Author’s note: Here’s the chapter that took me so long to write. I wrote it, and rewrote it better, then started over, then grammatically corrected it and there’s still spelling errors. So sorry for that. This chapter was very action packed, and the next chapter’s going to be very long so I apologize of it doesn’t go up within a few days. Also thank you to everyone who commented, you’re all so kind with your words and it’s greatly appreciated (I always say it AND mean it).

Disclaimer: I do not own any on the character and/or events which Firefly/Serenity consists of. I’m merely borrowing the characters for non-profitable fun. So the deal is, when I start making money off of this, you can start to sue.

Learning to be Patient Chapter 6 Panic

“Very last one,” Jayne grunted as he placed the large gun on the dinner table to the left of him. He let out a yawn as he leaned back in the chair, stretching his arms. “That didn’t take long.”

“Five hours and thirty-seven minutes,” River mumbled, she sat on the opposite side of the table from Jayne. Her face was hidden in her arms which were crossed over the table. “It’s almost one in the morning,” she enlightened as she lifted her head up, showing half-opened eyes.

“Ya didn’t have ta wait with me,” he informed as he stood from the table and began gathering up his guns.

“It’s going to be busy tomorrow,” she stated while attempting to hold back a yawn. “The Captain is going to set course, which is going to take a while to fly.” She yawned again and used her fingers to wipe at the sleep that had invaded her eyes.

“Ya look like you’re gonna fall asleep right there Girl,” he had a sly smile across his face as he put down his guns, “Ya need a ride ta your bunk.”

“Someone could see,” she murmured, her chin placed back on her forearm.

“You’re a reader,” he reminded her as he approached her and slid his strong arms under her scrawny legs, “If anyone’s coming, you’ll be able ta tell.”

“If I’m tired,” she sunk again his chest; her head felt like a sack of cement, “I can’t concentrate hard enough to read.”

He chuckled and shook his head at her, she was almost asleep already. Her body was limp, but she weighed so little, he hardly knew he was carrying her. One of her cool arms was wrapped loosely around his neck, while the other hung limp at her side. He pulled her dress down and over her legs, so if by chance they did get caught, it wouldn’t look inappropriate.

He turned around to exit the room, but found Kaylee standing idly in the doorway. She startled him some, but he hid it well, “Ye soo, Girl,” Jayne muttered as he stepped back and adjusted River in his arms, “When’d ya get so quiet?” She didn’t answer. “Ain’t ya supposed ta be restin’?”

Kaylee stood in the middle of the doorway. Her arms hanging at the side of her body as she stared directly at him. Her eyes were unblinking and her breathing seemed to be growing faster by the minute. It was making him a mite anxious.

“I..I was just takin’ River up ta bed,” he told her, his voice stuttering. Her being all goody-goody with the Doc, she was gonna tell him what she saw for sure. He had no ruttin’ idea how long she’d been watching them. “Not my bed. Her bed. She fell asleep at the table is all, an’ I was just gonna take her to her bed.”

Kaylee didn’t show any sign of understanding. She continued to glare at Jayne; her eyes moved into slits, her chest rose and fell faster then before, and her fingers curled into fists at her side.

“Look I didn’t even wanna take her,” he declared as he let River’s legs fall gently to the ground and held her shoulders protectively as she woke up. “See, she can walk herself,” he told, and then quickly released River’s shoulders.

River’s eyes grew large as she looked at Kaylee, “Not Kaylee,” she explained as she back up into Jayne.

“Whattaya mean it ain’t Kaylee?” Jayne questioned as Kaylee took a few steps into the room. “Looks like Kaylee,” he stated, “Well a little more fought then usual.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s doing,” River clarified, her voice anxious as she tried to back further into his chest, “She doesn’t know who we are. She thinks we’re enemies. She doesn’t know where she is. Everything is dark, and scary and alone.” She held her ears and wrenched her eyes shut in pain.

“She ain’t gonna do nothin’,” Jayne said stubbornly as he held River’s wrists and pulled them away from her head. “It’s Kaylee.”

The moment he spoke again, Kaylee lunged across the room abruptly, grabbed one of Jayne’s guns that lie on the table, and hit River across the face before she knew what was happening.

She turned the gun quickly in her hand, her finger finding the cold metal of the trigger and fired at Jayne before he could even comprehend. He fell to the ground for cover, but one of the bullets hit high on his left shoulder.

He grunted in pain and didn’t move when Kaylee ran past him swiftly, her bare feet floating over the floor. She ran through the door leading to the cargo bay, the sound of her feet hitting the ground barely audible.

Jayne blinked a few times, “What in the hell just happened?” he grunted and pushed himself to his knees, grabbing a gun from the table.

“Don’t go after her,” River begged. Her body lay a few feet away, but she had made no effort to stand up. Her pale face stared into his as a small stream of blood trickled down her cheek. “She won’t hurt us if we don’t go after her.”

“Fei hua!” Jayne growled, his fingers prodding the new bullet wound, “She already ruttin’ shot me in the arm.” He winced in pain as moved over to River, “You okay?”

