TITLE: Rivers Key (Part 1/?) AUTHOR: YmeT RATING: PG13 (at the moment) PAIRING: Jayne/River SUMMARY: AU Something else snaps river out of her assassin mode in the bar. DISCLAIMER: Joss is a genus… But I am his muse so I think I can claim credit too don’t you? Don’t own anything and not plagerising but a lot is the same as the movie because I’m going Au half way and wanted the backup.

Prologue

Mal could tell they were going to try something as soon as they sauntered over, he didn’t trust these two as far as he could throw them.

But business was business and he had to remember that. They needed the coin to keep Serenity in the sky and protein rations in everyone’s stomach. Real food would be a luxury they couldn’t really afford but maybe with the Tams were leaving; the crew might get a chance to eat something real. Maybe he could get some fruit, help soften Kaylee up a bit.

Aww, who was he kidding, Kaylee could hold on to a grudge like a python claiming its lunch. He silently admitted he’d be tracking both Tams down and convincing them to return to Serenity, it really wasn’t safe and no matter what the stuck up doc thought, and after all they had been through, the alliance would be on their asses with or without the extra baggage. It really didn’t help that Kaylee had been all pouty and River with those big browns eyes, not fair the a man had such a weak spot for defenceless girls.

“Fanty, Mingo.” They smirk at him and try to fool with him, “He’s Mingo,” like he was going to fall for that switched identity go se. Well he knew the steps to this dance. “He’s Fanty, Your Mingo” “How it you always know?” Mingo smirked asking curiously. “Fanty’s prettier. Feel to do some business?” We moved to one of the booths to get business sorted. A few more pleasantries, they were offered drinks, which he took but didn’t drink. That’s a lesson you only need to learn once. He’ was starting to get that feeling, something was definitely up with these two tonight. They should have that bag of money well out of sight by now and kickin about under the table. “There a problem we don’t know of? Cause there’s a sweet take kissin your foot so how’s about you take your 25% and we can talk about the next job.” Mal was really startin to loose what patience he had left after Kaylees parting shot about Inara. “But our ends 40 precious.” Fanty shoots.

Mal again trying to settle the deal without burning any bridges bites his tongue just in time to hear Jayne blurt “My muscular Buttocks, it’s 40.”

This starts a series of hints threats and barginings that are suddenly interrupted by a bit of a commotion, which isn’t odd exactly just odd that Jayne or me weren’t the ones to start it. I flip back one of those little fan thingy’s that were supposed to keep the locals from seeing the deal go down to find out what’s going on. Already I can feel Jayne half out of his seat, “ooh a tussle” ready to jump in and let loose some steam. “Jayne” I warned as I see a familiar lithe body imprisoned momentarily by a big brute of a body while still kicking the go se out of someone else, only to swing one foot up behind them and kick their captor in the back of the head and then twist his arm while delivering a series of wicked punches to more attackers and pause to flip the “captor” over her shoulder. She continues to take out all those coming at her and over the din I hear Fanty ask “Do you know that girl?”

And though I recognise that the body in front of me that I can see doing serious damage to most of the patrons of the slightly over crowded bar, as being River, I just cant see anything of the girl that we know in her at all at that moment. “I really don’t”

After several seconds of stunned silence I indicate to Jayne to go around while I head up to get our guns from the lock box at the door. I barely notice the terrible two make a break out the back entrance.

As I attempt to make my way across the room again to the stairwell without being spotted I see Jayne has managed to get up close to her. About 8 feet away and every now and again he gets one of the brawlers kicked at him or thrown which he deals with quickly, never taking his eyes of the girl

I had just knocked some guy out of my way on the stairs and was fumbling for the key to the lock box when I realised that the madness had stopped. I glance hesitantly over my shoulder and the sight before me renders me speechless for the second time in 5 minutes.

There in the centre of the dance floor, surrounded by broken bottles and bodies, are River and Jayne. He had obviously grabbed her from behind as both of his arms are pinning hers down and holding her tight against him. When I look up into Rivers face I can see the confusion as she looked at the scene around her.

Jayne’s hold on her loosens and she turns to look at him and I can see the very second that the realisation that she did this hits her. Her head dropped to Jayne’s chest and she just started to shake from head to toe. It’s a moment before I realise that she’s sobbing silently into Jayne’s shirt.

I hear a muttered curse and continue to stare in amazement as my merc scoops her up into his arms. I open my mouth to say something, I don’t know what, just a Simon comes skidding into the bar behind me. He too stops speechless at the sight before him. Just as I decided to try speech again, Jayne turns on his heal and heads out the door with the sobbing shaking body of River Tam held close to his chest.

I look at Simon, knowing for all the world that the two of us are gapping like fish, when he frowns and says, “Did Jayne just leave without his gun?”

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AN: So what do you think? be nice. I'm still only getting started with this Fainfic thing. I just remember watching the movie and thinking "hmm, wouldnt it be cute if River snapped out of it when Jayne grabbed her? what would happen then?"