COWBOY BEBOP- IT'S A HARD KNOCK LIFE PT.2
DISCLAIMER!!: This fic contains violence, lots of it and boy is it ever graphic.
Naughty words too, so if you can't take the heat get off my damn ship and stop reading
right now!
Jet trudged through a world that seemed so unreal, as he carried Ed's body to his ship.
Everything was out of focus, even the Hammerhead that was right in front of him.
Faye's voice was exploding from the comm.unit, frantically asking if Edward was ok.
Jet gave no reply, leaving the comm.unit on the floor where it had dropped.
"Ohh..Edward.." Jet's voice was almost a whisper as he squeezed out the words.
He carefully set her down in the Hammerhead, catching another glimpse of her face
as he did so. That brought more tears, as Jet climbed into the cockpit. She was
always so happy, so sweet, so loving of life and everything else. A true symbol of
what little hope was left in the world. Jet maneuvered the Hammerhead away, trying to
think of how he'd explain this to them. What was there to explain? He had found her
this way, and still had no clue as to who had attacked them. Jet was overcome as he
reutrned to the crash site, feeling a hundred things at once. This was all so wrong,
it didn't make any sense. Why had they been attacked? And why had the people responsible
taken Edward instead of Spike? And why had they done this to her, instead of holding her
hostage? Jet had a lot of questions, and no answers. It was apparent someone was after
them for a change, but who? And why? Jet sped up as he neared the Bebop, suddenly
uncomfortable with Spike and Faye being injured and alone.
Spike flexed his left arm, frowning at the cast. He was bandaged up once again,
and whoever had attacked them was unmistakably still out there. He looked back
at the Bebop from where he stood outside. The old ship and been in worse shape,
but never in a situation this grim. Faye was still inside, still trying to get Jet to
respond. Jet had sounded really out of it, the few words he'd said. The way Jet had
sounded made Spike sure that something had happened to Edward, something bad.
And Spike felt responsible. He had tried to follow the ship as it took off, but he
had been too badly hurt. Spike put his hand on the his chest. The bullet had gone clean
through, missing his organs. Why was he always so lucky like that? Spike winced at the
sunlight as he looked up, seeing the Hammerhead return at last. "Faye, he's back!"
Spike called to her, walking back inside the ship. Faye came rushing out, hobbling on
the crutches as she met him at the door. They both watched as Jet came towards them,
carrying a motionless Edward in his arms. "Oh my God!" Faye cried, hopping over to
Jet. Spike followed behind her, staring in disbelief. Jet moved past them both without
a word or even a glance, as he carried Ed inside. "What happened? Is she alive?" Faye
asked, hobbling after Jet. Spike remained outside for a bit, glad he'd finally gotten the
Bebop's communications back up. It had been tricky, but watching Jet had taught him the basics.
The emergency channel hadn't stayed open long, but he'd had time for one call to Doohan.
He was on his way here now, but would anyone be left to greet him?
Jet laid Ed down in the sick bay, thankful that it hadn't been as trashed as the rest of the
ship. All the medical facilities were still online. Jet sat down heavily as the computer
scanned her body, not daring to look at the reports as they came. He'd wait until the scan
was complete. Spike entered slowly, with Faye peeking over his shoulder. They weren't
sure if Jet wanted to be alone or not. "Don't just stand there, you two." Jet said softly,
the gruffness still in his voice. Spike smirked weakly as he and Faye came into the
sick bay. Jet stood bolt upright, as Ed monaed softly. Faye pushed past Spike, rushing
to the bedside as Jet moved to follow. Spike dutifully took his place at the scanner,
analyzing the reports. "I think she's gonna make it, tough kid." Spike announced, smiling
in spite of himself. Jet knelt beside Ed, as Faye stood over her. Tears of joy streamed
down their faces, as Edward's eyes opened. She cried out as she tried to sit up,
laying back down as Jet held her. "Edward.." He said softly, looking her over. Her left eye
was badly swollen, and couldn't open all the way. Her left arm was also broken, as well
as both of her legs. Her right hand was broken in two places, and her face was covered
with cuts and gashes along with the rest of her body. "Jet...Person." Ed sighed, looking around
as much as her injuries would allow. "Faye Faye." She sighed again, reaching her hand out.
Faye took it immediately, hiolding it to her cheek. "I'm here Ed." She answered, biting her lip.
Ed smiled weakly, looking over at Spike, who nodded happily to her. "Welcome back, cowgirl."
He said affectionetely, smiling as she grinned. He was just as relieved as the others to see her
again, but someone had to make sure they weren't caught off guard. "Spikey.." Ed sighed again,
resting her head again. "You guys, came for Edward? Ed knew you would." She said
weakly, looking content to be back with them all. Ein came skittering in, standing on his
hind legs as he poked his head up at Edward. "Ein!" She cried happily, wincing as the outburst
brought more pain. She petted the dog's head as he carefully climbed onto the bed, licking
her face as he whined. The scanner finsihed, as Spike grabebd the readout and handed it to Jet.
Jet took it thankfully, looking it over. She had Spike's luck all right, the injuries weren't
as bad as he'd feared. "Edward feels like shit, Ein." Ed told the dog plainly, wincing as
Jet tested her limbs a bit. "We're going to need a doctor, Spike." Jet informed him, as Spike
headed for the door. "Where do you think you're going?!" Jet called after him, scowling.
"I hotwired the emergency channel, Doohan's on his way." Spike answered, sounding angry and
bitter. "Someone should be out there to flag him down." Spike added as he continued walking.
Jet let him go, reluctantly. It was just like Spike to leave at a time like this. He wasn't the
only one getting emotional over Ed, but he never let them see his feelings. Faye watched him
go, looking from Ed to Spike and back again. "Stay with her, I'll go." Jet told Faye, getting up
and walking out the door. He didn't perfer to be caught crying either, and Doohan would need
more help than just Spike. Faye nodded, keeping a careful eye on Ed's condition. If they didn't
get her to a hospital before nightfall, Edward could still die. Faye looked at Ed's hand,
seeing the ring still there. Faye's tears renewed as she remembered giving it to Edward,
watching her eyes light up with wonderment. Faye hoped with all her heart Ed would be that
happy again someday.
Spike tried his comm. unit again, grumbling as Doohan failed to answer.
Jet came up behind him, clapping a hand on Spike's good shoulder. Spike turned sharply,
wincing as the bullet wound ached. "No response?" Jet asked, searching the sky. "None, but
Doohan said he'd be taking some old relic he rebuilt, doesn't have a radio." Jet nodded grimly,
still fairly impressed that Spike had managed to fix the communications. Even if it was only
one call, it was something. Spike picked up on Jet's thoughts, smirking as he lit a cigarette.
"Don't worry Jet." Spike assured his partner. "One call to Doohan is all you need." Jet nodded
again, hoping he was right. Edward needed medical care as fast as she could get it.
A low whine made them both turn, and Spike drew his gun as a zip craft flew low overhead.
"Jet!" He called, shoving his partner aside as the zip craft's vulcun gun began to turn.
Jet made sure Spike landed on top of him as he drew his own gun. He was the least wounded
and didn't want Spike pushing himself too hard. A bigger, older looking craft swooped down
as the zip craft opened fire. Spike and Jet ran for cover, as the older craft fired missiles.
Spike fired at the zip craft, ducking behind the Bebop as a retaliation came. The other ship
looked extremely old, older than his even. Spike let that sink in before coming to his
conclusion. He took another peek out and grinned wide. "Doohan!" He shouted, as the missles
slammed into the zip craft. It spiraled away and crashed near the Swordfish. Spike waved to
the old ship, seeing it was a mono racer like his. The ship landed slowly, bucking to and fro
as it touched down. It was the Swordfish I, Spike was sure of it. The sister ship to his
Swordfish II. Spike had heard lots of stories, but this was the first time he'd actually seen
her. And what a sight to behold. The design was older, with lots of different modifications
from his ship. She was painted a dirty white, like a knight riding to their rescue, Spike
thought. Doohan popped the cockpit hatch and jumped out, waving as Jet came out of hiding.
Spioke ran over to meet him, grinning broadly at the old coot. He was without a doubt the
toughest man his age. "The hell is this kid?" Doohan cracked, smiling back at Spike.
"You only give this old man a call when you need something, eh?" Spike shrugged his shoulders,
offering his old pal a smoke. "Doohan, you saved my ass AGAIN." Spike laughed, digging out a
lighter as Doohan took the cigg. "You can call it even, in exchange for the cigarette and 20
percent of the bounty." Doohan replied, giving Spike a knowing look. "Bounty?" Spike
facefaulted, the cigg dropping from his lips. Jet caught it as he stood beside Spike, putting
it back in his mouth as he lit one of his own. "How ya doin, Doohan?" Jet greeted the old
mechanic, who smirked at Spike. "It's only twenty percent, Spike my boy." Doohan repeated,
cocking an eyebrow at Spike's apparent shock. "Twenty percent, of what?" Jet asked, becoming
confused himself. Spike ran back into the Bebop, heading for the nearest computer.
"Hey Spike!" Jet called after him, looking back at Doohan apologetically. Doohan's eyes were
fixed on Spike, who he'd known for a very long time. Spike never took off like that unless
it was somethiing important.
Faye saw Spike run back past the sick bay, wondering where he was going in such a hurry.
Hey, what was that explosion?" Faye asked, hobbling to the door. "Spike!" She called, getting
annoyed with him. "Was that Doohan? Is he here?" Spike glanced back at her, spotting a
terminal that was working. "Yeah, he's here!" Spike called back, as Faye tried to catch up with
him. Spike punched in their location, and called up a list of the bounties in that area.
