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bookaddict43Title: What the Captain doesn’t know won’t hurt him
Prompt #20 Human
Author: Bookaddict
Characters: Jayne/Kaylee, Crew
Rating: PG13
Word count: 1326
Comments: Comments: a collaboration between![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
squish_67 and myself. Prompt table and previous chapters here. Thanks to bookishtype for the banner.
“Why she sleepin’ so much?” Jayne scowled at the doctor from his position at the doorway, “thought ya said that knittin’ thing would help.”
“It has helped.” Simon explained, “Kaylee’s ribs and cheekbone have knitted together well, a procedure that would take weeks if done naturally. She’s sleeping a lot because I’ve kept her doped. Although the bones are much better, she’ll still be in pain.”
“How long’s that gonna last?” Jayne hated the idea of Kaylee hurtin’ like this.
“I’m keeping Kaylee here for a few more days; till I’m sure the bones have strengthened. I also need to keep a check on her eyes.”
“Her eyes?” asked Jayne and the Captain who’d just arrived.
“I need to make a more thorough investigation, but I think Kaylee’s eyesight might have been damaged.”
“Ya mean she won’t be able to see?”
Simon, concentrating on the scans before him, completely missed the Captain’s urgent head shake. “I’m not completely sure yet. I need to run more tests. But she will be able to see to work. It will be her peripheral vision that’s damaged.”
“What does that mean?” Jayne was too angry and scared for Kaylee to bother hiding the fact he didn’t understand half what the doc said.
“It means that maybe – and it’s only maybe – Kaylee won’t be able to see things coming if they come up beside or behind her.” The Captain attempted to explain.
It meant that Kaylee weren’t gonna be able to see properly cause of him. ‘Cause he couldn’t look after one bitty girl. Like always the things he cared for most got hurt. Jayne pushed himself away from the door and left.
“You couldn’t have waited till you were sure?” Mal glared at the Doctor.
*************************
“It’s not good for either of them.” Inara remarked worriedly to the Shepherd. “Kaylee wants him badly right now.”
“And Jayne is wearing himself out worrying over her and trying not to show it.” Book sighed. “I’m not sure how to approach the man.”
“Well you couldn’t do worse than the Captain.” Simon pointed out.
“Hey it wasn’t my fault Jayne got all tetchy!”
Inara rolled her eyes and glanced back toward the infirmary where the mercenary was lounging in the doorway. Jayne standing watch over Kaylee while she was asleep had become a regular sight over the last few days; as was Kaylee waiting and waiting for Jayne to come and see her.
She thought back to one of her earlier conversations with Kaylee.
“Mei mei would you like to talk?” Inara sat down on the bed beside her. “Perhaps it would help.”
Kaylee tucked her head into Inara’s shoulder. She couldn’t talk about her terror and fright. The shock when Jayne said she was just a tumble, his worried voice when she wouldn’t answer him, his gentle hands and arms while he carried her.
Maybe she could talk about what had happened between them though. Inara knew about stuff like that, she could tell Kaylee whether she’d ruined her friendship with Jayne.
“While we were hidin’ out, Jayne and me did some sexin’. Weren’t him.” Kaylee shook her head at Inara’s expression and her voice turned wistful.
“’Twas me started it. Jayne said it weren’t a good idea, but I wanted him; threw myself at him.” she burrowed deeper into Inara’s arms. “It was wonderful; even with most of our clothes still on, it was wonderful. Jayne’s real good at sexin’. He even kissed me.”
“So why are you crying?” Inara asked. She wasn’t surprised, given the attachment Kaylee and Jayne obviously had for each other, that they had had sex. Both tactile creatures the danger they were in had probably exacerbated things.
“’Cause Jayne didn’t really want me,” Kaylee sniffed quietly. “I was just there is all – and throwin’ myself at him. The man’s human after all. And I ain’t like any of the girl pictures in his bunk or any of the girls I’ve ever seen him with. Why would he want me?”
“Perhaps because you aren’t like them Kaylee,” Inara smoothed the girls’ hair. “Did Jayne actually tell you he didn’t want you?”
“No. He ain’t good at talkin’ ‘bout personal stuff and before I could get him started we got caught. But I know I ruined our bein’ friends. Jayne’s only come to see me one time and then he left in a hurry.”
Kaylee started trembling again and Inara cuddled her close in an effort to comfort her.
It was clear to the Companion that neither Jayne nor Kaylee understood what they were feeling for each other. Their emotions had gone way beyond mere friendship. But it was that they were both focused on at the moment. The comfort and familiarity of their friendship was what they both needed right now.
“Shepherd if you could convince Jayne to a least go and see Kaylee that would be a step in the right direction.”
“I’ll try.”
“Do it.” The Captain ordered. “I can’t stand seeing Kaylee lying there staring and not being cheerful; I wouldn’t even mind hearing my mercenary snarl again. Least that’d make things more normal round here.”
*************************
“It’s best for Kaylee ifen I don’t get too close again.” Jayne shook his head stubbornly. He weren’t good enough to even be in the same room as her.
