Afterlife (4/4)
Title: Lifetime
Prompt: #45 Shipwreck
Series: Afterlife
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 811
Title: Lifetime
Prompt: #45 Shipwreck
Series: Afterlife
Author: Cricket
Disclaimer: I’m just playing with Joss’ toys, but I promise to put them back when I’m done
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 811
The shuttle plummets to the ground despite River’s white knuckled grip on the controls. There’s nothing left she can do but close her eyes tightly and hope it doesn’t hurt too much when she hits the rapidly approaching planet. The seconds stretch on, making her feel as if she’s suspended in mid air and giving her the chance to think about what this means. She knows she’s not walking away from this shipwreck, her body will be battered beyond repair. Not even Simon, if he were still around, could fix the damage that her body was about to incur.
River briefly mourns the loss of her worldly company; Kaylee and the baby who they raised together after her brother’s death, the ailing captain who was soon to follow her into the afterlife himself and the faithful first mate who diligently sat by his bedside. But the separation was only temporary, she’d see them again when it was their time. She had very few regrets over her lifetime as she’d lived her life to the fullest like Jayne had told her to decades ago when his spirit had entangled itself with hers. He’d wanted so many things for her, a husband and a family, but she had all the family she needed on Serenity and she couldn’t stomach the idea of having any other man in her life, a reaction that pleased both Mal and Simon.
The large expanse of desert sand fills the view from the small cockpit of the shuttle. It’s only a matter of seconds now before impact. She holds her breath and grits her teeth as the ship rattles furiously around her with turbulence. The force from the collision snaps her neck back, killing her instantly and she considers herself lucky to avoid the fiery blaze that follows. She isn’t completely detached from her body yet and can feel the heat vaguely through the few nerves that still send electrical impulses through her. Jayne must have felt cold when he died, she thinks, remembering the mercenary’s death. He’d died of a gaping chest wound from some nameless goon’s bullet and she wondered if he had felt the blood pouring out of him or Simon’s hands pumping his heart through the blinding veil of pain.
All thoughts are left behind as her spirit rips itself free of its bodily confines. She rises, but her direction is not so much upwards as it is outwards. There’s no up or down in the ‘verse, direction is relative after all. She delights in the simple logic of it and lets herself float freely in the vast emptiness of space for a moment before she feels the pull, urging her to move. She’s not sure where to go though and looks confusedly at the blackness surrounding her.
“Over here, baby girl.” His voice is just how she remembered it to be, deep and rough with just a hint of contentment that simmers beneath the surface. She turns towards the sound and sees him standing before her, a hand raised in invitation.
“Knew I’d see you again.” She places her palm in his outstretched hand, wrapping her fingers around the back of it as she had never been able to do before.
“And it’s ‘bout damn time too.” A smirk dances across his face as he pulls her towards him. “Yer brother was gettin’ on my nerves something fierce. ‘When’s River gonna get here? Let’s go check on her again.’ I swear, that boy needs a hobby or somethin’.” She laughs at the high pitched mocking voice he uses for Simon and lets him lead her through their shadowy surroundings. “Ya should’ve seen the look on his face when he realized ya really was talkin’ to me all that time when he still thought you were crazy.” He chuckles heartily and hearing the warm familiar sound again after all these years almost brings tears to her eyes.
River jerks him to a stop with a quick tug on his hand and he turns to look down at her, concern etched across his face.
“Somethin’ wrong, baby girl?” He barely finishes the question before she launches herself into his arms. Climbing up his body and wrapping herself entirely around his large frame.
“Missed you so much,” she whispers in his ear. He holds her tightly against him and places soft kisses against her hair.
“Missed you too, boa bei.” Finally, she allows him to set her down on her own feet and he holds her head in his big hands, brushing the hair back from her face. “We got a lotta people waitin’ on you. Best we get goin’.” He smiles at her and it’s the first genuine smile she can ever remember seeing on his face. Death isn’t so bad, she thinks following behind him closely, their adventures are far from over yet.