A only a few came up, mostly small fries. There were two that stood out as larger catches,
however. One was all the way on Jupiter, way too far to be what he was looking for. The other,
was a gang of weapons smugglers, believed to be hiding out on Titan. The pieces came together
in Spike's mind as Faye came up behind him, smacking his head with the crutch. "Spike!"
She screeched, pissed off that she'd made her chase him all this way. Spike turned, his face
burning with anger. Faye was a bit scared, thinking he was mad at her. "Take a look." Spike
said simply, gesturing to the terminal. Faye gave him a strange look and peered at the screen.
"Think about it, Faye." Spike explained as she read the file. "They're hiding out here, into a
lot of buisiness with sydicates, terrorists. Anyone that needs heavy artillery. Lots of clients
you can't just screw up with and say you're sorry." Faye's eyes widened, understanding exactly
what Spike was getting at. "So, they attack us as soon as we approach the planet, knowing we're
bounty hunters. They were tailing you guys when the Bebop was going down, I knew it was a
setup!" Spike exclaimed, flexing his hands. Faye looked back to Spike, rage filling her
eyes. "But why go after Edward?" She questioned, narrowinhg her eyes. "Why not take one of us?"
Spike lit the cigg between his lips finally, taking a long puff. He blew out smoke in a long
hiss before answering. "Because." He said, looking angrier all the time. "They didn't know what
kind of shape the Bebop was in, or what we had in here for weapons. They needed one of us for
information. And they assumed I was dead.." Spike thought back to the gunshot, damning himself
for not acting sooner. "So they took Edward, figuring a little kid would talk easier."
Faye finished for him, gritting her teeth. Spike only nodded darkly, his eyes gleaming.
Faye knew he was thinking just what she was. That this could not and wouldn't be forgiven.
"But for her to be so terribly hurt.." Faye started, feeling even angrier. "That means, that Ed
wouldn't tell them anything." Spike finished for her, feeling his heart jump. "She took it all,
and never said one damn word." Spike added, closing his eyes slightly. Faye almost started
crying again, thinking of how horrible it must have been for her. And how she had chose to
let herslf be beaten almost to death, rather than risk the rest of them being hurt.
Faye put her hand to her face, as she felt the tears coming. Jet came running up to them
as Spike embraced Faye. Doohan was lagging slightly behind, surveying the damage.
"Son of a bitch!" He exclaimed, finishing the cigarette and stamping it out.
Jet looked to Spike for an explaination, who only stared back with remorseful eyes.
"Think we've got who's after us, Jet." He said, his voice wavering between anger and sadness.
Jet's eys went wide as he clutched his metal fist and uttered a single, booming word.
"WHO." He asked, his voice caryying to all parts of the ship.
"Later, Ed needs a doctor." Spike replied, letting go of Faye as he led Doohan to the sick bay.
"How's the old Swordfish doing?" Doohan inquired. Spike looked at him, shrugging his shoulders.
"See for yourself." Spike said, gesturing to the door. Doohan wandered around outside a bit,
before seeing the wrecked ship in the distance. "Fucking shit Spike!" Spike heard Doohan
shout, as he and Jet moved Edward out slowly. Jet took Ed carefully in his arms,
as Spike went over to Doohan. "I know, I know I'm reckless." Spike said, shaking his head at the
wreck. Doohan gave him a questioning look, laughing as he waved his hands. "Oh come ON now boy!"
He shouted, looking a lot happier than Spike expected. "I've come to expect this kind of thing
from you!" Doohan explained, gesturing to the battered Swordfish. "But what in the hell
are you doing giving an old man like me tobacco? You trying to kill me before my time or
something?" Spike burst out laughing, as Doohan gave his back a slap. "Arghhh!" Spike screamed,
hunching over and holding his back. "I was shot, damnit!!" Spike yelled, shaking a fist at the
old man. Doohan winced, scratching his head as he looked over at the others.
"What are they putting the kid into my ship?" Doohan asked blankly, walking over to Jet and
Faye. Spike narrowed his eyes, trudging behind. "You DID come here to help us out, right?"
Spike questioned, getting a bad feeling. Doohan turned back to Spike, laughing again. "Oh Spike
my boy, you think I could rescue anyone in the old Swordfish?" Spike's jaw dropped, as his fists
clenched in anger. "Cut it out, Doohan!" Spike yelled as Doohan gave him another hearty slap on
the back. Doohan stopped, remembering the wound. "Sorry Spike, old memory's not what it used to
be you know!" Doohan explained, laughing again but refraining from any physical contact.
"What I meant," Doohan continued, taking a radio from his pocket. "Is that I just came down here
to check things out, see how you were doing. The ambulance is waiting up in orbit." Spike
facefaulted again as Doohan gave him a smirk. "But admit it Spike, I had you going there."
Doohan pointed out, calling the ambulance down. Spike stalked off, believing that the old man
just lived to stress him out. Faye and Spike were both put into the ambulance with Edward,
as Jet flew the Redtail. Faye had absolutely refused to let Doohan fly her ship, so he was stuck
with the Hammerhead. Jet smiled wholeheartedly, as Doohan marvelled at his ship over the radio.
Jet began to wonder if Doohan would perhaps consider a career change. Spike was having his
wounds treated, as Faye stayed with Ed's stretcher. "Faye-Faye.." She whispered, sleepy from all
the painkillers she'd been given. Faye leaned closer, squeezing Ed's hand. "I'm here Edward, you
were very brave. We're all very proud of you." Faye assured her, smiling at the little cowgirl.
"Ed didn't say anything. Ed wouldn't say anything." Edward continued, slipping back into sleep
as she spoke. Faye touched Ed's forehead, feeling that Ed had proved herself beyond a shadow of
a doubt. Spike had heard everything, and was looking at the girls from the backseat.
His eyes met Faye's, as she rose her head up. They exchanged looks, and Faye nodded slightly.
This most definetely would not be forgiven, and someone was going to pay dearly for it.
Doohan had also brought an old freighter, which the Swordfish was loaded onto. The Bebop was in
tow, looking much better from the outside. Almost all the damage had been internal, and Doohan
had said she's be flying in a matter of hours. Jet was on the bridge, making final repairs to
the navigation system. He decided to test it by calling down to the engine room, where Doohan
reported that the thrusters and main drive were back. "They'rw only at sixty percent power,
don't go chasing anyone in this thing just yet." Doohan cautioned, as Jet sighed heavily.
"And I wouldn't trust it in hyperspace either." Doohan added, knowing what Jet and the others
were thinking. As soon as they could, they'd be heading back to Titan for a bit of payback and a
rather large bounty. "They brought this on themselves." Jet replied, trying to clear up a bit of
static. "They attacked one of our crew." Doohan was silent for a while, then simply said
"I know."
Spike came into the rec room, regarding Jet as he sat on the couch. He didn't move an inch at
Spike's arrival, as he continued to stare at the deck. Spike sat down across from him,
rocking the new command chair to test it. "Ed was released an hour ago." Spike said at
last, gazing at Jet. Jet held his gun in front of him, flicking the safety catch
rhythmically. "Faye's leg is healed up too." Spike said, crouching as he tried to make Jet say
something. "And my arm's feeling better.." Jet cut him off, slowly rasing his head. "Thanks for
sharing." He growled distantly, still playing with the safety catch. Spike sighed, lighting a
cigarette as he stood. "She wants to see you, ya know." Spike added, hands in his pockets. Jet
lowered his head at that, turning away from Spike. "Doohan said he's stay with Edward when
we.." Jet rose suddenly, standing toe to toe with his partner. Spike sized him up, the old dog
was acting awfully strange for an adopted father. Jet glared down at him, waiting for Spike's
next report. "I'm sorry Jet." Spike said, looking away. Jet's look softened, as he realized this
whole thing was bugging Spike more than he thought. "For what?" Jet asked slowly, feeling
awkward. "For screwing up, I was supossed to keep her safe remember?" Spike replied as he
turned, walking towards the door. "Spike." Jet called, taking a few steps towards him as
Spike stopped. He turned, looking at Jet guiltily. "You did good kid, you did real good." Jet
offered, smiling as much as he could. Spike smirked back slightly, closing his eyes slightly
as he chuckled. "Wasn't good enough though, was it?" Spike shot back, walking out the door.
Jet watched him go, understanding at last. Spike was blaming himself for all of this, even
though it was thanks to their combined efforts that any of them survived. And if Spike hadn't
called Doohan when he did, they would've all been gunned down by that zip craft. Jet sat back
down, once again playing with the safety on his gun. On, off, on again, off again. Jet closed
his eyes as he held the gun to his forehead, feeling the cool steel against his flesh. Someone
was definetely going to pay. Big time.
Faye practiced walking, mavelling at the wonder of modern medicine as she stepped easliy. The
leg still felt really stiff, but the bone was still healing. She could walk, she could run.
That was all she would realy need. Ed was back with them, safe and sound. Or so they'd thought.
She had been completely silent ever since Spike had picked her up from the hospital.
Faye went to her room, knocking on the door and waiting a fwe minutes before going in.
Edward was on her bed, sitting up. She rocked back and forth, humming quietly to herself.
