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bookaddict43Title: What the Captain doesn’t know won’t hurt him
Prompt #22 Hope
Author: Bookaddict
Characters: Jayne/Kaylee, Crew, OCs
Rating: PG13
Word count: 1465
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. I'm sooo unsure about this chapter - please tell me what you think??
Jayne unhooked the climbin’ frame from the ceilin’ and stuck it in the bag with the bone-knitter and cat toys. He figured Mr Bevis could probably use them. He looked at the little cat curled up on his bed and petted her gently. “Gotta go now girl.”
He guessed he would miss the little critter a bit after all, she’d been good company and she’d looked after Kaylee real good the last few days. Those two were gonna miss each other like crazy.
*********************
“Lonely and sad, missing the companionship.” River sat down next to Inara on the couch. “No judgement there, just friendliness.”
“The kitten?” Inara asked.
“River’s attached to the creature.” Simon sighed, “and is missing it already.”
Though he could now understand some of his sister’s and Kaylee’s attachment. The little creature had been very well behaved in the infirmary and had certainly bought comfort to Kaylee.
“If Jayne hadn’t bought it on board she wouldn’t be missing anything.” The Captain started his complaint but was interrupted by Kaylee entering.
“Cap’n we’re goin’ now. We’ll be back in time.” She promised and paused in the doorway.
“Blamin’ Jayne for Misty ain’t right. She snuck on board herself, and when I found her I asked Jayne to hide her.”
“That so?” Mal huffed. “Well he should’ve said no.”
“He were just helpin’ me out Captain and I bet even ya wouldn’tve said no.” Kaylee whirled out the door, still angry with him.
“The girl has a point sir. Every male on the boat does what Kaylee wants; Jayne more so than anyone.”
“Not everyone,” the Captain protested.
“Everyone,” Simon nodded.
“I knew about the cat early on Captain. But Kaylee persuaded me to stay silent.” The Shepherd smiled. “That girl makes it hard to say no to her. I really think that you’ll have to let the blaming go this time.”
“It’s not fair.” Mal grumbled. “I want to blame somebody.”
“Don’t worry Mal.” Inara smiled at him with deceptive sweetness. “I’m sure there will be other situations where you can blame others for it going wrong.”
*********************
He could see Kaylee gettin’ tenser and tenser with every step they took. She were shiverin’ too. Just like last time.
Jayne frowned. His little girl shouldn’t be shiverin’; he’d borrowed Zoe’s warmest coat for her and made sure she put it on. She’d laughed at him then, put the kitten in the pocket and her face had lit up like old times. But the smile had died and the closer they got to the machine shop, the more worried Kaylee got.
She’d got real quiet too and since it weren’t the comfortable quiet they used to have together, it worried him. To distract them both Jayne asked, “what’d the Doc say ‘bout yer eyes?”
“There’s no secrets on this ship.” Kaylee sighed. She hadn’t wanted Jayne to know, to worry ‘bout her, feel guilty for what happened.
“Everyone is just real worried ‘bout ya is all.” Jayne risked lookin’ into her beautiful eyes. “The Doc never had a chance at keepin’ secrets, ‘n ya didn’t see Misty jump up the other day…”
Everyone was worried ‘bout her? Was Jayne? He was probably gonna blame himself when he heard this, Kaylee sighed.
“Simon did some more tests. My right eye is real good, no problems, my left eye – I can see things fine straight ahead.” She hurried on, “but ain’t seein’ too good to the side. But Simon says even that’s improved some, and maybe it’ll right itself given time.”
Jayne was silent for a moment. He could tell from the way she was talkin’ that Kaylee was worried some ‘bout that, but there was somethin’ else troublin’ her too.
“What if I can’t take care of Serenity properly?” Kaylee almost whispered. “My girl needs lots of care. What if the Captain decides he needs a better mechanic?”
“There ain’t no better mechanics and the Captain knows it.” The man thought Kaylee was wonderful – he’d never let her go. “Ya look at the engine straight on don’t ya?”
“Yes,” she frowned at him.
“Then stop worryin’. I already told ya that I ain’t gonna let anythin’ happen to ya.” Though he knew he shouldn’t, Jayne put a comfortin’ arm round her shoulders and ignored the memories of her body in his arms.
