disclaimer: As I haven't come up with a large fortune lately and crazily bought up as much anime as possible, i don't think i own cowboy bebop. And i highly doubt you do either.

Wow, you guys really liked the story! ^.^ Thanks a heap!

IceAngel: Awww, wow, you really think so? Hehe, thanks a bunch. Not to be modest or anything, but you should really check out Lem's story, "Reasons to Kill." In my opinion, it's one of the best Cowboy Bebop fics out there. (Just look in my favorite stories). Thanks a bunch!

Madrigaia: Lol, awww, you're hurting Spike's feelings! We don't want that...*Faye and Madrigaia pull out machine guns* uhhh...shutting up. ^.^ Thanks!

Eternity's Angel of Mercy: Wow, thanks for the huge compliments! I started to read your stories, but then i had to go. I really liked Lullaby in B Minor...maybe i'll actually review it one of these days *blushes* i'm notorious about never reviewing when i should...Anyhow, thanks a lot for the review!

Cowgirl 13: hehe, well, here it is! I'm glad you think that i caught their personalities well; i really tried! Hope you enjoy!

1234: Thanks a bunch for the review and subsequent encouragement, hope ya like this chappy as well!

sman2071: Wow, i don't think i've ever gotten a compliment that big...dang. *speechless* Thank you so much for thinking so and i hope i don't let you down with this chapter! Oh, and i heard your complaint about never seeing Jet- and i agreed. I will try to keep Jet in the storyline and not let this spiral into a Faye/Spike get together. The same applies to Edward. Thanks for the suggestion!

ChiisanaAnisa: lol, you were just in time to be included ^.^ So i've hooked ya, huh? lol, i'm glad u liked it so much! Hope this isn't too much of a wait...*wink*

Just a little warning...there is a brief burst of profanity in this chappy...not as big as some other authors, but big for me. Just so ya know.

~*

Faye yawned, relaxing in the tub. She rolled her head on her neck, trying desperately to go to sleep ever since her conversation with Spike. Why he'd affected her like that she could only guess; he was such an ass sometimes!

No, practically always.

A match for her wits, her stubbornness...and he treated everything like it was a game. He didn't care, and he'd be damned before he did.

Still, he was a good shot and a good person to have at your back. He was loyal in his own, carefree way. He disgusted her; he knew of all the nasty things in the world and was so touchy about his own past and feelings, but everyone else he treated like a joke. Like none of it was really real.

"Whatever. Why should I care anyhow?" she asked herself aloud, her voice sounding harsh in the calm stillness.

Disgusted with herself for not being able to sleep and with Spike for being so damn annoying, she got out of the tub, allowing the tepid water to drain. She wrapped herself up in her robe and walked out to the living room, where she plopped herself down on the couch with a sigh. She flipped on the tv.

"...bounty to be put on a bounty lead! At 40 million woolongs, this one is a risk well worth taking. But beware cowboys, 'cuz this is quite a risk!" a hyped up male spoke enthusiastically, the mug shot of a handsome-no, hot-Chinese guy being displayed with his stats.

"Now this is what I'm talking about!" Faye grinned wolfishly, now perched on the edge of the sofa. The guy was named Wealin Doute, his crime being the smuggling of a plant hybrid that created a drug that induced the typical drug symptoms. It looked like...

Faye stifled a laugh in surprise. It looked like weed! Those poor, poor fools were getting upset over that? Damn, but they were stupid. Oh well, their loss; they were probably upset because they didn't have a foot in the operations.

This was one she intended to cash in on. Only...she bent closer, reading some fine print stuck under the bounty description. It appeared the guy and his cohorts had already killed six cowboys, while three more were missing, presumed dead. Hm. That dampened things. Well maybe she didn't want to get this by herself...

She'd simply get Spike to help her out. Bastard that he was, he sure knew how to get a bounty head. Decided, she went to her room to get changed.

*

Faye awoke sprawled on the couch, a patch of wetness near her mouth.

Eww.

She sat up, Spike watching tv, the volume turned up obnoxiously loud. She looked at him and he smirked, knowing he'd woken her up.

"Is that necessary?" she asked, glaring at him, having surreptitiously wiped her mouth.

"Didn't think Jet would like your drool over all the couch," he said with a droll grin, innocently looking at her.

"You are such a lunkhead," she growled, picking up the magazine she'd been reading before she feel asleep.

"You miss out on some sleep or something?" he asked in his usual non-committal tone.

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I did. Why?" she snapped, in her irritation ripping her magazine. Screw it.

