Disclaimers: I still don't own them, but that will not stop me from ruling
the world.oh forget it, I give up. Just read the story.
Chapter seven: The Love Bug
The Bebop was a quite place to live now a day. It had been four days since the Death episode, and now the crew was recuperating. They had received their bounty of 6 million Woolongs. After a great deal of debate, Spike Jet and Faye decided to split it with Ed, a four way split, even. But she had said no, and ran around yelling "Ed has millions already." They all shrugged and split it three ways.
Jet had escaped with four broken ribs, some bruises and some gashes. His ribs were now set in an uncomfortable bunch of bandages around his waste. The smaller cuts and bruises had all but headled. His arm had been another story, he had spent almost a fourth of his money on a fix job. Strangely Spike, and Faye amazingly enough offered to give him some more of their money. They were a team, right? The arm had been fixed only two days ago, and now thanks to the repairs he could cook all day long. "Good for nothing, bounty hunters. All they do is sit on MY SHIP, and expect me to make them food. On MY SHIP!!!" Jet yelled from the kitchen. "You hear that MY SHIP!!!" He yelled out into the common room.
Ed was sitting on the table in the common room, her elbows on the table and hands propping up her head. She was staring at the TV at a very close range. Ed had come away with minimal damage on the outside from her brush with Death. She had two small bandages on her face, one on the forehead one under her eye. A couple of bruises lined her forearms from crawling all over the floor. Her hands were bandaged and raw from picking the locks and crawling in glass. Her feet also had small bandages on them. Yep, Ed came away lucky. Her wounds wouldn't leave any scars. All her scars were on the inside. She hadn't really been the same since that day. She just sat around, staring out the window on the first day. She's gotten better since then, and has resumed regular Ed functions. "MY Ship, my Shipppppp!!! Ed hears Jet-person." Ed yelled back. "Now stop yelling so Ed can watch her show." Just then Ein came running in and barked at Ed. She looked down at the small dog and barked back. Getting carefully on to all fours on the table.
"What the hell is all the barking about?" Faye yelled as she walked into the room. Faye had a little more wounds than the others, all coming together with the ones she had sustained from before. Her left arm was in a sling and held close to her body. The doctor had taken about twenty minutes to fish the bullet out of her shoulder. The whole time she had been screaming and yelling, asking for some thing to drink, or a cigarette. Her arm was feeling a little better and every once and a while she would slip her arm out and do some small exercises to keep it strong. The slit under her eye had healed completely. The one on her neck was still bandaged up. Another bandage encircled her small waste completely. Her back was still a very sore spot. "Oh," She said watching as Ed barked at Ein and Ein barked back. Soon the kid was off and running slowly on all fours all around the common room. "Be careful, Ed. Don't push on your hands so much." Ed just came up and barked at Faye's feet. Faye reached her good hand down and patted Ed on the head. In the four days, Faye had started treated Ed a little differently. She had seen the look on Ed's face the clearest that day. Faye knew Ed was coping with something. And strangely Faye wanted to help. She shook her head and walked over to the stairwell. She was wearing a white tank top and a pair of black sweatpants that hung low on her hip. She sat down on the stairwell and took out a smoke. "MY SHIP!!!" Faye heard Jet yell from the kitchen. Then she saw Ed run in after Ein. A loud yell and the many clattering of pots was the last thing she heard, before she turned her attention back to the window.
Spike entered the common room silently. He was wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and that a was all, except for the towel draped on his shoulders. The bullet had gone into his stomach and bounced around a little before finally jumping out of his back. Luckily it hadn't hit any vital organs. He like the rest of his bounty hunter friends had a bandage encircling his entire waste. His right hand was bandaged from the gun shot that had taken away his gun after he was shot. His wrists like Jet were raw from the handcuffs.
He took slow steps down the stairs into the common room, as Ed ran past him barking. He patted the child on the head as she ran past, but his eyes were on Faye. She was staring out the window, not paying attention to anyone. This was the first time in four days he had actually been in the same room with her, well, for longer than a second. They had avoided one another completely. Not talking about what had happened, or almost happened in the alley. Spike didn't want her to leave this time, and he wasn't going anywhere. They were going to have to get over it eventually. Spike mentally groaned. They were going to have to have another one of their little talks.
"Spike," Jet said as he came out of the kitchen a towel over his shoulder. "Where did Ed go?" Spike didn't look at Jet, he just pointed his thumb over his shoulder and out the door. His eyes were busy, locked with Faye's. She had looked over when Jet had yelled. Jet made his way huffing out the door. "Ed! Get back here and help me clean up this mess!!!" Jet yelled. "ED!!!" his voice began to disappear down the hall. Faye and Spike were still eye locked. Faye looked away first and made a move to get up. Spike moved forward and put up a hand. "Faye, you don't have to leave. We all live here. Stay." Spike stood right beside the couch looking up and over at her now standing form. "I won't bother you." "You being you, bothers me, cowboy." Faye said sitting down again. She smirked over at him. "Nothing can change that." Spike returned her smirk, and lit up a cigarette. He slowly and painfully stretched himself out on the couch. He laid with his head at the end that would allow him to look out the window like Faye.