“Is it best for Kaylee that you take away your friendship?” The Shepherd nudged him, “just when she needs it the most?”
“She don’t need me. Everyone else on board’s her friend.”
‘Nara and Crazy hardly ever left Kaylee alone. Wash took his dinosaurs down to cheer her up. The Shepherd went and did his consolin’ thing and Zoe and Mal visited all the time. Hopefully the doc was cuddlin’ her, Kaylee needed touchin’.
“Kaylee doesn’t just have physical injuries; she has mental ones as well. I think it would be fair to say that no-one has ever hit her before. Imagine how terrified she was.”
“Don’t have to imagine it.” Jayne’s voice was tight.
“No, I don’t suppose you do.” Book agreed, “Kaylee will have memories of that for a long time. She hasn’t spoken of it to anyone. I think it would be easier for her to talk to you about it.”
“Why?”
“Because you were there; sometimes it’s easier to share things with someone who experienced it with you. Kaylee needs to return to her normal life. To do that she has to talk out what happened to her.” The Shepherd smiled. “For you and I that wouldn’t be a cure, for her it is. Kaylee needs her friend, Jayne. You and she get on well, have always been close. Taking that comfort from her would be cruel.”
*************************
“Are Jayne’s wrists alright?”
Simon turned to look into Kaylee’s concerned eyes. Her inquiry about Jayne’s wrists hid a wealth of emotions he was unsure of, as did Jayne’s constant queries on Kaylee’s injuries.
“No-one’s blamin’ him for what happened are they?” She knew how impatient the Captain got with Jayne and was worried that she weren’t there to support him.
“No, no-one is blaming him and his wrists are healing nicely.” Simon smiled at her reassuringly.
He wished Kaylee were calmer, her restlessness was impeding her healing. Although the kitten assisted in keeping Kaylee grounded, there was something linked to the mercenary that was troubling her. For the first time since meeting Jayne, he was actually hoping for the man to visit the infirmary.
“Kaylee?” The man himself interrupted Simon’s thoughts and the Doctor noted that Kaylee’s face lit up immediately at the sound of Jayne’s voice. He hoped that the big man’s presence would provide the peace she needed.
“Jayne,” Kaylee sat up slowly.
“Just came to see how yer doin’,” Jayne said, glarin’ at the Doc till he left.
“I’m doin’ fine.”
“No ya ain’t.” He sat down on the bed beside her. “The Shepherd said ya haven’t talked ‘bout what happened.”
Prompt #20 Human
Author: Bookaddict
Characters: Jayne/Kaylee, Crew
Rating: PG13
Word count: 1326
Comments: Comments: a collaboration between
squish_67 and myself. Prompt table and previous chapters here. Thanks to bookishtype for the banner.“Why she sleepin’ so much?” Jayne scowled at the doctor from his position at the doorway, “thought ya said that knittin’ thing would help.”
“It has helped.” Simon explained, “Kaylee’s ribs and cheekbone have knitted together well, a procedure that would take weeks if done naturally. She’s sleeping a lot because I’ve kept her doped. Although the bones are much better, she’ll still be in pain.”
“How long’s that gonna last?” Jayne hated the idea of Kaylee hurtin’ like this.
“I’m keeping Kaylee here for a few more days; till I’m sure the bones have strengthened. I also need to keep a check on her eyes.”
“Her eyes?” asked Jayne and the Captain who’d just arrived.
“I need to make a more thorough investigation, but I think Kaylee’s eyesight might have been damaged.”
“Ya mean she won’t be able to see?”
Simon, concentrating on the scans before him, completely missed the Captain’s urgent head shake. “I’m not completely sure yet. I need to run more tests. But she will be able to see to work. It will be her peripheral vision that’s damaged.”
“What does that mean?” Jayne was too angry and scared for Kaylee to bother hiding the fact he didn’t understand half what the doc said.
“It means that maybe – and it’s only maybe – Kaylee won’t be able to see things coming if they come up beside or behind her.” The Captain attempted to explain.
It meant that Kaylee weren’t gonna be able to see properly cause of him. ‘Cause he couldn’t look after one bitty girl. Like always the things he cared for most got hurt. Jayne pushed himself away from the door and left.
“You couldn’t have waited till you were sure?” Mal glared at the Doctor.
*************************
“It’s not good for either of them.” Inara remarked worriedly to the Shepherd. “Kaylee wants him badly right now.”
“And Jayne is wearing himself out worrying over her and trying not to show it.” Book sighed. “I’m not sure how to approach the man.”
“Well you couldn’t do worse than the Captain.” Simon pointed out.
“Hey it wasn’t my fault Jayne got all tetchy!”
Inara rolled her eyes and glanced back toward the infirmary where the mercenary was lounging in the doorway. Jayne standing watch over Kaylee while she was asleep had become a regular sight over the last few days; as was Kaylee waiting and waiting for Jayne to come and see her.
She thought back to one of her earlier conversations with Kaylee.