Not unusual behavior for Ed, but something was very wrong all the same. Faye thought she
looked like she was extremely nervous, her eyes were bloodshot and her hands shook as she
gripped her gun. It had been laying on the ground beside the Swordfish, Spike had found it
as he and Doohan had loaded the Swordfish into the freighter. Doohan's ship had also gone
in the freighter, because somone needed to fly the zip crafts back and there was no way
she was going to let that crazy old man fly her Redtail. Faye walked over to Edward slowly,
kneeling beside the bed. "It's late Edward, you must be tired." Faye reasoned, trying to get
her to lay down. Ed simply turned and looked at Faye, her eyes really were bloodshot, and so
cold. As if she was dead inside. Faye was beginnging to wonder if the wounds Ed's body had
suffered were anything compared to what all this had done to her mind.
"Ed." Faye tried again, trying to take the gun away. Edward gripped it tighter, pushing Faye
away as she crawled under her pillow. Faye was shocked, it hadn't hurt much but Ed had never
been violent before. With any of them. Ein was whining as well, standing at the doorway.
Ed tapped the gun on the wall a couple times, which brough Ein running to her bed. He crawled
under the pillow, which wasn't even big enough to cover Edward as she held Ein tightly.
She stared at Faye with those eyes, the eyes of a child who has seen too much too soon, she
realized. Hanging around with a bunch of bounty hunters, it was bound to happen. But not like
this. Growing up wasn't supossed to be so harsh, was it? Faye remembered her life had been
fairly easy, and she'd only grown up when she had been revived and everything she knew
was gone. Faye left Ed alone, deciding it was best for her to be by herself now. The gun was
empty, after all. On the way to her room, Faye met Spike in the hallway. He looked like
he was in desperate need of sleep, perhaps even a hug or two. He stopped as Faye looked at him,
and waved sleepily. Faye moved closer to him until they were standing toe to toe, and took his
hand. She reached up and touched his cheek, giving his lips a gentle kiss. Spike embraced her
suddenly, not passionately but firmly. It felt almost as if he was trying to release something
that refused to go. "Come to bed?" She offered, starting to move him towards the door.
Spike stood his ground, but continued to hold her. "I should have stopped them.." He said at
last, resting his head on her shoulder. Faye was about to tell him it wasn't his fault, when
he suddenly let go of her. He continued walking down the hall, his head hung low.
"Spike?" She called softly, watching him go. "I'm not tired." Spike lied, feeling like he had
been up for a week. Faye knew better than to try and stop him, her Spike was a very complicated
man. She went into her room alone, slowly stretching out on the bed. She tried to sleep but
only suceeded in laying awake, thinking of Edward and how different she seemed now.
It just wasn't right, and they all knew it.
Spike was making his third trip around the ship's hallways, trying to shake the guilt.
He wasn't like this, he didn't feel guilt for things like this. Especially when he knew
there was nothing he could have done. He'd taken a bullet in the back, he was lucky to be
alive. But the guilt remained all the same. Spike replayed Jet's last words as they
had parted ways. 'If we don't make it, get her out of here.' And he had, chances are she
would have died if she'd stayed on the Bebop. Faye and Jet ahd both sustained some nasty
injuries, and she would most likely have been tossed to pieces by the chaos.
But it didn't change things for Spike. Not one bit. It had been his job to keep Ed safe as
he desperately tried to get them all out of the mess in one piece. And he had failed to do
that. Spike looked up as he rounded a corner. He heard small footsteps, coupled with
the ticking of claws on the deck. He drew his gun on reflex, stepping around the corner against
the wall. He pointed the gun as he looked down the hallway, and saw Edward in front of him. She
was pointing her own gun at him, with Ein at her side. For a moment, Spike believed that she
would shoot. That she agreed what she'd gone through had been all his fault. Spike stood there
for what seemed like hours, before he and Ed put their guns down in unison.
Spike sighed heavily, tousling Edward's hair as he walked by. He lit up a cigarette, glancing
back as he heard footsteps again. Ed and Ein were following him, and when he stopped Ed just
stood there, looking like a zombie. She hadn't said one word since she'd gotten back, and that
was very unusual. The doctor's had been able to heal all but the broken right hand.
There had been too many fractures there. Spike glanced at the cast on the broken hand, it would
only be a matter of time before that healed too. But Spike knew something else had been damaged
today, something no doctor could patch up. Ed had been maliciously beaten by big, scary
shadowmen as she'd called them. And at only fifteen. It was simply too much for a kid her age.
Spike had seen this kind of thing before, in the syndicate days. A few times they had atatcked
a target in public, and every once in a while some kid would see the whole thing happen.
Bodies burned, people shot mercilessly and left to die. It was a part of his life he'd been
fighting ever since. It just wasn't right, and there was nothing Spike could do to erase his
sins. But somehow, seeing the effects right in fron of him made it worse. She was one of their
own, after all. A real honest-to-God cowgirl. Her actions today had proved that.
Spike continued walking, and Ed continued to follow with Ein at her feet. It was like having
a ghost following him around, he thought. And that's really what she looked like, not a sign of
life in those eyes. Not like there had been just this morning, when she'd seen Spike blow her
cake up and had found it hilarious. Spike felt the exhaustion and pain take hold of him,
as he reached the rec room for the third time. He decided sleep would be best, nothing could
make the gulit go away. Ed followd him in, and watched him sit down on the couch. She gazed
up at him, he saw longing there. She wanted to talk, to be happy and sing and dance and be crazy
like always. She just couldn't. "Aren't you tired?" Spike asked, yawning. Ed nodded slowly,
letting her head dip all the way down before lifting it up again. Spike grimaced, understanding.
Just like Faye, she couldn't sleep alone when scared. "Why does eveyerone find ME so
comforting?" Spike questioned, half joking. He reached towards Ed, who fliched slightly then
let Spike pick her up. He set her on his lap, having no idea what he was doing. It just felt
right, like a gut instinct or a hunch. He didn't understand it he just knew it was right.
Edward leaned against him, as Ein climbed onto the couch as well. Spike understood that too,
although he didn't know how. Perhaps his left eye saw more than just the past, after all.
Spike felt that Ein often understood things better than himself, Faye and Jet all put together.
And he was Ed's constant companion. As much as the idea of having a mutt on his lap irked him,
Spike couldn't turn the little welsh corgie away. He let Ein climb up on his left leg, shifting
Edward to his right. She was pushed up against him so tightly. Like she was hiding from
something. She shivered a bit, and something inside Spike gave way. Without even realizing
it at first he put his arms around her, rubbing her arms gently with his hands. She stopped
shivering for a bit, and then started again. Spike frowned as Ein nuzzled up to her, whining
softly as he curled up on Spike's lap. Unnoticed, Faye stood in the doorway. She smiled as
she watched the scene, the feeling of family growing as she snuck back to her room.
She felt like curling up on the couch with them, but she knew Spike would leave if she came
in. As sweet as he was, he wouldn't let her or anyone else see him curled up with a kid and a
dog. Two of the three things he claimed to dislike. Women like her were the third, which only
proved that Spike was a lot more caring than he gave himself credit for.
Spike awoke suddenly, as the dream faded. He had been in a room with Ed, held back by invisible
arms as she was hurt again and again. Spike looked down at her, sound asleep. So was Ein.
He had fallen asleep like this? Spike smirked a bit, then frowned as Ed mummered something.
He was trying to get up without disturbing either of them, but Ed had caught him and wasn't
going to let him go. His arms stiil around her, Spike decided it wasn't so bad. It actually felt
good in a way, he didn't feel guilty anymore. Edward started to shiver again, and this time
sobs came along with it. Spike grimaced, sympathizing. It really wasn't right, what they had
doen to her. He held Edward tighter, seeing that Ein had woken up too. He was regarding Ed
with concern. Her sobs became louder, and Spike became angry. He looked down at the gun
her left hand clutched, and that only made it worse. "Ed...thought Ed was going to die.."
She sobbed, clutching his shirt as she cried more. As the words escaped her lips, something
inside Spike snapped. He couldn't just sit here any longer. Something had to be done.
He had to do something. Right now. Spike gently tore Edward away, laying her out on the couch.
"Happy birthday cowgirl." He said as Ein nuzzled up to Edward. She held him tightly, sobbing
into his fur coat.
Spike heard pounding noises as he came out of his room. They sounded like they were coming
from the room he used for workouts. Spike shouldered the new trenchcoat, taking note of all the
goodies inside. He had bought it on a whim the last time they had been on Mars. A shop he knew
there had trenchcoats with the deepest and most pockets he'd ever seen. Now it seemed, his new
coat would get a test run. Spike poked his head into the observation room, following the
pounding noise to it's source. There was Jet, grunting and muttering every four letter word
in the book. Each curse was accompanied by a massive punch to Spike's heavy bag. It was swaying
crazily but Jet still hit dead center with every blow. "Jet.." Spike called from the doorway.
"Damnit." Jet muttered, throwing a hard right into the bag. "Jet, I.." Spike repeated, stepping
closer. "Fuckers!" Jet shouted, throwing two lefts followed by a front kick that made the heavy
bag swing so high it smacked the ceiling. "Hey Jet." Spike said louder, walking up to his
partner."Goddamn fuckers! I'll rip your fucking LUNGS OUT!!!" Jet bellowed, putting all his
strength into a powerhouse swing with both fists. The bag's chain snapped as it crashed against
the wall. Sand bled out from the gaping hole as the bag slumped against the metal deck. Jet was
standing over it, breathing hard and grinning. Spike knew that grin, and understood that Jet
Black, his friend and partner was not here. The hulking, grinning beast that stood before
Spike was none other than the black dog, who never lets go once he bites down.
