Unexpected: Chapter thee
Feb. 5th, 2007 10:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bookaddict43Title: Unexpected: Chapter three
Author: Bookaddict
Characters: Zoe/Jayne, crew, OCs
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: Firefly and all its characters are the property of Joss Whedon
Word count: 1520
Comments: a collaboration between![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ceslas and myself. Previous chapters here.
“Gorramnit Mal!” Jayne leant over the Captain’s prone body and grabbed the wheel. “Why’d ya have to get shot?”
Clamberin’ into the front seat he risked a look behind him and sighed with satisfaction. His last shot must’ve finished their opposition off. No-one was followin’ them yet and that was good. But Patience would regroup soon, he needed to get back to the ship and get back fast.
Mal was awfully silent and that was worryin’. Usually when he got hurt, the Captain cursed and whined enough for fifty injuries. The fact that he weren’t doin’ that now, that Jayne could see the ever widenin’ pool of blood on the floor of the mule, was a matter of concern.
“Girl!” he barked into the comm. unit. “Open the door.”
“Entrance already open and medical aid requested.”
“Good.” Jayne steered the mule over a rise and spied Serenity, door open waitin’ for them. “How long…?”
“Ten minutes, Inara has taken the shuttle.”
“Great.” Ten minutes weren’t bad compared to the hour it’d take if they had to walk to go fetch the doc, but he didn’t know if it were short enough. Mal was lookin’ real pale and he hadn’t woken up at all. Pullin’ the mule to a halt in the cargo bay, Jayne jumped down and went round to pick up the Captain.
“Infirmary is prepped.” River appeared at his side. “Simon is boarding the shuttle.”
“Zoë?”
“Inara will bring Simon here and then go and find Zoë.”
“Good,” Jayne lay Mal on the bed and started to cut his shirt off. He needed Zoë to be here to do his thinkin’ for him. To take charge and make decisions, he weren’t much good at that.
“Guns coming,” the girl warned.
“Patience with them?” Jayne had long since got used to River’s prediction skills. Havin’ her around meant usually things went little easier.
“Wants to show her superiority, keep control of all. They will arrive two minutes and forty-five seconds before the shuttle.”
Jayne snorted and looked down at Mal and the bullet hole close to his hip bone. “Yer the same blood type ain’t ya?” At the girl’s nod he continued, “hook yerself up then and I’ll go out and get rid of our guests.”
**************
“I enjoyed that,” Zoë sat back, replete.
“What you don’t like protein cakes?” Nisham teased.
“Even less when I remember food like that,” Zoë nodded at her plate. The dessert had been rich and interesting, same as the conversation between them. Her doubts were a lot quieter now; Nisham was good company and she wanted to see him again. See what could be arranged. “I’ve had a good time,” she was direct as always, “maybe we could do it again?”
“Yes,” he nodded and smiled his slow smile, looking at her appreciatively “I’d like that. If we check our flight plans we could make it sooner rather than later.”
“Are you flirting with me?” Zoë felt a mite giddy at the thought. Things were moving more quickly that she anticipated, but she was liking it.
“Would I do that?” Nisham grinned and clapped a hand to his chest.
“I think you would,” her throaty chuckle had him tied up in knots immediately. But her eyes had strayed and face tightened as a woman hurried up to their table. “Inara?”
“Mal’s been shot, badly Simon says. Jayne sent me to get you.” Inara had lost her customary poise and was looking rattled. “I’ve got the shuttle not far away.”
“I’ll come,” Nisham answered Zoë’s apologetic look and stood to join her. “You might need some help.”
She nodded as they walked swiftly to the door. “Would you fly the shuttle? I’d like to sit with Inara and keep her company.”
“I can do that. I’ll call The Valiant too and tell them to be ready just in case.”
She was grateful for that and grateful for the man’s good sense and grace under pressure. He was obviously a good man to have around in a crisis.
**************
“What the hell?” Nisham muttered as they flew low over Serenity in preparation for docking.
“Jayne took exception to them trying to come on board,” Inara explained as she and Zoë looked through the glass at the bodies littering the landscape.
