Fic-"Sleeping Beauty"

[walkwithheroes]

Title:

Sleeping Beauty
Author: walkwithheroes
Summary: Sometimes death isn’t real, sometimes it is just the beginning…
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Mal, Simon, River, Jayne, others
Pairing: Every couple (M/I, Z/W, K/S, J/R) is mentioned or hinted at, though this is Gen
Warning: None
Spoilers/Timeline: None/AU timeline

Sequel:

to Snow White
Series: Takes place in the TMTC or H.E. ‘verse
Disclaimer: I don’t own any characters from Firefly/Serenity.

 

 

Shadow-Serenity Ranch

April 15, 2551

 

Whispers of voices were floating around her head again. All muttering and scared and confused. She wanted to tell all of them to sod off or to take a flying leap off a bridge. Of course, she had no idea where she learned to tell people to ‘sod off’ and that made her even more confused and upset.

A little king with a funny hat had said she was a pretty lil’ thing, but that had been when she was sleeping and dreaming. These were new whispers, from a whole bunch of people that she couldn’t completely remember.

“They’re eating her from the inside. Like a cancer they‘re taking hold.” She whispered as she awoke. She sat up in bed and stared, nearly feral, at the room around her. Home. She was home. No need to fear when family and friends are near.

“Rayne?” A voice spoke from a chair in the corner. It was a hard voice that she knew. It was…Jayne. Jayne Chester Cobb Sr. He was…he was someone important to her. “You’re okay, sugar. Yer Ma and Uncle Simon‘ll be right back.”

“She…” Rayne glanced down at the shirt she was in. It was all big and had a picture of a ship of it. “this isn’t hers.”

“It’s Jay’s shirt.” Jayne clarified. He stood up from the chair and started to make his way toward her. “He’s yer brother. You ‘member him, don‘t ya?”

Rayne slowly nodded. “She has two brothers. One is a doctor and one is a warrior; one kills and one heals.” The teen giggled madly at that. It made Jayne turn his gaze away from her. Rayne’s head snapped toward Jayne and her large eyes seemed to burn into him. “You’re scared of her.” She accused.

“Rayne,” he said in a jovial but probing voice, as he turned to look at her. “why would I be scared o’ you? You‘re my lil‘girl.”

“She’s not a person, anymore.” Rayne explained softly. “That scares the man with the facial hair. The man she doesn’t…” Suddenly, Rayne stopped talking, stopped moving all together. A pensive look crossed her face and she let out a whimper. “It’s time for a session.”

Jayne wasn’t completely sure how to respond to that. This girl was and wasn’t his daughter. She seemed so…confused and yet unafraid. Her voice was soft and silky, the blend of dreamy madness and childlike innocence. She was totally unsure about everything that was happening and yet, yet she was completely calm now. He wondered what she was actually thinking.

“She knows you.” Rayne suddenly spoke, urgently. “She knows you. Daddy. You’re her Daddy.”

Jayne allowed himself to smile softly. “That’s right.”

Rayne gave her father no smile in return, she simply stared at him. There was a strange look in her dark eyes that he didn’t much care for. “Mommy and Uncle Simon are at the door.” She told him.

A second later, the door opened and River and Simon came walking in.

_____________________________________________________________________

Shadow-Serenity Ranch

April 16, 2551

They were only letting her see five people, but there were more outside. She could hear all manner of thoughts coming from them. She wanted to feel at peace, but how could she with all the people screaming in her head? And they called her crazy-they couldn’t stop thinking about her. Obsession, that’s what that was.

The door to her room crept open and the two men-her older brothers-came walking in. Jay ducked his gaze from hers, but Matt tried to offer a smile that Rayne did not take. They both stood awkwardly in front of the bed that Rayne sat on.

Jay nudged Matt’s leg with the toe of his boot and Matt let out a little ‘Ow’. Rayne just stared at them. “Oh, uh, Uncle Simon wanted me t’ check your vitals.”

Jay nodded helpfully. “Yea. An’, I’m ‘ere f’r…uh, moral support.”