The two sat in silence for twenty minutes, watched every now and then by Edward and Jet. Neither made a move, neither said a word. Not one poke or joke. Jet shook his head, it was too weird for him. Ed, sat on the table and would sneak glances at the two, a silly grin on her face. Spike would sneak glances at Faye every now and then. His mind racked with indecision. He looked at her and his heart hurt. He turned his view back to the window. Julia, he thought of Julia. He felt like he was betraying her, like he was being a horrible person. It had taken him months to fully get over the fact that he was still alive. He had wanted to die. He wanted to be with his Julia. He wanted the dream to end. The sad reality was, it wasn't a dream. It was real, he was real, and she was really gone. He closed his eyes and inhaled from his cigarette. Over the months he realized he was alive, and he couldn't live in the past anymore. All he had was his future. Just as Faye had said. But he couldn't forget Julia. She was his first love, first real love. And now being here on the Bebop he was finally moving on. He was making new friends, he had made a new family with Ed, Jet, and even Faye. But for some reason Faye was different. He knew she hadn't changed since he left. She was still the same shrew woman she was when he left. Bad attitude, bad debt, big heart. He hadn't ever hated Faye. It took him a while to realize that, but he did. He never hated her. He had worried about her, and wanted to take care of her, and wanted to help her. And he wouldn't have been a man if he didn't notice how beautiful she was. But now that beauty was seeping into his mind and closing his eyes to all the things he had found annoying before. He started to reevaluate why he had found them annoying. And it was getting really annoying. All the qualities she had. Her loud mouth, her attitude that made everyone think twice about messing with her. This air of confidence that she walked around with. However false it was, it was there. And she knew how to use it. Her strong spirit, never giving up on a friend, never giving up period. Her willingness to put her life on the line for him, for anyone on the ship. They hadn't been evident before, but now they were. And he knew why he hadn't liked them. They were qualities that Julia didn't have, or at least ones she didn't show. Julia had been strong, virile, beautiful, all things that Faye was. But her qualities were not so over powering. Simple, beautiful, wonderful, that had been Julia. The only quality they shared was beauty, and even that was different. Faye was a woman that from the first day had brought out emotions in Spike. Emotions that he didn't think he had anymore. She allowed him to be angry and happy at the same time. He had pushed her away because of that. Because he wasn't alive then. But now..
Faye got up from the stairwell and walked up to the bridge. She went over to the window and stood. Jet was setting the coordinates for Venus. "Where we going now?" Faye asked slowly removing her arm from the sling. The sling lay against her body, her arm still bent. "Venus, I got a lead on new bounty." Jet said looking over at her. "You gonna be up for it?" He leaned on the console as he watched her gingerly rotate her shoulder. She stopped and looked over at him. "Yeah, I'll be ready. How about you old man?" Faye smiled at him. "I'm fine. Just need to stretch out the muscles in the old gut." Jet said patting his stomach. "The bounty's not too hard. There's three in the gang. I figure we can each go for one," he said looking over at Faye. Her eyes widened. "One for each of us, huh?" She said. "You mean you guys trust me to get him on my own? No yelling about how I screw everything up?" "You earned it. Albeit the hard way, but you earned it." Jet said as he made his way down the stairs. "I'm going to work out a bit of the kinks. We should be at Venus in about two days. I'll get the info together later. Rest up." Faye gave a salute with her good hand to the retreating form of Jet. She smiled. She had won their respect. "And all it took was getting nearly dead, twice." Faye said to her reflection in the window. She floated down closer to the window, rotating her arm a little more. It hurt but it felt better to use it than not.
She stared out the window and thought about the same thing she had been thinking about for the past four days. Spike. And the almost kiss that they had in the alley way. She felt bad about it, and she didn't know why. She didn't know what to think about it. Before, before he left to fight Vicious, she would have jumped at the chance to kiss him. He was handsome and kind, well he wasn't cruel. Ok, at times he was cruel, but that was just the way they acted around one another. From the first time she had seen him, she had been attracted to him. Who wouldn't be? And from that first day the two of them had bit into one another. Each one taking hits on the other, but there had always been something behind it. At least for Faye. It was her way of getting close to someone again, her way of doing it with out the chance of getting hurt again. But here she was getting hurt again. "How the hell did that happen?" She asked the reflection. "How did what happen?" Spike said from behind her. Faye jumped and turned around. "Jesus, you scared the shit out of me." She yelled. "What's the big idea sneaking up on me." She moved towards him, but stopped. She didn't want a replay of the alley. "I live here too you know. I just came up to see where we were going." Spike said leaning over the console, a smirk on his lips. "Its not my fault you talk to yourself. And jump at the drop of a hat." "I do not jump at the drop of a hat. I just wasn't expecting you to come up here." Faye said looking at him putting her good hand on her hip. The other bent at her stomach. "Do I scare you Faye," Spike said moving a little closer to her. She put up her hand and looked him directly in the eye. He stopped, staring in her eyes. "Lately you have been." Faye said. She slowly walked around him and down the stairs. Spike watched as she walked out of the common room and disappeared into the hall. The clanking of her heels replaced by the padding of bare feet. Ed looked up at Spike from her Tomato, "What did Spike-person do?" Ed yelled. "I don't know, Ed," Spike said coming down the stairs. "I think I need a little help with this one." The only problem was he needed help from Faye. He walked out of the common room and went on a hunt for Faye. Ed watched him leave, she turned to Ein and then started typing on Tomato.
