Disclaimer: I don't own Cowboy Bebop at all! Just this story and that son of a gun Reic!

Blues in the Night

By roxyravette

Chapter 5 Shoot Them Before They Shoot You

Being in the same vicinity with a body on the floor and a gun in your hand is never a good thing. So rather than getting caught and being bombarded with inescapable questions, Faye followed Spike through the hallways and to the lobby. The front desk was unoccupied and they were able to flee through the hotel lobby doors rather quickly. They rushed into a nearby alley as police stormed the front doors. The streets were empty and it was unusually quiet. A few minutes passed and some of the cops came back out and left. Convinced that they were safe, Faye leaned against the wall and reloaded her gun.

"Who is he Faye?" Spike asked quietly. Faye clicked her gun loudly as she finished loading it. She was quiet and Spike had to push her to answer.

"Faye."

"That is on a need to know basis." She replied coldly. "And you don't need to know." Spike gave her a look of disapproval. Faye rolled her eyes at him and pulled out a cigarette. Spike snatched it out of her hand before she could light it and threw it to the ground.

"Why did I have to get out of bed to follow you?" he demanded.

"You didn't have to." She retorted. "I had everything under control."

"Oh really?" he said dubiously.

"Yes really." Faye answered back in her defense. Spike looked her up and down and Faye could feel the heat rush up to her face. She was thankful for the darkness or she would have really been embarrassed.

"What happened?" he questioned further. Faye regained her composure and stared at him defiantly, not answering.

"Damn it Faye!" he yelled as shook her shoulders. "You are going to explain to me why I had interrupt your fun tonight." Faye hung her head and clenched her fists angrily.

"Fun?" she whispered faintly, almost to herself. Faye looked up at him and delivered a swift punch to his jaw. Spike fell to the ground, taken surprise by such a quick blow. Faye's eyes glinted with anger and hurt.

"He was fucking going to rape me." She spat, the last words said with emphasis. " I was not having fun!" Faye blinked back tears. She refused to cry. He made her cry before but never again. She would never let him get to her. Never let him see how weak she really was. Faye put on her tough girl attitude and gave him a withering look. Spike rubbed his cheek and stood up.

"I didn't…" Spike started.

"Yeah, well just shut up!" she interrupted sharply.

He shut up and Faye glared at him. "To think I was actually going to thank you for saving me tonight." She stepped aside from him. Double-checking to see if the cops were still there, she walked cautiously out of the alley.

"Wait!" he called out to her as he rushed to catch up. Faye tensed but continued without him.

"I need you."

"Bullshit." She threw back at him.

"You're the only link to my past." Spike tried. Faye ignored him and continued to walk at a brisk pace.

"Goodbye!" she yelled as she walked away. Spike frowned and caught her wrists. Faye's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Let go of me." she whispered frostily and looked daggers at him. Spike ignored her.

"Do you think I enjoyed waking up in a hospital with no memories? Do you know how I felt?" he whispered. Faye opened her mouth to answer but Spike interrupted her.

"I felt so alone and vulnerable. I hated it. Then you come along with at least some recollection of me. Finally I had hope and I looked to you. But you wouldn't tell me a damn thing. The reason you gave me earlier was a bunch of bull. What's the real reason Faye? Why won't you tell me who I am?" Faye stared at him and said nothing.

"Don't leave me like this." He said looking intently into the depths of her eyes. Faye could see the fear and loneliness in his eyes that seemed so familiar but strange on his face. It made her want to take back every hurtful word she said. Right. If he wanted it that way, then so be it. He had been more trouble than he was worth. Tears and energy were wasted because of him. Did it matter now that he had lost his memory? It didn't. She didn't care anymore.

"Fine, it's your life." She frowned. "But off of me." Spike nodded and let go of her hand.

Suddenly a bullet lodged itself in the wall a few inches from Spike's head. They both jumped a few feet apart. Faye pulled out her gun and pointed it to where the bullet came from. Reic stood there in the middle of the street with his gun trained on her. He grinned at her awestruck face. His gray eyes passed onto Spike and the grin faded, and was replaced with a hostile look. Faye kept her gun on him. Stand off.

"I had no idea you were cheating on me Faye." He growled. Faye ignored him.

"I thought you killed him." She directed to Spike. He looked surprised.

"Would now be a bad time to tell you I didn't?" he answered. Faye sighed loudly.

"Of all the-"

"Enough!" Reic yelled before an argument could ensue. "I've had it of you Faye!"

"You and everyone else." She quipped. Reic glared at her and fired. Faye cried out, clutching her shoulder; the gun lay a few feet in front of her. Spike started towards her but was stopped when Reic pointed the gun at him.

"Move it and lose it." Reic warned. He turned back to Faye, writhing in intense pain. Eventually, she managed to stand up but her shoulder refused to work.

"If you don't come with me, Powder Puff here gets it." He motioned over to Spike. Despite the pain Faye managed to shrug.

"Go ahead no skin off my nose." She grinned evilly.

"What?!" came Spike's surprised voice. Reic gave her a look to say that she was crazy and aimed at Spike. With a burst of motion, Faye dove for her gun and aimed at Reic. He saw her movement from the corner of his eye and directed his gun at her flying figure. Spike used this temporary distraction to bring out his own gun. Three shots fired in the stillness of the night.

It all happened so fast. Reic was able to dodge Faye's shot but Spike's bullet caught him in the thigh. He fell to the ground holding his leg. But Spike didn't see him fall. At the same time he fired at Reic, he heard Faye cry out in pain. From then on time went in slow motion. Spike looked over to Faye and his eyes widened. Her eyes carried such intense agony and pain, yet they looked past him. Her body went limp as Reic's shot went wild and ricocheted. The bullet pierced her back and she fell to the ground with a thud. Her still form was replaced with a girl with blond hair.

Julia.