“Time heals all,” she whispered, still not moving her body. Her eyes were wide and glassy as they stared into his.

“Yeah, well ya can stay here. I’m going to find out what the hell is goin’ on,” he grumbled, then staggered to his feet. He stopped and looked down at her, she was so petite on the floor. For a moment, he thought he should stay with her, get her up and get that bump looked at.

“Not moving,” she informed.

With that he grunted a response and left the room the same way Kaylee had. *~*~*~*~*~*~* “That woman can sleep through an entire war,” Mal grumbled angrily as his balled fist slammed into the large metal door before him. His movements not ceasing until there was a dry squeal from the door as it began to open.

“Something the matter Sir?” Zoe questioned, while rubbing her bloodshot eyes.

“You mean a warrior like you didn’t hear the gunshot?” he questioned sarcastically as he turned and began to walk down the hallway, knowing Zoe would follow.

“What gunshot, Sir?” she questioned moving faster to keep up with his strides, her footsteps still erratic do to grogginess.

“The gunshot that went off in the common area,” he answered as he swung around the corner, the tail of his coat rustled at the speed he was going.

“Sir?” Zoe questioned, causing Mal to stop in his tracks, “Have you been drinking.”

“Now ain’t the time to put my personal life under examination,” he informed, “I got a pair of fugitives, a beaten mechanic, and Jayne on board, so when I hear a gunshot at this time I tend to get a mite worried.”

He turned, entering the common room and stopped cold. River lay still on the floor, blood exuding from her forehead.

“River?” he questioned as he ran to her, kneeling beside her.

“Sshh,” she quieted with a finger to her lip.

“Lil’ Albatross, what are you playin’ at?” he questioned angrily, pulling at River’s arm, but she ripped it away from him.

“I’m playing dead,” she enlightened as she placed her head back down on the grating.

“She ain’t that far from lying,” Mal informed as he wiped some of the blood from her cheek, “What happened here?”

“Kaylee doesn’t know who she is,” River responded quietly, then pointed to the door, “Went to the cargo bay.”

Mal and Zoe glanced at each other, then quickly ran the hallways until they came to the bay where Kaylee stood in the middle of the catwalk, staring anxiously at Jayne who had a gun pointed at her. Beneath the catwalk, Inara stood screaming at Jayne to lower his weapon.

“Jayne!” Mal yelled to the man who had his rifle aimed straight at the mechanic, “What in hell are you doing?”

“She ain’t right Mal,” he growled as he watched the girl like a hawk, though she didn’t move a muscle in her body.

“Jayne, its Kaylee,” Inara called from below misunderstanding the situation and on the verge of tears.

“Lower your gun Jayne,” Mal told him calmly stepping forward a few feet slowly.

“That ain’t Kaylee,” Jayne stated once again, “She shot me in the ruttin’ arm!”

Kaylee stood stationary, a quizzical look on her face as she examined the Captain and Zoe.

Zoe cocked her gun and aimed it at Jayne, “Put it down, Jayne,” she demanded. “I ain’t gonna,” he answered, “She’s dangerous.”

“Jayne, you’re scaring her,” Inara cried as she watched Kaylee become more and more agitated.

“It’s Kaylee,” Mal pointed out to her, the looked back to Jayne skeptically, “The only thing she’s dangerous for is huggin’ ya to death.”

“I ain’t gonna Mal!” Jayne yelled stubbornly.

Kaylee jumped at the sudden noise and began turning to look for an exit, her feet stumbling and sliding beneath her. Jayne cocked his gun at her and Zoe stood ready to fire.

“Mei mei, settle down,” Inara’s voice shook as she watched her friend come close with the railing on the bridge.

“Stay away from the edge,” Mal instructed as he walked up past Jayne with his hands open showing he had no weapon.

Kaylee whimpered as she started to move backwards, her head frantically searching for an exit.

“Zoë, go get Simon,” Mal ordered, his voice low and composed. Zoë nodded and moved through the door swiftly to the infirmary.

“It’s okay lil’ Kaylee,” Mal comforted as he held out his hand, “Ain’t no one gonna harm you.”

“Wouldn’t tell ‘er that,” Jayne grumbled, his gun still aimed at her.

“Jayne you fire that gun and I guarantee you that you won’t live five seconds afterwards,” Mal threatened as he turned away from Kaylee.

The moment he did her fist came up and landed square in his jaw, sending him dizzying back a little. Jayne watched her but never pulled the trigger on her gun as she moved to the rail and dived over the side.

“Kaylee!” Inara screamed as her friend fell to the ground. Her mind thought the worse, but she was surprised when Kaylee twisted through the air and landed perfectly on her feet without as much as a scratch.

“Inara stay away from her!” Mal demanded as he stood up and held his jaw. He moved it around as he brushed past Jayne quickly running down the stairs, “When did Kaylee get a right hook like a sack of bricks.”

“Ya only got punched,” Jayne complained as he followed him, “I got shot in the gorram shoulder.”

