Jayne couldn’t sleep. By the time he’d gotten to the place they were stayin’ at, everyone had already split up the rooms. He had been left with the room next ta the one Kaylee and the doc was sharin’.

Well. It was supposed ta be Kaylee an’ Inara’s room. The doc was supposed ta be holed up with River across the hall, but that had gone out the window.

Jayne heard a low moan comin’ from the wall.

Either that or things were changin’ more than he thought.

Not that he minded the thought of Kaylee an’ Inara…

Something started thumpin’ against the wall he shared with Kaylee’s room.

Gao yang zhong de gu yang. He was in hell. Whose gorram idea was it to put him in here?

He put a pillow over his head.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Gave him the creeps to be hearin’ all that as well as he was. Wasn’t that he minded thinkin’ of Kaylee. Frequently did. But… the doc?

Hell no.

He gave up when the thumping got faster and harder.

The hall was empty when he stepped out into it. Still lit, though.

There weren’t no one in the lobby except a clerk, who looked half-asleep.

Strange how little towns like this seemed to fold up after dark. Hardly anyone on the street, even.

‘Cept River. She was sittin’ on the steps of the porch, starin’ at nothin’ in a way that made Jayne almost certain she was starin’ at somethin’.

He watched her for a bit. Looked at the way her skin almost glowed in the lights. The way her back was straight as if she were sittin’ in a throne.

He’d already turned away to go back inside when she spoke up.

“I’ve never heard quiet so loud.”

Jayne turned back around. He looked at her again for a minute, then moved to sit down beside her.

He thought of her hand in his. Linked his fingers together and pretended like he hadn’t.

“Isn’t it past yer bedtime?” He looked in the same direction she was. Weren’t nothin’ there ‘cept an old store, all closed up with a red dress in the window. Kinda purdy.

“Can’t sleep.”

“What’s wrong?” He looked over a