Disclaimer: Credit where credit’s due – and that aint to me!

Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews – the pie’s all yours!

This story is set just prior to Those Left Behind.

Part four: There is a light

When he really wanted to Jayne Cobb could move with surprising quiet for a man of his size – following behind his gun to round the steps and enter the upper level of Serenity’s access bay. No/one heard him – no/one saw, but then this was routine – he’d lost count the number of time Zoë and him had had to creep to vantage, step up at the right moment and rain merry hell on any unfortunate son-of-a-hump dumb enough to be stood below, gun thumping, threatening, ugly, undesirable – hell, just plain not crew.

Honestly, he could have stayed longer in the tub.

Huh. It did gnaw on him some though wondering where the Tam girl had got to – hiding out in one of a thousand places Serenity had for just that purpose. It would be too much to hope she’d got back in her damn box. Yup, even Jayne knew that was one bird with no wings and never gonna fly.

The notion, that was.

Not the girl.

Hell, ‘cept the ruttin' crazy herself probably thought she had wings!

Still, that way maybe she’d jump off the balcony and break her fool neck – wouldn’t have to worry nights ‘bout that killer brain of hers the purple-bellies put in. Doc’ never did explain it, sparing my blushes just proves it’s gotta be bad.

Crouched low and leaning into the scope of his weapon, Cobb could see the Doctor himself. Looking a little outta sorts there Doc’, likely they won’t have you in the Core no more they see how your hair aint in place. Jayne’s finger was lying comfy against Vera’s trigger. How ‘bout I spare you the pain, huh Doc’?

Nah – not with a killer brain on the loose.

Aint sure how many men we got down there – plenty by my reckoning. Enough for a real ruckus any rate. Well gorram it, bring it on! Zoë can handle herself well as any, and she aint tied to no Captain’s apron st