More Than Friends

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When it was all over and done, Higgins was left curled into a ball and sobbing helplessly as three of the Cobbs cleared the airlock of all equipment while Jayne paced like a caged animal on the catwalk outside Shuttle Two. Mal had thought it mighty fine of the man to allow him first crack at the double-crossing hundan, especially after it became apparent how enraged Jayne had been at the discovery of Kaylee’s mistreatment…he had high hopes of the couple’s reconciliation once they touched down on Haven, which was now only half an hour away. He had more experience than most men about the troubles of love, but appreciated the fact that the entire crew as well as the presence of his family was keepin’ the big man from speaking to Kaylee and keepin’ her away from him, though she seemed to be building a friendship with Mattie and the others. Girl always had a knack for makin’ friends, he thought with a smile that slipped from his face when Aden ducked through the hatch and called out to Jayne. “We’re ready if’n you are.”

Higgins let out a loud wail as Jayne reached down to grab his collar, dragging him along behind and purposefully making it as painful as possible. Zoë had left shortly after Jayne had begun to take out his anger on the other man and had taken Kaylee off with her, sayin’ that the mechanic had no need to see Jayne like that. Truth be told, it’d even made Mal nervous to watch it…he’d never seen the merc so focused on causing pain, though he couldn’t deny that the traitor deserved every bit of it. He doubted he’d ever seen anyone get beaten so bad and still keep breathin’, but Jayne had the knack of it and Mal made a mental note to never piss the man off that badly.

Jayne hurled the bruised and bloody Higgins over the door seal, calling for Kaylee who poked her head into the corridor cautiously. “You want a crack at him afore I toss him outside?”

Her jaw worked soundlessly, anger fillin’ her brown eyes as she stared down at Higgins who had the daring to reach up, beggin’ for mercy. “Think you’re askin’ the wrong person,” she hissed down at him before looking up at Jayne. “There any place he ain’t been hit yet?” Mal looked away as Jayne murmured something to her and she stalked up to the man who’d sold them all out to the Alliance; the heavy thump of a boot connecting to clothed flesh and Higgins’ inarticulate gargle of pain told Mal exactly where she’d placed her hit. “Shove ‘im outside,” she said, her voice tremblin’ as she backed up to bulkhead and crossed her arms over her chest. Mattie came up to put an arm around her that she shrugged off quick, her body all a-tremble as Jayne resumed dragging Higgins back to the airlock.

Ehren was quickly sent away but Kym and Sascha stayed put to watch, their blue eyes gleamin’ with vicious pleasure that Higgins would shortly get his reward; all the Cobbs (the new ones, anyhow) had taken immediately to Kaylee, thinkin’ of her as another sister. “You got any problems with me dealin’ with him, or do you wanna deal with him?” Jayne asked suddenly as he reached into a pocket for something and palmed the airlock door button open. He moved back in disgust as Higgins wet himself, shaking the man’s neck so hard with one big hand that Mal could hear a faint popping sound.

“Looks like you can handle this yourself,” the captain said, trying not to sound too alarmed when Jayne’s other hand emerged from his pocket holding a grenade.

The mercenary dragged Higgins onto the lip of the airlock’s door seal. “Open your mouth,” he instructed, holding up the grenade as if it were an apple or some such thing and simply forcing the frantic man’s mouth open when Higgins shook his head from side to side in refusal. Jayne held up the grenade before the man’s eyes, keeping one hand squeezing his jaw in a grip that was clearly painful. “See this?” he pulled the pin and inserted it into Higgins’ mouth, closing the man’s jaw and pinching his lips shut. “Keep your ruttin’ mouth shut an’ it ain’t gonna go off. You might just freeze to death out there…or you could open that mouth a’yours just like you did when you messed with my girl, an’ get your worthless head blown off. Your choice.” Standing, he kicked Higgins squarely in the chest and knocked him into the airlock before punching the button that started the outer door cycling open. The inner door hissed shut, the clamps engaging to keep the pressure from droppin’, and Jayne stood quietly to watch as Higgins was sucked out into the black.

They all started to walk back up to the bridge when the shock of the explosion rocked Serenity slightly, and Wash’s yell of alarm echoed in the corridors. “Mal? What’s going on, what was that? I just….oh my god, a body just hit the screen and- wait a minute, was that Higgins?” he finished in a shocked voice.

_ _ _ _ _ _


Jayne walked in silence back up to where Kaylee waited, arms wrapped around herself and shiverin’ as she watched him come up to her. “He gone?” she asked harshly.