“Is that Patience?” The second in command leaned further forward, “he killed Patience? What in di yu happened out there?”
“I don’t know,” her friend blinked back tears. “River jumped up and said that Mal was shot and to get Simon. I just jumped in the shuttle and flew. I was only here long enough to let the others off before coming to get you. Everything else has been relayed to me.”
Zoë clasped her friend’s hands to steady her. It’d taken a long time for the Captain and Inara to come together. It would be so unfair for them to loose each other now. “You did real good. Now we can both go and see what Simon has to say.”
**************
Zoë walked into the dining area and sat down wearily at the table. She nodded gratefully to Jayne when he handed her a cup of coffee. “Mal?”
“Still holding his own,” she answered. “Simon says he’s turned the corner.”
She took a sip of coffee and relaxed slightly. This was the first time in nearly a day that she’d sat down and the stress and worry lightened for a moment. The bullet had hit the Captain in the lower back and ploughed through his body, exiting at the front. On its way through it had played havoc with his innards and the blood loss alone could have killed him.
“The blood loss would’ve killed him before Simon even got to him. It’s down to you he’s still with us.”
Jayne shrugged uncomfortably, “just did what needed doin’. The girl would’ve thought of it anyway.”
“Maybe,” Zoë left the subject. Jayne never did like getting sincere compliments, they just unsettled him. “What happened anyway? Was Patience fractious?”
“She done like always, exceptin’ she didn’t waste any time pretendin’ that she was co-operating. They started shootin’ before Mal even opened his mouth.” Jayne shook his head frownin’, “there was twice as many men as usual. It was weird. Then they followed us! She ain’t never done that before.”
“She didn’t say anything?”
“Not a thing. No insults, no smart comments. Just shootin’ - they were for sure aimin’ to board Serenity.”
Zoe frowned. “Its not really in character is it?”
“Nope, but then folks ain’t always that predictable.”
Jayne watched her covertly as they drank silently. She’d shocked the hell outta him when he’d realised she’d been out with that Nisham. ‘Course it’d been nearly two years since the little man died and a woman like her would have needs. It just sorta shook him that’s all; over the last year he’d got used to her bein’ around. Thought they’d got to be friends. With Kaylee involved with the Doc and the Shepherd gone, he’d liked that.
“Well she’s dead now and I’m thinking we’ll have to avoid Whitefall for awhile. But we got other problems too.”
“What problems?” Jayne’s head jerked up.
“The bullet made a real mess of The Captain. Simon’s fixed everything, but some of the nerves were damaged real bad. If he wants to walk again, he has to stay immobile for three months.”
“Three months? The man can’t stay still for three hours. Gotta always be pokin’ his nose into everythin’.”
“That I know,” Zoe smiled wryly. “So we’ve made up a plan.”
“A plan?” Jayne asked, ignorin’ the fact he’d been left out of the loop again.
“We’re shipping the Captain off Serenity for the next few months.”
“He ain’t gonna go for that.”
“I know. That’s why we’re doing it while he’s still out.” She wasn’t too comfortable doing it this way, Mal would be mad as fire. But it had to be done if he were to recover at all. “Inara’s going to go with him for the duration, so we’ll be down two crew members.”
“Where they gonna go? It still ain’t that safe out there for old Independents.”
“Nisham’s home planet.” Zoë smiled as the man himself came in and sat next to her. “The folks there were neutral during the war and mostly practice non-violence. The Alliance only visit about once a year.”
“My mother’s a licensed holistic practitioner and will monitor Mal’s progress.” Nisham stretched tiredly, “that is she will once the Doctor satisfies himself that she’s capable.”
“We just gonna run off and leave them?”
“No Jayne,” Zoë said patiently. “Simon will keep in touch with Mrs Asgard and I’m hoping to line up some jobs close by.”
“Good,” Jayne grunted. “When do we get there?”
“It’s two days hard burn from here. Since the folks there are a mite clannish Nisham’s coming with us to make introductions.”
“Then I’m back to the Valiant and we go our separate ways.”
And that’d be a good thing Jayne thought as he watched them sittin’ there all comfortable like. He didn’t like the way Nisham had got Zoë’s trust so quickly.