“I used to know a fella had the same sorta problems with his eyes ya got. I could teach ya how to cope with it if ya like?”
“That’d be great Jayne.”
*********************
“Mr Bevis!”
Kale jumped up at the sound of Kaylee’s voice. “Miss Kaylee.” He rushed over to hug and look over her, “I’m so glad to see you on your feet.”
“Yer bone-knitter helped with that.” The girl smiled at him. “Jayne’s got it here for ya.”
“I’m glad I could help.” Kale said sincerely. “You’re one of my favourite customers you know.”
“I know and the Captain said I could get a couple of new parts too.”
“I’ve got something here I’m sure you could use.” He bustled off behind the counter.
“Shiny.”
“Kaylee,” Jayne said. He hated to interrupt her happy times. “Ya know we can’t be too long.”
Kaylee’s smile faltered for a moment. “I won’t be long. I promise.” She turned back to look at the parts her friend was spreadin’ on the counter and pulled the kitten out of her pocket. “Mr Bevis – I bought Misty back for ya.”
*********************
Kaylee had cried when they left, huggin’ the kitten goodbye fiercely. Mr Bevis had been nice to her, askin’ her to come back and visit anytime. Misty hadn’t helped matters by runnin’ after them to the door and mewin’. Even Jayne had got a bit of a lump in his throat (it was probably just a hairball) and he’d had a hard time gettin’ Kaylee away at all. At least leavin’ the kitten distracted them both from memories of what had happened before and that part hadn’t been hard at all.
Tryin’ to keep from cryin’ again, Jayne guessed, Kaylee had talked all the way back to the boat. She’d told him lots ‘bout her childhood and asked him lots of questions. He avoided answerin’ like usual and followed her up to the engine room when they finally got back.
He was sittin’ watchin’ her now as she installed one of the parts she’d got from her friend. It coulda been done tomorrow, but he figured Kaylee needed to keep herself busy and of course she were still talking…
“Did yer Misty look anythin’ like ours did?”
There was that ours again.
“It were my fault.” Jayne hadn’t meant to say that; but Kaylee’s questions ‘bout his Misty had bought back memories and suddenly he wanted to talk. Wanted to tell her somethin’ ‘bout him.
“What was?” Kaylee looked up at Jayne swiftly, startled at the quickly covered pain in his voice.
“The fire at our house.”
Jayne was finally talkin’ to her. Sayin’ somethin’ personal, lettin’ her in, there was real hope for their friendship yet. Kaylee sat up and moved over closer to him, restin’ her head against his shoulder.
“Why was it yer fault?”
“Me and one of the local girls got real close. Close for kids of fourteen and fifteen anyway.”
“Crushin’ on her, were ya?” Kaylee asked.
“In the worst way.” Jayne agreed. “Her daddy was pretty big news in town and her brother had tickets on himself. They didn’t like us goin’ out together. The brother pushed me around some and told me to leave her alone or there’d be trouble.”
“Oh Jayne,” Kaylee could see where this was leadin’. She knew there was lots of behind stuff he still weren’t tellin’ her, but at least he was talkin’.
“Yeah – oh Jayne is right.” Unconsciously Jayne stroked her hair.
“Bein’ me I didn’t listen and went right on seein’ her, had fights with her brother; punched him out more than once. Then one night the hun dan and some of his friends decided to burn our house down with us in it. If Misty hadn’t woke Mattie up everybody woulda died. All cause I was stupid and didn’t look after my own family proper.”
Kaylee heard the echo of Jayne’s words from their talk in the infirmary, hell I couldn’t even look after ya proper down there. Did that mean he thought of her as family – as somethin’ special? She’d think about that later; right now she needed to reassure him.
“That weren’t yer fault.” Kaylee frowned at him and cuddled closer, “’n’ I bet yer Ma didn’t think so either.”
She patted Jayne’s arm soothingly, surprised to feel him tense up beneath her hand.
“Jayne?” Kaylee glanced up swiftly and saw his blue eyes darken. “Jayne?” she whispered.
