A/N: Thanks for the reviews and the faves. Here's another chapter for you all, enjoy.

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Simon sat in the Cargo Hold with the box carrying Jayne's prosthetic foot and ankle in his hand. He had yet to open it and yet to tell anybody that it was here. Knowing River she would be down in a minute asking why he was still sitting there. Truth be told her concern over her lover's condition warmed Simon's heart. Since the fight at the Maidenhead Jayne hadn't let River out of his sight, but it hadn't been till after the battle on the moon of Mr. Universe that Jayne and River had become more than crew looking out for one another or just a warm body to curl up to.

It had shocked everyone, including them when the tired remnants of Sanctuary's crew got back into the ship and up to the black. Jayne had spent three whole days cleaning all the guns and weapons she had used. Oh, some had been tossed, unuseable, unfit, but he slowly got the rest into bright shining almost newness and had taken the time to explain to River that their past didn't matter so much as their present with her. At supper River had choked on her drink and Jayne instantly moved her away from the table to rub her back as she coughed.

"No use killin' all them Reavers if'n yer just gonna choke on tea. Can't letcha go like that. . . shit!" Jayne acted quickly yanking the biggest bowl on the table, which happened to be the bread bowl, dislodged three sets of plates including his own and handed the bowl to River just as she vomitted into it. Before she had properly finished Jayne reached across the table, took Simon's cup of tea regardless of protest, added a healthy dose of his own personal flask of whiskey to it and held it out for her. Kaylee stepped up to take the bowl away after Jayne handed the cup over.

"Swish 'n'spit, darling, swish 'n' spit." His other hand was still on her back. She obeyed meekly as she scanned the calamity at the table, wincing with the taste of the whiskey. Half of it was caused by the shock at Jayne's all around help and use of his own personal booze supply.

"Sorry! I'm sorry, the food churned and got angry and I couldn't stab it awa--" Simon stood to help, but was held back with a hand from Kaylee.

"Hush now, shush. No need ta explain it. C'mon, let's get you somethin' resemblin' fresh air. I gotcha, c'mon." Kneeling beside her Jayne took River's hands and kissed the tops of them tenderly, his sparkling cerulean eyes never leaving hers. Did he even realise that the others were still watching? Did anyone realise Inara was busy thumping Mal in the back as he choked in shock!?

"I spoiled dinner. . . " River whimpered as Jayne cooly picked her up in his arms and carried her to the cockpit. At least there she could see the stars in the black and it might get her eased up a bit. Sitting into the pilot's chair with River on his lap, Jayne slowly stroked her back.

"Easy now, easy goin's there, sweetheart. Ain't nothin' you spoiled. 'Cept a half cupa your brother's tea" his smirk at that settled River's stomach some, enough that she didn't look so green. It had taken a bar full of drunken men and an army of Reavers for Jayne Cobb to actually isee/i the tiny dancer in hs arms and when he had, the floodgates had burst wide. A strong male's protective instinct took over, but he had enough experience to learn that if he simply growled at all comers it wouldn't do no good. Bless the darling, she needed help from someone sensible, not her medicine toting brother. She needed a partner in crime to understand what Simon couldn't. Might as well be him than any.

"Was doing so well, thought the girl was better, thought they could get on with living."

"Huh? Who thought that?"

"Simon" Her eyes were hot with tears that she vehemently abhorred. Small palms rubbed and rubbed willing the infernal liquid to stay in her eyes and not drip out onto her face. Had to stay strong, show no weakness to Jayne.

"Y'do fine for yourself Moonbrain. Don't listen to them, kay?"

"Listen to you?"

"My mind's not a nice place t'be"

"There's a spot I like to burrow in. You're happy and playing your guitar. There's a dog sleeping in front of the fire, and a woman that looks like m--"

"Stop that!" Jayne shook her gently, wrenching her hands away from her eyes. "You don't go there. That's. . . that's no where that'll happen." He gulped as an unfamiliar fear took hold of his eyes. She had burrowed and found his truest wants and desires and it wrenched him deeply in the gut. Unabashedly, River looked up into and through his eyes striking at that exact image with a whisper.

"We can make it happen. Promise"

"River. . . " Now Jayne was downright scared. He liked River, felt protective of her, knew too much of the affinity towards killin that set them apart from most of the people in the 'verse, and he loved to watch her dance. Trouble was, between Miranda and the Reavers at Mr. Universe's moon something had broke in the merc. Watching River tremble down into a puddle of too much dead in that city tore away the necessity in hiding the nothings in whores and dirty pictures. Sitting near her in the Mess Hall quoting Shepherd Book ripped away the need to hide behind the security of isolation. Watching River throw herself through the doors to the Reavers turned up the protective shock in him something fierce. They was a crew like Mal always said, but somehow through Miranda's eery calm and the battle with Reavers his heart broke right along with hers as she trembled and shook, worried to high heaven that she had just damned herself to save her family, her crew. Now her body in his arms felt like it belonged, he owed his life to River Tam and what was more he knew he owed his soul to her as well. Damn near not worth salvaging but for that little spark left he'd given to her.

