Inferno – Chapter Four

I don’t own Firefly, and I don’t get paid for this. But it’s so much fun.

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True to his word, the fuel tech got Companion next. Jayne was waiting when the man hauled around to the ramp.

“This ain’t gonna get you in trouble, right?” Jayne asked.

“Nah,” the man smiled tiredly. “Most folks, when they hear, ‘eleven hour backlog’, just say to wake’em when we get to’em. They’ll never know the difference.”

“Okay, then,” Jayne nodded, and turned to Kaylee. “All yours,” he smiled.

“Thank you, Jayne,” Kaylee whispered, and Jayne winked. “Come on around this way, sir,” she said to the tech, and with that Jayne was alone on the ramp.

“Jayne,” he heard Zoe’s voice behind him. Okay, he wasn’t alone. He turned.

“We’re taking fuel,” he said neutrally.

“We need to get some things straight, Jayne,” Zoe told him, and Jayne shrugged.

“No, we don’t,” he replied. “You’re the Captain, and you don’t want me doing anything that ain’t your idea. I got that. And I won’t be. So we’re straight.”

“Jayne, I don’t need this attitude, not right now,” Zoe shot back in exasperation.

“Zoe, I ain’t gave you any attitude,” Jayne kept his calm. “All the attitude I’ve seen is coming from you. What I can’t figure out is why.”

“I don’t like you making off and doing things on your own, without checking with me first,” Zoe told him sternly.

“I already told you, just now, you got nothing to worry about on that score. I won’t be ‘making off and doing’ anything in the future. When you want something done, you’ll tell me, and I’ll do it. Otherwise, I’m just here, hanging out.” Jayne held his hands up in a gesture of peace.

“Jayne,” Zoe warned, and that was the last straw for Jayne.

“What!” he demanded, fist balled in anger. “What is it? We’re on a tight schedule, trying to get to Kaylee’s folks before they fall victim to whatever’s left to hit the place! I saved us nine hours on fueling time, with a few kind words, and got some good information in the meantime. Do I hear, ‘good work, Jayn