Prompt #22 Hope
Author: Bookaddict
Characters: Jayne/Kaylee, Crew, OCs
Rating: PG13
Word count: 1465
Comments: Comments: a collaboration between
squish_67 and myself. Prompt table and previous chapters here. Thanks to bookishtype for the banner. I'm sooo unsure about this chapter - please tell me what you think??Jayne unhooked the climbin’ frame from the ceilin’ and stuck it in the bag with the bone-knitter and cat toys. He figured Mr Bevis could probably use them. He looked at the little cat curled up on his bed and petted her gently. “Gotta go now girl.”
He guessed he would miss the little critter a bit after all, she’d been good company and she’d looked after Kaylee real good the last few days. Those two were gonna miss each other like crazy.
*********************
“Lonely and sad, missing the companionship.” River sat down next to Inara on the couch. “No judgement there, just friendliness.”
“The kitten?” Inara asked.
“River’s attached to the creature.” Simon sighed, “and is missing it already.”
Though he could now understand some of his sister’s and Kaylee’s attachment. The little creature had been very well behaved in the infirmary and had certainly bought comfort to Kaylee.
“If Jayne hadn’t bought it on board she wouldn’t be missing anything.” The Captain started his complaint but was interrupted by Kaylee entering.
“Cap’n we’re goin’ now. We’ll be back in time.” She promised and paused in the doorway.
“Blamin’ Jayne for Misty ain’t right. She snuck on board herself, and when I found her I asked Jayne to hide her.”
“That so?” Mal huffed. “Well he should’ve said no.”
“He were just helpin’ me out Captain and I bet even ya wouldn’tve said no.” Kaylee whirled out the door, still angry with him.
“The girl has a point sir. Every male on the boat does what Kaylee wants; Jayne more so than anyone.”
“Not everyone,” the Captain protested.
“Everyone,” Simon nodded.
“I knew about the cat early on Captain. But Kaylee persuaded me to stay silent.” The Shepherd smiled. “That girl makes it hard to say no to her. I really think that you’ll have to let the blaming go this time.”
“It’s not fair.” Mal grumbled. “I want to blame somebody.”
“Don’t worry Mal.” Inara smiled at him with deceptive sweetness. “I’m sure there will be other situations where you can blame others for it going wrong.”
*********************
He could see Kaylee gettin’ tenser and tenser with every step they took. She were shiverin’ too. Just like last time.
Jayne frowned. His little girl shouldn’t be shiverin’; he’d borrowed Zoe’s warmest coat for her and made sure she put it on. She’d laughed at him then, put the kitten in the pocket and her face had lit up like old times. But the smile had died and the closer they got to the machine shop, the more worried Kaylee got.
She’d got real quiet too and since it weren’t the comfortable quiet they used to have together, it worried him. To distract them both Jayne asked, “what’d the Doc say ‘bout yer eyes?”
“There’s no secrets on this ship.” Kaylee sighed. She hadn’t wanted Jayne to know, to worry ‘bout her, feel guilty for what happened.
“Everyone is just real worried ‘bout ya is all.” Jayne risked lookin’ into her beautiful eyes. “The Doc never had a chance at keepin’ secrets, ‘n ya didn’t see Misty jump up the other day…”
Everyone was worried ‘bout her? Was Jayne? He was probably gonna blame himself when he heard this, Kaylee sighed.
“Simon did some more tests. My right eye is real good, no problems, my left eye – I can see things fine straight ahead.” She hurried on, “but ain’t seein’ too good to the side. But Simon says even that’s improved some, and maybe it’ll right itself given time.”
Jayne was silent for a moment. He could tell from the way she was talkin’ that Kaylee was worried some ‘bout that, but there was somethin’ else troublin’ her too.
“What if I can’t take care of Serenity properly?” Kaylee almost whispered. “My girl needs lots of care. What if the Captain decides he needs a better mechanic?”
“There ain’t no better mechanics and the Captain knows it.” The man thought Kaylee was wonderful – he’d never let her go. “Ya look at the engine straight on don’t ya?”
“Yes,” she frowned at him.
