Before Spike's Eyes

Hello again. I've always wanted to do a one-shot about one of my favorite characters of all time, Spike Spiegel! I'm also going to include my favorite scene from Cowboy Bebop in Session #24 Hard Luck Woman, when Faye was running past Spike after taking a shower and bumped into him, and she apologized to him for the first time. Spike was baffled by this, but he never said anything to anyone about this encounter because of his laid-back personality. I thought I'd make this fic about Spike's thoughts during that scene. Well, I hope everyone likes this! Enjoy and please review!

Before Spike's Eyes

As Spike walked out of the hospital after being in a coma for the past three days, he was mulling over all that had happened to him in the past week. Vicious was finally dead and gone, out of his life for good. His love, Julia, was also gone, and Spike, though not showing it to anyone on the outside, was broken-hearted about losing her after all he had gone through to find her and reunite with her. Vicious and the Red Dragons were the ones responsible, and Spike took Vicious and the Red Dragons down, with Spike killing his old friend and enemy, Vicious, himself, hoping that they would never rise again to torment him.

As Spike hopped into the cockpit of the Swordfish II and powered up its engines, he began to recall all of the moments he had spent with Faye. Even though he acted as if she wasn't an important part of his life, the truth was that he cared deeply for her, possibly bordering on love, not just because she dressed like a porn star and had the body of a supermodel. He recalled the first time he met her at that casino, and how she had cheated at that game of Blackjack. He also remembered the time that he had saved her from Vicious, even though he claimed that he didn't do it for her. His most vivid memory of her, however, was just before she had left the Bebop when they were on Earth.

Spike was walking out of the bathroom reading a book when, out of nowhere, Faye bumped into him, almost knocking him over if he hadn't steadied himself.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!"

Spike said to her harshly, predicting that she would come back at him with some kind of remark. However, when Faye turned around to face him, the most unexpected thing happened to him. Faye began to stutter something, and Spike, wanting to know what she was trying to say, asked her in a harsh tone yet again.

"What?"

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?"

"Yes."

Spike gave her a puzzled look, unable to believe what he was hearing. Spike noticed that, even though he would never admit it to anyone, that Faye looked beautiful, even though her hair was wet and hanging in her face and she had just come out of the shower. Spike was about to say something in return, but Faye then said.

"I have to go."

Faye then turned around and quickly walked away, Spike watching her leave. Spike was puzzled by what had just happened. Faye had never talked to him in such a mysterious way before and she had never apologized to him either. He was wondering what had come over her. He thought that maybe something was wrong with her. However, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she actually did care for him, even though he highly doubted that possibility. Spike then turned around and made his way toward the hangar, wondering if Jet was ready to catch Appledelhi.

Spike was mulling over that memory when he spotted the Bebop sitting idle down below in a river.

'I guess I'll go and see Jet.'

Spike noticed that the Bebop's hangar doors were open, and he landed the Swordfish II inside and powered it down, hopping out of the cockpit. Spike then pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. He lit a cigarette up and took a long drag from it, then tossed it to the ground and crushed it beneath his boot. Spike put his hands deep in his pockets and walked towards the living room of the Bebop, and, upon arriving there and looking around at the familiar surroundings, he made his way over to the old yellow couch and sat down on it, leaning back and putting his hands behind his neck.

As Jet walked into the living room to put the TV on to see if were any new bounties to catch, his jaw almost dropped when he saw Spike sitting there on the couch.

"Spike?!"

Spike looked over at Jet with a small grin and said to him.

"Yo."

"Spike, how, how did you survive? Faye and I thought that you were dead."

"I really have no idea, Jet. I was lying on the stairs of the Red Dragons' headquarters, and then I woke up in a hospital bed. The doctors there told me that I'd been out for three days, and that some woman with violet hair was there visiting me on one of the days I was out. It was probably Faye."

"I have no idea where that woman went. She just up and left after you did, and I never found out where she went. Maybe she did go to see you."

Spike nodded to Jet and closed his eyes, beginning to think about Faye again. Even though he knew that he shouldn't be thinking about the shrew, she just kept on finding a way back into his thoughts. Spike then shook his head and was about to get up to go back to the Swordfish when he and Jet heard a ship landing in the Bebop's hangar. They both heard the engines power down and Spike and Jet instantly knew who it was.

"Faye."

They both said at the same time.

"I guess she's back again, huh Jet?"

"Yeah, that woman just can't decide whether she's staying or going."

Faye then entered the living room and was stunned to see Spike sitting there on the yellow couch.

"Spike?"

Faye asked, hardly believing what she was seeing.

"Hey, long time no see-"

Before Spike or Jet could react, Faye had stormed over to Spike and slapped him clean across the face, Spike yowling at the sudden stinging sensation.

"Hey, what the hell was that for?!"

Spike asked angrily.

"You goddamn lunkhead! How dare you just come waltzing back into my life like this?!"

"Am, Faye, you're the one who just waltzed in and you knew that I was alive."

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

"One of the doctors at the hospital told me that there was someone with violet hair that came to visit me one day. I'm assuming that it was you?"

"I-I"

Faye stuttered, not expecting Spike to have found out about her visiting him.

"Faye, I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you worrying about me and all, but I can handle myself."

Faye then had a surprised look on her face, and Spike got up and walked by her. Before Spike made the turn to head towards the hangar, he called back to Faye in a voice that was barely above a whisper and said.

"Thanks, Faye."

Spike then continued on his way, not knowing if Faye heard him or not. Spike could have sworn, however, that he heard Faye whisper a "you're welcome", before he was out of earshot.

As Spike was walking down the Bebop's long corridor, his hands deep in his pockets, he noticed that he was walking past the spot where Faye had apologized to him, which was over a week ago but seemed like yesterday to him. He looked at the exact spot where Faye had been standing and then continued on his way, a small smile appearing on his face as he thought about Faye, wondering if that odd feeling in his gut was a love for Faye.

I hope that all you Bebop fans out there enjoy this, especially people who like the SpikexFaye pairing, which I am intrigued about as well. That scene from Cowboy Bebop Session #24 Hard Luck Woman was the best from the entire show in my opinion and my all time favorite! To watch it, just forward to about twelve minutes through the episode and you'll find it there. It is a really interesting scene, as it is the first time Faye had actually shown any humanity to Spike, and I just thought that I'd turn Spike's thoughts from that scene into a fanfiction. Please review to let me know how this was and if any of you liked it.