"Ed will help," she said to Ein. Ein covered his eyes with his paws and moaned.
Spike finally found Faye in the hangar, she was sitting on the couch that they had bought to go in there. The couch hardly had a back to it and was very wide, Ed could almost lay down fully in the width of the couch. It was a present for all of them, but mainly for Jet, since he spent the most time in there. She was sitting with one leg up, her bandaged arm resting on top of the knee. Her head on her hands, on top of that raised knee. He took a couple of steps closer to her, stubbed his cigarette on the wall and closed the door. "Faye," Spike said standing still pretty far from the couch. She tilted her head a bit in his direction, looking at him through her purple hair. She rolled her eyes and turned her head back to its original position. It was her own fault. She had been thinking about him again. She knew he had this nasty habit of showing up when you thought about him too much. She shouldn't think about him. But it was hard. Especially now. She knew it was wrong. It wasn't fair to him to make him want to kiss her. He was still hurting from the loss of Julia, she knew it. He told her. But she didn't know how to make him stop. She wasn't doing anything differently than she had before. She didn't know why he was acting this way now. "I didn't want to scare you again." Spike said stepping beside the couch. She looked up at him and saw the smirk on his face. He was trying to make light of the situation. He was trying to put things back to normal. "Sorry, cowboy," Faye said. "You're just too freakish for me not to be scared. I mean look at you." She waved her good hand at him. "Freakin' Frankenstein." She said. "Look who's talking," Spike said getting annoyed. "And I think you mean Mummy." "What?" "Mummy, that was the one in all the bandages. Not Frankenstein. I mean really Faye, if you're going to insult me at least get it right." "Go to hell." She said flipping him off. "How's the arm," Spike said sitting on the arm of the couch near to Faye. "Why don't you sit on the couch," she said her annoyed voice in full force. It was good to have the old ways back. "I'm fine where I am," Spike said leaning over a bit. "Too close for you?" "God," Faye said sighing and getting off the couch. She walked a bit and looked out the hangar bay. The window was really close to her, she stared at her reflection as she massaged her shoulder. "How is it?" Spike said moving closer behind her. "Fine, it's stopped bleeding. Now its just sore and bruised." She said wincing a little as she moved her fingers on her skin. "Here, let me." Spike said putting his hands on her shoulder, the bandage on his hand sent a shiver up her spine. Faye jumped away a little, but Spike held her in place. "Faye, I can help. Let me." She looked at his reflection behind her and nodded to it, a deep sigh leaving her mouth. Spike put his left hand on her shoulder and his right closer to her neck. He began to slowly kneed the tight muscles and bruised flesh. Faye lulled her head to the side giving him more of her neck to massage. Spike smiled a little. His right hand moving over a bit and massaging the back of her neck at the hair line. Faye moaned a little, but stopped as soon as she did it. "Relax," Spike said in her ear. "How can I. You wouldn't be relaxed if I was doing that to you." Faye said in a mumble of words. "Well, maybe we can find out," Spike said a smile forming on his lips as he massaged her neck and aching shoulder more. Faye opened an eye and looked at his eyes in the reflection on the glass. He was serious, and smiling. She couldn't keep the surprise or the smile from her face.
Suddenly the lights went out in the hangar bay. Spike stopped massaging Faye's neck his hands still on her. Faye sighed and looked around. "The Love Bug has invaded the Bebop's systems," Ed's voice boomed from the comm. units. "All doors are locked and lights gone, only emergency lights can be used." The emergency lights flickered on sending a dull illumination into the hangar bay. "Ed will try and fix." And then communication was cut. "That kid," Faye said turning around. Spike's hands slid across the bandage on her collar bone and ended up on either of her shoulders. "Jet's going to kill her." "Not if he's locked in his room," Spike said with a smile. Faye smiled at him, she couldn't help it. They locked eyes again. "So I guess that means we're locked in here," Faye said getting a little uncomfortable all of a sudden. "Yep, I guess so." Spike said kneading his fingers on her sore shoulder. Faye put her hand up and set in on his bare chest, and he stopped. That had been the plan, to get him to stop. Her fingers were cool, but sent a hot shiver through his body. He looked down at her hand, his one hand falling from her shoulder. The other remained, not kneading anymore. He looked back up into her eyes, and saw something he didn't expect. Fear. "Faye. What is it." She shook her head and smiled, and looked back up to him. "Nothing. It's silly," She said her hand getting warmer on his chest. It was right over his heart, she looked down at it. "Does your heart always beat that fast?" Faye said looking at her hand on his chest. "Is it getting hot in here?" Spike asked swallowing. Faye looked up and met his eyes. "Is it?" She said, a smile playing on her lips. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be doing this." She made a move to take her hand away, but Spike caught her. Holding it in both of his. He brought her hand back, his hands keeping it there. "Why?" Spike said, moving his head down a little. Leaning so he was so close to her mouth that a sharp intake of breath would bring him into her. "Why shouldn't you?" "Because." Faye began her eyes darting about. She wanted to say because its wrong, but she couldn't find the words. "Why shouldn't I?" Spike said closing the distance in a rush of lips. Faye's eyes went wide for a second but soon closed. It was soft at first, his lips just barely brushing connecting with hers. Their lips both warm and wet, moving along one another's. Faye felt her body sag a little against his. Spike put his arms around to her waste bringing her closer to him, deepening the kiss in the same motion. The feel of his tongue on hers sent a shiver of desire through Faye's body. Her hands were pinned on his chest, burning a hole into him. Spike slightly lifted Faye from the ground her legs wrapping low on his body, around his thighs. Spike took a few unsteady steps backwards. The kiss was becoming more passionate, a small moan escaped Faye's lips as they parted for a breath. They continued the kiss, their eyes shut their mouths exploring. Spike's hands were moving up and down her back as he staggered carrying her with him. Her hands were moving along his chest, smoothing his muscles as they worked with her weight. Spike's hands made it down to her thighs and pushed her higher up. She let out a squeak, and he smiled on her mouth. Her legs had wrapped around his waist, Spike's body was overheating. His knees hit off of the couch and he went down taking Faye with him. "Ow!!!" Spike said as his wounded stomach began to protest Faye's weight being slammed on him. Faye's head shot up from his, and she moved her hands down to his bandage. "I'm sorry," She began, pulling away a bit. Spike smiled and put his hand behind her head. "Don't worry about it. Its an easy fix." He said bringing her mouth to his again. He rolled them over slowly, placing himself over Faye. She moaned against his lips again. Her arms reaching out and hugging him around the shoulders. Her hands kneaded his flesh, massaging his muscles. Spike was kissing her jawbone, and moved down to her neck. Faye moved her head to the side allowing him better access. His hands were moving up and down her body. They moved over her breasts and Faye moaned again. Spike smiled against her neck and went back to her mouth. He twisted a little on top of her, and Faye moved to try and compensate. It jostled her hurt shoulder. "Ow!!!" Faye said. Spike's head snapped up and looked at her, pain on her face. "Did I hurt you?" Spike asked looking at her body beneath his. She moved her mouth to his not wanting to stop. He kissed her back his hands moving around to her back. Faye's hands moved down to his side, and she began kneading. "Ow," They said at the same time, taking in a breath against each others lips. They opened their eyes and looked at each other. They laughed. Spike dropped his head into the bend of Faye's neck. They laughed against one another, for a second. Spike finally moved off of Faye and laid on his elbow beside her. He watched her smile fade and her eyes open to look at him. He put his hand to her cheek. "We should stop, before we hurt ourselves any more." Faye said with a bit of a giggle. "Yeah," Spike said getting up off the couch. Faye sat up and followed him with her eyes. "You were right. It is hard to relax with you massaging me." Spike said as he pulled out a cigarette. "Told you." Faye said getting off the couch, she stole Spike's cigarette and took a puff. Spike turned and faced her again. He reached out, and Faye thought he was going for the cigarette, she smiled and moved it away. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, bringing her body close to his. He kissed her again, slowly. The kiss went down to her toes, heat all through her body. He broke the kiss. "Guess that makes us even," Faye said with her eyes still closed. "Your just beginning to pay me back. I've done a lot of things for you, Faye." Spike said a sly grin coming to his mouth. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "And I've saved your life a couple of times, Spike." She said. "You owe me." "Alright," Spike said moving in for another kiss. Faye put her hand to his chest, as the lights came on and the door opened. "Some other time, cowboy." She said as she made for the door. Suddenly she stopped, and turned to face him. "What the hell is going on Spike?" her face showing all the anxiety and fear it had before. Spike had never seen her face like that before. "I don't know," Spike said closing his eyes, massaging the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "I really don't know." "Glad I'm not the only one," Faye said. "We should really figure it out soon. Otherwise, you might do something you'll regret." "Yeah," Spike said not looking up at her. He opened his eyes. "Wait a minute. What do you mean I'll do something I regret. What about you? You weren't really complaining back there." "I never make a move I don't regret later on." Faye said with a smile. "Don't take it personal." She waved at him with the cigarette and walked out the door. The whole time she walked down the hall she was mentally slapping herself. 'What the hell was that. Why did you say that. Stupid woman. Stupid, stupid woman.' Spike watched her leave, a more than a little confused. He looked up at the ceiling. "Love bug, indeed, he said to the fluttering lights above his head. He put his hand to pants pocket looking for his pack of cigarettes. He pulled it out, empty. He looked to the still open door, and made a run for it. "Hey, Faye. Give me back my Cigarette!!!" He yelled as he ran down the hall. 'Damn that woman.'
Ok, that really had no point, and didn't really further the plot. But I wanted to try and write some of the romance in the fic. I know its confusing, at least I think its confusing. Oh great, I've just managed to confuse myself. Well, anyhoo, if it seems confusing, lets think about the players in this fic. Would a romance between Spike and Faye be anything but confusing? I don't know what the next chapter will be called, but expect it soon. I'm on a roll. Please read and review, and ENJOY!!!
