CHAPTER 4 JAYNE: Jayne couldn’t believe how much he was not enjoying this, no matter what the girl did, it just didn’t seem right. Finally, it was over and he could head home. It bothered him that things had not gone smoothly, he had never before had problems with a whore. He went down for another drink and found that everyone had left. He stayed for a couple of drinks then headed back to the ship. He didn’t mean to end up at Frankie’s door, it just happened. He was a little drunk and with the realization of where he was, a little aroused. That made him happy, had been afraid he would have to ask Simon about what had happened and that thought scared him. He tried to open the door quietly, like he had been doing for the past few months, but it wouldn’t move. He knew he could force it, but that might make too much noise and Frankie would have to explain to Mal what had happened. “Frankie?” Jayne said in a forced whispered. “Frankie, doors stuck.” He tried again. Nothing happened. “Frankie?” He whispered a little louder and looked around to make sure no one was there. He was a little worried when she didn’t answer and tried the door again. Even as drunk as he was, he heard Book coming down the hall and he reluctantly headed for his own bunk.

FRANKIE: She sat on the bed, head on her knees and listened to Jayne at the door. She hoped the pipe Kaylee had given her would hold. Quietly crying, she tried to figure out which of them she was madder at. Jayne had never made any promises, she was the one that started the affair and she had never set any rules. Still seeing him just grab a girl and head up to her room, while she was there made her mad. Kaylee had given her the pipe when she first came on board, there weren’t any locks on the sliding doors. She had never used it before, never anyone she wanted to keep out.

FRANKIE & JAYNE: After hearing Book head for breakfast, Frankie opened her door and followed him to the kitchen. She was afraid of what she might say to Jayne, she knew she no right to be upset. Jayne was relieved to see her at breakfast, when he woke up that morning he had still been worried. He grabbed a bowl and sat nonchalantly next to her. He smiled and said under his breathe. “Something’s wrong with your door, couldn’t get it to open last night. Might want Kaylee to look at it.” Frankie stood with her empty bowl. “Door works just fine.” She rinsed her dish and walked over to Book. “What time you want to head out?” “Well, seeing how we won’t have the mule, I think we should leave soon.” He smiled down at her and realized she looked a little tired. “You feeling OK? You get hurt last night?” “I’m fine, Book, just a little sore. Let me get my bag, the supply list from Mal and I’ll meet you in the hold.” She walked away as she saw Jayne finish his breakfast. “Why you think she got hurt last night?” Jayne watched Frankie walk away. “Oh, that’s right you missed the excitement, Frankie stopped a robbery last night and ended up in the mud.” Book smiled at him and left to get ready. Jayne was about to head to Frankie’s room to see if she was all right when Mal stopped him. “Jayne, get the mule ready, we gotta get the cargo, load it and be off this rock by noon.” Mal headed thru the kitchen and up the bridge. He grumbled as he headed down to the hold and readied the mule. Soon Book and Mal came down. “Sorry you can’t have the mule for shopping, but Wash can go with you to help carry stuff.” He walked over and lowered the ramp. “What the hell are you doing here?” Mal walked down to where Badger leaned against his buggy. “Thought I might take Mary Francis out shopping to replace the clothes she ruined last night.” He stood straighter when he saw her come down the ramp, followed by a very pissed looking Jayne. “That’s sweet, but she and Book have plans.” Mal turned away. “Jayne! That mule ready yet.” Book came down to the Captain. “Maybe we can do both, if Michael can give us a lift, then Wash can go with you and load cargo. That way we can easily make our noon departure.” He took Frankie’s hand and led her to the buggy. Jayne and Mal watched as Book and Frankie got into the buggy. “Can we have the list, Captain?” Book held out his hand. “Be back by noon.” Mal glared at Badger as the buggy headed off. “You letting’ them go? Just like that?” Jayne shook his head and headed back to the mule. *** The buggy drove up just as the mule was finished being unloaded. “Timed that just right.” Mal smiled at Book as he helped Frankie down. “Sorry Captain, that’s my fault. Had to go back and pick up the strawberries. A last minute birthday gift for Kaylee.” She smiled at the Captain and took the bags Book handed down. “Got some wonderful fabric to replace the dress I ruined.” She turned and ran right into Jayne. She dropped her bags and Michael was right there to pick them up. “Here you go Mary Francis.” He helped her with her packages, he turned and handed a few to Jayne. “These go in the kitchen.” Jayne just growled at him. “Jayne, that’s tonight’s dinner. Could you put it in the cold box?” She smiled at him; she had had such a great day she had forgotten how mad she was at him. He didn’t want to leave, but knew Mal would wonder why he was so reluctant to. Frankie thanked Michael for a wonder day and started to gather up her bags. Badger turned to the Captain. “See you got the cargo and are ready to go. Hoping I could hitch a ride to Persephone.” He grabbed a bag from under the seat and waved over a boy. “Sid, take the buggy back to Nana’s for me.” He turned back to Mal. Mal was trying to figure out how to tell him ‘hell no’ when Frankie spoke up. “What a wonderful idea, the cabin next to mine is empty.” She let him take some packages and the two headed up to the passenger’s dorm. “Badger’s traveling to Persephone with us, Sir?” Zoë