“The saints should preserve her, for no one here deserves her.” Rayne whispered softly, her eyes firmly locked on Jay’s. “She’ll never love you in the way you want her to.”

Matt nervously cleared his throat and Jay blushed softly. Both men knew she was talking about Serra. Matt went over to Rayne’s bedside and opened the medical bag he had brought in with him.

“I’m just going to check your vitals, if that’s okay.” He told his sister, though he did not wait for her answer. He just started his work, even as Rayne sat still in the bed. He gingerly touched her arm and started his work.

Jay stood awkwardly at the foot of the bed and made sure he did not meet Rayne’s gaze. “The others are all waitin’ t’see ya.” He told her as simply and as quickly as he could.

“The voices echo in her head.” Rayne agreed.

Matt ignored Rayne’s words as he checked her pulse. He watched her closely and wondered what exactly she was hearing the others think. As he touched her, it surprised him that she did not try to get away; no, she sat perfectly still and her dull eyes stared straight ahead. Rayne hardly seemed to notice her brothers were in the room; it was enough to make Matt’s heart ache.

In front of them, Jay watched with an odd sense of interest. He wasn’t totally sure how to react to any of it nor was he totally sure what to say or do. For the first time, Jay was helpless when it came to one of his siblings. It was a feeling he hated.

______________________________________________________________________

Jayne and River Cobb had always considered themselves good parents. Their kids had been loved, had been given food and a home, had been made to laugh. So, why were they suddenly feeling like gos se? It was because of Rayne, because of the last two years.

“Those Tyen-sah duh UH-muo!” Jayne stopped pacing the length of the room long enough to give the wall a good punch. “She was jus’ a kid.”

“Little girl sitting all alone in a corner.” River agreed from her spot in the corner, where she sat in her favorite chair. “They took her all away. She’ll never be who she was. The real her is locked in and sleeping.”

Jayne turned to slowly look at his wife. “Forever? Ain’t nothin’ t’be done?”

River slowly and sadly nodded. “Forever and ever.”

Jayne’s response was to punch the wall again.

______________________________________________________________________

Shadow-Serenity Ranch

April 17, 2551

“I wantta see her.” Mal didn’t even have to turn around to know who had spoken to him.

“Now, that ain’t a good idea, son.” Mal replied with a sigh as he turned to face Shadow. The young man was staring at his father, a look of hard determination in his eyes. “Simon, Jayne, River, they all think its best, for now anyhow.”

Shadow kicked some dirt with his right boot. “Bu’, it ain’t…it’s been two years an’ I jus’ wantta know she’s alright.”

Mal couldn’t really fault his son for that. “Simon an’ Matt say she is. Jus’ a mite confused is all.”

“I still wantta see her.” Shadow pressed. “Jus’ t’be sure, you know?”

Mal narrowed his dark eyes. “Sure ’a what?”

“Sure she’s ’ere.” Shadow ducked his gaze from his father’s. “Sure I ain’t dreamin’, again.” He swallowed. “ ‘Sides, the way I sees it, I should be one allowed t’see her.” Mal raised an eyebrow, so Shadow quickly explained himself. “Me an’ Rayne, we was friends. I…I used t’ make her smile. She used t’ laugh an’ I’d call her ‘Rayne Drops’.” He smiled sadly at the memories. “She used t’like that.”

“Now that might be so…”

“It ain’t fair!” Shadow cut Mal off, and the young man sounded like a child instead of a man. “I sees it, what’s goin’ on. Last two days, every gorram person’s gone an’ paired up. Derri keeps prayin’ t’her God. An’ you an' Ma hardly leave each other’s side. Aunt Zoe an’ Uncle Wash are the same. Lee an’ Rex are all quite t’gether. Uncle Simon an’ Auntie Kaylee are whisperin’. Same wit’ Uncle Jayne an’ Auntie River. An’ Jay an’ Matt are always talkin’ and actin’ like only they gots a right t’ care ‘bout Rayne.” Shadow waved a hand at the house that stood before them. “Meanwhile, the girl I…I care ‘bout is up in some room. All locked away, like she’s a threat. An’ I…I jus’ wantta see her…touch her…try an’ make her laugh, again.”