“Then stop worryin’. I already told ya that I ain’t gonna let anythin’ happen to ya.” Though he knew he shouldn’t, Jayne put a comfortin’ arm round her shoulders and ignored the memories of her body in his arms.
“I used to know a fella had the same sorta problems with his eyes ya got. I could teach ya how to cope with it if ya like?”
“That’d be great Jayne.”
*********************
“Mr Bevis!”
Kale jumped up at the sound of Kaylee’s voice. “Miss Kaylee.” He rushed over to hug and look over her, “I’m so glad to see you on your feet.”
“Yer bone-knitter helped with that.” The girl smiled at him. “Jayne’s got it here for ya.”
“I’m glad I could help.” Kale said sincerely. “You’re one of my favourite customers you know.”
“I know and the Captain said I could get a couple of new parts too.”
“I’ve got something here I’m sure you could use.” He bustled off behind the counter.
“Shiny.”
“Kaylee,” Jayne said. He hated to interrupt her happy times. “Ya know we can’t be too long.”
Kaylee’s smile faltered for a moment. “I won’t be long. I promise.” She turned back to look at the parts her friend was spreadin’ on the counter and pulled the kitten out of her pocket. “Mr Bevis – I bought Misty back for ya.”
*********************
Kaylee had cried when they left, huggin’ the kitten goodbye fiercely. Mr Bevis had been nice to her, askin’ her to come back and visit anytime. Misty hadn’t helped matters by runnin’ after them to the door and mewin’. Even Jayne had got a bit of a lump in his throat (it was probably just a hairball) and he’d had a hard time gettin’ Kaylee away at all. At least leavin’ the kitten distracted them both from memories of what had happened before and that part hadn’t been hard at all.
Tryin’ to keep from cryin’ again, Jayne guessed, Kaylee had talked all the way back to the boat. She’d told him lots ‘bout her childhood and asked him lots of questions. He avoided answerin’ like usual and followed her up to the engine room when they finally got back.
He was sittin’ watchin’ her now as she installed one of the parts she’d got from her friend. It coulda been done tomorrow, but he figured Kaylee needed to keep herself busy and of course she were still talking…
“Did yer Misty look anythin’ like ours did?”
There was that ours again.
“It were my fault.” Jayne hadn’t meant to say that; but Kaylee’s questions ‘bout his Misty had bought back memories and suddenly he wanted to talk. Wanted to tell her somethin’ ‘bout him.
“What was?” Kaylee looked up at Jayne swiftly, startled at the quickly covered pain in his voice.
“The fire at our house.”
Jayne was finally talkin’ to her. Sayin’ somethin’ personal, lettin’ her in, there was real hope for their friendship yet. Kaylee sat up and moved over closer to him, restin’ her head against his shoulder.
“Why was it yer fault?”
“Me and one of the local girls got real close. Close for kids of fourteen and fifteen anyway.”
“Crushin’ on her, were ya?” Kaylee asked.
“In the worst way.” Jayne agreed. “Her daddy was pretty big news in town and her brother had tickets on himself. They didn’t like us goin’ out together. The brother pushed me around some and told me to leave her alone or there’d be trouble.”
“Oh Jayne,” Kaylee could see where this was leadin’. She knew there was lots of behind stuff he still weren’t tellin’ her, but at least he was talkin’.
“Yeah – oh Jayne is right.” Unconsciously Jayne stroked her hair.
“Bein’ me I didn’t listen and went right on seein’ her, had fights with her brother; punched him out more than once. Then one night the hun dan and some of his friends decided to burn our house down with us in it. If Misty hadn’t woke Mattie up everybody woulda died. All cause I was stupid and didn’t look after my own family proper.”
Kaylee heard the echo of Jayne’s words from their talk in the infirmary, hell I couldn’t even look after ya proper down there. Did that mean he thought of her as family – as somethin’ special? She’d think about that later; right now she needed to reassure him.
“That weren’t yer fault.” Kaylee frowned at him and cuddled closer, “’n’ I bet yer Ma didn’t think so either.”
She patted Jayne’s arm soothingly, surprised to feel him tense up beneath her hand.
“Jayne?” Kaylee glanced up swiftly and saw his blue eyes darken. “Jayne?” she whispered.
