Firefly, Serenity, and all related proprietary characters are the intellectual property of Joss Whedon and corporations with whom I have no affiliation. Said property does not belong to me, and the fictional story below is of my own creation. (I don’t own ‘em, just like to play with ‘em!)

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“Do? Jayne, I’m not sure there’s anyone, anywhere, who can make River better, Simon included.” Inara shifted Kaylee to sit up next to her on the bed, but Kaylee was unwilling to completely let go yet, so she ended up leaning her head on Inara’s shoulder. “However, I think it’s good that you would like to help. The two of you seem to be getting along better lately.”

“Feel bad is all. Ain’t right what they did to her.” Jayne’s voice had softened some with that last admission. “Is it bad that I’m glad she can do all that stuff? Ya know, back there in that room… we were gonna die fer sure, but she saved our sorry—”

“Jayne! Manners!” Kaylee’s interruption was unexpected, but it seemed to have the desired effect as Jayne shut up. “I’m all manner of thankful she stopped them Reavers, but River’s scary sometimes. Day before the job on Lilac, I was in the bay when Simon found her sitting on a railing over my head ‘bout twelve feet up. When Simon tried to make her get down, she pulled him over the railing, and just kept sittin’ there smilin’ like nothin’ was wrong. Landed right on top of me, hurt like crazy, but if he’d hit the deck, he woulda broke somethin’ fer sure.”

“Sorry ya got hurt, Kaylee-bear, but that idiot had it comin’. Thinks he’s lord ‘n’ master of the whole gorram boat, especially when it comes to his sister. Treats her like a little kid, but she ain’t… prob’ly that more’n anythin’ else that gets her all riled up. I can remember my sisters when they was teenagers, they hated bein’ told what ta do all the time.” Jayne appeared almost wistful as he reminisced.

Inara almost died of shock. Who would have thought Jayne, of all people, could have insight pertainin