Chapter seven: The Love Bug
The Bebop was a quite place to live now a day. It had been four days since the Death episode, and now the crew was recuperating. They had received their bounty of 6 million Woolongs. After a great deal of debate, Spike Jet and Faye decided to split it with Ed, a four way split, even. But she had said no, and ran around yelling "Ed has millions already." They all shrugged and split it three ways.
Jet had escaped with four broken ribs, some bruises and some gashes. His ribs were now set in an uncomfortable bunch of bandages around his waste. The smaller cuts and bruises had all but headled. His arm had been another story, he had spent almost a fourth of his money on a fix job. Strangely Spike, and Faye amazingly enough offered to give him some more of their money. They were a team, right? The arm had been fixed only two days ago, and now thanks to the repairs he could cook all day long. "Good for nothing, bounty hunters. All they do is sit on MY SHIP, and expect me to make them food. On MY SHIP!!!" Jet yelled from the kitchen. "You hear that MY SHIP!!!" He yelled out into the common room.
Ed was sitting on the table in the common room, her elbows on the table and hands propping up her head. She was staring at the TV at a very close range. Ed had come away with minimal damage on the outside from her brush with Death. She had two small bandages on her face, one on the forehead one under her eye. A couple of bruises lined her forearms from crawling all over the floor. Her hands were bandaged and raw from picking the locks and crawling in glass. Her feet also had small bandages on them. Yep, Ed came away lucky. Her wounds wouldn't leave any scars. All her scars were on the inside. She hadn't really been the same since that day. She just sat around, staring out the window on the first day. She's gotten better since then, and has resumed regular Ed functions. "MY Ship, my Shipppppp!!! Ed hears Jet-person." Ed yelled back. "Now stop yelling so Ed can watch her show." Just then Ein came running in and barked at Ed. She looked down at the small dog and barked back. Getting carefully on to all fours on the table.
"What the hell is all the barking about?" Faye yelled as she walked into the room. Faye had a little more wounds than the others, all coming together with the ones she had sustained from before. Her left arm was in a sling and held close to her body. The doctor had taken about twenty minutes to fish the bullet out of her shoulder. The whole time she had been screaming and yelling, asking for some thing to drink, or a cigarette. Her arm was feeling a little better and every once and a while she would slip her arm out and do some small exercises to keep it strong. The slit under her eye had healed completely. The one on her neck was still bandaged up. Another bandage encircled her small waste completely. Her back was still a very sore spot. "Oh," She said watching as Ed barked at Ein and Ein barked back. Soon the kid was off and running slowly on all fours all around the common room. "Be careful, Ed. Don't push on your hands so much." Ed just came up and barked at Faye's feet. Faye reached her good hand down and patted Ed on the head. In the four days, Faye had started treated Ed a little differently. She had seen the look on Ed's face the clearest that day. Faye knew Ed was coping with something. And strangely Faye wanted to help. She shook her head and walked over to the stairwell. She was wearing a white tank top and a pair of black sweatpants that hung low on her hip. She sat down on the stairwell and took out a smoke. "MY SHIP!!!" Faye heard Jet yell from the kitchen. Then she saw Ed run in after Ein. A loud yell and the many clattering of pots was the last thing she heard, before she turned her attention back to the window.
Spike entered the common room silently. He was wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and that a was all, except for the towel draped on his shoulders. The bullet had gone into his stomach and bounced around a little before finally jumping out of his back. Luckily it hadn't hit any vital organs. He like the rest of his bounty hunter friends had a bandage encircling his entire waste. His right hand was bandaged from the gun shot that had taken away his gun after he was shot. His wrists like Jet were raw from the handcuffs.
He took slow steps down the stairs into the common room, as Ed ran past him barking. He patted the child on the head as she ran past, but his eyes were on Faye. She was staring out the window, not paying attention to anyone. This was the first time in four days he had actually been in the same room with her, well, for longer than a second. They had avoided one another completely. Not talking about what had happened, or almost happened in the alley. Spike didn't want her to leave this time, and he wasn't going anywhere. They were going to have to get over it eventually. Spike mentally groaned. They were going to have to have another one of their little talks.
"Spike," Jet said as he came out of the kitchen a towel over his shoulder. "Where did Ed go?" Spike didn't look at Jet, he just pointed his thumb over his shoulder and out the door. His eyes were busy, locked with Faye's. She had looked over when Jet had yelled. Jet made his way huffing out the door. "Ed! Get back here and help me clean up this mess!!!" Jet yelled. "ED!!!" his voice began to disappear down the hall. Faye and Spike were still eye locked. Faye looked away first and made a move to get up. Spike moved forward and put up a hand. "Faye, you don't have to leave. We all live here. Stay." Spike stood right beside the couch looking up and over at her now standing form. "I won't bother you." "You being you, bothers me, cowboy." Faye said sitting down again. She smirked over at him. "Nothing can change that." Spike returned her smirk, and lit up a cigarette. He slowly and painfully stretched himself out on the couch. He laid with his head at the end that would allow him to look out the window like Faye.