“You think you can?” Mal questioned softly. “She hardly even remembers her own blood. You think she’ll remember foster blood?”

Shadow stood straighter, his face hard. “She’ll remember me.” And with the look on his face and in his eyes, well, Mal couldn’t seem to bring himself to argue with that.

______________________________________________________________________

Shadow-Serenity Ranch

April 17, 2551

At night they locked her in the room-like she was some kind of animal-and they left her alone. Simon-that was his name, wasn’t it?-would dope her. He was silly to think he could dope her in the same way he had River. Reaver, River, Rayne may have been all the same, but they were also all slightly different. River was not done; Rayne was.

She’ll remember me.

Rayne’s eyes popped open and she sat straight up in her bed. There was someone closing the door. It was a man, all tall and handsome. All mysterious and hard. All humor and seriousness.

“You’re a planet.” Rayne stated in a matter of fact tone of voice.

The man jumped as he turned to face her. A lop-sided and cocky smile spread across his lips. “That I am.” He moved deeper into the room. “Ya know me?”

“Shadow.” Rayne whispered with a nod. Her eyes seemed dull, but her lips were slowly curling into a small smile. “Has he come to give her something? If you give her a mission, she’ll be alright. Please, give her a mission.” Rayne spoke urgently and softly, almost as if she was scared he would deny her.

“Shanh muh?”

“A mission.” Rayne clarified in a slow voice. “For her to complete. For her to complete because she’s a monster that they made. She and the Reaver that they kept for her are both monsters, doesn‘t he know that?”

Shadow swallowed hard and decided to stay away from that for the moment. The thought of Rayne with a Reaver, the thoughts of what they had done to her, made him ill. “They think you’re out of your mind.” He told her as gently as he could.

Rayne laughed lightly. “That’s between her and her mind.”

He smiled. “I guess it is.” Feeling like they were getting somewhere, Shadow moved into the room and sat in the chair by the bed. “You was always good at that. Jus’ statin’ what’s what.”

She stared at him for a second, before nodding. “She did?” Rayne’s dull eyes focused on Shadow’s and she suddenly looked small and so alone. “She doesn’t…it’s not there anymore.”

Shadow cautiously reached out and put one of his hands on the bed, just an inch from Rayne’s hand. “It’s okay, Rayne Drops.” He waited a beat for a reaction to the name, but there was none. “It’ll come back at ya, jus’ gotta give it time.”

“Time isn’t real.” Rayne told Shadow in a matter-of-fact tone. “You care for her?” She cocked her head to one side. “Family, but without the same blood?”

He smiled again. “Yeah, that’s it. We’re all family.”

Rayne was silent as she moved a hand over Shadow’s. She seemed utterly focused on him as she put both her hands on his face. “No, that’s not it at all. You love her in the way a man does. You love her like her Reaver loves her.” She was not angry or accusing, it was more like she was trying to figure out what he was to her. “You would have liked…she sees it…she sees.”

And with that, Shadow saw it as well.

 

The two of them lay in bed as Shadow makes love to Rayne. She is beneath him, her hands on his back. She is drawing him to climax. Shadow’s face is buried in Rayne’s neck and he is breathlessly whispering to her.

“Oh…I…God.”

Shadow tightens, relaxes, and they both become still. Rayne runs her hands over his hair and back and Shadow pulls away and kisses her sweetly on the lips. Rayne smiles, a worldly, all knowing sweet smile. There is innocence, in her expression. They move, almost as one, until she is resting her head on his stomach. Shadow’s arms are protectively around her and they breathe hard together.

 

Shadow gasped and pulled himself away from Rayne. She had…what had she just done? “Rayne.”

She just looked utterly confused. “That is what Shadow wants. Rayne saw it. She saw.” Slowly, Rayne drew her hands away from Shadow and placed them in her lap. “She was just…she sees and it doesn’t…”

“No, Rayne…it’s shiny.” Shadow adjusted himself in the chair and gave her a small smile.

“What is?”

“What is what?” Shadow raised an eyebrow.

Rayne gave him a look. “Shiny. What is shiny?”