walked up to the Captain. “Think he wants to keep an eye on his cargo, doesn’t quite trust us.” Mal grumbled. “Don’t think it’s the cargo he wants to keep an eye on.” Book watched as the two walked away. “His Nana said he plans to wed Mary Francis.” “Say what?” The pair looked at the Shepard as if he was crazy. “She told me she wants Mary Francis to live with her and raise her great grandchildren. Might be a good for Mary Francis, some stability in her life.” The Captain snorted. “Badger, stable?” “He has been very kind to her the last two days and as the mother of his children, would have standing in the community.” “So you’re in favor of a marriage between them?” Mal looked questionably at Book. Zoë looked doubtfully after Badger and Frankie. “I don’t know, Sir. Could come in handy.” “Zoë! This union would be for Mary Francis’s benefit, not ours.” Book shook his head and left to take the rest of the food supplies to the kitchen “Don’t see why we can’t both benefit from it.” *** Dinner was a strained, but tasty affair. Mal couldn’t help but notice how Badger acted with Frankie. Maybe Book was right and it would be good for her. “Strawberry!” Kaylee squealed in pure delight. “A late birthday gift from Michael and an apology for ruining your shoes and dress.” Frankie looked at Inara. “We couldn’t find anything close to the quality of those shoes. I’m so sorry.” She placed the tray of fresh berries between the two women. “It’s OK Mary Francis, I never wore them anyway.” “So Captain, when will we reach Bauer?” “Day after tomorrow, you in some kind of hurry, Badger?” “No, no, just the goods we’re picking up there need to be in Persephone in five days.” They talked after dinner and enjoyed the coffee that Badger had brought. Soon it late and one by one everyone headed off. Frankie walked Michael to his room and said goodnight. She shut her door and changed for bed. Soon there was a scraping sound outside her room; she opened it to see Jayne drag a large chair up the stairs and in front of the door. “Jayne, what are you doing?” “Mal said to make sure Badger don’t wander off where he ain’t suppose to.” “Then why is your chair in front of my room?” “That’s where he ain’t suppose to be.” He smiled at her as he settled in for the night. She slammed the door and slowly smiled to herself. *** There was talking and chores after breakfast, card playing and chores after lunch and a game of hoops after dinner. Michael had never played hoops the way they did, no one had. He was on the Captain’s team, against Jayne’s team. Jayne tried his hardest to tire the man out, so he wouldn’t have to sleep in the chair again. Frankie and Inara watched the game from the gangway. Inara couldn’t help but notice that Jayne seemed to want to hurt Badger, more then the rest of them. Then she noticed how both men would sneak looks at Frankie. Didn’t take years of companion training to see that something was going on between Jayne and Frankie. She smiled to herself that despite Mal’s rule about crew involvement, Zoë and Wash were married, Kaylee and Simon were courting and now Jayne and Frankie were doing something. When the game was over and Jayne’s team had won, he brought a bottle of whiskey to the table and offered drinks to all. His plan was to make sure Badger was out of it. He couldn’t believe how much he missed Frankie, it had been almost a week sense they had been together, longer then they had ever gone before. When the whiskey was gone everyone headed to bed, Jayne had to half carry Badger to his. Jayne had thought of asking Simon for some of that knock out stuff, but realized Mal wouldn’t like it if he drugged him. After making sure Badger was asleep and with a look at Frankie’s closed door, Jayne headed to his own room. *** Jayne heard the noise in the kitchen and thinking it was Badger he went to check it out. He watched Frankie as she waited for her tea to cool down; He came up behind her and quietly so as not to scare her whispered her name. “Frankie, what you doing up this late?” She turned to face him. “Couldn’t sleep.” She leaned back against the counter. “Why you up?” “Heard a noise.” He stepped closer. “You know you ain’t supposed to wear that shirt out’ a your room.” Nothing he had every seen, in all his days, was as sexy as she was in his old shirt. He placed his hands on her waist and leaned down to nibble on her neck. “Jayne….” Despite herself, Frankie purred his name. He picked her up and set her on the counter, so he could more easily reach her neck. Running his hands down her legs, he lifted them up until they locked around his waist. His hands then move back up towards her waist, until they encountered her underwear. “What I tell you about wearn’ panties?” He slowly brought his knife up and ran the flat side up her thigh. “Not to.” She barely was able to get the words out, between his hands and his mouth she was in ecstasy. “That’s right.” He ran the blade up under her panties and with a flick of his wrist cut them off. He quickly sheathed his knife and undid his belt and pants. Soon they were together and nothing and no one mattered. God he missed her, not just the sex, the touching and holding. Hell, even the talking they did late at night. Jayne couldn’t remember every wanting anything so much. Too soon, they were done. He put his hands around her face and kissed his way down to her nose. “Oh baby.” He had said it without thinking, he felt her tense up. Thinking she had heard someone he quickly withdrew, set her back on the floor, grabbed his clothes and left. She leaned back against the counter and waited until her legs were steady enough to carry her back to her room. In her mind all she could her hear was him saying ‘Oh baby’ over and over. Back in her room she knew what she had to do, she had to leave the ship.