Past, Present and Future

Wash had maneuvered them to land perfectly, which meant in an area that Serenity could easily be hidden. Once Mal gave the signal the rest of the crew would spread out and see what they could find. He and Kaylee would stay with the ship to make the constant necessary repairs that had been postponed when they found Cassidy. Her story had spread fast among the crew, they didn’t have much privacy amongst themselves when it came to their personal lives and Jayne was no exception so their interest in her only expanded. True, she was paying them handsomely for the job but that wasn’t why even Book and Inara were in on the proceedings. No, now that they knew enough of the story, all of them were determined to help in whatever way they could.

Cassidy lead the way, this place didn’t really hold good memories for her—the understatement of the century. However, she felt far more stable coming than when she had been leaving and she didn’t want to admit that it was because she felt the strong presence of Jayne and his companions beside her.

Destiny was a shady planet to say the least and the area she had guided them to was likely the worst. Mal, in all his honesty, tried to demand that she and Inara stay with the ship but Cassidy had a fighting spirit and had to see it through, Inara was another thing altogether. She felt a kinship with Jaynes wife and didn’t want to leave her. That meant that Mal spent most of the time trying to dirty her appearance up some and glaring at anyone within touching distance of the companion.

“I understand how this crew works only partly,” Cassidy said to Inara turning from Jayne while trying to feign ignorance of his large presence keeping everyone in the city at bay. They knew everything about her and she felt it was time that they returned the favor. “I understand some of the relationships but I don’t understand your part here or Rivers.”

Inara was startled, comprehending for the first time exactly how much of their experiences Cassidy was new too. Rivers story wasn’t hers to tell so she just explained that Simon and her were siblings with a long history and that she needed Simons medical help. When it came to herself though she was frank, “I am a companion and despite what you might hear on Serenity I do not whore.”

Cassidy’s eyes widened, “wow, I mean I’ve never met one before…I’ve heard and honestly never really understood, but now that I’ve met you I see the marked difference between the likes of you and the, um, others back where I’m from that aren’t registered” she paused trying to phrase the next part just right, “I don’t understand how someone would want to do your job, but maybe you’ll explain it to me someday?” She whispered. Inara was so pleased that she didn’t think her job repulsive and only had open curiosity she didn’t notice Jayne eavesdropping, but she did notice him grab Cassidy’s arm to pull her away for a word.

“Why do you want to know about what Inara does Cass?”

She looked up at him and decided to be honest, “because I understand that there is enjoyment enough for women like her to seek that career, and I don’t understand it. From my experience that is foreign concept to me.” She left him in his confusion to have a word with Mal.

“Don’t worry Jayne,” Inara said with no small amount of sarcasm, “I’ll not sully her with my ‘whore’ ways. Give her the freedom to ask her questions.”

Looking at the companion Jayne couldn’t let his question go unasked, “are you going to…you know, show her?”

Inara was more than intrigued with that question. Where did Jaynes feelings lie, was it simple curiously to help with his solo time in his bunk or was that a tinge of jealousy in his eye?

“Jayne, we have both learned the hardships she has endured so I don’t see how you could ask me that but, regardless, why do you care?”

“She’s my wife.”

“If I’m not mistaken you have had plenty of others besides her, why at Mandy’s alone…”

“That’s not the point!” Jayne was getting upset and he couldn’t express his frustration.

“I don’t think you understand that the physical injures she has endured may not compare to the pain of the heart, it is a shame that she can’t even turn to her husband for comfort—to remind her that lovemaking isn’t a thing of pain,” an old thought shook her, “wait, unless you only added to that image in her head.” She didn’t want to believe Jayne would act so cruelly to his wife but Simon had said some of the scars were old…but just how old?

“I never touched her like that!” His rage at the thought leaked into his voice.

Relieved, Inara misunderstood and took that to mean that he just wasn’t violent in the bed, not like they never shared one like he meant. He was already insulted that she would think that he would hurt Cass, hell even thinking about what was done to her made his fist clench in inexpressible fury.

Inara shook her head and chose to remain silent, let the lug wonder and learn to appreciate the wife he has ignored for far too long. She never considered herself a matchmaker but she was a trained companion and knew when there was love between people. She didn’t want to believe Jayne and Cassidy to be a lost cause, surely even after everything they should be able to make it work. Then again, after seeing the confusion across Jaynes face, maybe she’s just too good for him.

Soon the group was lead to a dark building that looked completely unoccupied except for the two men guarding the door.

“This is it,” Cassidy paused further down on the other side of the street.

“Are those two one of the ones responsible?” Cassidy didn’t look to Jayne when she replied in the negative otherwise she would have noticed him pulling his gun.

“Well regardless, they’re in our way, maybe we can get some information from them.” After his statement Mal nodded to Zoe and they made quick work with the guards removing them from their posts and asking the necessary questions…and asking again. While they were busy, Inara watched to see if anyone was coming and Cassidy guided Jayne to the very room of her imprisonment.

Jayne wondered if she was even aware that she was breathing quicker and that her hands were trembling. He reached to grab her hand and move her to stand behind him and didn’t let go. She pointed to the door and they proceeded. It wasn’t occupied, in fact it looked exactly the way it did when she had last seen it and it caused her to stagger back…and hit the wall of Jayne who had instantly moved to support her and remind her that she wasn’t alone.

“This it?” he whispered.

There was the table and chairs and on the far side and the ring on the floor that she had been tied to. “I was there,” she pointed.

He followed her finger to the ring chained to the floor and held his breath trying to pretend that she meant the table and chairs next to it but knew otherwise. She wasn’t a guest, she was kept a prisoner. He asked what he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to, “where was Evan?”

She glanced up, hoping that the visual as well as physical proof that she wasn’t alone would help keep the tremors from her voice, “safe…away.”

Her expression made him want to hit something but he couldn’t since there was no one to focus his anger on. “Why aren’t they here Cass?”

“I’m early, but I thought they would be here anyways, I still have a week until I was supposed to meet them.” She talked like she was in a trance and that was exactly the way she felt so she forgot her hesitation for a moment, “I was terrified Jayne, I still am. I don’t think I can ever think about it without feeling so scared. I know that makes me a coward but I never wanted to come back here, I never wanted to face them again.”

“You’re no coward Cass.” He was never good with words but that never bothered him before that moment. He wanted to say something comforting but was at a loss. Fists always talked for him to help him through tough situations before, now his large hands proved inadequate. “Hell, you’re here now aren’t you?”

Her mind was working at a snails pace, always had in this place. She just wanted Evan back, she wanted to hold him in her hands again, she wanted them to be safe. Following Jayne out of the room that held so many bad memories for her she wondered, again, if that would ever be possible.