"I can't do it Spike, I can't wait. They have to pay NOW." Jet stated between huffs. He took a
moment to notice Spike's outfit, and saw Spike couldn't wait either. His usual blue suit was
hidden by a black, new-looking trenchcoat. The multiple bulges inside were too many to count,
but if Spike had bothered to get another trench, then he was thinking the same thing Jet was.
Spike was about to suggest a hunt, when Faye went sneaking by the door. Her red jacket was
loaded with extra clips. She stopped short as she saw Spike, peeked into the room and saw Jet.
Oh my, Jet. He had that grin again, the grin that meant death for someone, no matter what.
She looked slightly embarrased, but took Spike's hand. She smirked up at him, her emerald
eyes gleaming as gave his hand a squeeze. Jet looked at them both, the grin getting ever wider.
"We're a famliy." Faye said to Jet, wanting him to hear the words from her own lips.
Jet nodded back. "Damn right, Faye." He answered, grabbing the bag he'd set in the corner.
In it were two shotguns, his magnum, two walther P99's and a ton of ammo.
"What about Ed?" Jet asked as he loaded himself up. The tan suit filled out as always, while the
fedora was tipped down in a sinister manner. "Doohan's watching her." Faye explained. "And I
gave him a gun." Spike nodded. Doohan was trustworthy, that much he knew. He looked from Faye
to Jet and back again, and could only think of one thing to say. He lowered his head, feeling
the calm before the storm. It was time to end it. "Let's jam."
The base was always busy, even in the dead of night. Spike thought that was a funny thing to
call it, considering what the pricks were about to get. The Titan winds blew his trenchcoat
around him, as Jet kicked in the front door and opened the gates of hell. The guards sprang to
life, much too late as Spike rushed ahead. He launched a flying kick at the first, knocking him
into the guard behind him. Both collided with the wall as Spike drew a beretta 9mm. The
second guard was pinned down by Spike's foot, as he put the gun into the screaming man's mouth
and squeezed the trigger. They split up from there, Jet going left and Faye going right. Spike
chose the straight path, drawing a second beretta as more guards showed up. They were well-
armed, but they WERE gunrunners after all. Spike blasted away at them, hugging the wall as
guards began to fall. Three were running at him while the rest took cover. Spike emptied the
guns into the first man, pushing him away as the other two came. He kicked through two teeth
of the first one, knocking his gun away and bringing his elbow crashing down on the man's neck.
The snap made Spike grin wildly, crouching over the fallen guard as the other came.
Spike simply untwisted, spiralling in the air as he reached into the trench. His foot connected
forcefully with the man's temple as a fresh beretta came out. Spike spun the reeeling man
around, shoved his face into a wall and put three bullets into his head.
The others were mad now, rushing him from all sides. Which suited Spike fine. He ducked behind
a barrel as machine pisotls were fired at him. He kicked the barrel over as they reloaded,
sending it flying to the men behind him as he hurdled it. He was seriously baddass tonight,
throwing punches and kicks and everything else at the guards. Nothing was so bad that they
didn't deserve it. He threw eight roundhouse kicks into a guard's stomach before the man could
get his gun up, catching him with a spin hook from the left as the man tipped to the right.
"That was for Edward." He growled, withdrawing a shotgun from the trench and dispatching
three guards behind him. He whirled around as the guard tried to get up, kicking him down as he
ground the man's face into the floor with his foot. "And this is for me." He added, pressing the
shotgun betwween the man's butocks and firing twice. The screams only drove Spike on harder,
as he threw two grenades at more guards and dove for cover.
Jet was simply on fire, a shotgun in one hand and his magnum in the other. Guards were coming
out of the woodwork, and Jet was laying them down just as quickly. The rage inside him was like
an atomic bomb, exploding again and again with each shot he fired. Two men jumped on him,
punching and kicking. Jet felt the blows as he would mosquito bites, and drove one of them head
first into a wall. The man's head shattered, covering the tan suit with crimson streaks.
Jet peeled the other man away effortlessly, holding him off the ground with his left arm as his
right punched again and again. The man was screaming at the top of his lungs, and Jet
was loving it. He swung the shotgun back into his grip, firing twice and throwing the man to the
floor. Jet went down with him, hunched over as he kept punching the dead man's head. "Asshole!"
he bellowed, crushing the man's skull. It wasn't enough, it would never be enough Jet knew.
But more guards were on the way. Jet reclaimed the magnum and rushed at them, swinging and
shooting as they fell before him.
Faye was taking the road less travelled, a glock in each hand. A group of men showed up to her
right and Faye made no attempt to duck but simply unloaded, each shot finding a head.
There were more guards on the way, as Faye jumped up to the rafters. She swung up, laying
down on her stomach as the guards came in. She waited until they had passed her, then hung down
by her legs and punched the first two out. As the rest turned on her she emptied the clips,
blood streaking down her sunglasses. She swung back up and let go, landing squarely on someone's
back. She dug her heels in as she moved on, keeping a careful eye on who she killed. The two in
charge they needed alive, and Jet would most certainly kill them if she didn't find them first.
They showed up as she rounded a corner, and Faye had to duck back quickly to avoid being
spotted. They were being escorted out by a large group, and Faye was about to pounce on them.
Spike beat her to it, his shotgun roaring as a door gave way into the room. Four guards fell
with it, spilling out into the room as Spike saw the group of men. Faye was pretty sure Spike
would kill them just as quick as Jet, unless she got them first. She kneecapped the two
bounties, putting four slugs into each leg. Spike tore the rest to shreds, kicking one of them
so hard he flew into a volley from his comrade's rifle. Spike jumped clear over the body
and brought his leg across the man's skull, bringing his hand around for a second hit.
Spike kept spinning, right foot first then left fist, until the man was dizzy with pain.
Spike caught him as he fell, stood him up straight and threw punches into his gut with amazing
speed, screaming as the last one made the man vomit. Spike backed away, avoiding the mess and
skipped back in close with a side kick. The man flew through the air, colliding with a door just
as it was blown open from the other side. Jet stood, seething and grinning as the shotgun blast
ripped through the man's back. The two bounty heads were on the ground, holding their legs and
screaming. Jet pointed the magnum, as Faye waved him away. "Bounties, bounties!" Faye screamed,
stepping in front of them. Jet pasued, almost fired anyway then decided it was good to have the
bounties alive. Spike grinned at Jet, walking over to him as Jet grinned back. They stood side
by side regarding the mess, then burst out laughing as Spike pointed to the man with the hole in
his back. "Now THAT"S teamwork!" Spike exclaimed, laughing as Jet chuckled up a storm.
Faye heard thrusters clsoe by, and went to investigate. Spike and Jet cut the jokes, looking at
the two bounties. "Two guys right?" Jet questioned, as Spike looked thoughtful for a second.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean we didn't miss a straggler or two." Spike replied. Faye was calling
for them, yelling something about a ship heading for the Bebop. Spike and Jet looked at each
other, and hurried after Faye.
Doohan was looking around for Edward, the glock secure in his grip. "Kids.." He muttered,
hearing the footsteps getting closer. A man appeared in the rec room, and Doohan put him down
quickly. After all these years, he could still shoot the fleas off a monkey's balls.
Doohan knew there were two more, and Edward was nowhere to be found.
He heard a click behind him, turning quickly to see a large man, and Edward. Edward had just
locked the clip into the silver gun she held. The man rasied his gun, aiming for Ed.
Doohan rolled to the side, clearing Ed out of his sights as he fired three times. He looked back
to make sure the kid was all right, and almost had a heart attack. There HAD been two men,
one behind Ed and one behind him. Ed has shot the second man as soon as Doohan had rolled clear.
The man was clinging to the couch, propping himself up and trying to raise his gun. Doohan took
aim too slow, as Ed shot the man again, and again and again. Most were hitting wide,
penetrating the legs or shoudler. The last shot found it's mark dead center in the chest,
as the man finally dropped and Ed's gun clicked empty. Spike raced into the room, gun drawn.
Jet and Faye were close behind, and they all stopped at the sight of Edward. She looked at them,
her eyes no longer dead. They were bright as stars again, if not a hint of something more
mature and deadly there as well. "Ed is a cowgirl!" She exclaimed as she stood, holding the
smoking gun behind her back shyly. The grin returned, as zany as ever. Doohan patted her
head, smiling approvingly and attempted to take the gun away. Edward swiftly grabbed his arm,
throwing him off balance as he stumbled into a chair. "Ed's gun is Ed's own! She chided, wagging
her finger at Doohan who broke out laughing in spite of himself. Jet and Faye both eyed Spike
accusingly, as he scratched his head chuckling nervously. "Ok, so I taught her a FEW things..."
Spike confessed as Ed grinned again, looking at the smoke curling from her gun. "Ed did a good
job, right?" Ed asked, seeking approval. Faye smiled at her, feeling like her little sister
really had grown up on her birthday. "You did GREAT." Jet assured her, picking her up on her
shoulders.
Edward laughed, holding her arms out like an airplane. And when it came time for Jet to tuck
her in that night, the gun stayed in it's holster, hanging just within reach. Ed was a cowgirl,
without a doubt. Jet smiled as he looked back at her, before closing the door.
And between the three of them, they'd teach her so many tricks that anyone trying to kidnap her
from now on, would be digging his own grave.
SEE YOU SPACE COWGIRL ED.........................................
JET: Where's Spike?
ED: Spike is hiding!
JET:Huh? Hiding? Where?
FAYE:Good question, Jet.
JET:Will someone please tell me what's going on?
ED:Love is in the air!! Whee!!
FAYE: It's the next episode, Strangers in the night.
