“Again,” River commanded, her arms hanging causally at her sides. Jayne grunted, then curled up his fist and aimed for her head. With all the speed he could muster, he swung back his arm and punched foreword. She easily sidestepped, dropped to the ground, and brought her leg up at his feet. Barely realizing what was happening; he tripped on her leg, and fell to the mat. Grinning, she jumped on top of him and pretended to pin his arms down.

“Gotcha!” she yelled, triumphantly. “prisoner must now obey his captor.” Jayne grunted into the mat, trying his best to sound disappointed.

“Aww…you cheated,” he said, feeling a small grin spread across his face. River frowned, indignantly.

“did not. Rules did not specify against the use of medial malleolus to take down opponent.”

“Huh?” Jayne grunted, confused.

“I could use my leg,” she explained, and felt humor from him.

“So, what are ye planning on doin to me, now that you’ve caught me?” he asked, a grin on his face as he turned his head. River put on a sly smile.

“must go to bed without food…and can have no one to keep you warm in your bed.” Jayne frowned.

“Aww, that ain’t fair!” he protested loudly. River spread her legs out across him and lowered herself down so that she was laying on his back. Jayne grinned. “That ain’t fair,” he repeated with a sly grin of his own, “I gotta have food!”

River let out a gasp, feigning indignation, and started to get up, but Jayne rolled suddenly and pulled her to where she was under him. He put one hand on the mat to steady himself, and the other he put firmly, but gently, on her stomach, as he gazed at her eyes. She found herself having to draw deeper breaths as she stared back into his eyes. She didn’t need to touch his mind to know how he felt...but what that feeling was, he wasn’t sure about. And she wouldn’t start anything that he wasn’t sure about.

“Jayne? What in the spicter’ hell you doin on my pilot?” came the Captain’s voice as he walked beside them, and stopped. Jayne jumpe