Title: That Which Shapes A Man

Chapter Two: How It Was

Author: mercsgoodgirl

Disclaimer: All belongs to Joss. Just one woman’s take on the story. No money exchanged and all that.

Characters: Jayne/crew, ofc, omc, some Jayne/Kaylee – consider it my AU if you have issues with the pairing/timing

Setting: Just prior to “Those Left behind”; also, twenty-eight years previously.

Warning: PG-15 for strong language, angst and violence.

Word Count: 3,423

To read the previous chapter, click on my name, above.

A/N: From the first time I watched Firefly, I wondered what circumstances might have shaped the character of Jayne Cobb, an exceptionally complex man. The given name “Jayne” was a common variant of “John” in Victorian England. This story emerged from the questions I asked.

Thanks to my excellent beta, ArtemisPrime, for making me dig deep. Also, to my dear friend Kristy Bartley, Ph.D., psychologist and therapist, who introduced me to the amazing work on intergenerational family dynamics done by Dr. Terrance Real and gave me insights into the forces that might have created the character we see.

Questions, thoughts and comments are sincerely appreciated. Thanks!

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Chapter Two: How It Was

“Hey, Kaylee.” Wash sticks his tousled head through the engine room doorway. “Got any idea when the others are due back on board?” His voice is unusually clipped and tight, the sound different enough from his usual playful tone that Kaylee quickly looks up from her work.

The mechanic is elbow-deep in Serenity’s main engine compressor. With an unconscious gesture, she pushes a stray lock of hair out of her eyes, smearing graphite across her forehead. “Don’t got no idea. Whenever they finish pickin’ up supplies an’ our post, I ‘magine.” She puts her wrench in the toolbox and begins to clean her hands on an old towel. “What’s up?”

The ginger-haired pilot steps over the door casing,