< Previous: Baby Girl, Prompt #96 Last
Prompt: #45 Shipwreck
Series: Afterlife
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 811
Title: Lifetime
Prompt: #45 Shipwreck
Series: Afterlife
Author: Cricket
Disclaimer: I’m just playing with Joss’ toys, but I promise to put them back when I’m done
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 811
The shuttle plummets to the ground despite River’s white knuckled grip on the controls. There’s nothing left she can do but close her eyes tightly and hope it doesn’t hurt too much when she hits the rapidly approaching planet. The seconds stretch on, making her feel as if she’s suspended in mid air and giving her the chance to think about what this means. She knows she’s not walking away from this shipwreck, her body will be battered beyond repair. Not even Simon, if he were still around, could fix the damage that her body was about to incur.
River briefly mourns the loss of her worldly company; Kaylee and the baby who they raised together after her brother’s death, the ailing captain who was soon to follow her into the afterlife himself and the faithful first mate who diligently sat by his bedside. But the separation was only temporary, she’d see them again when it was their time. She had very few regrets over her lifetime as she’d lived her life to the fullest like Jayne had told her to decades ago when his spirit had entangled itself with hers. He’d wanted so many things for her, a husband and a family, but she had all the family she needed on Serenity and she couldn’t stomach the idea of having any other man in her life, a reaction that pleased both Mal and Simon.
The large expanse of desert sand fills the view from the small cockpit of the shuttle. It’s only a matter of seconds now before impact. She holds her breath and grits her teeth as the ship rattles furiously around her with turbulence. The force from the collision snaps her neck back, killing her instantly and she considers herself lucky to avoid the fiery blaze that follows. She isn’t completely detached from her body yet and can feel the heat vaguely through the few nerves that still send electrical impulses through her. Jayne must have felt cold when he died, she thinks, remembering the mercenary’s death. He’d died of a gaping chest wound from some nameless goon’s bullet and she wondered if he had felt the blood pouring out of him or Simon’s hands pumping his heart through the blinding veil of pain.
All thoughts are left behind as her spirit rips itself free of its bodily confines. She rises, but her direction is not so much upwards as it is outwards. There’s no up or down in the ‘verse, direction is relative after all. She delights in the simple logic of it and lets herself float freely in the vast emptiness of space for a moment before she feels the pull, urging her to move. She’s not sure where to go though and looks confusedly at the blackness surrounding her.
“Over here, baby girl.” His voice is just how she remembered it to be, deep and rough with just a hint of contentment that simmers beneath the surface. She turns towards the sound and sees him standing before her, a hand raised in invitation.
“Knew I’d see you again.” She places her palm in his outstretched hand, wrapping her fingers around the back of it as she had never been able to do before.
“And it’s ‘bout damn time too.” A smirk dances across his face as he pulls her towards him. “Yer brother was gettin’ on my nerves something fierce. ‘When’s River gonna get here? Let’s go check on her again.’ I swear, that boy needs a hobby or somethin’.” She laughs at the high pitched mocking voice he uses for Simon and lets him lead her through their shadowy surroundings. “Ya should’ve seen the look on his face when he realized ya really was talkin’ to me all that time when he still thought you were crazy.” He chuckles heartily and hearing the warm familiar sound again after all these years almost brings tears to her eyes.
River jerks him to a stop with a quick tug on his hand and he turns to look down at her, concern etched across his face.
“Somethin’ wrong, baby girl?” He barely finishes the question before she launches herself into his arms. Climbing up his body and wrapping herself entirely around his large frame.
“Missed you so much,” she whispers in his ear. He holds her tightly against him and places soft kisses against her hair.
“Missed you too, boa bei.” Finally, she allows him to set her down on her own feet and he holds her head in his big hands, brushing the hair back from her face. “We got a lotta people waitin’ on you. Best we get goin’.” He smiles at her and it’s the first genuine smile she can ever remember seeing on his face. Death isn’t so bad, she thinks following behind him closely, their adventures are far from over yet.
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