The two sat in silence for twenty minutes, watched every now and then by Edward and Jet. Neither made a move, neither said a word. Not one poke or joke. Jet shook his head, it was too weird for him. Ed, sat on the table and would sneak glances at the two, a silly grin on her face. Spike would sneak glances at Faye every now and then. His mind racked with indecision. He looked at her and his heart hurt. He turned his view back to the window. Julia, he thought of Julia. He felt like he was betraying her, like he was being a horrible person. It had taken him months to fully get over the fact that he was still alive. He had wanted to die. He wanted to be with his Julia. He wanted the dream to end. The sad reality was, it wasn't a dream. It was real, he was real, and she was really gone. He closed his eyes and inhaled from his cigarette. Over the months he realized he was alive, and he couldn't live in the past anymore. All he had was his future. Just as Faye had said. But he couldn't forget Julia. She was his first love, first real love. And now being here on the Bebop he was finally moving on. He was making new friends, he had made a new family with Ed, Jet, and even Faye. But for some reason Faye was different. He knew she hadn't changed since he left. She was still the same shrew woman she was when he left. Bad attitude, bad debt, big heart. He hadn't ever hated Faye. It took him a while to realize that, but he did. He never hated her. He had worried about her, and wanted to take care of her, and wanted to help her. And he wouldn't have been a man if he didn't notice how beautiful she was. But now that beauty was seeping into his mind and closing his eyes to all the things he had found annoying before. He started to reevaluate why he had found them annoying. And it was getting really annoying. All the qualities she had. Her loud mouth, her attitude that made everyone think twice about messing with her. This air of confidence that she walked around with. However false it was, it was there. And she knew how to use it. Her strong spirit, never giving up on a friend, never giving up period. Her willingness to put her life on the line for him, for anyone on the ship. They hadn't been evident before, but now they were. And he knew why he hadn't liked them. They were qualities that Julia didn't have, or at least ones she didn't show. Julia had been strong, virile, beautiful, all things that Faye was. But her qualities were not so over powering. Simple, beautiful, wonderful, that had been Julia. The only quality they shared was beauty, and even that was different. Faye was a woman that from the first day had brought out emotions in Spike. Emotions that he didn't think he had anymore. She allowed him to be angry and happy at the same time. He had pushed her away because of that. Because he wasn't alive then. But now..
Faye got up from the stairwell and walked up to the bridge. She went over to the window and stood. Jet was setting the coordinates for Venus. "Where we going now?" Faye asked slowly removing her arm from the sling. The sling lay against her body, her arm still bent. "Venus, I got a lead on new bounty." Jet said looking over at her. "You gonna be up for it?" He leaned on the console as he watched her gingerly rotate her shoulder. She stopped and looked over at him. "Yeah, I'll be ready. How about you old man?" Faye smiled at him. "I'm fine. Just need to stretch out the muscles in the old gut." Jet said patting his stomach. "The bounty's not too hard. There's three in the gang. I figure we can each go for one," he said looking over at Faye. Her eyes widened. "One for each of us, huh?" She said. "You mean you guys trust me to get him on my own? No yelling about how I screw everything up?" "You earned it. Albeit the hard way, but you earned it." Jet said as he made his way down the stairs. "I'm going to work out a bit of the kinks. We should be at Venus in about two days. I'll get the info together later. Rest up." Faye gave a salute with her good hand to the retreating form of Jet. She smiled. She had won their respect. "And all it took was getting nearly dead, twice." Faye said to her reflection in the window. She floated down closer to the window, rotating her arm a little more. It hurt but it felt better to use it than not.
She stared out the window and thought about the same thing she had been thinking about for the past four days. Spike. And the almost kiss that they had in the alley way. She felt bad about it, and she didn't know why. She didn't know what to think about it. Before, before he left to fight Vicious, she would have jumped at the chance to kiss him. He was handsome and kind, well he wasn't cruel. Ok, at times he was cruel, but that was just the way they acted around one another. From the first time she had seen him, she had been attracted to him. Who wouldn't be? And from that first day the two of them had bit into one another. Each one taking hits on the other, but there had always been something behind it. At least for Faye. It was her way of getting close to someone again, her way of doing it with out the chance of getting hurt again. But here she was getting hurt again. "How the hell did that happen?" She asked the reflection. "How did what happen?" Spike said from behind her. Faye jumped and turned around. "Jesus, you scared the shit out of me." She yelled. "What's the big idea sneaking up on me." She moved towards him, but stopped. She didn't want a replay of the alley. "I live here too you know. I just came up to see where we were going." Spike said leaning over the console, a smirk on his lips. "Its not my fault you talk to yourself. And jump at the drop of a hat." "I do not jump at the drop of a hat. I just wasn't expecting you to come up here." Faye said looking at him putting her good hand on her hip. The other bent at her stomach. "Do I scare you Faye," Spike said moving a little closer to her. She put up her hand and looked him directly in the eye. He stopped, staring in her eyes. "Lately you have been." Faye said. She slowly walked around him and down the stairs. Spike watched as she walked out of the common room and disappeared into the hall. The clanking of her heels replaced by the padding of bare feet. Ed looked up at Spike from her Tomato, "What did Spike-person do?" Ed yelled. "I don't know, Ed," Spike said coming down the stairs. "I think I need a little help with this one." The only problem was he needed help from Faye. He walked out of the common room and went on a hunt for Faye. Ed watched him leave, she turned to Ein and then started typing on Tomato.