She knew the moment she caught him cleaning her weapons, claiming them in her name. He helped her move them into the extra Crew Quarters Mal had claimed for her so she could be near the cockpit, set them up on the wall so as to never let them fall unless needed. She still kept her bedroom beside Simon's in case of bad nights. Her room with the crew was right next to Jayne's and when she wailed at night he could hear her. Jumped into her bunk one night when it got bad, and was holding onto her something fierce before he even realised bodily contact had been made. In she burrowed and Jayne told himself that since he owed everything to her, he might as well let her know it. In this new 'verse, how much longer had any of them got?

"Can't promise nothing right now, River. Not sayin' I won't promise somethin' later, but now. . ." his hoarse voice cut out when her trembling lips captured his. It was sweet and lingering, both of them had no idea where to go from there, and in that innocence River claimed him properly. Once the kiss was over their tandem intakes of breath ended on unstable ground when River curled further into Jayne to watch the stars.

"Promise accepted. You're mine, Jayne Cobb." the small voice carried an ocean of authority behind it despite the frail, delicate nature of her curling herself into his chest, her chin resting on her knees.

". . . Right back atcha, River Tam." Callused hands brushed her hair away from her neck, rubbed against her cheek, and held her securely in his arms.

"I gotta stop carin' about what happens t'my ship. . . DId you guys just. . . did I just hear you guys. . . Inara tell me I hit my head and am hallucinating, please?" Mal said, stumbling into the cockpit to hold onto the nearest locker door. Inara blinked herself, uncharacteristically speechless.

"That you did, Sir. I have to say." Zoe piped up from behind Mal and Inara, clearing her throat. "Kaylee's dragged Simon to the Infirmary. He fainted, an' won't be wakin' for a while."

Jayne spun in the seat and stood with River still in his arms. Her feet swung down gracefully as she backed herself against him and proceeded to back him into the console. A protective arm wrapped around River's waist and shoulder. Their message was clear.

"Mine! Can't have him. Can't space him, can't cut up his man-parts, nor shoot him, nor deny me his presence. Mine!" River spouted out the words with equal parts pleading and equal parts growl. Jayne did the smarter thing and kept quiet, waiting for what the verdict would be and preparing a meagre defence from there.

". . . you can have him . . . I think we've seen enough here. . . Inara. . . I. . . "

"I know, Mal. Why don't I serve you some tea."

"Yeah, tea would be nice." Mal and Inara walked out still dazed and slightly off kilter. Zoe turned to the two of them and nodded.

"Take her to her bunk, Jayne. I don't wanna see you two come out of it again till morning." The widowed warrior woman walked briskly towards the entrance to the Crew Quarters from the Passenger bay to stand guard. River was still muttering about her ownership of Jayne.

"C'mon bao bei I think they get the message." Finally picking her up again, Jayne walked to River's bunk and with some manouvering got them both inside. The rest of the night was spent huddled up on River's bed soothing their fears away resting in the security of each other's arms.

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Simon sat in the Cargo Bay holding Jayne's leg in his hands, holding his sister's lover's future in his fingers. Part of him had wanted to kill Jayne Cobb, but that part was quashed the moment he woke up in the hallway leading to the elevator in that god forsaken moon and saw Jayne tend to River so delicately, like he had been holding the Holy Mother herself in his arms, collecting icons and relics for the ages. It felt like so long ago, it took Simon a while to realise it almost was long ago.

"Simon?" It was River, he didn't turn from staring at the box until he heard and saw her shuffle around to kneel by his feet. Dainty white hands touched the box, her eyes hopefully raised up to her brother's features.

"It's here. Where is he?" Simon nodded, gripping a dainty hand in his own.

"Cleaning his guns in his bunk. He's afraid and worried that it won't come, won't fit. Won't make no difference."

"River. . . " Simon had been very quiet about River's relationship with Jayne over the past months, but now it was time to clear the air. "You know I don't like him, he's unwashed and . . . none too bright."

"He's mine, Simon, won't take it ba--"

"Hush and let me finish, mei mei. He's not what I would have liked to see you attaching yourself to, but I can see you're right. He's yours and you're his and I just have to say. . . I've never been so proud of you when you walked into the kitchen the next day threatening the world against trying to come between you. I sincerely wish I could have done that with Kaylee in the beginning. . . Just. . . please imei mei/i be gentle with him? These next few months are going to burn. That's pretty much all I had to say. I love you, River and if I could love you then I can get used to Jayne. . . even though the thought still makes me ill."

River's arms wrapped around her brother's knees as her head descended into his lap. "Thank you, Simon."

After several more minutes of reconnecting the sibling bond, Simon stood and gave River his hand. "Let's go fix your Jayne."