Title: That Which Shapes A Man

Chapter Seven: Back to Sunderland

Author: hisgoodgirl

Disclaimer: All belongs to Joss. Just one woman’s take on the story.

Characters: Jayne/Kaylee, Mal – consider it my AU if you have issues with the pairing or timing

Warning: PG-15

Setting: About the time of “Those Left behind”

Word count: 1,945; chapter seven 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 ArtemisPrime for beta. Italics represent internal dialogue, emphasis, Chinese phrases. Reader comments are sincerely appreciated.

*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*~~~~*

Chapter Seven: Back to Sunderland

As she often does, Kaylee awakens early. Jayne’s dead to the world, sprawled out flat on his back and snoring like a freight train. She’d spent a futile half-hour clinging to the edge of the futon once they lay down, then gave up and curled up on the deck with a spare blanket and pillow. It was not a pleasant night.

The mechanic studies the large form that occupies her bunk. No way he’s gonna be gettin’ up any time soon, she reasons and quickly dresses, grabs her flip flops and quietly climbs out of her bunk, closing the hatch. Guess I’ll go grab some tea an’ git to work on tunin’ up m’ girl and fixin’ that rickety pump.

***

Jayne wakes up cold and alone. His head feels like someone has packed it with wet wool and broken glass. His tongue’s stuck to the roof of his mouth and tastes atrocious. The bunk under him feels all wrong and he slowly opens blurry eyes to find himself looking up at Kaylee’s exuberant pink party dress.

“ Gou zao de! What th’ hell?” he mutters. He slowly sits up and groans at the throbbing pain in his head and battered right hand. “Gu