then. “Glad I could do it,” he told her evenly. He moved to finish sweeping the dust and dirt out of the cargo door, and then stored the broom. Without pausing, he started rearranging the crates still in the bay, moving them out of the way. “Jayne, I really am sorry,” Zoe said finally. “I know I did you wrong, and I apologize. It won’t happen again.” “Okay,” Jayne shrugged. Zoe resisted rolling her eyes. “How come you can forgive Mal so easy, and not me?” she demanded, almost huffing. “Who said I forgave Mal?” Jayne looked at her, frowning. “And who says I ain’t forgave you?” Zoe blinked at that. “Well, seems you two are gettin’ along, at least some,” she pointed out. “And you ain’t had ten words to say to me, since. . .the other day. And them words wasn’t really kind ones.” “Ain’t got nothin’ to say,” Jayne shrugged again. “You don’t like me, Zoe. That’s fine. Ain’t no law says you got to. I’m fine with that. So I don’t say nothin’ to ya, less’n it’s business, or whatnot. We ain’t friends, I figure, and ain’t gonna be. I’m good with that too. Ain’t gotta be friends to work together.” “Who said I don’t like you, Jayne?” Zoe asked, trying his own method back on him. Mistake. “You say it, Zoe,” he told her calmly, still moving crates and boxes. “Every time you look at me like I’m somethin’ on the bottom o’ your boot, and finger that gun o’ yours when you look at me, you’re sayin’ it. Don’t matter none, really. Ain’t like I care.” “Jayne when have I. . . .” She trailed off at the withering look he gave her. “Is this really a conversation you wanna be havin’?” he asked. “If you think a bit, you’ll like as not remember when. Sure, you shined up to me for a minute or two when I saved all o’ ya from them reavers. But I don’t need no friends I got to buy, Zoe. And you don’t mean it, no how, I reckon. Just tryin’ to make yourself feel better.” “Go ahead and feel better, you want to,” Jayne told her. “It don’t affect me one way or ‘nother.” “So you think all I’m doin’ is trying to make myself feel better by thanking you.” Jayne snorted. “I didn’t say anything ‘bout you thankin’ me. You asked why I couldn’t forgive you. Thought that’s what we was talkin’ ‘bout.” Zoe felt her face heat as she was tripped up by her own words. “I told you, you’re welcome,” Jayne continued evenly. “And ya are. And I’ll do it again, needs be. Always will. You ain’t got to like me on accounta that. Nor apologize for what you really think. You ain’t never liked me, and that’s fine, Zoe. I ain’t never cared whether ya did or not, and still don’t. Ain’t nothin’ to me, either way.” “So that’s it, then,” Zoe said flatly. Jayne looked at her. “Words don’t mean nothin’ Zoe,” he told her quietly. “What is it you want, anyway? For me to say I forgive you for bein’ you? Fine, I forgive you,” he shook his head. “That make it better?” His voice was reasonable, and calm. It just made his words sting more. “It would if you meant it,” Zoe nodded. “Just like your apology, then,” Jayne nodded. “I told you, I don’t care, Zoe. Feel free to loathe me, hate me, whatever gets you through the day. I. Don’t. Care. I don’t loose no sleep at night worryin’ on do you like me or not.” “Fine,” Zoe snapped back, and turned to go. She was angry. There was no reason for him to be such a stubborn hundan about all this. True, she hadn’t been fair to him, especially when River had collapsed that day. She’d jumped to conclusions about it. And, in hindsight, she could see that her own dislike for Jayne had fueled that decision. Jayne had been on the cargo bay floor, far from where River had collapsed. It was obvious, again in hindsight, that he hadn’t attacked the girl, yet she had treated him as though he had. Even after Kaylee had chimed in. Maybe he does have a reason, she admitted to herself. And he’s right. Words don’t mean nothin’. It’s actions that do. And his actions have been a lot better than my own. She left the bay, thinking on that very thing. Jayne watched her go, and returned to his work. “Don’t have to be so hard on her,” River’s voice floated to him. He didn’t bother to look up. “I ain’t,” he shrugged. “Are too,” she shot back gently. “Could just say your forgive her.” “I did,” Jayne pointed out. “Not my fault she don’t believe it.” “You don’t mean it, ge ge,” River chided. He looked at her. “So what?” he challenged. “She don’t mean her apology, neither. Does she?” River looked at the floor. “No,” River admitted. “You are correct. She wants to feel better, and her apology is designed to do that.” “Ain’t gotta be no genius reader to figure that out,” Jayne smirked, and River giggled despite herself. “It don’t matter to me none, no way,” Jayne continued. “If it wasn’t for Kaylee, and to a lesser extent, you, I’d done be gone, anyway.” “I know,” River said softly. “I’m glad you stayed,” she added. “I know ya are,” Jayne nodded. “And, if I leave sometime in the future, you ‘n me, we’ll always be friends, little bit. You’ll always be welcome at my fire. And you ever need me, you call me, and I’ll be there.” “Thank you, Jayne,” River smiled. “That means a great deal to me.” “Anytime,” he winked. -------------------

