The Way Chapter Two - by ArtemisPrime

Disclaimer: All things related to Firefly/Serenity are the property of Joss Whedon et al. I’m not making any monetary credit off this. Just playin’ is all.

The morning was cold, leastways colder than he was accustomed to. He could see his breath frosted in the air and his mug of coffee steamed in his gloved hand. He pulled his coat further around him with his free hand as a shiver went up his spine.

The world was quiet this morning without even a bird to break the silence. Pausing in his scan of the rough landscape, Mal could hear footsteps, heavy on the metal floor, from inside. He took a sip of the drink and let it warm his insides.

“Decision’s done, then?” he asked as Jayne took his spot near the Captain.

“Yep,” came the slow reply.

Mal nodded casually as though this were an everyday occurrence. He finished the rest of his coffee then faced the mercenary. “All right then.”

Jayne re-positioned his rucksack on his shoulder. He never much cared for saying good-bye and this time was no different. “Well.” He cast his eyes down, not focussing on anything in particular.

“Well.”

With a quick look to the eye and nod, Jayne tromped down the landing plank once more re-positioning his pack. Mal watched him a moment then hit the close button. He didn’t quite understand what he was feeling at that moment, whether it was relief or sadness, but he knew that decisions, once made, were best left to be carried out.

Jayne never turned when he heard the engines rev louder for take-off nor when he felt the gust of updraft as the ship went into atmo. No, he had someplace else he needed to think on. Past was done; no sense in thinking any more on it.

For one moment, though, Jayne allowed himself a little remembrance. No guns this time, he thought. Words were passed and now the deal’s done. Weren’t nothin’ to it.

But there was something to it, he could feel it in his gut. This wasn’t like the last time he changed locales; no gunpl