Authors Notes: Oh my goodness, I know this took forever. I'm ssoooo sorry. I've been insanely busy with school, and work, and band. I will never make you guys wait this long again. lol. Scouts Honor. I'm really sorry! Anyway, i still havn't decided on a title. You guys gave some really good sugeestions but I'm still not sure. I'll think about it some more. Well, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. It's little longer then the other ones. hehe. ^_^ Thanks for all the positive reviews. I love all you Space Cowboys! Adios ^_~
Spike paced up and down the long hallway. There was nothing he could do until that bastard woke up. It had been three hours since Spike felt he totally lost his mind. It was late at night. He wasn't thinking clearly. But he had an idea. Something that just may make everything alright again. He stopped his pacing suddenly. He listened to the soft shuffling coming from the small bathroom. Spike opened the door. Himdium's head slowly rolled down his neck. A small groan escaped his lips. He tried to move again and winced as the pain from his broken arm intensified. He tried to reach for his injured arm but realized his arms were bounded. His groggy half opened black eyes examined the handcuffs in confusion. He then slowly lifted his head until his eyes fell on Spike.
"Who the hell are you?"
Spike balled up his fist and laid all his fury on top of Himdium's already swollen cheek. Red drool rolled down Himdium's chin. He raised his face back to Spike's twisted one. His swollen lips contorted into what seemed like a smile. He chuckled.
"Now I remember."
Spike responded with another hard punch to the face. Himdium sputtered. He spit out a bloody wad that appeared to be a tooth.
"Take it easy, man." He said through spits of blood. "I only got about fifteen left."
He turned his head and exainmend the small room.
"This doesn't look like a jail cell." He stated.
"That's because you're not in a jail cell." Spike answered coldly. "You're gonna wish you were after tonight."
Himdium smiled wide, showing all the vacant holes that had once held teeth.
"Is that so, Mister Big Bad bounty hunter?"
Spike didn't answer. He took a small key from his pocket and began unlocking the handcuffs. Himdium watched in confusion as he was being freed from his prisoner state. But it wasn't for long. As soon as both hands were un-cuffed, Spike took a firm hold of the broken arm.
"On you feet." He stated pulling the arm. Himdium had no choice but to comply as he screamed in agony. He jumped to his wobbly legs. Spike then grabbed the mans uninjured arm, twisting it behind the man back, but still keeping a firm grip on the broken one. He pushed the man out of the small bathroom and headed down the hall towards the living Area. Himdium and Spike almost equaled each other in height and build but Spike obviously had the advantage seeing that his body was uninjured and intact. Spike twisted the man broken arm once in a while just to hear him scream. Hurting someone who made a living out of hurting people who other people cared about gave Spike great pleasure. They reached the empty living Area, and Spike threw Himdium violently on the ground. He screamed loudly as he landed on his arm. Spike whipped out his gun, pointing the nozzle at Himdium's head. Fear flickered in the mans eyes for the first time. But it soon disappeared, replaced by a cold defiance. Jet burst into the room. The screaming got the attention Spike had hoped for.
"What the hell is going on!?" Jet's booming voice echoed off the metal walls.
"I'm out of the shadows. I'm interacting." Spike said through gritted teeth, not taking his eyes of Himdium. Himdium stared back with those black holes of his.
"Spike..." Came Jet's voice, it was soft this time. "Put the gun down."
"No!" Spike yelled. Looking at Jet. "He deserves to die. It's justice."
"Its murder!" Jet swallowed hard, calming himself down. He spoke soft again. "We can turn him into the cops. Get that 30 million."
"She deserves to watch him die." Spike muttered.
"You think that's going to help?" Jet yelled. "It's not going to her any good. Just hurt her more. Put the gun down now."
But Spike didn't move. He held the gun to Himdium's head, locking eyes with him.
"Where's Faye?" Spike asked. Jet didn't answer.
"Go get her." Spike said.
"No." Said Jet softly. All loudness from his voice gone replaced by a quiet sadness. "I won't"
Spike looked at Jet again. He eyed the approaching figure behind Jet. "No need to now."
Faye walked slowly up behind Jet. Jet whirled around, startled by her sudden appearance. He immediately took the protector role. He stood in front of her so his large frame blocked her view of the current scene. He put his hands on her shoulders, trying to push her away gently.
"Go back to bed, Faye." He said sternly. She gave him a confused look.
"What going on?" She asked with innocent curiosity. Ed wandered up behind her.
"Ed heard yelling." She stated.
Jet gripped both Ed's and Faye's shoulders, trying to lead them out of the room. Faye was having none of it.
"Jet, I'm not a child." She said, squirming out of his grasp. "What's going on?"
"It's alright Jet." Came Spike's cold voice. "Let her see. Its what she wants."
Faye narrowed her eyes in confusion. Jet sighed deeply, shaking his head. He stepped to the side slowly. Faye stiffened at the sight that was revealed. Spike took his eyes off Himdium for a second to look at Faye. He immediately regretted what he was doing. Even from a distance he could see her rigid body, her expressionless face, her soulless eyes. She stood there, staring back at him. He told her he wouldn't let anything hurt her anymore. Jet was right. This wasn't doing anything but hurting her more. Seeing the man that abused her body and mind was only making everything worse. Even if he was on the unlucky end of a gun that was held by someone who cared for her deeply. Who loved her. But he had good intentions. He had to make them clear.
Himdium noticed the new addition to the room. He grinned widely when he caught site of Faye.
"Oh, I get it now." He said.
Spike turned back to Himdium, his face meaner then ever.