“Kaylee?” Inara questioned moving her arm out to help the girl.

“Stay away from her,” Mal shouted as he jumped over the railings and landed less then gracefully beside Inara. He pushed her hand down harshly, and moved in front of her to protect her, “That ain’t Kaylee.”

“Toldja,” Jayne grunted as he finished the stairs.

“Sir?” Zoe questioned from the top of the stairs with a befuddled Simon beside her.

“What’s going on?” Simon questioned as he looked over the railing and saw Kaylee staring wide-eyed and terrified at Mal and Jayne.

“Why don’t you tell me?” Mal questioned as he pulled out his pistol and watched as Kaylee shook.

“You’re frightening her,” Simon informed angrily as he ran down the stairs. Zoe remained motionless at the landing, her hand wrapped tightly around the handle of her gun.

“She ain’t playin’ nice,” Jayne disclosed roughly.

“You have guns pointed at her,” Simon reminded as he stopped beside Mal, “She’s terrified.”

“She punched me in the face,” Mal announced, “I’ll be damned if it doesn’t feel like a ruttin’ donkey kicked me.”

“I got shot in the gorram arm!” Jayne reminded as he held up his arm for all to see.

“Move out of the way,” Simon demanded as he went to push through Mal. But the man grabbed him coarsely by the material of his shirt.

“She’s dangerous Doc,” Mal informed, “she ain’t happy time Kaylee.”

“Mal’s right,” Inara agreed.

“What are you gonna do anyways?” Mal questioned, letting go of the doctor. He would’ve bet that Simon would’ve straightened out his clothes, but he made no move to.

“I’m going to talk to her,” he replied, staring Mal square in the eye until the other man stepped out of his way, “Because you seem to have forgotten that Kaylee is a human being.” “We didn’t forget,” Mal answered, “It just didn’t work.”

“Kaylee,” Simon coaxed gently, ignoring Mal’s unhelpful words. Kaylee sat on the ground, her legs curled beneath her. Her hands were brought in front of her face for protection and her body fidgety, “Bao bei it’s okay, no one is going to hurt you.”

She cautiously pulled a hand down from her face and questioned quietly, “Simon?”

“Hwoon dahn,” Mal muttered as he placed his gun back in his holster while watching Simon bend down beside her, “Outta everyone on this boat she responds to him.”

“Are you okay?” he questioned placing a hand on her cheek. She was warm and her cheek was clammy with sweat.

“I don’t feel too good,” she replied, wincing and placing a hand on her stomach. He was about to reply when she suddenly turned her head and vomited.

“Of course in the cargo bay,” Mal muttered as Inara rushed over to help the young girl, “Gotta be the place with the deep, groovy metal gratings.”

“Mal,” Inara turned her head back to him and sent a glare.

“I’m tired,” Kaylee complained as she eyes slid closed. Her body was trembling and began to tumble backwards but Simon caught her.

“Kaylee?” he questioned lightly shaking her body, but there was no reaction. “She passed out.”

“Put her in the infirmary,” Mal ordered, “We’ll get a pair of handcuffs and lock her to the side of the bed for the night.” He spoke quickly, too unnaturally to have fully thought threw what he was saying.

“What?” Simon questioned in disbelief as he looked away from Kaylee, to Mal with a glower.

“Mal, this is Kaylee,” Inara reminded as she stood and marched over to him.

“This ain’t normal, happy, smiling, bright, cloud-hugging Kaylee,” Mal informed with pursed lips and a furrowed brow. “This is wake up in the middle of the night and kill us all Kaylee. So until I reckon’ she’s normal again, she’s sleeping with ‘cuffs.”

“You can’t honestly suggest that-”

Mal cut Simon off promptly, “I ain’t suggesting, I’m ordering. Get her up to the infirmary and get her cuffed.”

Simon hung his head in defeat as he leaned over and gently picked Kaylee up off the floor. Careful to hold her body so she was comfortable.

“Don’t think about sleeping too soon either,” Mal called after the doctor as he began to walk towards the large doorway. “She messed up some of us real good and you need to do the cleaning.”

Simon didn’t answer, he only held Kaylee closer to his chest as he made his way to the infirmary.

“‘Bout time,” Jayne complained as he placed his gun in his holster, “I ain’t to fond of keepin’ bullets in my body as I am of puttin’ ‘em in ta other people’s.” He rolled his shoulder as he passed Mal, following Simon out of the cargo area.

When Mal’s eyes met Inara’s, she simply glared at him with the highest level of disgust she could muster. She turned away from him harshly and walked back to her shuttle to retire for the night.

“Sir?” Zoë questioned as Mal walked up the stairs towards her. “I know you’re keeping our safety in high regard, but don’t you think handcuffs are a bit much for Kaylee.”

“I just need time to think Zoë,” Mal divulged as his fingers came up to his cheek and prodded the soft, bruising skin there.

“About what, Sir?” Zoë questioned, following Mal briskly down the hallway.

“About what the hell just happened and what the hell I’m suppose’ta do next,” he answered with an exasperated sigh. TBC