Chapter Six:

                                                                    Quiet Down

"Missed me as what, Jules?"-Spike

***

Faye was allowed to go back 'home' to the Bebop the next week. Ed, when Faye entered, ran up and hugged the older woman, sobbing. It was quite disturbing. Faye, though, stood and patted Ed's back, putting up with the sudden show of affection only because she herself was glad to be back and happy to still be alive.

Jet came in behind Faye carrying all her bags. He dropped them down on the floor beside the doorframe that connected the entrance hall to the living room. Spike stood from his place on the couch. "I thought you said you could protect her," he murmured accusingly, so only Jet could hear. 

"She's alive," Jet stated. "I got her through it."

"Well, you got her through it by wasting 25,000 woolong," he muttered. "Not only that, but we didn't get the reward for that last bounty.  Not only was he riddled with holes but he also committed suicide before the cops could get there!"

Jet shrugged, "Life's a bitch."

Spike sighed. He walked over to Faye, congratulating her on the catch before turning and going into his room. Ed had finally detached herself room Faye and went to find Jester for Faye.

"He seems… different," Jet commented.

"Who, Spike?" Fay asked. "I hadn't noticed." She sat down on the couch, sighing deeply.

Jet lowered his self next to her and it donned on him. "Where's Julia?"

"No idea," Faye said, leaning over so her head was on his shoulder. "Those meds are making me sleepy."

***

Julia checked out of the hotel she had been staying in for the past few days. Now, it was time to face the music: to face Spike. She had to get her clothes, rewashing the old ones over and over was getting old.

She paid the cashier what little money she ha and set off for the Bebop.

***

Silently, that night, Julia boarded the Bebop. She racked her brain for the memory of where she had laid her bags of clothes. The left living room corner.

Upon entering the living room, -to her great disappointment and utter dismay- she found her clothes had been removed. "Shit," she cursed.

"Looking for something?" A familiar voice asked. Spike was sprawled out on the couch, a bottle of vodka in hand.

"Yes," she stated confidently. "I need my clothes."

"Where have you been?" he asked.

"Why does it matter?" she walked around the couch, so she was standing over him. She placed her hands on her hips, "Spike, I need my clothes."

"It does matter, now where the fuck have you been?"

"Where do you think I've been?" she said seriously, but inside she was just messing with him.

"Fuck you, Julia. I am getting sick of you just taking off without a word."

"I was staying at a hotel across town," she said nonchalantly, as she walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"And what for?" he yelled, following after her.

"Ssshh, you'll wake everybody up." She turned on the water, and faced him as her cup was filling. "Because, dear, I couldn't stay here."

"And why the hell not?"

"Because, I wouldn't be able to stand being around you when you're pissed… at me." She turned back to the sink, looking over at the dining room table across the bar. She brought the cup to her lips, drinking the clear, cool liquid as she turned off the water.

Spike grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. He grabbed the cup from her and set it on the counter before taking her face in his hands and kissing her deeply. When he pulled away, he asked, "Julia, what is our relationship in your eyes?"

Julia stared into his reddish-brown colored eyes, "I missed you." She placed her hand on the side of his neck.

"Missed me as what, Jules?"

"I missed you as a lover."

He pulled her close again, locking lips with hers.

She ran her hand up his neck, onto his cheek, and into his hair. Her other hand sliding under his shirt and across his bare side.

"So, do you still need your clothes to leave?" Spike asked, his lips hovering over hers.

She kissed him on the lips. "No, I guess not."

He picked her up in his arms and ran, literally, into his room, shutting the door behind him.

***

Jet staggered down the hall. He felt drunk, but knew he didn't touch a damn bottle – or can- of anything alcoholic the previous day. He was just not a morning person.

Faye was sitting sulkily in the dining room, cutting away savagely at a bonsai tree.

Jet laughed when he saw her. "Something wrong?"

She looked up, her eyes bloodshot. "I request a room as far away from Spike's as possible."

"Why?" Jet asked, clueless.

"They were going at it all fucking night. Each time I thought they were finished, they started up again. By God, they're like fucking animals."

Jet nearly fell to the floor in laughter, not to mention unstable legs. He grabbed the bar to stable his self.

