Shades of the Past – Prologue

Set two months after BDM

Jayne was sitting at the table in the galley, nursing a cup of tea, when River came drifting in. There had been a time when the mug would have smelled of whiskey, but no longer. After Book’s death, Jayne had opened a letter left for him on Haven, written by Book. It was to be opened in the event of Book’s death.

No one knew what the letter had said, but the changes in Jayne had been abrupt, to say the least. He no longer mouthed off to Mal, made fun of the doctor, or told raucous tales at the dinner table, nor elsewhere. Mal had commented more than once that Jayne scared him more now, than before.

Jayne had ignored the comments, just as he ignored the fact that the Doctor still treated him the same way, calling him ape, or ape-man, ridiculing Jayne’s lack of education and ‘low caste birth’. It apparently never occurred to the core-bred idiot that his insults hit home with Kaylee.

As a result, the little engineer no longer chased the good doctor, instead choosing to ignore him almost entirely. Jayne didn’t smirk, because he felt bad for Kaylee. And, truth be told, he was sorry she was suffering because of him.

“Can’t sleep, big man?” River’s voice floated across the room to him.

“Nah,” Jayne replied, a slight smile on his face. “Don’t know if it’s the medicine the Doc gave me for the shoulder or what, but I don’t sleep much lately.”

“Me as well,” the little assassin nodded. She fixed her own drink, and sat beside him at the table. Both drank and reflected in silence for a while.

“You know,” Jayne said suddenly, looking at the girl, “I reckon I never said thank you, River-gal, for what you did back there at Mr. Universe’s. I should have. I’m sorry you had to, but you saved us all. I’m beholden to you.” River’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she sensed nothing but sincerity from him. She shrugged.

“It isn’t like I can take credit for it,” she sighed softly. “It’s. . .it’s what they made me.” She took another sip of her tea.

“Whatever the w