He reached out and rubbed his hands up and down her arms to help warm her. “Yeah, he ain’t gonna be botherin’ anyone no more. You gonna be okay?” he asked, lookin’ down at her. She gave him a brave little smile and he lifted a hand to cup the side of her face – she leaned into the caress, rubbin’ her cheek against his palm and gorrammit, it made him want to kiss her right in front of everyone. He had to tell himself that soon as they landed on Haven, he’d chase the rest of ‘em off so he could talk to her; as it was, they were all hangin’ around lookin’ like it was all their gorram birthdays and ruttin’ Festivus rolled into one.

“Think so,” she said all soft, lookin’ up at him with those big eyes…

He swallowed hard and let go of her. “Well, then. That’s, uh, shiny.” He took off with Mattie hot on his heels, scowlin’ at him. “What? ”

“Whyn’t ya tell her how you feel? Gorram, ge ge – you gotta be the dumbest ox in the entire ‘verse an’ I just…”

“…gotta be stickin’ your teeny lil’ head in where it don’t belong! I ain’t puttin’ on no show for y’all,” Jayne yelled back, then felt like a chou wang ba dan when Mattie’s eyes widened and her lower lip pushed out like she was fixin’ to start wailin’. “Aw, c’mon…don’t be cryin’,” he said desperately.

He sighed and rolled his eyes when Mattie snickered and gave him a big smile. “Lord, ya fall for it every time,” she giggled. “Wash says we’re landin’, so hang on ta somethin’.” Then she went skippin’ off and Jayne just shook his head before bracing himself against the bulkhead with one hand as the ship started rattlin’ when they dropped through Haven’s atmo. Stabilizer was probably outta whack, he thought idly as he lifted an arm to sniff it cautiously…wouldn’t do to smell like a ruttin’ garbage heap when he was tryin’ to get close to Kaylee again, so he waited until Wash leveled ‘em out before droppin’ into the bunk that used to be his to wash up and change his shirt, which had some of Higgins’ blood on it.

Shepherd Book was waitin’ in the mine shaft like always and had a smile ready for all of ‘em, though his eyes got a bit big at the sight of Jayne’s family amblin’ down the ramp so Jayne quickly introduced his sister and brothers to his friend, with a quiet word of thanks for Book. “Couldn’t’ve got ‘em out ‘thout your help, Preacher Man.”

Book looked up at him with a slight smile. “Oh, I’m sure you would have found a way to rescue Kaylee.”

Jayne was taken aback. “But I ain’t never said nothin’ ‘bout-”

The older man patted his shoulder before turning to greet Mal. “You didn’t have to, son. Come to rest a spell, Captain?”

“For a bit; we’ve got the coin to pay, so no worries…”

Jayne ceased to listen as he looked around for Kaylee, who was fiddlin’ with somethin’ back up on the ship, and walked back up the ramp slowly to stop in front of her. “Um, Kaylee? I gotta go introduce Mattie an’ the others but I was thinkin’ that after, maybe we could...?”

She brushed a lock of hair from her eyes and looked up at him, bitin’ her lip. “Yeah, sure.” She didn’t look too happy ‘bout it, he thought worriedly as he nodded and left.

He tried not to rush through the introductions, but the feelin’ that had settled into his stomach was near to drivin’ him crazy. Somethin’ else is gonna go wrong, I just know it. Ah, Tien…what if she don’t want me no more? Help came from an unexpected source as Zoë tapped his arm. “I think you’ve got a girl to go talk to; I’ll make sure they don’t get into anything hazardous,” she said with a smile, and then gave him a shove. “Go.” He opened his mouth to thank her, but she gave him the look that made him shut up and do as he was told.

Kaylee was off by herself when he found her, sittin’ at a table and starin’ into her cup of ale. “Well, I s’pose we should get this over with,” she said sadly.

“What?” he asked, alarmed. “What’s that s’posed to mean? Kaylee?” He put a hand under her elbow and steered her onto one of the paths through the woods beside the main settlement. “Let’s go through here… ain’t as much folk hangin’ about to listen in.” When he judged that they’d gotten far enough away from any snoops, he dropped down onto a nearby tree stump. “What’s on your mind, Kaywinnit Lee?” he asked softly, prayin’ that she weren’t gonna give him the boot for good.