"Yea, laugh it up, cowboy," she growled, making another violent snip with her scissors. "What I need is to get back at them, but by God I don't want to pay someone to sleep with me. That is just so desperate, you know?" She lopped off another branch.

"Well, you got a dilemma." Jet sat down in front of her. "I can help you. I'm not going to sleep with you, but I can make the noise."

Faye stared at him, mouth hanging open. She then let out a startled laugh, followed by another until she was cracking up.

"I know it sounds stupid."

That made her laugh harder. She held her sides, doubled over in laughter.

"Fine. I was just offering my help." She stood up walking into the living room, away from her laughing.

She followed him, a wide smile on her face. "You need to lighten up. I never refused your help."

He nodded. "Okay tonight." He said it like it was a dare, a bet to be there or be square. (Don't ask.)

"See you then, my love," she said, kissing his lips lightly before running for the bathroom.

"Don't push it, Faye!" he yelled after her.

She held up her middle finger before retreating behind the bathroom door, screaming, "You can't get me, nah-nah-boo-boo!"

Jet laughed, "I don't chase."

She stuck her head out of the room and sticking her tongue out at him.

***

That night, Jet entered Faye's room at the set time.

Faye was sitting on her bed in a bra and shorts, her usual nighttime attire. "Jet, I gotta ask you a question."

"Okay. What is it?"

"You don't look like the type that would… you know… So I was wondering if you've ever… you know… I mean, if we want it to sound real, you gotta know how to… you know…" She looked real uncomfortable.

He laughed, "You want to know if I've ever had sex. That's a personal question, Faye."

"Well, I know, but… you know…"

"Yes, Faye," he answered her earlier question. "I have."

"Oh, okay," she said. She was unusually red in the face.

"So, when do you want to start?"

"Now, I guess," she said, but turned even redder.

"Who's starting?"

"You can," she replied quickly.

He laughed and stood, making his way to the door. "Oh God Faye," he moaned.

Faye was the color of a very ripe tomato. "Ooh, Jet." She cooed. "Touch me again… ohh, right there."

***

Julia looked over at Spike. She had the blankets pulled up to her chin. "Spike?"

Spike looked equally horrified. "Tell me I'm hearing things."

Julia heard Jet moan, "Isn't he a little old for her?"

"Thirteen years," he answered. Hearing Faye let out a loud "Oh yes! Yes!" he paled. "I'm going to be sick."

"Why don't you go make them shut up," she urged.

"Me?! Why not you?"

"I don't know them as well as you. I don't want to interfere with their nocturnal activities."

"Neither do I. I'm afraid I'll see something that will haunt my dreams until kingdom come."

"Faye," Jet rolled the word in a husky, low groan. Julia covered her ears. "How about we both go," she offered.

"O… Okay," he agreed but stood hesitantly.

Julia took his hand, walking out the door. They were half-way to Faye's door when the moaning stopped. "Maybe they stopped." Julia pulled on Spike's hand causing him to come to a stop.

The moaning began again, "Never mind, I spoke to soon."

Spike swallowed before walking forward, knocking on the door.

***

Jet looked at Faye. He pointed to the door, and then mouthed; "Get in bed, cover up," as he removed his T-shirt throwing it on the floor. He undid his belt and pants.

Faye quickly got under the covers, ruffling her hair and taking the shoulder straps off her bra.

Jet opened the door to two very disgusted people. "Can I help you?" Jet asked lazily.

"Jet," Faye whined, "come back, baby."

Julia opened her mouth, but closed it before any words slipped out. She looked to spike for support. "Do you—umm."

Spike then began, "Could you, um, you know?..."

"Quiet down," Julia finished.

Jet started at them like they each had sprouted another head. Then turned to Faye, "They want us to quiet down."

"Quiet down?" She repeated, sounding astounded. "No, honey, we can't do that."

"I'm sorry, we can't do that."

Julia nodded. "I understand but we can't get to sleep."

"They can't get to sleep, Faye." Jet yelled back to her.

"Well, neither can we, right Jetty?"

Julia nodded. "Just thought we'd… you know… tell you how much noise you were making… so, um… goodnight."

"Goodnight," Jet shut the door. "I'm coming back to bed, Faye." Julia heard the springs creak from his added weight.

