A/N: This is just a little something that came to me early one morning. My muse is an ass like that. He just shows up whenever he wants to and then leaves without warning. Anyway, there's not really much I can say about all of this. I think it speaks for itself. I'm hoping to write more, but again, it's up to my muse. Of course this is after the last episode of Bebop. SPOILER SPOILER for those who haven't seen it or don't know (like that's anybody! lol) Just a warning.>>>> I do believe Spike dies in the last episode. But this idea just, well, it just came out. I don't really know where it's going yet, but we'll see.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in relation to Cowboy Bebop. I just took the characters and places and made myself a little fic. I wish I did own Spike, but, alas, I do not.

"What do you want Jet?" Spike looked at his partner's shadow on the wall not really turning to the man himself.

"I thought maybe you'd like to hear about a big bounty. Ed linked up and got a lead on a man who's hiding on Earth. 80 million woolongs ain't so bad. But if you're not up to it..."

Spike tuned slowly, head down. "Earth huh? I never really liked that place. But if it's where the bounty is then it's where I'm supposed to be." He never met Jet's eyes. He hadn't really met his eyes since he had been back. Since he had found out that he was still alive. Since that fateful day he woke up in a hospital only to find his friend sleeping in a chair by the bed.

At first he thought he was dreaming. But when the figure snored loudly, he realized that he wasn't in a dream. He was never in a dream. No, he had been awake the whole time. It was his awakened self that thought it was all a dream, not his sleeping mind.

But here he was, back to business. Nothing had changed, yet nothing was the same. He felt a guilt so deep within him that it took all he had just to talk to the man he had called friend for those years he was biding time. Those years he was waiting, waiting for his chance to see if he was alive.

He grabbed his gun and walked to the main port, plopping down on the yellow couch. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it up hoping to fill the void. What void he didn't quite know or even understand why it was there. It was as if something just wasn't right, but smoking that cigarette would make everything better. It would make everything normal.

He laughed at the thought. Normal. What was normal anyway? He had certainly never thought of himself as normal before, so why was he trying so hard to find a state of it now? Why was he willing himself to work as if he had forgotten how to breathe?

With each puff the orange glow at the end of the stick got brighter and brighter. Spike focused on it with all he had. Focused on it so hard that he had to close his eyes because it was blinding him. When he opened them again he found himself staring into the sun. The sun? When had he come outside? And for that matter, when had they arrived on Earth?

Things like that had been happening a lot lately. He would lose spots of time. At first he thought it was something to do with a head injury he might have incurred on his last inquisition, but then that thought faded when the doctor gave him a clean bill of health for a second time. It had worried him enough to go back to a doctor. He hated them, but they seemed to be the only ones that could give him straight answers these days. Go figure, a man born to talk jargon and mislead was the only person he found the truth in.

What had happened to the world? He ran a hand over his face letting it linger for a moment feeling the heat. Yep, there was definite heat, so that meant his blood was still pumping. So, why did he feel like he wasn't really alive? I mean now he knew he was alive, but why couldn't he feel it?

He shoved another cigarette in his mouth and pushed the thoughts away. All he was getting was a major tension headache. It reminded him too well of the headaches Faye used to give him. They had become normal, which wasn't normal. He had almost woken up everyday taking a couple of aspirin because he knew that he would have one before the day was out.

He smiled ruefully. That won't be happening anymore. At least not those Faye headaches. No, she wasn't with the Bebop anymore. Upon returning one of the first faces he had expected to see was hers. He had braced himself for the berating he knew was coming. But as they entered the shell of the ship, there was nothing but silence.

He remembered turning to Jet, and getting an answer to his unspoken words and questioning eyes. "She's gone. Left right after you. Right after she shot up my ship. That's just like her to leave when the damage is done. Like a damn tornado."

When thinking back on Jet's words Spike wondered why that explanation hadn't been enough for him. Why did he feel the need to find her? He knew he was only looking for trouble, but still. It was there, deep inside him; it was there. He found himself wondering about her, wondering if she even knew he was alive.

He remembered their last encounter all too well. Looking back on it he can see how it might have sounded like an infinite goodbye, but the Fates didn't see it that way. No, they didn't want him to say goodbye just yet. And quite frankly now, things just didn't seem so... final. He breathed in deep taking in the smells of Earth. Again he rubbed his face, but this time trying to ward off the icky feeling he got. 'I really do hate this place.'

A/A/N: I know, I know, really short. Hopefully there will be more. Depends on my muse and the reviews, I guess. If you like, don't like, review. I'll take whatever. Until later ;)