She paced back and forth in front of him, lookin’ down. “Jayne, I just…. What’s goin’ on with us? We used to be – and it was-” she stopped and faced him, takin’ a deep breath. “Each time I think ‘bout you, it’s like I can’t stop wantin’ you near…but when I see ya, somethin’ just goes wrong so I don’t say what I want an’ I never know what you’re thinkin’ on.” She started cryin’, but moved back when Jayne tried to reach for her hand. “I’d give just about anything to get ya back, but I don’t know if’n you want to so I don’t know what to say ‘ceptin’ that I love you an’ I should have spoken on it right away an’ I’m sorry I didn’t.” She dropped her head with a sniffle. “D’you think you could ever begin to love me again?”

Well, I ain’t never heard nothin’ so crazy. Jayne lifted a hand so the tips of his fingers brushed against hers. “Begin to love you? Oh, baby girl… I ain’t never stopped.”


_ _ _ _ _ _


Kaylee felt the breath leave her lungs with a whoosh as his words registered, and she looked up into his eyes…oh, Tien – he weren’t lyin’.

“Bao bei? Get your sweet self on over here…my arms been too long without ya.” He hooked his fingertips around hers, tuggin’ gently, and then she was in his arms. Wode Tian, it felt so good… she burrowed her face into the warm curve of his neck, breathin’ in his scent and exhalin’ all the tears she’d tried to keep inside while he’d been gone. Jayne pulled her onto his lap, big hands smoothin’ over her as he cuddled her close. “I love you so gorram much, xin gan…so, so much. I can’t do without you,” he murmured, voice thick with emotion.

Her hands grasped at the fabric of his shirt, her fists opening and closing helplessly as she sobbed into Jayne’s neck –the tremblin’ of his arms as he held her let her know that he felt the same way. When she’d cried herself out, he shifted her on his lap so he could kiss her tears away; she tilted her face up to him, feelin’ like each brush of his lips across her skin put her heart back together piece by piece until she was able to open her eyes an’ look at him. “Love you,” she whispered, bringin’ her hands up to trace her fingertips over his face. His arms tightened around her even more as he pulled her close again to rock her, tuckin’ her head under his chin – Kaylee closed her eyes and listened to the slow beating of his heart in that powerful chest, joy welling up sharp and threatenin’ to spill over into tears again. When he loosened his hold enough to duck his head and nuzzle her, she looped an arm around his neck and wriggled about to resettle herself on his lap before she pushed her fingers through his hair – well, what there was left of it after he’d hacked it off – and pulled him down. “Kiss me,” she ordered.

The sensation of his shadow beard rubbin’ against her tickled as he smiled against her lips. “Yes’m.” Then he was kissin’ her so thoroughly she couldn’t hardly remember her own name – she moaned into his mouth when his tongue started teasin’ hers with that flickin’ thing he did so ruttin’ well, an’ then he was sucking on her bottom lip, lickin’ at the corners of her mouth… She molded herself to him as they kissed with greater urgency, hands startin’ to stray. “Kaylee,” he rasped, holdin’ her away from him with his chest heavin’. Even with only the moon shinin’ down on ‘em, she could see the look in his eyes – truth was, she weren’t much better than he was. “Bao bei, can we…?”

“You wanna right here?” She whimpered as he tilted her head back so he could lick from her collarbone to the tip of her chin. “Don’t think I can wait no more…”

Jayne pressed his lips against her throat, nippin’ at the sensitive skin lightly before he drew back. “Still too close…’sides, I been dreamin’ of havin’ you under me all this time – don’t want no one else around,” he panted. “I can get us through camp back to Serenity, whatcha think?”

The prospect of bein’ all alone with her man in her bunk sounded just fine to her, and she said so. She guessed she could wait just a bit longer, though it was near to killin’ her. Besides, her bunk had lights an’ she wanted to see all that she’d been missin’. He set her on her feet and got to his, though he ducked back down to kiss her again in a way that had her rarin’ to go and they had to break apart ‘fore things got too wild – she leaned against his chest to catch her breath before he caught her hand and started to lead her back to Serenity where they could enjoy true privacy. The miners were havin’ what looked like a real shiny party and time was when she’d’ve wanted to join in immediately, but she just grinned up at Jayne. We got our own party to be celebratin’.

They made it to Serenity without no one seein’ ‘em, just like Jayne’d promised and she was fit to burst by the time he closed up the hold, her hands shakin’ as she keyed in the code for her bunk. Kaylee wasn’t sure how she made it down the ladder, but the sound of the hatch closin’ had never been sweeter to her ears as Jayne slammed it shut and reached for her. “Nuh-uh, boy – lose that shirt first,” she warned, then stared wide-eyed in amazement as he pulled it off over his head quickly. All that time weldin’ on Silverhold and liftin’ whatever it was he’d been liftin’ had given him even more muscle than he’d had before – he was gorram huge. “Lord, what they been feedin’ you?” she asked, awe coloring her tone as she reached up to feel at him before frowning slightly. “You ain’t been keepin’ shaved, though.”