Shadow chuckled softly under his breath. “Shiny is good. Shiny, its okay.” Rayne still looked slightly confused. “It don’t matter none.”

They were both very quite for a long moment.

“FAHNG-sheen.” Rayne suddenly told him. She glanced his way and offered him a loopy smile. “FAHNG-sheen.” Rayne repeated a moment later.

“I ain’t worried.” Shadow told her with a small snort. “If I’m anythin’ I’m swai.” Rayne giggled softly, which made Shadow smile widely. “Oh, Rayne Drops, you know it’s the truth.”

“She only speaks the truth.” Rayne reminded Shadow. “The planet-man is swai.”

Shadow’s smile grew even wider. “You do tell the truth, don’ ya?”

Rayne nodded slowly. “She can no longer lie. They took that power away.” The teen shrugged lightly.

He leaned his body close to the bed and whispered. “Well, I don’ mind. I like ya jus’ fine this way, Rayne Drops.”

“Rayne Drops…she remembers that.” Before Shadow knew what was happening, Rayne took his hands in hers. She turned herself toward him. “She…they took much, but…she does remember. She remembers everything, she remembers too much. She remembers things that happened and things that never happened. She knows. She was Rayne and Ray and Rayne Drops and all the voices here loved her. She knows that, but she does not remember it all.” Tears began to form in her eyes. “She’ll never get better. She cannot get better. They don’t see that, yet. But, they will.”

“Shush.” He moved some hair out of Rayne’s face. “We all love ya, no matter what. Promise.”

Rayne allowed herself to smile sadly. “Shiny.” She gently leaned her face into his touch. “If she hadn’t…if there had been no Reaver, if they hadn’t had come for her, she would have liked what Shadow still dreams of.”

Somehow that statement just made Shadow feel worse about the whole thing. “Yeah.” He gave her another smile and gently kissed her forehead. “Bu’ it’s time t’hit the hay.”

Shadow helped Rayne get comfortable in her bed and he pulled her covers over her. “Jus’, ‘member that I weren’t here t’night, dong ma? Pa would tan me good, despite me bein’ a grown man.” He told her as he opened the door.

From her bed, Rayne nodded. “FAHNG-sheen.”

Shadow smiled. “It’s all shiny, little Rayne Drops.”

______________________________________________________________________

Shadow-Serenity Ranch

April 18, 2551

Two physic assassins, both products of a government, sat on a bed together. The older woman gently brushed the younger one’s hair, almost as if the younger one were a little doll. Rayne was dressed in a pretty white dress and River was brushing her long hair.

“Scars on the head.” River muttered to herself. “Seven scars on your head.”

“Pretty scars?” Rayne questioned in a child-like manner. She did not wait for her mother to answer her, instead she went on, “She is going to re-meet the other voices that she has yet to see?”

“Yes.” River finished brushing and put the brush and comb down. “Don’t be scared.”

Rayne laughed softly. “Not scared, lost. Little girl lost. All alone in the woods and surrounded by people in the town.”

“Not forever.” River said softly. “Not forever.”

Somehow, Rayne could just not believe her mother. Before the teen could inject, Jayne opened the door and he and River brought Rayne out to see her family.

 

 

 

Translations:

Gos se is “crap”

Tyen-sah duh UH-muo is “goddamn monsters”

Shah muh is “what?”

swai is “cute”

FAHNG-sheen is “don’t worry”

Dong ma is “understand?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[leology.livejournal.com]

Gotta admit...I was hoping for a Rayne/Reaver scene as well. I think I got issues...

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

All I know is I came up with them, so what does that say about me? Plus, I'm actually looking forward to doing a Reaver/Rayne scene.

[purpleskyfly.livejournal.com]

We're sick pups! :D

WE WANT REAVER/RAYNE NOW...*runs from writer*--please?

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

WE WANT REAVER/RAYNE NOW...*runs from writer*--please?

Mmm...there will be Reaver/Rayne at some point. Maybe I can pull off a one-shot that takes place back at the school. Maybe Rayne and Reaver actually had connect at one point? Or maybe I could do a dream?