“Mei mei would you like to talk?” Inara sat down on the bed beside her. “Perhaps it would help.”
Kaylee tucked her head into Inara’s shoulder. She couldn’t talk about her terror and fright. The shock when Jayne said she was just a tumble, his worried voice when she wouldn’t answer him, his gentle hands and arms while he carried her.
Maybe she could talk about what had happened between them though. Inara knew about stuff like that, she could tell Kaylee whether she’d ruined her friendship with Jayne.
“While we were hidin’ out, Jayne and me did some sexin’. Weren’t him.” Kaylee shook her head at Inara’s expression and her voice turned wistful.
“’Twas me started it. Jayne said it weren’t a good idea, but I wanted him; threw myself at him.” she burrowed deeper into Inara’s arms. “It was wonderful; even with most of our clothes still on, it was wonderful. Jayne’s real good at sexin’. He even kissed me.”
“So why are you crying?” Inara asked. She wasn’t surprised, given the attachment Kaylee and Jayne obviously had for each other, that they had had sex. Both tactile creatures the danger they were in had probably exacerbated things.
“’Cause Jayne didn’t really want me,” Kaylee sniffed quietly. “I was just there is all – and throwin’ myself at him. The man’s human after all. And I ain’t like any of the girl pictures in his bunk or any of the girls I’ve ever seen him with. Why would he want me?”
“Perhaps because you aren’t like them Kaylee,” Inara smoothed the girls’ hair. “Did Jayne actually tell you he didn’t want you?”
“No. He ain’t good at talkin’ ‘bout personal stuff and before I could get him started we got caught. But I know I ruined our bein’ friends. Jayne’s only come to see me one time and then he left in a hurry.”
Kaylee started trembling again and Inara cuddled her close in an effort to comfort her.
It was clear to the Companion that neither Jayne nor Kaylee understood what they were feeling for each other. Their emotions had gone way beyond mere friendship. But it was that they were both focused on at the moment. The comfort and familiarity of their friendship was what they both needed right now.
“Shepherd if you could convince Jayne to a least go and see Kaylee that would be a step in the right direction.”
“I’ll try.”
“Do it.” The Captain ordered. “I can’t stand seeing Kaylee lying there staring and not being cheerful; I wouldn’t even mind hearing my mercenary snarl again. Least that’d make things more normal round here.”
*************************
“It’s best for Kaylee ifen I don’t get too close again.” Jayne shook his head stubbornly. He weren’t good enough to even be in the same room as her.
“Is it best for Kaylee that you take away your friendship?” The Shepherd nudged him, “just when she needs it the most?”
“She don’t need me. Everyone else on board’s her friend.”
‘Nara and Crazy hardly ever left Kaylee alone. Wash took his dinosaurs down to cheer her up. The Shepherd went and did his consolin’ thing and Zoe and Mal visited all the time. Hopefully the doc was cuddlin’ her, Kaylee needed touchin’.
“Kaylee doesn’t just have physical injuries; she has mental ones as well. I think it would be fair to say that no-one has ever hit her before. Imagine how terrified she was.”
“Don’t have to imagine it.” Jayne’s voice was tight.
“No, I don’t suppose you do.” Book agreed, “Kaylee will have memories of that for a long time. She hasn’t spoken of it to anyone. I think it would be easier for her to talk to you about it.”
“Why?”
“Because you were there; sometimes it’s easier to share things with someone who experienced it with you. Kaylee needs to return to her normal life. To do that she has to talk out what happened to her.” The Shepherd smiled. “For you and I that wouldn’t be a cure, for her it is. Kaylee needs her friend, Jayne. You and she get on well, have always been close. Taking that comfort from her would be cruel.”
*************************
“Are Jayne’s wrists alright?”
Simon turned to look into Kaylee’s concerned eyes. Her inquiry about Jayne’s wrists hid a wealth of emotions he was unsure of, as did Jayne’s constant queries on Kaylee’s injuries.
“No-one’s blamin’ him for what happened are they?” She knew how impatient the Captain got with Jayne and was worried that she weren’t there to support him.
“No, no-one is blaming him and his wrists are healing nicely.” Simon smiled at her reassuringly.
He wished Kaylee were calmer, her restlessness was impeding her healing. Although the kitten assisted in keeping Kaylee grounded, there was something linked to the mercenary that was troubling her. For the first time since meeting Jayne, he was actually hoping for the man to visit the infirmary.
“Kaylee?” The man himself interrupted Simon’s thoughts and the Doctor noted that Kaylee’s face lit up immediately at the sound of Jayne’s voice. He hoped that the big man’s presence would provide the peace she needed.
“Jayne,” Kaylee sat up slowly.
“Just came to see how yer doin’,” Jayne said, glarin’ at the Doc till he left.
“I’m doin’ fine.”
“No ya ain’t.” He sat down on the bed beside her. “The Shepherd said ya haven’t talked ‘bout what happened.”
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Date: 2006-09-10 02:28 pm (UTC)