Disclaimer: They ain’t my characters and it ain’t my ‘verse and no money changed hands. Thank You List includes Joss and the gang for inspiration, Jacqui the Goddess of Jaylee for beta and a great deal of support and encouragement, and to my own dear big, bad man for providing certain, …er, technical resources and guidance. Bein’ as this is my very first fanfic, all comments, suggestions and feedback are most appreciated. If ya don’t wanna talk, please just click a rating. Can’t make it better if I don’t know what’s broke.

Waited Long Enough Part Two: Picking a Target

Jayne sat in the soft light at the large oak dining table in the galley one evening after the rest of the crew had turned in, reflecting on his new situation. He methodically honed his Bowie knife on a large oilstone, periodically testin’ the edge on the dark hairs that shaded his forearm until it was shavin’ sharp.

Ten percent of the ship’s take, well that was better’n he’d ever been offered. The rest of the crew seemed decent enough – kept themselves clean and appeared to respect the Cap’n. His quarters were small, but the bunk weren’t half bad and he didn’t have to share it with anyone unless he could figure out how to get that pretty little mechanic into it.

Then he thought about Mal’s rules.

Rule Number One was “Speak civil-like”.

Rule Number Two was “Keep your hands to yourself.”

He just knew those rules were gonna be a problem. Firstly, his mouth just had a way a spurtin’ out remarks before he had time to reflect on how they might come across to others. And keepin’ his hands off womenfolk, especially off that sweet, hot little mechanic – well that rule would prove to have it’s own set of challenges and temptations for a man like him. It hadn’t taken him long to figure that one out.

His first few weeks on Serenity showed him the girl was every bit the natural-born flirt he suspected she’d be. Her amazing knack with the ship’s complex machinery earned her no small amount of respect in his mind.

Watchin’ her at w