The Last Spartan – Chapter Twenty-One

Author owns no right of any kind to Firefly nor it’s related characters. He writes for his own pleasure, uncompensated for his work.

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Jayne stood outside the door of River’s suite, unsure of himself for the first time

in longer than he could even recall. Finally, he screwed up his considerable courage, and opened the door.

River was nowhere to be seen in the sitting room, as he walked into the suite, closing the door softly behind him. He stood silently for a moment, listening carefully. He heard faint sobbing sounds emanating from the bedroom. He crossed the distance to the door in a flash but stopped short of opening the door. Instead, he knocked gently, his hand trembling.

“My Lady?” he called gently. “May I enter?” He heard a squeak from inside, and then the door flew open, and River was in his arms.

“Jayne, oh Jayne, I am so sorry,” River sobbed, squeezing him tightly, as if she feared he would run away. He wrapped one arm around her, and stroked her hair with the hand of the other.

“Don’t cry, my Lady,” he soothed gently. “I am the one who must apologize, not you. Despite my long years, I am nothing short of a fool. Please, forgive me my rashness, and my old and often foolish ways. Nothing was ever meant to hurt you, or cause you discomfort.”

“No!” she cried, though leaving her head buried in his chest. “No, Jayne, Janos my love, it was not you. It was never you, I was so stupid. All I could think of was the worst things, and not until you had gone that I realized what you had said, what you had done! And only then could I see how badly I must have wounded you! I am so sorry,” she sobbed again, her small body heaving with her tears.

“No more tears, my love,” Jayne replied. “Let us lay this behind us, once and for all time, that it never raises it’s ugly head between us again. I am so buried in the past that I oft forget that the times have long since passed me by.” He pulled her gently away far enough that he could see her face.

“I was