Title: That Which Shapes A Man

Chapter Title: The Bearer of Bad News

Author: hisgoodgirl

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

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

Warning: PG-15 for strong language, violence. May be too intense for sensitive readers.

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

Word Count: 2,877. Chapter three of thirteen.

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, and 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.

Italics represent internal dialogue, emphasis, Chinese phrases.

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

Questions, thoughts and comments are sincerely appreciated. Thanks!

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That Which Shapes A Man

Chapter Three: The Bearer of Bad News

Kaylee settles herself cross-legged at the foot of Jayne’s bunk, grabs his hands and pulls him down beside her. The merc’s big body is half-turned, his back against the old pillows shoved against the headboard, one knee crooked towards the girl. His space is a curious mixture of mess and order, weapons carefully secured and ammo boxes neatly stacked, clothing and magazines flung willy-nilly.

He leans forward, brows knurled with concern, covers Kaylee’s grubby little hand with his big one and finds she’s trembl