Jayne laughed and pulled her into his arms. “You got me here half nekkid an’ you’re complainin’ ‘bout my gorram chest hair?”

She giggled. “Sorry.” Her breath caught in her throat as one of his hands started to slide beneath her shirt again, the other goin’ between them to undo his belt and unzip his fly as he kicked off his boots. Kaylee eagerly helped push his pants from his hips as Jayne urged her back to the bed, his hands workin’ at her clothes.


_ _ _ _ _ _


Jayne stepped from the fabric ‘round his ankles, pullin’ at her top – he couldn’t wait to get her bare so he could kiss every sweet inch of her body. His urgency died back abruptly when her shirt came off and he saw the bruises she’d gotten from Higgins, feelin’ like a hundan for not rememberin’ she might not like him pawin’ at her while she was hurt. “Oh, qin ai de, did I hurt ya? Didn’t mean to, I just forgot,” he said, ashamed. Anger filled him and he wished he hadn’t made it so easy on Higgins – made him see red that anyone would want to hurt her.

“Bao bei, it’s fine…as long as ya don’t grab too hard, it don’ t hurt,” she protested, tryin’ to grab at him.

He could see the desperation in her eyes tellin’ him how much she needed him…he’d been almost too far gone to be cautious, but Jayne was glad he’d realized that he needed to take care – he coulda hurt her worse. “Don’t worry, baby girl; I’ll treat ya proper,” he promised, helpin’ her down on the bed and slidin’ her boots and coveralls off. His diao sure took notice of how fine she looked, all bare and wrigglin’ about on the blankets with her legs wide and welcomin’. Kaylee pushed herself to her elbows, starin’ at him like she hadn’t never seen him nekkid before and beggin’ real low an’ sweet… he ran his eyes over her, reachin’ down to palm his cock and stroke while he admired how meili his girl was. He stretched out over her and began to brush his lips over her skin, plannin’ to make this last as long as he could. Of course, she didn’t help none by feelin’ on him and whisperin’ how much she loved him… his eyes just about rolled up into his head when she cupped his balls and tugged gently, just how he liked it, but he moved her hand to less dangerous territory. “Plenty’a time for that later,” he murmured. “Just lay back an’ let me take care of you now.”

He kissed his way over her face, emotion wellin’ up inside as she started cryin’ silently – he knew how she felt. Oh, did he know. She tilted her head back as he nuzzled at her neck, movin’ down to place his lips carefully on her bruises and kissing down her belly to rub his cheek against the little strip of hair at the junction of her legs before kissin’ her there. Kaylee was makin’ soft little noises that sent a hook straight down into his nethers, but he kept up the slow pace he’d set all the way down both of her legs before flippin’ her over. His hands stroked her skin as he moved back up her body, placin’ a kiss on the tattoo on her lower back before he couldn’t take no more and rolled her over again to seal his mouth over hers hungrily and nudge her legs wider apart with one of his knees. “Jayne, please,” she sobbed frantically, buckin’ against him.

“I got ya, bao bei…don’t worry.” Jayne reached down to grab his jiba at the root, then rubbed himself over her entrance while she shook and gasped; a few more rubs against her and she was screamin’ out his name and Tien, he’d missed hearin’ her holler like that. He grasped her hips to tilt ‘em just enough so he could push inside as she was still squealin’… her cries just got louder as he slid into her slowly, bitin’ his lip at how tight an’ hot she was. “Wo ai ni, Kaylee…you… so… cao,” he swore as her muscles started clenchin’ around him.

Hell, there was no ruttin’ way he could hold back any longer – he’d give it to her slow an’ sweet later. Just now, he just needed to bury his cock in her as hard and as fast as he could; the bed slammed against the wall as he put it on her and she clawed at his back to urge him on, her voice risin’ up into a wail. “Jayne, I – ohhhhh, I…yes, yes yesyesyes - Jayyyyyyyyyyne! ” Her inner muscles clamped down hard just as he stiffened above her and thrust frantically before he threw his head back with a roar, grabbin’ her hips as he filled her belly with his seed. He collapsed onto her, breathin’ hard and shudderin’ like a fly stung horse as she stroked his back and sides with her small hands. Lord, he never wanted to move again…. “Baby? Baby, you’re kinda squishin’ me,” she whispered in his ear.

