Eulogy, a cowboy bebop fanfic

A/N: I wrote this a while ago when I first saw the Cowboy Bebop episodes, almost five years ago. I still consider Bebop to be one of the best anime shows ever made and thank God that it was brought over to America so I could see it. If you've never watched Cowboy Bebop, you are depriving yourself! Go and buy it- it's the best money you'll spend on a tv show.

Anyways, I found this in my files, opened it, tweaked it a wee bit and am now presenting it to you. Enjoy!

They sat, the two of them, on ratty couches that had seen too much and thought about the events that had happened too fast to be comprehended.

With a sigh and the slight hiss of the engine in his arm, Jet stood up and stretched. "Better get going," he announced finally.

Faye didn't move. "Shouldn't we go see?" she asked softly. "Shouldn't we make sure? He's survived so much before, why not now?"

Jet stared down at the girl who had just understood the family she had unknowingly created for herself.

"He's gone, Faye. I know it, you know it and that's all there is to do."

"We have to make sure!" Faye shouted, leaping to her feet in impotent fury.

"No we don't," Jet contradicted softly. "He's said his goodbyes. He was meant to go now and, if he's not dead, he'll go on. By himself. It's the way the kid worked."

Faye stamped a white boot on the aluminum floor, her hands clenched at her sides. "I just want to know!" she demanded angrily. "I want some goddamned closure for once!"

Jet took a drag from his cigarette. "Not his problem if you aren't happy. You gotta make yourself happy, Faye. He can't help you anymore."

"First Ed and now him…It hurts," Faye whispered, a hand over her heart.

Silence answered her plea for sympathy, a little compassion and a similar view on the situation.

Faye realized she had a small smile on her face. "It doesn't get easier with each loss, does it Jet?"

"Don't imagine so," came the slow reply.

"Maybe the more it hurts, the more it meant. Do you think that that's possible?" Faye looked up at the glowering, smoking ex-cop with moisture in her eyes. "Do you think that's the way it is?"

"Could be. I don't really know. But you know what I do know?"

"What?"

"I got a hot lead on a 35 million woo-long bounty. The guy's a scum but he's real easy on the bank account. You wanna come? We'll split the bounty fifty-fifty."

Faye thought for a moment and then stretched. "Thirty five big ones, huh? I guess I can stay around and help an old man out," she replied in an easy tone.

"You're too kind," Jet said wryly. "Remind me of that old man comment next time your idiocy lands you in prison with a real friendly guard."

"You're breaking my heart, Jet, you're breaking it." Her muscles eased, Faye got ready for business. "So what's this lead?"

Jet nodded and motioned for her to look at the computer screen.

They never mentioned Spike again.

The scent of his particular brand of cigarettes faded from the recycled air, his portion of food and water was used and his cabin became a closet and temporary jail for bounties.

His name was never spoken again but his spot in the hangar was never filled.

A/N: Let me know what you think! Review!