"Ed will help," she said to Ein. Ein covered his eyes with his paws and moaned.
Spike finally found Faye in the hangar, she was sitting on the couch that they had bought to go in there. The couch hardly had a back to it and was very wide, Ed could almost lay down fully in the width of the couch. It was a present for all of them, but mainly for Jet, since he spent the most time in there. She was sitting with one leg up, her bandaged arm resting on top of the knee. Her head on her hands, on top of that raised knee. He took a couple of steps closer to her, stubbed his cigarette on the wall and closed the door. "Faye," Spike said standing still pretty far from the couch. She tilted her head a bit in his direction, looking at him through her purple hair. She rolled her eyes and turned her head back to its original position. It was her own fault. She had been thinking about him again. She knew he had this nasty habit of showing up when you thought about him too much. She shouldn't think about him. But it was hard. Especially now. She knew it was wrong. It wasn't fair to him to make him want to kiss her. He was still hurting from the loss of Julia, she knew it. He told her. But she didn't know how to make him stop. She wasn't doing anything differently than she had before. She didn't know why he was acting this way now. "I didn't want to scare you again." Spike said stepping beside the couch. She looked up at him and saw the smirk on his face. He was trying to make light of the situation. He was trying to put things back to normal. "Sorry, cowboy," Faye said. "You're just too freakish for me not to be scared. I mean look at you." She waved her good hand at him. "Freakin' Frankenstein." She said. "Look who's talking," Spike said getting annoyed. "And I think you mean Mummy." "What?" "Mummy, that was the one in all the bandages. Not Frankenstein. I mean really Faye, if you're going to insult me at least get it right." "Go to hell." She said flipping him off. "How's the arm," Spike said sitting on the arm of the couch near to Faye. "Why don't you sit on the couch," she said her annoyed voice in full force. It was good to have the old ways back. "I'm fine where I am," Spike said leaning over a bit. "Too close for you?" "God," Faye said sighing and getting off the couch. She walked a bit and looked out the hangar bay. The window was really close to her, she stared at her reflection as she massaged her shoulder. "How is it?" Spike said moving closer behind her. "Fine, it's stopped bleeding. Now its just sore and bruised." She said wincing a little as she moved her fingers on her skin. "Here, let me." Spike said putting his hands on her shoulder, the bandage on his hand sent a shiver up her spine. Faye jumped away a little, but Spike held her in place. "Faye, I can help. Let me." She looked at his reflection behind her and nodded to it, a deep sigh leaving her mouth. Spike put his left hand on her shoulder and his right closer to her neck. He began to slowly kneed the tight muscles and bruised flesh. Faye lulled her head to the side giving him more of her neck to massage. Spike smiled a little. His right hand moving over a bit and massaging the back of her neck at the hair line. Faye moaned a little, but stopped as soon as she did it. "Relax," Spike said in her ear. "How can I. You wouldn't be relaxed if I was doing that to you." Faye said in a mumble of words. "Well, maybe we can find out," Spike said a smile forming on his lips as he massaged her neck and aching shoulder more. Faye opened an eye and looked at his eyes in the reflection on the glass. He was serious, and smiling. She couldn't keep the surprise or the smile from her face.
Suddenly the lights went out in the hangar bay. Spike stopped massaging Faye's neck his hands still on her. Faye sighed and looked around. "The Love Bug has invaded the Bebop's systems," Ed's voice boomed from the comm. units. "All doors are locked and lights gone, only emergency lights can be used." The emergency lights flickered on sending a dull illumination into the hangar bay. "Ed will try and fix." And then communication was cut. "That kid," Faye said turning around. Spike's hands slid across the bandage on her collar bone and ended up on either of her shoulders. "Jet's going to kill her." "Not if he's locked in his room," Spike said with a smile. Faye smiled at him, she couldn't help it. They locked eyes again. "So I guess that means we're locked in here," Faye said getting a little uncomfortable all of a sudden. "Yep, I guess so." Spike said kneading his fingers on her sore shoulder. Faye put her hand up and set in on his bare chest, and he stopped. That had been the plan, to get him to stop. Her fingers were cool, but sent a hot shiver through his body. He looked down at her hand, his one hand falling from her shoulder. The other remained, not kneading anymore. He looked back up into her eyes, and saw something he didn't expect. Fear. "Faye. What is it." She shook her head and smiled, and looked back up to him. "Nothing. It's silly," She said her hand getting warmer on his chest. It was right over his heart, she looked down at it. "Does your heart always beat that fast?" Faye said looking at her hand on his chest. "Is it getting hot in here?" Spike asked swallowing. Faye looked up and met his eyes. "Is it?" She said, a smile playing on her lips. She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be doing this." She made a move to take her hand away, but Spike caught her. Holding it in both of his. He brought her hand back, his hands keeping it there. "Why?" Spike said, moving his head down a little. Leaning so he was so close to her mouth that a sharp intake of breath would bring him into her. "Why shouldn't you?" "Because." Faye began her eyes darting about. She wanted to say because its wrong, but she couldn't find the words. "Why shouldn't I?" Spike said