“Sorry,” he sighed, rollin’ off to one side. Kaylee made a sound of protest when he slipped from the warmth of her body, so he guided one of her legs over his hip and reached down to fit himself back inside before pullin’ her closer. “Wode Tian, but you make me crazy,” he muttered into her hair.

She giggled and peeked up at him. “You do a fair job at that your own swai self and I just – oh! Already? I know it’s been awhile but God A’mighty, Jayne Cobb!”

“Ain’t like I can help it,” he protested, tumblin’ her over onto her back again so that they stayed connected. “We got us some time to make up for, Kaylee girl.”

“Oh, well when ya put it like that….”

After their second mightily satisfyin’ tussle she lay on his chest as he stroked her back lovingly, unable to believe that they’d wasted so much time when they could’ve been here doin’ this. Jayne rubbed his head back into the pillows, sighin’ contentedly when the sudden rumble of her stomach was echoed by his, and they both laughed. “I guess we better show our faces out there; I saw food,” he said, reluctantly sittin’ up. Kaylee giggled at him again when his John Thomas started noticin’ her again, and he grinned ruefully. “Figures he wants another round when I don’t hardly got enough energy to do nothin’ ‘bout it.”

“Well, we still got food aboard Serenity,” she tempted with a wink.

“Let’s get to it, then.” Rollin’ out of bed, he grabbed her hand and pulled her up the ladder.


_ _ _ _ _ _


Kaylee laughed again as he towed her behind him in search of food, still mother-naked. “Hope no one comes along to get somethin’, they might just pass out from seein’ us runnin’ about nekkid,” she said, slappin’ her man’s pi gu playfully.

“I don’t give a rut what they see,” Jayne announced, reachin’ into a locker to pull out a protein pack. “Gorram, this all ya got? Not like I’ll be takin’ my time with it, but still…think this was here afore I came aboard the first time.” He shrugged and tossed it into the heating unit, turnin’ to eye her appreciatively as she perched on the counter beside him. Kaylee held out her arms to him and he walked into ‘em, nuzzlin’ her sweetly. “I love you,” he murmured, the words makin’ her cling even tighter.

“I love you,” she whispered back, snugglin’ against his chest to close her eyes and enjoy the feel of his arms around her. The heating unit dinged, but he made no move to let go so she didn’t, either. “Food’s ready.”

He snuffled against her hair. “Mmm-hmm.”

“You gonna get it out?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Sometime soon so’s we can eat?”

“Nnnnnngh,” he complained, makin’ her giggle and push at his chest. “Okay, okay… I’m gettin’ it….” He pretended to pout as he pulled the pack from the unit and rummaged around for a plate to dump it on before he set it on the counter and jumped up lightly to settle himself cross-legged in front of her. “Don’t tell Mal we was nekkid on the counter; he’ll never come in here again,” he snorted.

She leaned forward as he held out the fork to her, feedin’ her like he’d done so long ago when she’d hurt her hands. Jayne practically inhaled his half of the food as they took turns eatin’, so she teased him by takin’ her time and lickin’ her lips. She had no idea what the di yu they were actually eatin’, and didn’t really care… by the time the plate was clean, she was leanin’ forward and slippin’ a hand in his lap to stroke him back to attention. Not like he weren’t already rarin’ to have another go at her, she thought with pride. He tossed the plate aside and lifted her onto his lap as he stretched his legs out, holdin’ her in place as she reached down to direct him inside her ni yin. Then she leaned back and braced her hands on the edge of the counter, pushin’ down onto him while he pushed back up. Her moaned demands for “faster” were met with a goodly amount of obedient enthusiasm, and she quickly shuddered into a toe-curlin’ orgasm as he pumped into her.

“Aiya, baby girl – you’re fixin’ to kill me,” he teased. “Think I’ll be sleepin’ real good tonight.” Jayne helped her off the counter and wiped a rag over it quickly, sayin’ that he just knew River would say somethin’ if’n he didn’t clean up. “You feel like goin’ back out, or do ya wanna stay in?” he asked, wrappin’ her in his arms again.

Kaylee rubbed her hands over the muscled skin she so loved. “Don’t matter if’n I’m with you,” she said honestly. “But it’d just kill ‘em all if’n we showed up like nothin’ had been goin’ on.”

“You mean…?” His laugh rumbled against the ear she had pressed to his chest.

She grinned up at him. “Take me dancin’.”

tbc…
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A/N: Have a LiveJournal account? Come visit the Jaylee Shippers at http://community.livejournal.com/jaylee_ship/