River’s hands never shook.

Jayne was grateful, sure. But also scared as hell.

He turned his head, trying to catch sight of the action going on behind him, “You sure you can do this?”

She slapped his ass. “No moving.”

He scowled at Kaylee who sat on the table against the wall, her hair pulled back from her face. “This is all your fault.”

“My fault?” She grinned, “River designed it.”

“Whole thing was all your idea.” He could feel the girls exchanging a look over his back and he shifted. River smacked him again. “Hey!”

“No moving.”

At least now his ass stung on both sides. Almost took away some of the pain on his shoulder.

“Don’t go blamin’ me, Jayne. It was your idea, I only managed a way to do it.” Kaylee smiled, “I think it‘s sweet.”

“Ain’t supposed to be sweet,” he grumbled and rested his chin on his arm, deciding that the bed in the infirmary was much less comfortable when he was laying on his stomach.

“He would approve.” River told him softly. The confidence in her voice calmed him more than the words. If anyone would know, it was her.

A comforting silence fell about the room after that. He could feel the girl leaning against his side, the soft material of her dress letting her warmth bleed in through his skin where she touched him.

Best not to be thinkin’ about that, he had to remind himself, focusing on the numbing pain at his shoulder blade instead.

He was having to remind himself more and more often.

“She doesn’t mind.”

The words were so quiet, he wasn’t sure he heard them with his ears or his brain. “She should.”

“Doesn’t.”

“What are you two mumblin’ about?” Kaylee interrupted.

Good to know River‘s powers were limited to readin‘ his mind and not talkin‘ to it.

“Jayne likes me.”

He jerked on the bed, raising his voice, “Gorram it, Girl! I do not!” She hit him hard enough to feel the imprint of her hand on his ass. “Hey! That hurt!”

“She said not to move.”

“You keep doin’ that, might start to think ya like it,” He retorted.

Kayl