I'm not sure how I feel about all this.



Spike sauntered a ways behind Jet and the kid and the dog. He wasn't altogether prepared for a bebop reunion of this magnitude. He was happy about seeing Jet again and, although he'd never admit it to anyone, was sort of beginning to enjoy Faye's company.



But this was just too much.



Ed flew on ahead of them waving frantically at different crew members and cast, Ein nipping at her heels. Jet jogged ahead of Spike. Spike was concentrating on not splitting in half. His ribs ached whenever he stood up straight. As a result he was stooped over like a hunchback. He hated being weak. Absolutely hated it.



Jet looked back over his shoulder as he ran just to make sure Spike was alright. He seemed okay. Tired and probably sore, but that's what getting hacked almost in two was going to do to you, right? Jet was still recovering from being shot in the leg recently, so he knew how it was as he lumbered on after Ed and Ein with only a slight limp left of it.



He was pretty happy to have Ed and Ein back. He hadn't realized how much he missed having them around until now. He wondered absently if they were going to join the crew again. But he wasn't Ed's father. Ed had one now. Not that Jet wanted a kid or anything but sometimes he wondered what it would be like to have a family. Not this messed up group of freaks he had assembled, but a wife and kids and a job to go to every morning and come home from every evening. Someone to sleep beside at night. Someone aside from Ein who would sleep at the foot of his bed every so often. Faye was a good girl but she was a poor substitute for a wife. Or maybe Spike was the wife substitute. That made him laugh inside. What a nice-looking couple the two of them would make; the big bald guy and his beryl-headed wife, Spike.



Spike moved through the crowd almost head and shoulders above everyone else. Even pitched forward. He kept one hand dug down deep into his pants' pocket and the other in front of his middle to keep it from scraping against anything. Ed continued to wave at various people as she passed them.



"Hi, Faye!" She called out to yet another Faye she scurried by. Spike looked over and saw the Faye leaned over a Spike sitting in a canvas chair. This was a different Faye, though. This was the real Faye.



She looked up and shielded her eyes from the sun beating down on them. She had heard Ed's voice. Was there an Ed in this movie, too? She put her fingers down gingerly on Mr. Calhoun's shoulder, "I'll be right back."



"You'd better be." He smiled the same sort of quirky smile Spike sometimes smiled.



She jogged across the street and saw the real Spike leaning against a wall. He wasn't looking too good but she held back the urge to run to him and ask him if he was okay. Instead she reached behind her ear and pulled out a cigarette she had managed to get off of Mr. Calhoun. Spike looked up and saw her coming and pulled out his lighter for her. It was more instinct that gallantry that made him do this. She tipped the cigarette into the flame he produced and took a long drag. Her first cigarette in hours.



"Was that Ed I just saw?"



"Yep."



"What's she doing here?" Faye passed the cigarette to Spike who took it between his fingers.



"Apparently her father has something to do with this film. She's supposed to be taking us to see him. Jet's up there running after her and the dog. I need to rest for a minute. How's the movie star biz?"



Faye tried to unsuccessfully hide her thrill about the whole thing. "It's okay."



Spike had to approach this next subject with caution. He didn't want to make it seem like he cared too much. "So, who's that?" He nodded across the street at Mr. Calhoun.



"That's Roscoe." She said, smirking.



"Pfff...Doesn't look anything like me." He said, inhaling deeply through the cigarette. He held it back out to Faye.



"Yeah." Faye said, humouring him. He wasn't up for an argument.



"Have you found anything out?"



"Not yet. But I'll have ample opportunity tonight at dinner." Faye couldn't hide her smile this time.



"Dinner?"



"With Roscoe. He invited me."



Spike looked down the street to see if he could spot Jet. Jet had stopped about a block away. He waved at Spike who waved back at him.



"You're going out with him?"



"Yes."



Spike grinned, "You know, he isn't me."



"Therein lies his appeal." Faye grinned back.