Part 4

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Now that the ship was ready with the help of Inara’s whorin’ money (which Jayne liked to call it) they could head out. The ship was quite scary looking. Red paint that looked like blood was added. Kaylee and Wash messed with the engine so it would run funny like the other Reaver ships. Jayne even added a cannon to the top of it. It was the spittin’ image of all the other Reaver ships they had ever seen, and it kind of gave them all the creeps just by looking at it. They were on their way.

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It was nighttime and Jayne was unable to sleep. He had never been a big fan of the Reavers. They were the only things he ever remembered being afraid of. Sleeping in Reaver territory was something he was certainly unable to do. He just sat in the cargo area lifting weights trying to get his mind off of the fact that he was terrified as hell. He was still lifting when he heard one of the saddest sounds ever made. He walked towards the extra rooms and opened the door where the noise was coming from. It was River. She was sitting on the floor crying hysterically. Simon was in Kaylee’s bunk or he would have been in there tendin’ to her. Jayne was unsure as to what to do.

“Hey, girl,” he whispered.

She looked up at him tears rolling down her face.

“They’re screaming,” she sobbed.

He looked around. “I don’t hear anything.”

“I’m scared. It hurts. I don’t know…what…”

Jayne sat down next to the girl. “Would it make you feel safer if we stick together? I could stay here tonight if you want.”

“You’re scared too.”

He took this as a question rather than a statement. “Heck no, girl. I just want you to feel safe.”

She didn’t ask or state anything else. Instead he held her and she stopped crying. They awoke the next morning on her bed fully clothed but with an angry brother standing over them.

“What the hell are you doing?!?!”

“Hey, doc, what’s going on?”

“Get out of here, now!!!”

Jayne got up, stood up in front of Simon. He was