Disclaimer: I don't own Cowboy Bebop. Just this story and Reic.
Blues in the Night By roxyravette Chapter 9Gun Fighting Rule #1: You MUST have a Gun
Spike stood before the old, decrepit building and shuddered inwardly. He hoped to whatever God there was, that Faye wasn't hurt. The fact that he was risking everything for a little slip of a woman he barely knew seemed strange. Yet, he knew from the deep recesses of his heart that he could never leave her in any danger- for long at any rate. Spike wasn't sure why, but deep down inside, he knew that there'd be hell to pay if she was harmed. He sighed heavily. He didn't even know if she was here for sure.
"Well there's only one way to find out." Spike gripped the gun tightly and entered the church. He froze.
"Church?" Spike looked up at the building. It wasn't a church. "Where had that come from?" Spike shivered in his jacket and a sense of dread invaded his thoughts. He didn't want to go in there. His instincts were screaming at him not to enter that warehouse, but an image of Faye crept into his thoughts and Spike composed himself.
He'd promise to protect her.
***
Faye fought the bonds with all the strength that she could muster. She had to take advantage of the time Reic was out. He'd gotten a lot smarter to use the ropes like he did. The bond's intricate knots and loops made it nearly impossible for an average person to untie. Faye smirked. She wasn't by any means average. Her delicate fingers worked on a group of knots until gradually they loosened. She ignored the beads of sweat that ran down her face and mingled with the dried blood on her check.
"Success!" she thought to herself. Finally, she felt the ropes give. Not much, but enough for her to get the feeling in her hands again. Faye began on another series of knots and the door to the office opened. Faye stopped her work, expecting to see Spike, and glared at Reic with flaming green eyes. He set a small bottle and a rag on a nearby table. He took no notice of her and went about his business, looking carefully at the security cameras. Faye tested the bonds, but they were still too tight.
"Since when were you so good at tying people up?" she asked rudely. Reic didn't turn around; didn't even bother to answer her. She felt her anger flare for being so stupid earlier. As much as she hated depending on people, Spike was her only hope now.
"You know he will come for me." She said softly. This time Reic did turn toward her.
"And that's what I'm counting on." He said quietly.
"Why are you doing this? What do you get out of it?" A red switch turned on and Reic whirled to the security screens. Faye looked with him and saw a figure, no doubt Spike, pass by on the camera. Faye felt hope spring up in her heart.
"No effort to great, no hour too late." She said in relief.
"About fucking time." Reic frowned and came over to Faye. He saw that she had undone some of the knots.
"You've been very busy."
"I try." She said frostily. Reic grabbed her hands and with quick snaps, broke her fingers. Faye screamed in pain.
"When will you ever learn?" He picked up his knife and left the office.
***
Spike walked carefully through the building, taking note of every shadow and dark crevice. His instincts still nagged him to turn back and get the hell out of there, but he pressed on. The warehouse had two floors and as he climbed the stairs to the second floor, Spike couldn't help but feel as if she had just cinched his fate. Taking a deep breath, he rounded the corner gun drawn. A shot fired to his left and Spike aimed at Reic with surprising reflexes. Reic smiled fiercely.
"My, such amazing responses. A shame I have to kill you."
"Why'd you miss." Spike said evenly. Reic looked surprised.
"What? No clever repartee?" he asked. "Oh well. I should have expected as much from the best of the Red Dragon Syndicate." Spike flinched but kept the gun on Reic. The name felt familiar. He collected himself.
"Where's Faye?"
"And direct too?" Reic laughed. "She's in an office on this floor. I wanted her to see you die, but she's a bit dangerous. I think it's a little funny though that she'll be able to watch us and not do a thing about it."
"I want her back."
"You'll have to take her from me." Reic's voice went low and his grip on the sub machine gun became obvious. Spike smiled.
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
And it began.
***
Faye worked diligently on the knots, but her broken fingers made it excoriating and painfully slow work. She wanted to give up, but her pride wouldn't allow her to.
"Whoever said 'No pain, no gain' was right." She thought to herself. She ignored the throbbing in her hands because if a little pain was all that it cost to get out of here tonight, it was worth it. Suddenly, a familiar sound made her stop. It was a gunshot, but it sounded far off. She looked to the security cameras and saw two figures standing, guns drawn. Faye watched, the ropes forgotten, and prayed for Spike's safety.
***
Spike dodged Reic's barrage of bullets, but not before he felt a shot graze his arm. Spike touched his shoulder gingerly. He had to be careful; he couldn't afford to make mistakes. He only had two clips and he had to make them count. Spike ducked behind a heap of metal and peered out. Reic saw him and pointed the machine gun in his direction.
"You can't hide forever!" he shouted above the gunfire. Spike ducked back, shielding himself from the hail of bullets.
"How the hell am I going to get past him?" Spike's mind raced. He knew absolutely nothing about gun fighting, especially when he was out matched. He hoped that his body remembered enough about combat to keep him alive.