ED: Ed is in love!!
DISCLAIMER!!: This fic contains violence, lots of it and boy is it ever graphic.
Naughty words too, so if you can't take the heat get off my damn ship and stop reading
right now!
Jet trudged through a world that seemed so unreal, as he carried Ed's body to his ship.
Everything was out of focus, even the Hammerhead that was right in front of him.
Faye's voice was exploding from the comm.unit, frantically asking if Edward was ok.
Jet gave no reply, leaving the comm.unit on the floor where it had dropped.
"Ohh..Edward.." Jet's voice was almost a whisper as he squeezed out the words.
He carefully set her down in the Hammerhead, catching another glimpse of her face
as he did so. That brought more tears, as Jet climbed into the cockpit. She was
always so happy, so sweet, so loving of life and everything else. A true symbol of
what little hope was left in the world. Jet maneuvered the Hammerhead away, trying to
think of how he'd explain this to them. What was there to explain? He had found her
this way, and still had no clue as to who had attacked them. Jet was overcome as he
reutrned to the crash site, feeling a hundred things at once. This was all so wrong,
it didn't make any sense. Why had they been attacked? And why had the people responsible
taken Edward instead of Spike? And why had they done this to her, instead of holding her
hostage? Jet had a lot of questions, and no answers. It was apparent someone was after
them for a change, but who? And why? Jet sped up as he neared the Bebop, suddenly
uncomfortable with Spike and Faye being injured and alone.
Spike flexed his left arm, frowning at the cast. He was bandaged up once again,
and whoever had attacked them was unmistakably still out there. He looked back
at the Bebop from where he stood outside. The old ship and been in worse shape,
but never in a situation this grim. Faye was still inside, still trying to get Jet to
respond. Jet had sounded really out of it, the few words he'd said. The way Jet had
sounded made Spike sure that something had happened to Edward, something bad.
And Spike felt responsible. He had tried to follow the ship as it took off, but he
had been too badly hurt. Spike put his hand on the his chest. The bullet had gone clean
through, missing his organs. Why was he always so lucky like that? Spike winced at the
sunlight as he looked up, seeing the Hammerhead return at last. "Faye, he's back!"
Spike called to her, walking back inside the ship. Faye came rushing out, hobbling on
the crutches as she met him at the door. They both watched as Jet came towards them,
carrying a motionless Edward in his arms. "Oh my God!" Faye cried, hopping over to
Jet. Spike followed behind her, staring in disbelief. Jet moved past them both without
a word or even a glance, as he carried Ed inside. "What happened? Is she alive?" Faye
asked, hobbling after Jet. Spike remained outside for a bit, glad he'd finally gotten the
Bebop's communications back up. It had been tricky, but watching Jet had taught him the basics.
The emergency channel hadn't stayed open long, but he'd had time for one call to Doohan.
He was on his way here now, but would anyone be left to greet him?
Jet laid Ed down in the sick bay, thankful that it hadn't been as trashed as the rest of the
ship. All the medical facilities were still online. Jet sat down heavily as the computer
scanned her body, not daring to look at the reports as they came. He'd wait until the scan
was complete. Spike entered slowly, with Faye peeking over his shoulder. They weren't
sure if Jet wanted to be alone or not. "Don't just stand there, you two." Jet said softly,
the gruffness still in his voice. Spike smirked weakly as he and Faye came into the
sick bay. Jet stood bolt upright, as Ed monaed softly. Faye pushed past Spike, rushing
to the bedside as Jet moved to follow. Spike dutifully took his place at the scanner,
analyzing the reports. "I think she's gonna make it, tough kid." Spike announced, smiling
in spite of himself. Jet knelt beside Ed, as Faye stood over her. Tears of joy streamed
down their faces, as Edward's eyes opened. She cried out as she tried to sit up,
laying back down as Jet held her. "Edward.." He said softly, looking her over. Her left eye
was badly swollen, and couldn't open all the way. Her left arm was also broken, as well
as both of her legs. Her right hand was broken in two places, and her face was covered
with cuts and gashes along with the rest of her body. "Jet...Person." Ed sighed, looking around
as much as her injuries would allow. "Faye Faye." She sighed again, reaching her hand out.
Faye took it immediately, hiolding it to her cheek. "I'm here Ed." She answered, biting her lip.
Ed smiled weakly, looking over at Spike, who nodded happily to her. "Welcome back, cowgirl."
He said affectionetely, smiling as she grinned. He was just as relieved as the others to see her
again, but someone had to make sure they weren't caught off guard. "Spikey.." Ed sighed again,
resting her head again. "You guys, came for Edward? Ed knew you would." She said
weakly, looking content to be back with them all. Ein came skittering in, standing on his
hind legs as he poked his head up at Edward. "Ein!" She cried happily, wincing as the outburst
brought more pain. She petted the dog's head as he carefully climbed onto the bed, licking
her face as he whined. The scanner finsihed, as Spike grabebd the readout and handed it to Jet.
Jet took it thankfully, looking it over. She had Spike's luck all right, the injuries weren't
as bad as he'd feared. "Edward feels like shit, Ein." Ed told the dog plainly, wincing as
Jet tested her limbs a bit. "We're going to need a doctor, Spike." Jet informed him, as Spike
headed for the door. "Where do you think you're going?!" Jet called after him, scowling.
"I hotwired the emergency channel, Doohan's on his way." Spike answered, sounding angry and
bitter. "Someone should be out there to flag him down." Spike added as he continued walking.
Jet let him go, reluctantly. It was just like Spike to leave at a time like this. He wasn't the
only one getting emotional over Ed, but he never let them see his feelings. Faye watched him
go, looking from Ed to Spike and back again. "Stay with her, I'll go." Jet told Faye, getting up
and walking out the door. He didn't perfer to be caught crying either, and Doohan would need
more help than just Spike. Faye nodded, keeping a careful eye on Ed's condition. If they didn't
get her to a hospital before nightfall, Edward could still die. Faye looked at Ed's hand,
seeing the ring still there. Faye's tears renewed as she remembered giving it to Edward,
watching her eyes light up with wonderment. Faye hoped with all her heart Ed would be that
happy again someday.
Spike tried his comm. unit again, grumbling as Doohan failed to answer.
Jet came up behind him, clapping a hand on Spike's good shoulder. Spike turned sharply,
wincing as the bullet wound ached. "No response?" Jet asked, searching the sky. "None, but
Doohan said he'd be taking some old relic he rebuilt, doesn't have a radio." Jet nodded grimly,
still fairly impressed that Spike had managed to fix the communications. Even if it was only
one call, it was something. Spike picked up on Jet's thoughts, smirking as he lit a cigarette.
"Don't worry Jet." Spike assured his partner. "One call to Doohan is all you need." Jet nodded
again, hoping he was right. Edward needed medical care as fast as she could get it.
A low whine made them both turn, and Spike drew his gun as a zip craft flew low overhead.
"Jet!" He called, shoving his partner aside as the zip craft's vulcun gun began to turn.
Jet made sure Spike landed on top of him as he drew his own gun. He was the least wounded
and didn't want Spike pushing himself too hard. A bigger, older looking craft swooped down
as the zip craft opened fire. Spike and Jet ran for cover, as the older craft fired missiles.
Spike fired at the zip craft, ducking behind the Bebop as a retaliation came. The other ship
looked extremely old, older than his even. Spike let that sink in before coming to his
conclusion. He took another peek out and grinned wide. "Doohan!" He shouted, as the missles
slammed into the zip craft. It spiraled away and crashed near the Swordfish. Spike waved to
the old ship, seeing it was a mono racer like his. The ship landed slowly, bucking to and fro
as it touched down. It was the Swordfish I, Spike was sure of it. The sister ship to his
Swordfish II. Spike had heard lots of stories, but this was the first time he'd actually seen
her. And what a sight to behold. The design was older, with lots of different modifications
from his ship. She was painted a dirty white, like a knight riding to their rescue, Spike
thought. Doohan popped the cockpit hatch and jumped out, waving as Jet came out of hiding.
Spioke ran over to meet him, grinning broadly at the old coot. He was without a doubt the
toughest man his age. "The hell is this kid?" Doohan cracked, smiling back at Spike.
"You only give this old man a call when you need something, eh?" Spike shrugged his shoulders,
offering his old pal a smoke. "Doohan, you saved my ass AGAIN." Spike laughed, digging out a
lighter as Doohan took the cigg. "You can call it even, in exchange for the cigarette and 20
percent of the bounty." Doohan replied, giving Spike a knowing look. "Bounty?" Spike
facefaulted, the cigg dropping from his lips. Jet caught it as he stood beside Spike, putting
it back in his mouth as he lit one of his own. "How ya doin, Doohan?" Jet greeted the old
mechanic, who smirked at Spike. "It's only twenty percent, Spike my boy." Doohan repeated,
cocking an eyebrow at Spike's apparent shock. "Twenty percent, of what?" Jet asked, becoming
confused himself. Spike ran back into the Bebop, heading for the nearest computer.
"Hey Spike!" Jet called after him, looking back at Doohan apologetically. Doohan's eyes were
fixed on Spike, who he'd known for a very long time. Spike never took off like that unless
it was somethiing important.
Faye saw Spike run back past the sick bay, wondering where he was going in such a hurry.
Hey, what was that explosion?" Faye asked, hobbling to the door. "Spike!" She called, getting
annoyed with him. "Was that Doohan? Is he here?" Spike glanced back at her, spotting a
terminal that was working. "Yeah, he's here!" Spike called back, as Faye tried to catch up with
him. Spike punched in their location, and called up a list of the bounties in that area.
