VIOLENT HEART

Chpt 3: Slow Burn

*lemon warnings*

:::present time, amid much tossing & turning :::

1.

::toss::

Jayne sat on the end of his bunk, naked, staring at the wall. Couldn't focus. The heat was affecting the bump on his head. Kaylee had been right earlier.

Kaylee.

If it hadn't been for her, Mal would've taken to the sky.

His vision cleared a bit. Saw the collage of girly pin ups on the metal wall. It was too rutting hot to jerk off.

His head started to pound again and he crushed his brow with a fist.

Mal had finally found it in his hide to be civil these last few days - said coming after him hadn't been on his list of priorities. The suspicious ghosts that were following his ass could've easily been after the Serenity and her passengers. Told him he was damn lucky to have someone like Kaylee's caring and concern in the first place.

Jayne fell back on the bunk with a heavy grunt and covered his face with an arm.

Kaylee was always giving out all kinds of caring and concern unsolicited, even to those she shouldn't. Like, in his holy opinion, the doctor.

Or even him. Hell. There was probably plenty o' times she'd been right there by his side (even if she was pissed at him), and damn if he couldn't recall a single one up 'till now.

He took his arm away from his face and suddenly the light wasn't so bad. Even the pain sang a little less loudly.

He rubbed at his bruised chest and closed his eyes.

'Kaylee.'

::turn::

Too tired to wash, Kaylee stripped down to her under things and flopped back on her bunk, hoping beyond hope that she'd be able to finish rebuilding the stabilizer in the morning, and that tonight, for once, she'd be able to fall asleep quick.

That wasn't going to happen.

Earlier, when she finally returned in search of some dinner, the kitchen had been deserted of crew and playing cards and it'd been a while since she talked to anyone but herself.

Which was probably just shiny, as it was ...

She hadn't been able to stop thinkin