Author: Bookaddict
Characters: Zoe/Jayne, crew, OCs
Rating: PG13
Disclaimer: Firefly and all its characters are the property of Joss Whedon
Word count: 1520
Comments: a collaboration between
ceslas and myself. Previous chapters here.“Gorramnit Mal!” Jayne leant over the Captain’s prone body and grabbed the wheel. “Why’d ya have to get shot?”
Clamberin’ into the front seat he risked a look behind him and sighed with satisfaction. His last shot must’ve finished their opposition off. No-one was followin’ them yet and that was good. But Patience would regroup soon, he needed to get back to the ship and get back fast.
Mal was awfully silent and that was worryin’. Usually when he got hurt, the Captain cursed and whined enough for fifty injuries. The fact that he weren’t doin’ that now, that Jayne could see the ever widenin’ pool of blood on the floor of the mule, was a matter of concern.
“Girl!” he barked into the comm. unit. “Open the door.”
“Entrance already open and medical aid requested.”
“Good.” Jayne steered the mule over a rise and spied Serenity, door open waitin’ for them. “How long…?”
“Ten minutes, Inara has taken the shuttle.”
“Great.” Ten minutes weren’t bad compared to the hour it’d take if they had to walk to go fetch the doc, but he didn’t know if it were short enough. Mal was lookin’ real pale and he hadn’t woken up at all. Pullin’ the mule to a halt in the cargo bay, Jayne jumped down and went round to pick up the Captain.
“Infirmary is prepped.” River appeared at his side. “Simon is boarding the shuttle.”
“Zoë?”
“Inara will bring Simon here and then go and find Zoë.”
“Good,” Jayne lay Mal on the bed and started to cut his shirt off. He needed Zoë to be here to do his thinkin’ for him. To take charge and make decisions, he weren’t much good at that.
“Guns coming,” the girl warned.
“Patience with them?” Jayne had long since got used to River’s prediction skills. Havin’ her around meant usually things went little easier.
“Wants to show her superiority, keep control of all. They will arrive two minutes and forty-five seconds before the shuttle.”
Jayne snorted and looked down at Mal and the bullet hole close to his hip bone. “Yer the same blood type ain’t ya?” At the girl’s nod he continued, “hook yerself up then and I’ll go out and get rid of our guests.”
**************
“I enjoyed that,” Zoë sat back, replete.
“What you don’t like protein cakes?” Nisham teased.
“Even less when I remember food like that,” Zoë nodded at her plate. The dessert had been rich and interesting, same as the conversation between them. Her doubts were a lot quieter now; Nisham was good company and she wanted to see him again. See what could be arranged. “I’ve had a good time,” she was direct as always, “maybe we could do it again?”
“Yes,” he nodded and smiled his slow smile, looking at her appreciatively “I’d like that. If we check our flight plans we could make it sooner rather than later.”
“Are you flirting with me?” Zoë felt a mite giddy at the thought. Things were moving more quickly that she anticipated, but she was liking it.
“Would I do that?” Nisham grinned and clapped a hand to his chest.
“I think you would,” her throaty chuckle had him tied up in knots immediately. But her eyes had strayed and face tightened as a woman hurried up to their table. “Inara?”
“Mal’s been shot, badly Simon says. Jayne sent me to get you.” Inara had lost her customary poise and was looking rattled. “I’ve got the shuttle not far away.”
“I’ll come,” Nisham answered Zoë’s apologetic look and stood to join her. “You might need some help.”
She nodded as they walked swiftly to the door. “Would you fly the shuttle? I’d like to sit with Inara and keep her company.”
“I can do that. I’ll call The Valiant too and tell them to be ready just in case.”
She was grateful for that and grateful for the man’s good sense and grace under pressure. He was obviously a good man to have around in a crisis.
**************
“What the hell?” Nisham muttered as they flew low over Serenity in preparation for docking.
“Jayne took exception to them trying to come on board,” Inara explained as she and Zoë looked through the glass at the bodies littering the landscape.
“Is that Patience?” The second in command leaned further forward, “he killed Patience? What in di yu happened out there?”