"Apologize." He stated simply
Himdium looked at Spike, then at Faye, then back to Spike. His face twisted and contorted until he began to laugh out loud.
"Are you kidding?" He looked over at Faye as if she were his toy. "I only apologize for things I'm sorry for." He laughed again.
"She was the best I've had in months."
His laugh was cut off as Spike struck him hard across the face with the butt of the gun.
"So." Spike hissed. "You get off torturing and raping girls, you sick fuck."
"It's a living." Himdium replied, grinning.
"You picked the wrong person to fuck with."
"As I recall, I did nothing to you."
"You don't fuck with my crew." Spike pushed the gun harder into Himdium's head. "Apologize."
"Not a chance in hell." Himdium sneered. Spike swallowed hard as he tightened his finger around the trigger. He took aim.
"I'll see you in hell." Himdium sneered.
Spike stared at Himdium down the barrel of the gun. But something blocked his view. It was a hand. A cream white hand. Spike looked up. Faye was standing next to him, her hand on top of the gun. Her emerald eyes staring into his. Pleading with him. She shook her head slightly. Spike lowered his arm, staring at her curiously. She turned her head towards Jet.
"Take him." She said to him, her voice was loud and strong. "Take him to the police. We could do a lot more with that thirty mil then with a dead corpse." Spike saw her glance quickly at Himdium. There was no emotion in that glance. She looked at him as if he was some dirty business needed to be taken care of. Jet walked over quickly, grabbing Himdium roughly off the floor. Himdium never took his eyes off Spike. Those two black pits laughing at him as he was pulled away. Spike stood there, the gun still in his hand. He examined his hands, his blood rising as he found they were clean of Himdium's blood. He wanted so badly to kill that man. But the one person he was going to do that for had stopped him. He looked up to see Faye watching him. Her arms were folded and her body turned as if she was bout to leave. But her eyes were fully fixed on him. Her face blank and expressionless. She was torn in between leaving without a word and talking to him. She apparently had chosen to talk, as she turned back around. She stood face to face with him, not saying a word for a few seconds.
"That was dumb."
Spike nodded.
"It was rash." She included. Spike couldn't do anything but nod.
"That guy was worth 30 mil! That's one of the biggest bounties that have ever come along! Your so
selfish and stupid sometimes." She continued.
"Did you even think? Do you know that shooting a wounded and unarmed man in the head is
considered murder!" Spike interrupted her tirade.
"It wouldn't been the first time." he said.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Faye said, cocking her head. Spike looked down at his
hand. He flexed it, watching his fingers stretch out, then contract into a tight-balled fist.
"There's the blood of a murderer running through these veins." Spike stated simply. He looked at
Faye sharply. "You know nothing of my past."
Faye was taken aback by this unexpected statement. But She regained herself quickly,
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" She spat at him. Spike stared at her
confounded..
"I'm trying to tell you something about myself."
"Why the hell do you think I care?"
That simple sentence had thrown Spike back into the well of confusion that he felt he was
finally making his was out of. Now he felt the coldness of those words rushing over the
above his chin, pass his nose, until he couldn't breathe.
He turned away sharply, not wanting to face her. He had confessed to her that he cared
about her. But he had failed to ask if that feeling was mutual. He was just a pawn in a
game. Just someone to hold up the pieces while she glued them back together. He wanted
to rush from the room. He didn't want to turn and see her face. But his body decided to
turn without the permission of the brain. He turned to face her. She had her arms crossed
over her chest. She watched him with loathing in her eyes. This would have been normal
months ago, but after all that happened it was shocking. Every ounce of the Faye he had gotten to know in the last few months was gone. All that was left was a unhappy woman, running away from her problems. No soul, no spirit. Just a empty body with an attitude. He opened his mouth to speak,
but closed it. He didn't trust himself. Faye noticed his apprehension to speak.
"You're weak, Spike." She stated. Still staring at him coldly. He closed his eyes as she
spoke. He didn't want to hear these words. But he was not going to let her win. It was time for her to face everything. There was no more running for her, for either of them.
"How can you call me weak." He muttered almost inaudible. He opened his eyes. "When the only reason you are saying these things is because you want to push me away." Again he caught Faye of guard as her eyes widened and her arms feel to her sides. He took advantage of the situation. He took a step toward her, and she stepped back.
"I'm trying to get close to you. I did get close to you. And now you are backing away." He backed her up against the wall. She tried to duck out to the right, but he put his arm on the wall to block her. She went for the left but again his arm flew up diffuse her efforts.
"You've always been so predictable, Faye." He whispered to her. His leaned in close. His face was almost touching hers. He could feel her discomfort and he was feeding on it.
"Are you enjoying this? Do you like feeling trapped like a rabbit? You have no where to go. I'll always be here. You might as well learn how to face me." He heard he breathing getting raspy. "Who's weak now, Faye?"
"You're scaring me, Spike." She whimpered.
"That's because you hurt me." He closed his eyes momentarily. He dropped his arms loudly, Faye gasped and stiffened. But he didn't touch her. He stared into her eyes with a spark in them that has never been there before.
"You hurt me real bad."
He turned and made his way out of the room, leaving Faye standing alone against the wall trying to catch her breath. Ed stood near the doorway where she had been watching them. She watched him with wide eyes as he made his way towards her. He almost walked right past her but he stopped, and looked down at Ed. She didn't run. she didn't yell at him. She just stared up at him with those wide yellow eyes. He reached out his hand towards her and she didn't recoil like he expected. He ruffled her hair softly, and touched her check affectionately. He gave her a half smile, which she didn't return. He dropped his hand, and continued out the door.