Faye giggled over dramatically and Spike frowned. "I vote the couch."

Julia looked at him, "Will we both fit on it?"

"You can take the couch, I'll have the floor."

"How sweet of you." She patted his cheek as she walked past.

***

Faye smiled. "They're going into the living room," she said, listening through the door. She flopped back down onto the bed's tousled sheets.

Jet buttoned his pants and redid his belt. "You owe me," he said a he picked up his shirt.

"Thank you, Jet. That's the second time you've saved me." She smiled at him sheepishly.

"Is that all I get. A 'thank you.' Do you know how Spike is going to look at me now? Like I've lost my mind."

"What do you want for me to do for you, Jet?" she asked, seeming abashed.

Jet shook his head, "If I have a problem you help me."

"Okay," she agreed. "I won't let you down like Alicia did," she paused when she realized what she had said. "Oh, God, Jet, I am so sorry, I-"

"No, don't worry about it." He opened her door, slipping out into the engulfing darkness of the hallway.

Faye got up and caught his arm outside his room. "Jet, I didn't mean to bring her up. I am so sorry."

"Faye," he pulled his arm away. "Don't worry. It's okay," he insisted, but inside he wasn't so sure. He figured he was over her by now, but the way Faye phrased it got to him.

She bit her lip and turned. Before she left, though, she said, "I've changed, Jet. You can talk to me whenever and about whatever."

***

Julia woke the next morning with Spike lying next to her on the couch. They had both managed to fit on it-when Spike wouldn't stop complaining how hard the floor was-. Of course, they had to lie sideways. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist, and her face was buried into her chest. 

Faye came out of her room, sat down at the kitchen table and began clipping away at the bonsai again.

Julia kissed Spike, afraid to move for fear of waking him. He looked so peaceful when he slept.

Jet walked into the kitchen and began making eggs, "We're leaving for the Venus, today."

"That's nice," Faye said softly, clipping another branch.

Spike moaned and rolled off the couch. He didn't even seem fazed when he hit the floor. He went on sleeping.

Julia stepped over him, sighing. She walked into the kitchen, caught between the both of them, remembering last night, she whispered, "I'm just going to go Spike's room." 

Jet watched Julia go, "What's wrong today, Faye. Regret the joke?"

"I'm full of regrets, shattered hopes and lost dreams, Jet," she said quietly, pinching a branch in between her fingers to steady it while grabbing the shears in the other.

Jet sat down the knife and milk jug. "Faye, what's wrong?" he asked again.

"Nothing, Jet, don't worry about it," she muttered, clipping the bonsai and cutting her finger at the same time. The clipped branch fell onto the table, two perfect blood drops on it. "Goddamnit," she cursed.

Jet ignored her, pouring a cup of milk and buttering his bread. He grabbed them both and went into the living room. He kicked Spike in the side to move him away from the couch. "Get up you lazy ass."

Spike moaned. "Damnit, Jet," he grumbled. "Go kick your new little girl of a squeeze."

"Hey, Spike." Jet sat down on the couch, resting his feet on the table. "Julia told me not to tell you, but seeing as we're friends and all. Plus I figure you'd like to know. She's not here. She left with some guy named Mikeal, said she'd be back by two, and to tell you she just went shopping. I caught her this morning about to leave with him. She explained everything."

Spike huffed angrily and stomped off, slamming his bedroom door.

Faye walked by, also in some sort of angry state, and walked into the bathroom, also slamming the door.

"God, what's going on around here?" Jet asked nobody in particular.

Julia was rummaging through her bags of clothes in the corner of Spike's room.

Spike came in, and, taken aback by her being there, said, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Julia looked at the bag of clothes, over to Spike and then back at the bag of clothes. She picked out a pair of tight-fitting black jeans and a burgundy shirt. "I can leave," she started walking towards him, to get to the door.

"No, no… hold on." He opened the door and bellowed. "JET! YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"

***

"True love never dies as we see in our eyes, only when we let go that we can truly say goodbye."—I'm not to sure. Sorry

'I started a joke, which started the whole world laughin'.

But I didn't see that the joke was on me'

~The wallflowers.

'This joke is getting kind of personal

Your laugh is like a scream that goes and goes and goes'

~Headstrong

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