A only a few came up, mostly small fries. There were two that stood out as larger catches,
however. One was all the way on Jupiter, way too far to be what he was looking for. The other,
was a gang of weapons smugglers, believed to be hiding out on Titan. The pieces came together
in Spike's mind as Faye came up behind him, smacking his head with the crutch. "Spike!"
She screeched, pissed off that she'd made her chase him all this way. Spike turned, his face
burning with anger. Faye was a bit scared, thinking he was mad at her. "Take a look." Spike
said simply, gesturing to the terminal. Faye gave him a strange look and peered at the screen.
"Think about it, Faye." Spike explained as she read the file. "They're hiding out here, into a
lot of buisiness with sydicates, terrorists. Anyone that needs heavy artillery. Lots of clients
you can't just screw up with and say you're sorry." Faye's eyes widened, understanding exactly
what Spike was getting at. "So, they attack us as soon as we approach the planet, knowing we're
bounty hunters. They were tailing you guys when the Bebop was going down, I knew it was a
setup!" Spike exclaimed, flexing his hands. Faye looked back to Spike, rage filling her
eyes. "But why go after Edward?" She questioned, narrowinhg her eyes. "Why not take one of us?"
Spike lit the cigg between his lips finally, taking a long puff. He blew out smoke in a long
hiss before answering. "Because." He said, looking angrier all the time. "They didn't know what
kind of shape the Bebop was in, or what we had in here for weapons. They needed one of us for
information. And they assumed I was dead.." Spike thought back to the gunshot, damning himself
for not acting sooner. "So they took Edward, figuring a little kid would talk easier."
Faye finished for him, gritting her teeth. Spike only nodded darkly, his eyes gleaming.
Faye knew he was thinking just what she was. That this could not and wouldn't be forgiven.
"But for her to be so terribly hurt.." Faye started, feeling even angrier. "That means, that Ed
wouldn't tell them anything." Spike finished for her, feeling his heart jump. "She took it all,
and never said one damn word." Spike added, closing his eyes slightly. Faye almost started
crying again, thinking of how horrible it must have been for her. And how she had chose to
let herslf be beaten almost to death, rather than risk the rest of them being hurt.
Faye put her hand to her face, as she felt the tears coming. Jet came running up to them
as Spike embraced Faye. Doohan was lagging slightly behind, surveying the damage.
"Son of a bitch!" He exclaimed, finishing the cigarette and stamping it out.
Jet looked to Spike for an explaination, who only stared back with remorseful eyes.
"Think we've got who's after us, Jet." He said, his voice wavering between anger and sadness.
Jet's eys went wide as he clutched his metal fist and uttered a single, booming word.
"WHO." He asked, his voice caryying to all parts of the ship.
"Later, Ed needs a doctor." Spike replied, letting go of Faye as he led Doohan to the sick bay.
"How's the old Swordfish doing?" Doohan inquired. Spike looked at him, shrugging his shoulders.
"See for yourself." Spike said, gesturing to the door. Doohan wandered around outside a bit,
before seeing the wrecked ship in the distance. "Fucking shit Spike!" Spike heard Doohan
shout, as he and Jet moved Edward out slowly. Jet took Ed carefully in his arms,
as Spike went over to Doohan. "I know, I know I'm reckless." Spike said, shaking his head at the
wreck. Doohan gave him a questioning look, laughing as he waved his hands. "Oh come ON now boy!"
He shouted, looking a lot happier than Spike expected. "I've come to expect this kind of thing
from you!" Doohan explained, gesturing to the battered Swordfish. "But what in the hell
are you doing giving an old man like me tobacco? You trying to kill me before my time or
something?" Spike burst out laughing, as Doohan gave his back a slap. "Arghhh!" Spike screamed,
hunching over and holding his back. "I was shot, damnit!!" Spike yelled, shaking a fist at the
old man. Doohan winced, scratching his head as he looked over at the others.
"What are they putting the kid into my ship?" Doohan asked blankly, walking over to Jet and
Faye. Spike narrowed his eyes, trudging behind. "You DID come here to help us out, right?"
Spike questioned, getting a bad feeling. Doohan turned back to Spike, laughing again. "Oh Spike
my boy, you think I could rescue anyone in the old Swordfish?" Spike's jaw dropped, as his fists
clenched in anger. "Cut it out, Doohan!" Spike yelled as Doohan gave him another hearty slap on
the back. Doohan stopped, remembering the wound. "Sorry Spike, old memory's not what it used to
be you know!" Doohan explained, laughing again but refraining from any physical contact.
"What I meant," Doohan continued, taking a radio from his pocket. "Is that I just came down here
to check things out, see how you were doing. The ambulance is waiting up in orbit." Spike
facefaulted again as Doohan gave him a smirk. "But admit it Spike, I had you going there."
Doohan pointed out, calling the ambulance down. Spike stalked off, believing that the old man
just lived to stress him out. Faye and Spike were both put into the ambulance with Edward,
as Jet flew the Redtail. Faye had absolutely refused to let Doohan fly her ship, so he was stuck
with the Hammerhead. Jet smiled wholeheartedly, as Doohan marvelled at his ship over the radio.
Jet began to wonder if Doohan would perhaps consider a career change. Spike was having his
wounds treated, as Faye stayed with Ed's stretcher. "Faye-Faye.." She whispered, sleepy from all
the painkillers she'd been given. Faye leaned closer, squeezing Ed's hand. "I'm here Edward, you
were very brave. We're all very proud of you." Faye assured her, smiling at the little cowgirl.
"Ed didn't say anything. Ed wouldn't say anything." Edward continued, slipping back into sleep
as she spoke. Faye touched Ed's forehead, feeling that Ed had proved herself beyond a shadow of
a doubt. Spike had heard everything, and was looking at the girls from the backseat.
His eyes met Faye's, as she rose her head up. They exchanged looks, and Faye nodded slightly.
This most definetely would not be forgiven, and someone was going to pay dearly for it.
Doohan had also brought an old freighter, which the Swordfish was loaded onto. The Bebop was in
tow, looking much better from the outside. Almost all the damage had been internal, and Doohan
had said she's be flying in a matter of hours. Jet was on the bridge, making final repairs to
the navigation system. He decided to test it by calling down to the engine room, where Doohan
reported that the thrusters and main drive were back. "They'rw only at sixty percent power,
don't go chasing anyone in this thing just yet." Doohan cautioned, as Jet sighed heavily.
"And I wouldn't trust it in hyperspace either." Doohan added, knowing what Jet and the others
were thinking. As soon as they could, they'd be heading back to Titan for a bit of payback and a
rather large bounty. "They brought this on themselves." Jet replied, trying to clear up a bit of
static. "They attacked one of our crew." Doohan was silent for a while, then simply said
"I know."
Spike came into the rec room, regarding Jet as he sat on the couch. He didn't move an inch at
Spike's arrival, as he continued to stare at the deck. Spike sat down across from him,
rocking the new command chair to test it. "Ed was released an hour ago." Spike said at
last, gazing at Jet. Jet held his gun in front of him, flicking the safety catch
rhythmically. "Faye's leg is healed up too." Spike said, crouching as he tried to make Jet say
something. "And my arm's feeling better.." Jet cut him off, slowly rasing his head. "Thanks for
sharing." He growled distantly, still playing with the safety catch. Spike sighed, lighting a
cigarette as he stood. "She wants to see you, ya know." Spike added, hands in his pockets. Jet
lowered his head at that, turning away from Spike. "Doohan said he's stay with Edward when
we.." Jet rose suddenly, standing toe to toe with his partner. Spike sized him up, the old dog
was acting awfully strange for an adopted father. Jet glared down at him, waiting for Spike's
next report. "I'm sorry Jet." Spike said, looking away. Jet's look softened, as he realized this
whole thing was bugging Spike more than he thought. "For what?" Jet asked slowly, feeling
awkward. "For screwing up, I was supossed to keep her safe remember?" Spike replied as he
turned, walking towards the door. "Spike." Jet called, taking a few steps towards him as
Spike stopped. He turned, looking at Jet guiltily. "You did good kid, you did real good." Jet
offered, smiling as much as he could. Spike smirked back slightly, closing his eyes slightly
as he chuckled. "Wasn't good enough though, was it?" Spike shot back, walking out the door.
Jet watched him go, understanding at last. Spike was blaming himself for all of this, even
though it was thanks to their combined efforts that any of them survived. And if Spike hadn't
called Doohan when he did, they would've all been gunned down by that zip craft. Jet sat back
down, once again playing with the safety on his gun. On, off, on again, off again. Jet closed
his eyes as he held the gun to his forehead, feeling the cool steel against his flesh. Someone
was definetely going to pay. Big time.
Faye practiced walking, mavelling at the wonder of modern medicine as she stepped easliy. The
leg still felt really stiff, but the bone was still healing. She could walk, she could run.
That was all she would realy need. Ed was back with them, safe and sound. Or so they'd thought.
She had been completely silent ever since Spike had picked her up from the hospital.
Faye went to her room, knocking on the door and waiting a fwe minutes before going in.
Edward was on her bed, sitting up. She rocked back and forth, humming quietly to herself.