Mal looked at his crew as they gathered for dinner. They were all waiting, wondering where they were going, and what they were going to do. “We’ll head out this evening,” he told them finally. “We’ve seen to all we can from planet side. Got a cargo waitin’ on Aberdeen, so we’ll go and pick that up, and deliver it to Idlewild. Be a good opportunity to spread the word to folks we know, and see what we can hear.” “Have you told the Operative that we ain’t gonna help him?” Jayne asked. “Yes,” Mal nodded. “He wasn’t pleased, but said he couldn’t fault our not trustin’ him. He tried to convince me to help, or at least to convince you to help,” he looked at Jayne. “But I told him that was your decision, and you’d made it.” Jayne nodded, thoughtful. “Anyway, once we’re squared away, Albatross, I want us in the air, on our way to Aberdeen.” River nodded, just as the ping of an incoming message drifted down from the bridge. Mal hurried to the bridge, the others close behind. Hitting the receive button, Mal saw Hank, Jazz’s boss, pop up on the screen. “Hank, what’s happened?” Jazz asked, seeing the look on her editor’s face. “Jazz, we sent the word out,” he said, his tone harried. “And it looks like it got out. But we’ve lost seven of our transmitters in the last three hours. At first we thought it was just common maintenance problems, but. . . .It seems that our Alliance friends aren’t happy with the ‘message’, and are shutting us down.” “Are you safe?” Jazz asked. “No idea,” Hank admitted. “We’re moving our operation to Whiskey outpost,” he told her. “Be on the move in a few minutes, in fact. We’ll have to go underground, somewhat, until we can see what’s happening. I wanted to warn you, and let you know we’ll be out of contact for a while.” “Be careful, Hank,” Jazz said softly. “This will probably get a lot worse.” “I’m sure of it,” Hank nodded. “The last thing we heard was that a large group of Independents were gathering on Idlewild. Apparently someone else is working to get the word out, as well. I don’t know what they plan to do, or if they even have a plan, to be honest. But with the reaver situation like it is. . . .” “Idlewild, huh?” Jazz said musingly. “That’s a long way out.” “I think that’s the idea,” Hank nodded. “For all I know, they may think Idlewild is next, and intend to try and stop the attack. But I don’t know anything other than they’re meeting. And that’s second hand information.” “How long before you’re back in operation?” Jazz asked. Hank frowned. “‘Least a week,” he told her. “And that’s assuming everything goes well. Which it won’t,” he reminded her. “I’ll wave you when I know more. First thing when we’re operational again.” “Be safe, Hank,” Jazz said quietly, and Hank nodded, breaking the connection. “Fortuitous,” River said, looking at Mal. “Ain’t it though,” he mused. “Mighty odd, how that happened.” “Well, if’n they aim ta fight, might be we can help’em,” Jayne noted, and Kaylee jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. “You promised,” she hissed, and he smiled at her. “That I did,” he agreed. “Well, we’ve stayed here long enough,” Mal declared. “Albatross, Kaylee, let’s get us in the black. Got things to see to.” River nodded, moving to the pilot’s station, while Kaylee drug Jayne toward the engine room. “What are we going to do, Mal?” Inara asked, as everyone hurried to prepare for departure. “Don’t rightly know,” Mal admitted. “I don’t want us in a fight, we can avoid it. Mayhap we can’t, this time, though.” “I hope we can,” Inara leaned into him. “We’ve done enough fighting. Lost enough for a lifetime.” “I agree, ai ren,” Mal hugged her. “Long as we’re safe, we’ll try and avoid it. But this has to be dealt with, ‘Nara. If it ain’t stopped, we won’t none of us be safe.” Serenity was in the air, fifteen minutes later, and burning toward Aberdeen.