CHAPTER 9

2 WEEKS LATER: SERENITY

River strokes Jayne's cheek with her thumb.

"What's wrong darlin?" Jayne asks seeing her thoughtful expression

"I get lost you find me right?"

Jayne kisses her palm, "You know that."

River stares at him, "Promise?"

"Promise." Jayne settles beside her, "You OK darlin?"

"Thinking."

"Bout what?"

River shrugs, "Everything." River snuggles against him her hand resting against his heart.

"It's late. You should get to bed."

"I am."

"Know what I mean."

River sighs heavily as she pulls away.

Jayne watches as she sits up grabbing her nightgown and pulls it on. "River girl you OK?"

River nods "Too many thoughts."

Jayne stands opening the cover of the crawl space. He lifts River inside kissing her again. "See you in the morning."

River grins, "Is morning silly."

Jayne smiles "Guess your right. See you later?"

River nods just as they hear a knock at the door. "Bye"

"Sleep well." Jayne closes the cover and grabs his pants pulling them on and grabbing his boots and shirt.

NEXT MORNING

"Simon"

Simon looks up to see the companion in the doorway, "Inara. What can I do for you?"

"We're going to Rialis. I know you, Book, and Kaylee are in charge of pick ups in town."

"Leaving Jayne with River duty again, he is probably going to have a fit when he finds out."

"Actually I was wondering if I could take River with me. See I have an old friend... a former companion who runs a dance school. I was thinking perhaps River would like to go with me."

"Are you sure?" Simon asks. "I know she would love too but River can be a handful."

"She's always well behaved with me."

"It's fine with me." Simon agrees. "That is if she can behave." He adds

Inara nods walking out of the infirmary going in search of River. She finds Mal standing on the catwalk looking down at the cargo bay. She follows his gaze to see River dancing. "She certainly loves to dance."

"Mmm. Hard to believe that she's probab