Not unusual behavior for Ed, but something was very wrong all the same. Faye thought she
looked like she was extremely nervous, her eyes were bloodshot and her hands shook as she
gripped her gun. It had been laying on the ground beside the Swordfish, Spike had found it
as he and Doohan had loaded the Swordfish into the freighter. Doohan's ship had also gone
in the freighter, because somone needed to fly the zip crafts back and there was no way
she was going to let that crazy old man fly her Redtail. Faye walked over to Edward slowly,
kneeling beside the bed. "It's late Edward, you must be tired." Faye reasoned, trying to get
her to lay down. Ed simply turned and looked at Faye, her eyes really were bloodshot, and so
cold. As if she was dead inside. Faye was beginnging to wonder if the wounds Ed's body had
suffered were anything compared to what all this had done to her mind.
"Ed." Faye tried again, trying to take the gun away. Edward gripped it tighter, pushing Faye
away as she crawled under her pillow. Faye was shocked, it hadn't hurt much but Ed had never
been violent before. With any of them. Ein was whining as well, standing at the doorway.
Ed tapped the gun on the wall a couple times, which brough Ein running to her bed. He crawled
under the pillow, which wasn't even big enough to cover Edward as she held Ein tightly.
She stared at Faye with those eyes, the eyes of a child who has seen too much too soon, she
realized. Hanging around with a bunch of bounty hunters, it was bound to happen. But not like
this. Growing up wasn't supossed to be so harsh, was it? Faye remembered her life had been
fairly easy, and she'd only grown up when she had been revived and everything she knew
was gone. Faye left Ed alone, deciding it was best for her to be by herself now. The gun was
empty, after all. On the way to her room, Faye met Spike in the hallway. He looked like
he was in desperate need of sleep, perhaps even a hug or two. He stopped as Faye looked at him,
and waved sleepily. Faye moved closer to him until they were standing toe to toe, and took his
hand. She reached up and touched his cheek, giving his lips a gentle kiss. Spike embraced her
suddenly, not passionately but firmly. It felt almost as if he was trying to release something
that refused to go. "Come to bed?" She offered, starting to move him towards the door.
Spike stood his ground, but continued to hold her. "I should have stopped them.." He said at
last, resting his head on her shoulder. Faye was about to tell him it wasn't his fault, when
he suddenly let go of her. He continued walking down the hall, his head hung low.
"Spike?" She called softly, watching him go. "I'm not tired." Spike lied, feeling like he had
been up for a week. Faye knew better than to try and stop him, her Spike was a very complicated
man. She went into her room alone, slowly stretching out on the bed. She tried to sleep but
only suceeded in laying awake, thinking of Edward and how different she seemed now.
It just wasn't right, and they all knew it.
Spike was making his third trip around the ship's hallways, trying to shake the guilt.
He wasn't like this, he didn't feel guilt for things like this. Especially when he knew
there was nothing he could have done. He'd taken a bullet in the back, he was lucky to be
alive. But the guilt remained all the same. Spike replayed Jet's last words as they
had parted ways. 'If we don't make it, get her out of here.' And he had, chances are she
would have died if she'd stayed on the Bebop. Faye and Jet ahd both sustained some nasty
injuries, and she would most likely have been tossed to pieces by the chaos.
But it didn't change things for Spike. Not one bit. It had been his job to keep Ed safe as
he desperately tried to get them all out of the mess in one piece. And he had failed to do
that. Spike looked up as he rounded a corner. He heard small footsteps, coupled with
the ticking of claws on the deck. He drew his gun on reflex, stepping around the corner against
the wall. He pointed the gun as he looked down the hallway, and saw Edward in front of him. She
was pointing her own gun at him, with Ein at her side. For a moment, Spike believed that she
would shoot. That she agreed what she'd gone through had been all his fault. Spike stood there
for what seemed like hours, before he and Ed put their guns down in unison.
Spike sighed heavily, tousling Edward's hair as he walked by. He lit up a cigarette, glancing
back as he heard footsteps again. Ed and Ein were following him, and when he stopped Ed just
stood there, looking like a zombie. She hadn't said one word since she'd gotten back, and that
was very unusual. The doctor's had been able to heal all but the broken right hand.
There had been too many fractures there. Spike glanced at the cast on the broken hand, it would
only be a matter of time before that healed too. But Spike knew something else had been damaged
today, something no doctor could patch up. Ed had been maliciously beaten by big, scary
shadowmen as she'd called them. And at only fifteen. It was simply too much for a kid her age.
Spike had seen this kind of thing before, in the syndicate days. A few times they had atatcked
a target in public, and every once in a while some kid would see the whole thing happen.
Bodies burned, people shot mercilessly and left to die. It was a part of his life he'd been
fighting ever since. It just wasn't right, and there was nothing Spike could do to erase his
sins. But somehow, seeing the effects right in fron of him made it worse. She was one of their
own, after all. A real honest-to-God cowgirl. Her actions today had proved that.
Spike continued walking, and Ed continued to follow with Ein at her feet. It was like having
a ghost following him around, he thought. And that's really what she looked like, not a sign of
life in those eyes. Not like there had been just this morning, when she'd seen Spike blow her
cake up and had found it hilarious. Spike felt the exhaustion and pain take hold of him,
as he reached the rec room for the third time. He decided sleep would be best, nothing could
make the gulit go away. Ed followd him in, and watched him sit down on the couch. She gazed
up at him, he saw longing there. She wanted to talk, to be happy and sing and dance and be crazy
like always. She just couldn't. "Aren't you tired?" Spike asked, yawning. Ed nodded slowly,
letting her head dip all the way down before lifting it up again. Spike grimaced, understanding.
Just like Faye, she couldn't sleep alone when scared. "Why does eveyerone find ME so
comforting?" Spike questioned, half joking. He reached towards Ed, who fliched slightly then
let Spike pick her up. He set her on his lap, having no idea what he was doing. It just felt
right, like a gut instinct or a hunch. He didn't understand it he just knew it was right.
Edward leaned against him, as Ein climbed onto the couch as well. Spike understood that too,
although he didn't know how. Perhaps his left eye saw more than just the past, after all.
Spike felt that Ein often understood things better than himself, Faye and Jet all put together.
And he was Ed's constant companion. As much as the idea of having a mutt on his lap irked him,
Spike couldn't turn the little welsh corgie away. He let Ein climb up on his left leg, shifting
Edward to his right. She was pushed up against him so tightly. Like she was hiding from
something. She shivered a bit, and something inside Spike gave way. Without even realizing
it at first he put his arms around her, rubbing her arms gently with his hands. She stopped
shivering for a bit, and then started again. Spike frowned as Ein nuzzled up to her, whining
softly as he curled up on Spike's lap. Unnoticed, Faye stood in the doorway. She smiled as
she watched the scene, the feeling of family growing as she snuck back to her room.
She felt like curling up on the couch with them, but she knew Spike would leave if she came
in. As sweet as he was, he wouldn't let her or anyone else see him curled up with a kid and a
dog. Two of the three things he claimed to dislike. Women like her were the third, which only
proved that Spike was a lot more caring than he gave himself credit for.
Spike awoke suddenly, as the dream faded. He had been in a room with Ed, held back by invisible
arms as she was hurt again and again. Spike looked down at her, sound asleep. So was Ein.
He had fallen asleep like this? Spike smirked a bit, then frowned as Ed mummered something.
He was trying to get up without disturbing either of them, but Ed had caught him and wasn't
going to let him go. His arms stiil around her, Spike decided it wasn't so bad. It actually felt
good in a way, he didn't feel guilty anymore. Edward started to shiver again, and this time
sobs came along with it. Spike grimaced, sympathizing. It really wasn't right, what they had
doen to her. He held Edward tighter, seeing that Ein had woken up too. He was regarding Ed
with concern. Her sobs became louder, and Spike became angry. He looked down at the gun
her left hand clutched, and that only made it worse. "Ed...thought Ed was going to die.."
She sobbed, clutching his shirt as she cried more. As the words escaped her lips, something
inside Spike snapped. He couldn't just sit here any longer. Something had to be done.
He had to do something. Right now. Spike gently tore Edward away, laying her out on the couch.
"Happy birthday cowgirl." He said as Ein nuzzled up to Edward. She held him tightly, sobbing
into his fur coat.
Spike heard pounding noises as he came out of his room. They sounded like they were coming
from the room he used for workouts. Spike shouldered the new trenchcoat, taking note of all the
goodies inside. He had bought it on a whim the last time they had been on Mars. A shop he knew
there had trenchcoats with the deepest and most pockets he'd ever seen. Now it seemed, his new
coat would get a test run. Spike poked his head into the observation room, following the
pounding noise to it's source. There was Jet, grunting and muttering every four letter word
in the book. Each curse was accompanied by a massive punch to Spike's heavy bag. It was swaying
crazily but Jet still hit dead center with every blow. "Jet.." Spike called from the doorway.
"Damnit." Jet muttered, throwing a hard right into the bag. "Jet, I.." Spike repeated, stepping
closer. "Fuckers!" Jet shouted, throwing two lefts followed by a front kick that made the heavy
bag swing so high it smacked the ceiling. "Hey Jet." Spike said louder, walking up to his
partner."Goddamn fuckers! I'll rip your fucking LUNGS OUT!!!" Jet bellowed, putting all his
strength into a powerhouse swing with both fists. The bag's chain snapped as it crashed against
the wall. Sand bled out from the gaping hole as the bag slumped against the metal deck. Jet was
standing over it, breathing hard and grinning. Spike knew that grin, and understood that Jet
Black, his friend and partner was not here. The hulking, grinning beast that stood before
Spike was none other than the black dog, who never lets go once he bites down.
