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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Now everyone rushed to the floor of the bay. Zoë stood her ground, still cautious. Inara and Mal were caught in between running to tear River loose and fear of how River might react. Kaylee was forced to physically restrain an anxious Simon, who either didn’t care what his sister would do or wasn’t contemplating the issue at all. But one movement from River froze them all in place. Somehow she had slipped a hand to Jayne’s waist holster, completely unnoticed, and had retrieved his LeMat. Now she was holding it shakily against her own head, eyes flooding with tears, voice cracking. “Cowards don’t deserve to live, can’t trust them. Have to be put down.”

But Jayne didn’t flinch. River was now facing the group, but Jayne still had one arm wrapped protectively around her waist. Bringing a finger from his other hand to his lips, he indicated for everyone to stay quiet, before slowly moving to take River’s hand, and took back his gun. Flipping the LeMat to Mal, he brought his now free hand back to River, drawing her back into his chest while the other hand soothingly stroked her back. “Don’t keep that one loaded while we’re in the black. Lucky I wasn’t carrying Lucy though…”

Mal gaped as he caught the firearm, terrified that Jayne might have forgotten to unload it, and nervous at the prospect of having the gun sail fifteen feet across the bay for him to catch. Luckily for Mal, he did manage to catch the weapon, and without touching the trigger. Immediately he released the catch to eject the cylinder and found it empty. Sighing in relief, he closed it before sliding into his waistband for safe-keeping. “Glad to see you do listen on occasion.” Mal started to walk towards Jayne and Rive