The Real Folk Blues
Chapter Four: Once Again
Disclaimer: I do not own Cowboy Bebop or any CB characters. I do, however, own my OC (Halifax Raye Foster). Credit for the title goes to the creators of CB.
"Just hold me Spike. Hold me and never let me go… I want to be with you forever…" Spike wrapped his arms around me. "I want to be with you too, Hal." I awoke with a start, I looked around and saw Jet standing in the doorway. "You said his name in your sleep, Hal." Jet said as he looked down at the floor. I held my knees to my chest. "Jet, are we going somewhere?" He nodded and picked me up bridal style, carrying me out of the room.
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Jet and I stood, looking at a wrinkled up old man. He looked Native American, with brown dried up leather skin. His hair was in braids and he was dressed like his ancestors. Sand sifted through his bony, skinny fingers. Jet spoke first. "Where's Spike? Can you help me track him down?" Silence. Then the Native American spoke, his voice deep. "All living things, every being that walks and breathes, each has its own star." Jet and I didn't understand what the point was at all. "Huh?" "When a life is born, a new star appears. That is the guardian star. The star that warms this planet is someone's guardian star, as well. The red star you see over head; the blue star on the horizon. And when a life ends, the star falls and disappears."
My breath caught in my throat, I staggered back a step. "No, don't stay that." I murmured. My heart was pounding, my mind racing, and the Native's words replayed in my head. 'And when a life ends, the star falls and disappears.' No… "You, Running Rock…" Jet snapped at him, "That's not my name. Don't call me that." The Native was unphased. "His star is about to fall. I have dreamed it" I staggered back another step, my eyes wide in horror. "This is ridiculous. What am I doing here?" Jet asked himself. My heart hammered at my ribs. No. No. No. No.
"NO!" I screamed out. "Do not fear death. Death is always at our side. When we show fear, it jumps at us faster than light, but if we do not show fear, it casts its eye upon us gently and then guides us into infinity." Silence donned on us again. My mind was still racing. What if Spike was really dead? What if he was dying right now? I jumped towards the Native and held him by his collar. "Tell me where Spike is! Tell me right now!" The Native just stood still. "He will come back." My eyes softened. "Hal! Let him go." Jet called out after me as he walked away from the campsite. I dropped the Native and walked out, leaving behind the doubt and reining towards the hope.
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This time I didn't sleep on Spike's floor, I lay in his bed. His smell still lingered on the sheets and pillow as I crawled onto the bed. I nestled myself right in the midst of the bed and sat there, clutching his pillow. I cried for what seemed like the millionth time. My hopes and doubts rained down. I cried until there were no more tears. I silenced myself for a moment when I heard voices. "That voice… SPIKE!" I jumped up and tripped over myself just to get to the door. I darted down the hallway, but stopped short when I reached the door. He and Jet were still speaking. "This food taste terrible, as usual." I smiled, Jet's cooking was never the best but we still survived. "For being so bad, you sure eat a lot of it." Jet said as he lit a smoke. "They say hunger is the best spice." Spike mused. Jet chuckled.
"Ever heard this story? There once was a tiger-striped cat. This cat died a million deaths, revived, and lived a million lives, and he was owned by various people who he didn't really care for. The cat wasn't afraid to die. Then one day, the cat became a stray cat which meant he was free. He met a white female cat and the two of them spent their days together happily. Well, years past and the white cat grew weak and died of old age. The tiger-striped cat cried a million times, and then he died, too. Except this time, he didn't come back to life." I sat there, thinking of the story Spike just told. Was he talking about himself and Julia? "Yeah, it's a good story." Jet said calmly. "I hate that story. I never liked cats. You know that." "Oh, yeah. That's right." Jet responded. They both burst into laughter. Spike's sweet voice calmed me so much. He got up and I heard him walked towards me. "Hey, Spike?" Spike paused. "Yeah?" "I just want to ask you one thing." They both quieted down. "What's that?" "Is it for the girl?" I stopped breathing. Was Jet referring to Julia? "She's dead. There's nothing I can do for her now." I got up quickly and ran back to Spike's room before he saw me. I was going to wait for him.
But as I turned the corner, I heard the click of a gun. Stupid Faye! What the hell does she think she's doing? I ignored her. She wouldn't shoot Spike… Would she? Just as I entered Spike's room I heard five gun shots. My breathing stopped for a moment. 'No, she wouldn't…' My thoughts were cut short as Spike's room door opened. "Spike…" I rushed towards him and embraced him. We fell to the floor and I kissed him passionately. I clutched his shirt and he held me. "Spike, why did you leave?" I cried. Tears were sliding down my cheeks. He kissed them away. "I had to take care of something. I'm back now, but not for long. This will be the last thing I have to take care of, and then I'll be free. After this, I can live my life with you." I nudged my head against his chest. "Spike, will you promise me you will return?" He nodded, "I promise."
"I thought you were gone for good. Everyone was saying you could have already been dead, but I didn't believe them. God, I wanted to tell them they were wrong. But I didn't have proof you were still alive. You don't know what I was going through, Spike." He held me close. "I want you to be safe, Hal. I didn't want you to become involved. I still have a war to win, the last battle is coming, and I can feel it approaching. No matter what happens, hold on to what you have left because once it's gone, there is nothing tying you to this universe. Whatever you do, Halifax, promise me that if I die, you will live on." My eyes widened. "No, Spike, I won't promise. I won't love another man the way I love you. If you die, I'll die along side you. If you live, I'll live by your side for the rest of our lives, no matter how short they are. I will stay by you, Spike." "Well… If that's what you choose, then I can't change your mind." Hal embraced Spike, "Just hold me Spike. Hold me and never let me go…I want to be with you forever…" Spike wrapped his arms around me. "I want to be with you too, Hal. Forever."
I watched him leave for a second time, not knowing whether he would return again or not. Julia was dead. Vicious was still alive. The last battle in the war was about to be fought, and no one knew who was going to win. I believed in Spike. I had all my faith in him. I had everything and nothing to lose. I had all my chips on the table and I was praying to be the lucky winner.