"I can't do it Spike, I can't wait. They have to pay NOW." Jet stated between huffs. He took a
moment to notice Spike's outfit, and saw Spike couldn't wait either. His usual blue suit was
hidden by a black, new-looking trenchcoat. The multiple bulges inside were too many to count,
but if Spike had bothered to get another trench, then he was thinking the same thing Jet was.
Spike was about to suggest a hunt, when Faye went sneaking by the door. Her red jacket was
loaded with extra clips. She stopped short as she saw Spike, peeked into the room and saw Jet.
Oh my, Jet. He had that grin again, the grin that meant death for someone, no matter what.
She looked slightly embarrased, but took Spike's hand. She smirked up at him, her emerald
eyes gleaming as gave his hand a squeeze. Jet looked at them both, the grin getting ever wider.
"We're a famliy." Faye said to Jet, wanting him to hear the words from her own lips.
Jet nodded back. "Damn right, Faye." He answered, grabbing the bag he'd set in the corner.
In it were two shotguns, his magnum, two walther P99's and a ton of ammo.
"What about Ed?" Jet asked as he loaded himself up. The tan suit filled out as always, while the
fedora was tipped down in a sinister manner. "Doohan's watching her." Faye explained. "And I
gave him a gun." Spike nodded. Doohan was trustworthy, that much he knew. He looked from Faye
to Jet and back again, and could only think of one thing to say. He lowered his head, feeling
the calm before the storm. It was time to end it. "Let's jam."
The base was always busy, even in the dead of night. Spike thought that was a funny thing to
call it, considering what the pricks were about to get. The Titan winds blew his trenchcoat
around him, as Jet kicked in the front door and opened the gates of hell. The guards sprang to
life, much too late as Spike rushed ahead. He launched a flying kick at the first, knocking him
into the guard behind him. Both collided with the wall as Spike drew a beretta 9mm. The
second guard was pinned down by Spike's foot, as he put the gun into the screaming man's mouth
and squeezed the trigger. They split up from there, Jet going left and Faye going right. Spike
chose the straight path, drawing a second beretta as more guards showed up. They were well-
armed, but they WERE gunrunners after all. Spike blasted away at them, hugging the wall as
guards began to fall. Three were running at him while the rest took cover. Spike emptied the
guns into the first man, pushing him away as the other two came. He kicked through two teeth
of the first one, knocking his gun away and bringing his elbow crashing down on the man's neck.
The snap made Spike grin wildly, crouching over the fallen guard as the other came.
Spike simply untwisted, spiralling in the air as he reached into the trench. His foot connected
forcefully with the man's temple as a fresh beretta came out. Spike spun the reeeling man
around, shoved his face into a wall and put three bullets into his head.
The others were mad now, rushing him from all sides. Which suited Spike fine. He ducked behind
a barrel as machine pisotls were fired at him. He kicked the barrel over as they reloaded,
sending it flying to the men behind him as he hurdled it. He was seriously baddass tonight,
throwing punches and kicks and everything else at the guards. Nothing was so bad that they
didn't deserve it. He threw eight roundhouse kicks into a guard's stomach before the man could
get his gun up, catching him with a spin hook from the left as the man tipped to the right.
"That was for Edward." He growled, withdrawing a shotgun from the trench and dispatching
three guards behind him. He whirled around as the guard tried to get up, kicking him down as he
ground the man's face into the floor with his foot. "And this is for me." He added, pressing the
shotgun betwween the man's butocks and firing twice. The screams only drove Spike on harder,
as he threw two grenades at more guards and dove for cover.
Jet was simply on fire, a shotgun in one hand and his magnum in the other. Guards were coming
out of the woodwork, and Jet was laying them down just as quickly. The rage inside him was like
an atomic bomb, exploding again and again with each shot he fired. Two men jumped on him,
punching and kicking. Jet felt the blows as he would mosquito bites, and drove one of them head
first into a wall. The man's head shattered, covering the tan suit with crimson streaks.
Jet peeled the other man away effortlessly, holding him off the ground with his left arm as his
right punched again and again. The man was screaming at the top of his lungs, and Jet
was loving it. He swung the shotgun back into his grip, firing twice and throwing the man to the
floor. Jet went down with him, hunched over as he kept punching the dead man's head. "Asshole!"
he bellowed, crushing the man's skull. It wasn't enough, it would never be enough Jet knew.
But more guards were on the way. Jet reclaimed the magnum and rushed at them, swinging and
shooting as they fell before him.
Faye was taking the road less travelled, a glock in each hand. A group of men showed up to her
right and Faye made no attempt to duck but simply unloaded, each shot finding a head.
There were more guards on the way, as Faye jumped up to the rafters. She swung up, laying
down on her stomach as the guards came in. She waited until they had passed her, then hung down
by her legs and punched the first two out. As the rest turned on her she emptied the clips,
blood streaking down her sunglasses. She swung back up and let go, landing squarely on someone's
back. She dug her heels in as she moved on, keeping a careful eye on who she killed. The two in
charge they needed alive, and Jet would most certainly kill them if she didn't find them first.
They showed up as she rounded a corner, and Faye had to duck back quickly to avoid being
spotted. They were being escorted out by a large group, and Faye was about to pounce on them.
Spike beat her to it, his shotgun roaring as a door gave way into the room. Four guards fell
with it, spilling out into the room as Spike saw the group of men. Faye was pretty sure Spike
would kill them just as quick as Jet, unless she got them first. She kneecapped the two
bounties, putting four slugs into each leg. Spike tore the rest to shreds, kicking one of them
so hard he flew into a volley from his comrade's rifle. Spike jumped clear over the body
and brought his leg across the man's skull, bringing his hand around for a second hit.
Spike kept spinning, right foot first then left fist, until the man was dizzy with pain.
Spike caught him as he fell, stood him up straight and threw punches into his gut with amazing
speed, screaming as the last one made the man vomit. Spike backed away, avoiding the mess and
skipped back in close with a side kick. The man flew through the air, colliding with a door just
as it was blown open from the other side. Jet stood, seething and grinning as the shotgun blast
ripped through the man's back. The two bounty heads were on the ground, holding their legs and
screaming. Jet pointed the magnum, as Faye waved him away. "Bounties, bounties!" Faye screamed,
stepping in front of them. Jet pasued, almost fired anyway then decided it was good to have the
bounties alive. Spike grinned at Jet, walking over to him as Jet grinned back. They stood side
by side regarding the mess, then burst out laughing as Spike pointed to the man with the hole in
his back. "Now THAT"S teamwork!" Spike exclaimed, laughing as Jet chuckled up a storm.
Faye heard thrusters clsoe by, and went to investigate. Spike and Jet cut the jokes, looking at
the two bounties. "Two guys right?" Jet questioned, as Spike looked thoughtful for a second.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean we didn't miss a straggler or two." Spike replied. Faye was calling
for them, yelling something about a ship heading for the Bebop. Spike and Jet looked at each
other, and hurried after Faye.
Doohan was looking around for Edward, the glock secure in his grip. "Kids.." He muttered,
hearing the footsteps getting closer. A man appeared in the rec room, and Doohan put him down
quickly. After all these years, he could still shoot the fleas off a monkey's balls.
Doohan knew there were two more, and Edward was nowhere to be found.
He heard a click behind him, turning quickly to see a large man, and Edward. Edward had just
locked the clip into the silver gun she held. The man rasied his gun, aiming for Ed.
Doohan rolled to the side, clearing Ed out of his sights as he fired three times. He looked back
to make sure the kid was all right, and almost had a heart attack. There HAD been two men,
one behind Ed and one behind him. Ed has shot the second man as soon as Doohan had rolled clear.
The man was clinging to the couch, propping himself up and trying to raise his gun. Doohan took
aim too slow, as Ed shot the man again, and again and again. Most were hitting wide,
penetrating the legs or shoudler. The last shot found it's mark dead center in the chest,
as the man finally dropped and Ed's gun clicked empty. Spike raced into the room, gun drawn.
Jet and Faye were close behind, and they all stopped at the sight of Edward. She looked at them,
her eyes no longer dead. They were bright as stars again, if not a hint of something more
mature and deadly there as well. "Ed is a cowgirl!" She exclaimed as she stood, holding the
smoking gun behind her back shyly. The grin returned, as zany as ever. Doohan patted her
head, smiling approvingly and attempted to take the gun away. Edward swiftly grabbed his arm,
throwing him off balance as he stumbled into a chair. "Ed's gun is Ed's own! She chided, wagging
her finger at Doohan who broke out laughing in spite of himself. Jet and Faye both eyed Spike
accusingly, as he scratched his head chuckling nervously. "Ok, so I taught her a FEW things..."
Spike confessed as Ed grinned again, looking at the smoke curling from her gun. "Ed did a good
job, right?" Ed asked, seeking approval. Faye smiled at her, feeling like her little sister
really had grown up on her birthday. "You did GREAT." Jet assured her, picking her up on her
shoulders.
Edward laughed, holding her arms out like an airplane. And when it came time for Jet to tuck
her in that night, the gun stayed in it's holster, hanging just within reach. Ed was a cowgirl,
without a doubt. Jet smiled as he looked back at her, before closing the door.
And between the three of them, they'd teach her so many tricks that anyone trying to kidnap her
from now on, would be digging his own grave.
SEE YOU SPACE COWGIRL ED.........................................
JET: Where's Spike?
ED: Spike is hiding!
JET:Huh? Hiding? Where?
FAYE:Good question, Jet.
JET:Will someone please tell me what's going on?
ED:Love is in the air!! Whee!!
FAYE: It's the next episode, Strangers in the night.
ED: Ed is in love!!