closing the distance in a rush of lips. Faye's eyes went wide for a second but soon closed. It was soft at first, his lips just barely brushing connecting with hers. Their lips both warm and wet, moving along one another's. Faye felt her body sag a little against his. Spike put his arms around to her waste bringing her closer to him, deepening the kiss in the same motion. The feel of his tongue on hers sent a shiver of desire through Faye's body. Her hands were pinned on his chest, burning a hole into him. Spike slightly lifted Faye from the ground her legs wrapping low on his body, around his thighs. Spike took a few unsteady steps backwards. The kiss was becoming more passionate, a small moan escaped Faye's lips as they parted for a breath. They continued the kiss, their eyes shut their mouths exploring. Spike's hands were moving up and down her back as he staggered carrying her with him. Her hands were moving along his chest, smoothing his muscles as they worked with her weight. Spike's hands made it down to her thighs and pushed her higher up. She let out a squeak, and he smiled on her mouth. Her legs had wrapped around his waist, Spike's body was overheating. His knees hit off of the couch and he went down taking Faye with him. "Ow!!!" Spike said as his wounded stomach began to protest Faye's weight being slammed on him. Faye's head shot up from his, and she moved her hands down to his bandage. "I'm sorry," She began, pulling away a bit. Spike smiled and put his hand behind her head. "Don't worry about it. Its an easy fix." He said bringing her mouth to his again. He rolled them over slowly, placing himself over Faye. She moaned against his lips again. Her arms reaching out and hugging him around the shoulders. Her hands kneaded his flesh, massaging his muscles. Spike was kissing her jawbone, and moved down to her neck. Faye moved her head to the side allowing him better access. His hands were moving up and down her body. They moved over her breasts and Faye moaned again. Spike smiled against her neck and went back to her mouth. He twisted a little on top of her, and Faye moved to try and compensate. It jostled her hurt shoulder. "Ow!!!" Faye said. Spike's head snapped up and looked at her, pain on her face. "Did I hurt you?" Spike asked looking at her body beneath his. She moved her mouth to his not wanting to stop. He kissed her back his hands moving around to her back. Faye's hands moved down to his side, and she began kneading. "Ow," They said at the same time, taking in a breath against each others lips. They opened their eyes and looked at each other. They laughed. Spike dropped his head into the bend of Faye's neck. They laughed against one another, for a second. Spike finally moved off of Faye and laid on his elbow beside her. He watched her smile fade and her eyes open to look at him. He put his hand to her cheek. "We should stop, before we hurt ourselves any more." Faye said with a bit of a giggle. "Yeah," Spike said getting up off the couch. Faye sat up and followed him with her eyes. "You were right. It is hard to relax with you massaging me." Spike said as he pulled out a cigarette. "Told you." Faye said getting off the couch, she stole Spike's cigarette and took a puff. Spike turned and faced her again. He reached out, and Faye thought he was going for the cigarette, she smiled and moved it away. He reached out and grabbed her wrist, bringing her body close to his. He kissed her again, slowly. The kiss went down to her toes, heat all through her body. He broke the kiss. "Guess that makes us even," Faye said with her eyes still closed. "Your just beginning to pay me back. I've done a lot of things for you, Faye." Spike said a sly grin coming to his mouth. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "And I've saved your life a couple of times, Spike." She said. "You owe me." "Alright," Spike said moving in for another kiss. Faye put her hand to his chest, as the lights came on and the door opened. "Some other time, cowboy." She said as she made for the door. Suddenly she stopped, and turned to face him. "What the hell is going on Spike?" her face showing all the anxiety and fear it had before. Spike had never seen her face like that before. "I don't know," Spike said closing his eyes, massaging the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. "I really don't know." "Glad I'm not the only one," Faye said. "We should really figure it out soon. Otherwise, you might do something you'll regret." "Yeah," Spike said not looking up at her. He opened his eyes. "Wait a minute. What do you mean I'll do something I regret. What about you? You weren't really complaining back there." "I never make a move I don't regret later on." Faye said with a smile. "Don't take it personal." She waved at him with the cigarette and walked out the door. The whole time she walked down the hall she was mentally slapping herself. 'What the hell was that. Why did you say that. Stupid woman. Stupid, stupid woman.' Spike watched her leave, a more than a little confused. He looked up at the ceiling. "Love bug, indeed, he said to the fluttering lights above his head. He put his hand to pants pocket looking for his pack of cigarettes. He pulled it out, empty. He looked to the still open door, and made a run for it. "Hey, Faye. Give me back my Cigarette!!!" He yelled as he ran down the hall. 'Damn that woman.'
Ok, that really had no point, and didn't really further the plot. But I wanted to try and write some of the romance in the fic. I know its confusing, at least I think its confusing. Oh great, I've just managed to confuse myself. Well, anyhoo, if it seems confusing, lets think about the players in this fic. Would a romance between Spike and Faye be anything but confusing? I don't know what the next chapter will be called, but expect it soon. I'm on a roll. Please read and review, and ENJOY!!!