“I don’t know,” her friend blinked back tears. “River jumped up and said that Mal was shot and to get Simon. I just jumped in the shuttle and flew. I was only here long enough to let the others off before coming to get you. Everything else has been relayed to me.”
Zoë clasped her friend’s hands to steady her. It’d taken a long time for the Captain and Inara to come together. It would be so unfair for them to loose each other now. “You did real good. Now we can both go and see what Simon has to say.”
**************
Zoë walked into the dining area and sat down wearily at the table. She nodded gratefully to Jayne when he handed her a cup of coffee. “Mal?”
“Still holding his own,” she answered. “Simon says he’s turned the corner.”
She took a sip of coffee and relaxed slightly. This was the first time in nearly a day that she’d sat down and the stress and worry lightened for a moment. The bullet had hit the Captain in the lower back and ploughed through his body, exiting at the front. On its way through it had played havoc with his innards and the blood loss alone could have killed him.
“The blood loss would’ve killed him before Simon even got to him. It’s down to you he’s still with us.”
Jayne shrugged uncomfortably, “just did what needed doin’. The girl would’ve thought of it anyway.”
“Maybe,” Zoë left the subject. Jayne never did like getting sincere compliments, they just unsettled him. “What happened anyway? Was Patience fractious?”
“She done like always, exceptin’ she didn’t waste any time pretendin’ that she was co-operating. They started shootin’ before Mal even opened his mouth.” Jayne shook his head frownin’, “there was twice as many men as usual. It was weird. Then they followed us! She ain’t never done that before.”
“She didn’t say anything?”
“Not a thing. No insults, no smart comments. Just shootin’ - they were for sure aimin’ to board Serenity.”
Zoe frowned. “Its not really in character is it?”
“Nope, but then folks ain’t always that predictable.”
Jayne watched her covertly as they drank silently. She’d shocked the hell outta him when he’d realised she’d been out with that Nisham. ‘Course it’d been nearly two years since the little man died and a woman like her would have needs. It just sorta shook him that’s all; over the last year he’d got used to her bein’ around. Thought they’d got to be friends. With Kaylee involved with the Doc and the Shepherd gone, he’d liked that.
“Well she’s dead now and I’m thinking we’ll have to avoid Whitefall for awhile. But we got other problems too.”
“What problems?” Jayne’s head jerked up.
“The bullet made a real mess of The Captain. Simon’s fixed everything, but some of the nerves were damaged real bad. If he wants to walk again, he has to stay immobile for three months.”
“Three months? The man can’t stay still for three hours. Gotta always be pokin’ his nose into everythin’.”
“That I know,” Zoe smiled wryly. “So we’ve made up a plan.”
“A plan?” Jayne asked, ignorin’ the fact he’d been left out of the loop again.
“We’re shipping the Captain off Serenity for the next few months.”
“He ain’t gonna go for that.”
“I know. That’s why we’re doing it while he’s still out.” She wasn’t too comfortable doing it this way, Mal would be mad as fire. But it had to be done if he were to recover at all. “Inara’s going to go with him for the duration, so we’ll be down two crew members.”
“Where they gonna go? It still ain’t that safe out there for old Independents.”
“Nisham’s home planet.” Zoë smiled as the man himself came in and sat next to her. “The folks there were neutral during the war and mostly practice non-violence. The Alliance only visit about once a year.”
“My mother’s a licensed holistic practitioner and will monitor Mal’s progress.” Nisham stretched tiredly, “that is she will once the Doctor satisfies himself that she’s capable.”
“We just gonna run off and leave them?”
“No Jayne,” Zoë said patiently. “Simon will keep in touch with Mrs Asgard and I’m hoping to line up some jobs close by.”
“Good,” Jayne grunted. “When do we get there?”
“It’s two days hard burn from here. Since the folks there are a mite clannish Nisham’s coming with us to make introductions.”
“Then I’m back to the Valiant and we go our separate ways.”
And that’d be a good thing Jayne thought as he watched them sittin’ there all comfortable like. He didn’t like the way Nisham had got Zoë’s trust so quickly.
