On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me six geese a-laying

Kaylee watched as Jayne slithered away through the grass. He’d only gone a little way and she’d already lost sight of him. As for hearing him, huh, the man moved so silently it amazed her.

Used to his more obvious presence when aboard Serenity Kaylee admired the professionalism Jayne was showin’ in his huntin’. Of course the captain wouldn’t have kept him around if he wasn’t good at his job. It puzzled her mightily why Mal didn’t praise Jayne up more for it, instead of critisin’ him all the time. It seemed to her that no-one on Serenity, includin’ her, appreciated Jayne like they should.

She was appreciatin’ him now. She knew the only reason she were still alive was cause of Jayne Cobb.

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Mal cursed roundly as the crate ran straight over his foot.

“Oh, sorry Mal” Wash was apologising all over the place “it just slipped out of my hands and it’s so heavy.”

“Perhaps I could help Captain” the shepherd’s voice was calming as usual. He felt his intervention would have more effect on the captain if the doctor hadn’t chosen that moment to appear and start complaining.

“Captain why is it that River and I have been allocated Christmas decoration duty? Should we be worrying about such things when Kaylee is missing?”

“Since we don’t have much else to do I thought you would welcome the opportunity to keep busy doctor.” The captain was trying to keep his temper. Anxiety always made him antsy, and now added to his worry ‘bout his missing crew was the worry of the up coming rescue.

They wouldn’t arrive at Trinity till the next day, and after arrival they still had to make a rescue plan. Jayne was good, but Mal was worried that his crew might not survive the wait.

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Jayne moved through the undergrowth stealthily. The man he was trackin’ weren’t far away now. He had scouted round till he’d found someone on his own. Fella was still at the campfire eatin’ breakfast.