River doesn’t even give Jayne the chance to go the way he’s wanting, not that he’s so sure he can hand her to the feds anymore, not with hearing them scream like they were having their throats cut. She’s still fighting him, clawing at his arms and leaving bloody gouges, more red to go with the blood drying on his hand, more marks to accompany the tooth prints. He ignores the pain, tries to forget why she’s screaming and why the doc’s not shutting her up and getting her moving.

Medic’s more use’n she is. Ruttin’ doc.

River twists in his arms, looking back over her shoulder and she chokes off a cry, stares blankly for a moment as the oily coolness settles against her mind, just on the outside; it’s not forcing its way Simon’s there stopping it. Brightness holding firmly against the cold and even though she sags limply in Jayne’s arms, he’s not the one saving her. It’s Simon. “Always, Simon.” She sniffs the words out, quietens as Jayne stops dragging her and starts lifting. Cradles her against him and jogs.

Jayne’s jog becomes all the faster as screams once again rend the air, howls of pain that slow him only for a moment before he speeds up. He’s still not sure why he’s not just dumped her and run, not even sure why he left the doc and took her-- shoulda just punched him out, dragged his sorry ass back to the ship an’ maybe she’da followed.

His confusion and resentment are enough to drown out Simon in River’s mind, to stop the fear and relief overwhelming her as her brother faces down her monsters. Always protects me, keeps me safe. Grow together, come together, doesn‘t see monsters wear the faces of friends. She looks at Jayne’s arms, her fingers tracing over the gouges making the man wince as he pauses by the locked door. Redness stains her fingers and she wipes it on his shirt, No blue now…

“Forgot the gorramn gun!” Jayne doesn’t let up his hold on River, the girl’s silent enough now but he’s not taking any chances, just wanting to get back before what made those screams catch