Disclaimer- I own NOTHING. Joss & Mutant own all. I earn nothing, except the happy need to take frequent cold showers.

WARNING- Post-BDM. I try to be vague, but the spoiler is there if you haven't seen it yet.

Authors Note- This is part of my ongoing Collection at AdultFanfiction.Net- a quest to write EVERY possible Firefly coupling as believably as possible. AFF is having database problems and we are not allowed to update until they are resolved, perhaps as long as four weeks! If you're the curious sort, I've done Mal/Simon and Zoe/Wash already and you can find them at AFF. Here is Zoe/Jayne.

"Finding Strength"

She could smell him, his familiar scent of of sweat, soap and gun oil. Jayne was right there across the table from her. She stirred her noodles, staring at the yellow broth. Anything to keep from looking up at his strong fingers field-stripping a rifle and cleaning it. Anything to keep from wondering those strong fingers might also be capable of.

"Ya gonna eat that, or make love to it?" His voice, coarse and joshing, rippled in her ears and she glanced up at him, trying to find a snappy reply.

Instead, she just said, "I could hurt you."

Usually, he laughed and grinned at her. This time, he gave a grunting smile. "Like to see ya try."

Zoe didn't think about. She dropped her spoon into the bowl, splashing broth as she stood up. "Let's go."

"Huh?" Jayne set the rifle stock on the table as he pushed back in his chair to stare up at her.

"Cargo bay. Now." She put her hands on her hips, her gaze uncompromising. Jayne didn't move as she strode to the hatchway and glanced back at him. "Or maybe you're afraid I'll kick your ass?"

"Hell no." Jayne's chair scraped across the floor as he stood up. " Afraid Mal'l shoot me if I hurt ya."

Zoe's grin was feral. "I'm just talkin' a friendly wrestlin' match, Jayne. I think you're scared."

"Ain't scared of you." Jayne bit out, but he grinned and saw Zoe's eyes twinkle in a challenge as