"You look shittier than normal, that's all," he replied absently, watching a talk show highlighting a hysterical woman.

She pursed her lips, her glare reaching a new level of furious.

"Well fuck you."

"Fuck yourself."

"Do you even know what common courtesy is?"

"Why would I show you that when it's so much fun to bait you?" his grin widened, "Besides, shrew women don't get common--"

Faye whacked him over the head with a cushion.

"You are like three annoying brothers packed into one! How the hell any woman is even remotely attracted to you I don't know." Faye growled, standing over him. He sat up and looked at her.

"Watch it, shrew."

"Lunkhead."

"Bitch."

"Ass."

"Slut," Spike smirked as she got angrier. She dug her heel into his shoe.

"Hey-! OW!"

"You know, I was going to share a bounty with you, but now I'd much rather see your carcass starving," she said softly, utmost irritation lacing her tone along with fake sweetness.

"Fine by me. You never do anything by yourself anyway," he said with a fake sweet tone to match her own.

"You--you watch and learn, cowboy!" she shouted.

"Fine. I think I will," he retorted smugly. A polite cough interrupted them, and they both looked up to see Jet leaning against a wall, arms folded.

"I'm assuming you were talking about the 40 million bounty, Faye, in which case you're both going after it or you're not staying here and wasting my food," Jet said sternly, looking seriously at the both of them. Faye looked at Spike with a raised eyebrow, he looked at her with the same expression of utter disdain.

"Fine, but he better not get in my way."

"Fine, but she had better not screw it up."

They said at the same time, glaring at each other.

"Well?" Jet had a glare of his own for the two, who never seemed to do anything without being prodded. Lazy bums.

"Get moving. Don't waste any more time on it; this is a hot bounty!"

Faye and Spike got up, Spike with his quiet air of scorn and dislike, Faye muttering angrily.

"Bebop Bebop!" Ed's voice crackled over the comm. Jet moved to respond, but Faye shoved him out of the way and sat down to receive it.

"What do you want?" she asked, not altogether unkindly. Jet glanced at Spike, who had a scowl plastered on his face as he glared at Faye.

"Ein is very sick, Faye-Faye. He was attacked by big mean dogs...it's all Ed's fault. Edward should have never taken him." Jet stared at the screen, shock coursing through him. Ein hurt? Spike beside him had looked down, forgotten cigarrette hanging off his lips.

"I'm coming." Jet broke out of his shock as Faye cut the transmission, standing up and striding towards the door.

"Faye, where are you going?" he asked, knowing this was going to end badly.

"To get Ed. You heard her, she needs help," Faye replied stubbornly, moving towards the door.

"What about the bounty?"

"Spike can take care of it." With that, she was gone. Jet glared resolutely at the door. Of all the stubborn, willful women, Faye was one of the worst.

Spike sighed, leaning back on the couch. "I told you."

"Told me what?" Jet grumbled, scratching his head.

"Faye's type is always trouble."

Jet sighed, rubbing his neck. "Yeah," he said, leaning heavily on his crutch. Spike got up and slouched to the door.

"Guess I'll go grab this one then. Alone," Spike said in his toneless voice that told Jet he was miffed.

The room was suddenly echoingly empty. Jet heaved a sigh, grateful to finally have peace and quiet. Well, he liked to believe that at least. Just him and Spike had been fine, two single men that had understood each other and knew when to let the other be. They hadn't been the most fortuitous pair, but they've gotten along.

He hobbled to his room to clip his bonzais. Ever since Faye had joined, the peaceful task was always plagued by her excessive whining. Fix this and that-stuff he and Spike would have left as is for days. She always seemed to gamble the money away and stole it at inopportune times. And always getting herself into trouble. Ein was the only one to not complain. And Ed.

The two had come at different times but seemed to have a friendly relationship; two companions like himself and Spike. Huh, maybe if Faye had someone to talk to, she'd leave him alone.

Alone...

Sitting by his precious bonzais in his room, he put down his clippers, chilled with an unwelcome realization.

He missed them already.

~*

A/N: Note about the title: Yes, this is an actual jazz piece. To me, it sounds wild and fast (i've played bass on it) and it travels, with lots of chords. In short, it's a good piece for some good ol' cowboy bebop action *hinthint*

Hehe, so they're all three splitting up. What will happen? I have some crazy ideas that u guys may or may not like...hehe. Let me tell you that this won't be without some action. Oh no... ~.^ Hope ya liked it and please review!

Treekat