"There you are!" Reic said suddenly a few feet away from him. Spike dove for cover as Reic fired his onslaught at Spike's flying figure. Spike hid behind another mountain of scrap metal. He couldn't keep this up. He had to get the machine gun away from Reic.
"Easier said than done." He thought ruefully. Spike looked around desperately for something to use against the insane gunman. He looked above him and found what he was looking for.
"Bingo." He thought. Now all he had to do was get Reic in the perfect position.
"Show yourself!" Reic yelled, frustrated. Reic looked around frenziedly for Spike. "Oh, I am going to enjoy putting bullets into you." Spike shuddered in his hiding place. Taking a deep, calming breath, he rolled out into the open. Reic saw him and grinned as he fired at Spike. Spike dodged the assault and fired a few halfhearted shots him at him. Reic let out a surprised sound and the bombardment stopped, allowing Spike to find cover. Reic stood up shakily, holding his abdomen.
"You little shit!" he growled. Reic's pale eyes seethed with unchecked fury. He ran to where he saw Spike last. Taking advantage of Reic's utterly stupid mistake, Spike shot up into the ceiling. Reic stopped and brought the machine gun up against Spike's chest.
"You missed." He said grinning viciously. Spike returned the grin with one of his own. Suddenly it felt as if the building shook and a steel beam came crashing down. Spike and Reic jumped in opposite directions but not before the rest of the ceiling decided to fall. As the dust cleared and the last of the fragments fell, Spike could see the outline of Reic lying in the dust. Spike walked towards him, Glock drawn. Reic lifted his head and slowly stood up. He was unarmed and bleeding from a large gash on his head. Spike frowned and yanked Reic up to his feet.
"Who put out the contract?" Spike asked threateningly. Reic cough and spat blood on Spike's jacket. Spike shoved Reic on the floor hard enough that he cried out. "Tell me!" Reic laughed.
"I'm just the hired help. I know nothing." Reic smiled, but it faded a little when he saw the look Spike was giving him. He looked absolutely murderous. The hand holding the Glock shook with rage and his eyes betrayed his desire to put a bullet into his enemy. But his smile was full of cool humor, making him seem even more evil, if not wicked.
"Then you are of no use to me." He said coldly and pressed the trigger. Reic sprang up and tackle Spike with his superior weight. The shot went wild, firing into the ceiling. They wrestled on the ground, fighting like savages for possession of the gun. The gun slipped out of Spike's grip and clattered to floor. Reic reached for it but Spike kicked it out of the way. Pissed, Reic grabbed Spike by the throat and started to choke him. Spike kicked Reic hard in his already injured abdomen. Taking the moment, he reached frantically for the weapon and found the sub machine gun. Reic saw him aiming and knocked the gun away, sending a torrent into the ceiling. The weak ceiling collapsed unto them yet again. The building made a groaning sound and the floor beneath them gave way, leaving the second floor enveloped in wreckage. As it dust cleared, a hand reached up, and Reic lifted himself unto the remains of the floor. Spike was nowhere to be seen. After catching his breath, Reic stood up cautiously, surveying the destruction. He looked down into the gaping hole and was surprised to see Spike lying on top of the remains for the floor and ceiling. Reic laughed at the still figure, bent in an unnatural position and impaled by steel rods.
***
Faye watched the scene in absolute horror.
"It couldn't be?" she whispered to herself, but the cameras did not lie. The scene showed Spike skewered by two metal shafts. Faye felt herself become sick. There was no way Spike was alive. No one could have survived that. He was gone. She couldn't be rescued now. The door to the office opened and Faye faced Reic with teary, green eyes. She recovered from her shock somewhat and glared angrily at him.
"You bastard! You killed Spike!" She shouted, feeling close to tears. "You'll rot in hell for what you've done." Reic gave her a blank look and reached for the bottle. Fear welled up in her throat as he came near her. Reic glanced at her with dead eyes as he soaked the rag in the contents of the bottle.
"What's that?" she ventured nervously. Reic smirked and came forward; rag in hand.
"It's just some alcohol for the cut on your face." He said smoothly. "Wouldn't want you to scar." Faye looked doubtful and she caught a whiff of the smell emanating from the rag.
"Like hell it is!" She yelled. Faye tried desperately to move out of the way but Reic kept coming closer. Finally, he was close enough that Faye tried to bite him. Reic withdrew a little.
"Why are you being so difficult?" He asked her violently. He pressed the rag to her face, covering her mouth and her nose. Faye continued to resist, but she could feel her muscles giving out. Eventually, she hung limp in the chair. Satisfied, Reic moved the cloth away from her face. Reic began untying her and picked her up roughly. Faye could feel his arms around her but she couldn't do anything about it. Her body refused to work. Reic looked at her immobile form in his arms.
"Though I prefer your struggling, I do like this new arrangement." Faye could do nothing but stare him. Reic laughed at her helplessness. "And now we can get out of here with no more problems." He started toward the door of the office. Faye's head rolled to the cameras and one lone tear trickled down her face.
"Spike…"
To be continued….