Pins and Needles 2

by belasera

A vague disclaimer is nobody’s friend: All recognizable characters, etc. belong not to me, but to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox, and no money is being made here. The story, however, is mine.

Just finishing up what I started with the first. Still very much pre-BDM

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Simons quick fingers worked at the stitches, he didn’t hardly even feel them sliding back out of his body. Wasn’t nothin’ but a routine, ‘specially for Jayne. He had a habit of getting’ tore up, and Simon had a habit of sewin’ him back together without comment. The doc’d taken pretty well to this life, Jayne couldn’t help but admit with a grudge. Grudge wasn’t nothin’ new, for all his clever stitches this doc and his sister had caused a stir in what had been a near comfortable life. Decent boat, enough food even for him, a tussle wherever he and Mal went, hell there was a paid companion on the same ship he lived on. If that wasn’t gorram lucky, he didn’t know luck from mud. Didn’t matter that he couldn’t touch her, he hadn’t wanted to so much after he saw some o’ the other pretty this ship held.

Think of the devil.

Kaylee walked past the infirmary, or nearly past anyway. Her eyes must have caught Jayne, she backed up to the door and peered her bright face in.

“You gettin’ ‘em out?”

Her question could have been casual, but Jayne heard the same dark curiosity in her voice that had been there a few nights back, when she poked at him softly and talked ‘bout reavers. Reaver sewing habits, actually. Damn creepifying, if you asked him.

Jayne gave her a scowl, near as he could manage for her anyway.

“Ah, girl, just keep walkin’.”

She did with a snort, and what the thought was a wink. Definitely a wink.

“Aw, doc, that girl is a barrel full. Can’t even figure if I envy you or not.”

It seemed to take a moment for Simon to register that Jayne was speaking to him, maybe it was his near friendly voice that surprised the doctor, caused him to stutter.

“I, oh, I…there’s not