Disclaimer: I don't own Cowboy Bebop. I wish I did.

Blues in the Night

By roxyravette

Chapter 6 Memories and Dreams are One in the Same

There were gunshots. A loud and nearly earsplitting noise but it was such an adrenaline rush for him. He only felt alive when the bullets nearly tore into his weak and fragile flesh. To feel that close brush with death was sort of like a natural high, yet somehow, this time felt different. Different in that somewhere in the back of his mind, he actually seemed to care if he got shot or even worse, dead. And it was all because of her. An angel who got mixed up into a mess she couldn't escape from. Julia. She was the light of his life. His only reason for living. Someone he cared about to the point where it hurt. But isn't that how love should be. Risking your neck because you love them. All these thoughts raced through Spike's mind as he fired at the gunman. The bullet found its target but the gunman had fired as well. His shot went wild and in a moment that lasted for a lifetime, his angel fell before his eyes. Throwing the gun down, he rushed towards her. Her eyes looked glazed and the light that used to be there was fading fast as he looked on. He cradled her and she whispered her last words. Spike was numb with shock as she closed her eyes.

She was dead.

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            Spike snapped out of his flashback. His heart was beating furiously in his throat and his forehead was slick with sweat.

"A dream?" He looked over to the figure a few steps away from him. Dark locks replaced the blond tresses and instead of Julia, Faye lay there in a pool of her own blood, spreading out into the street.

"Faye!" he called to her as he ran to her side. Spike turned her over gently and brushed her limp hair out of her pale face. The bullet had pierced her by her left shoulder. The wound bled freely. Suddenly, Faye's eyes snapped open and she let out a weak gasp. Her eyes were cloudy as she grimaced in pain.

"S…Spi…" she whispered fading out. Spike shushed her softly. As he tried to cradle her in his arms, Spike heard a gun click behind him and cold steel press into his spine.

"Drop the broad." Reic said dangerously. Spike laid Faye down as gently as he could and delivered a speedy kick to his jaw. Reic and the gun went flying across the street. He landed with a loud thud and as he struggled to get up, his strength failed him. He lay on the ground in a limp heap. Spike stared in shock at his fancy footwork.

"How did I do that?" he asked himself. Spike turned back around to Faye. She tried to get up herself and collapsed to the ground with a loud cry.

"Faye, let me help." Spike took of his t-shirt and wrapped her wounds with it. Blood seeped through the material but it would have to do for now. Finished, he gathered her in his arms. She winced as he lifted her up. There was no one in sight and Spike decided to walk to the nearest hospital. They left Reic's crumpled body behind them.

"I'm sorry." Spike said after awhile. Faye looked up at him with tired eyes.

"For what?" she asked softly.

"I couldn't get to you in time. I promise that I'll protect you from now on." Faye gave no response and suddenly she coughed. She pulled her hand away to reveal blood. Spike's eyes widened and he set her down, propping her against the alley wall.

"Dammit!" he cursed, after he examined her. "He hit your lung." Faye was a mess. Blood had seeped into her clothes, making them an awful brown color. He hair and face was in the same shape as her clothes. Dried blood plastered her hair to her face and her eyes where listless. Her head dipped as she fought sleep. Spike saw this and shook her awake.

"What?" she snapped wearily. Spike lifted her chin.

"Don't fall asleep, okay? Promise me you won't." he said fearfully. Faye nodded her head. Spike took her up in his arms. Faye smiled. Spike saw her grin.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"My, my, my, Grandmother, what strong arms you have." She said with a lazy smirk. Spike returned it.

"I suppose my line is, 'The better to hold you with my dear.'" He replied slyly. Faye flushed and coughed to cover it up. She closed her eyes. Spike shook her and she woke up with a start.

"I'm tired and so sleepy…"

"Please Faye, don't close your eyes. You might never wake up." He warned. Faye frowned.

"Thank you, Mr. Sunshine." Spike stopped and stared into her dim green eyes.

"I won't let you die." Faye rolled her head to look at him and smiled weakly.

"That's a nice thought."

"I'm serious, Faye. I don't want to lose what link I have to the past." Faye bit her lip and nodded her head. "Come on, I'll tell you jokes to keep you awake. Umm how about this one: There was a blonde, brunette, and a red head that had escaped from prison…"

***

Faye lay in a hospital bed and she couldn't help feel uncomfortable. Machines and computers whirred and the smell was almost unbearable. She and hospitals were never the best of pals. She hated sitting here, feeling helpless. It was unnerving as hell and though she didn't really want to admit it, scary. Spike sat nearby in a chair asleep. Memories of what had happened last night and early that morning flooded back to her and she lay back down on the bed, rubbing her face. It all seemed like a bad dream. One that she could have just woken up from. But as she laid there it all seemed so real.

"Some reality." She thought.  She had been stabbed, beaten, nearly raped and shot in a space of two days. She had come to a point where too many things had happened. She was battle fatigue. Suddenly, Spike stirred and woke up. His eyes met hers. Faye averted her eyes and mumbled something under her breath.

"What was that?" Spike asked. Faye turned to face him.

"I was wondering where I was. Now that I saw you, I know it's definitely Hell." Spike gave her a disapproving look.

"Well I guess I brought you this for nothing." Spike said as he laid a single red rose beside her. Faye remained quiet.

"Thank you." She said at last. "Thank you for staying with me and keeping me awake." Spike nodded and spoke.

"Well I am your bodyguard."

"What?"

"I promised that I'd protect you." Faye frowned in confusion and then in anger.

"I don't need you to come in on your white horse to save the day." She said angrily. "Why don't you just leave for right now?" Spike gave her a hard look.

"You shouldn't act so tough Faye. It might get you killed one day."

"The same goes for you," She replied. "If you only knew." Spike ignored her pointed jab and stared at the rose. Something was so familiar about it.

"I need to ask you something." He said seriously. "Who's Julia?" Faye tensed and said nothing. A pang of jealousy went through her. Spike glowered and stared at her. He had seen the flicker in her eyes. Faye saw the look he was giving her. It was his teacher face. The one that could make you squirm from ten paces, even if you were innocent. And Faye Valentine hadn't been innocent in years.

"A dream." She whispered finally, with a cold edge. Spike stood up so fast that the chair he was sitting in nearly fell.

"Don't give me that." He said firmly. "I know she was someone important. Someone important to me. My past. My life. Don't say, 'A dream.'" Faye stared at him hard and her emerald green eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

"She is a dream. A passing dream." Faye yelled back. "This is your chance to wake up from that dream-no nightmare! Live on Spike. Forget about her. She's dead." Spike blinked.

"What?" he asked.

"She's dead." She replied frostily. "She's pushing up daisies. Kicked the bucket. Gone. Faded. Nonexistent." Silence emptied into the hospital room. Faye held Spike's firm, relentless glare with one of her own. Neither made a move.  At last, Spike spoke.

"You didn't need to say it that way." he said softly, but a harsh tone was still in his voice. Faye remained unfazed.

"Well it's the truth. You wanted to know." Spike stared at her and let himself out of the room, exiting with out another word. She was alone again.

"I'll always be alone." Faye hugged herself.

"Dammit." She cursed. "What have I got myself into?"

To be continued…