Word Count: 6803

Rating: R for Violence

Spoilers: Series.

Author's Note:Many thanks to anjulie for her many hours of support, encouragment and beta help, and for listening to me whine and mope when I just couldn't write. :o)

I decided to try using the 'span' tag this time, so, place your mouse over the Chinese in the text for the translation, and many thanks for reading!

We're in the home stretch now, folks. Only the epilogue remains, coming soon, (I hope).

CHOICES – Part 13 D

by 2x2

Jayne approached the breach in the east wall of the compound cautiously, peering through the crumbling section for signs of trouble. Everything appeared calm from his vantage point – a good sign – though he could hear the sound of gunfire nearby.

”Looks clear, but keep your head down and don’t stop moving when we go in,” he said as he felt River come up behind him. “You stop movin’ and you’re dead, dong ma?”

“Easy target,” she agreed, and Jayne turned and gave her a guarded nod. Girl was creepifying at the best of times, he thought, but it was somehow even worse when she was all normal and competent like.

“Jus’ stay close ta me an’-- Hey! Gorramit girl, that’s mine!” he hissed as, faster than lightening, River ducked under his arm, snatched his pistol from its holster and curled away, graceful as a cat.

“Forty-four caliber, eight point nine inches long,” she said, examining the weapon intently. “Muzzle velocity, fourteen hundred feet per second. Muzzle energy, six-hundred eighty-seven pounds per foot.” She hefted it in her palm thoughtfully. “Fifty-three ounces--”

“Gimme that gorram gun!” Jayne growled, reaching for the pistol but River danced away, taunting the mercenary to follow, always just out of his reach until at last he was forced to give up. He shook his head with a mouthful of curses. “Ain’t got no time for this. Gorram fāfēng rén,” he grumbled

River stopped abruptly and regarded him solemnly. “She needs it,” she said,