Spike and the Sandman

By The SleepWalker

The Bebop sped off toward Mars, ripping through one of the gates. It was late and very quite. Everyone had gone to bed after yet another shameful performance of the art of bounty hunting. Spike was still smarting from the loss and stayed up, smoking and keeping himself busy. This involved a marathon of martial arts movies and game after game of solitaire. The rest of the crew slept very soundly, except one.

Faye tossed in her sleep and woke Ein, who wined and tried to wake her. She continued to sleep fitfully. The little dog became worried after he couldn't wake her up. He went and found Spike who was polishing the Sword Fish. He was whistling a jaunty tune and wiping it down with an old rag. "Oh, it's you." He groaned. Ein whimpered and led the way. "What's the problem?"

Faye began to toss more violently. She nearly fell out of bed, but Spike righted her. He shook her to wake her up, but she didn't get up. "Uh oh."

"What is wrong with Faye-Faye?" asked Ed, rubbing her eyes.

"If she's faking…" said an annoyed and sleepy Jet, leaving the threat floating on the air.

"I don't think she's faking Jet." Said Spike, "I don't think she's sick either. I think she's having a nightmare."

"Nightmare?" asked Jet.

"She's sleeping and I can't wake her up."

"Is that such a bad thing?" asked Jet.

"Jet!" exclaimed Ed, "That is not nice!"

"I called the doc, he said he can't do anything, so I figured Old Man Bull might do the trick."

"Old Man Bull?" asked Jet.

"He hasn't steered me wrong yet."

The little hole in the wall that Old Man Bull worked out of was filled with funny smelling smoke and odd trinkets as it always was, and the old medicine man sat, sifting sand through his fingers. "The Swimming Bird must first take a journey into the heart of the Dream Time, and talk to the Dream King. He will tell you what has happened."

"And how do I get to the heart of the Dream Time?" asked Spike, taking a drag on a peace pipe.

"The Swimming Bird must fall into a deep sleep."

"Is that it?"

"Yes, for only the Swimming Bird can enter the true Dream Time."

Spike was confused, but what else could he do but go back to the Bebop and take a nap. He went out into the hanger where he knew he wouldn't be disturbed and slowly dozed off.