Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Cowboy Bebop. If I did, I wouldn't be here writing a stupid fanfic like this. All my creations are mine. And the songs that aren't mine aren't. 'Nuff said.

Author's Note: Thanks for those reviews. XD And you'll see what the fucked- up symbols in Faye's dream means, don't worry! ^.^' I'm going to be switched views a little bit more often, so.. Yeah. x.x; I'm preparing for this to be a long-term project, updates based on reviews. ^.^'

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Chapter Four: Turned Down Low

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"I can't imagine all the people that you know

And all the places that you go

When the lights are turned down low

And I don't understand all the things you've seen..

It's always you in my big dreams."

-"Konstantine" by Something Corporate
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Spike didn't know what to expect the next morning.

But he definitely didn't expect Faye to be so quiet.

Faye was never quiet.

Spike had fallen asleep on the couch that night, a burnt out cigarette hanging on his lips, the taste bitter and dry. He spit it out into the nearest ashtray, and stretched his arms, tilting his head to see the clock. It was only nine o' clock in the morning, and Spike had nothing to do. He yawned and sat up, scratching his head. Ed, as usual, was typing away on her laptop, humming happily to herself while Ein watched on behind her. Jet was probably watering his bonsai, and Faye, well..

The doorknob of Faye's room turned slowly, and there appeared the infamous Poker Alice and femme fatale, drowsy and miserable with a dull look in her eyes. She shut the door behind her, leaning against the wall, looking washed-up and beaten to the core.

"Hey." Spike lit a cigarette and threw the carton over to Faye. She watched it fall to the ground. He shrugged.

"Suit yourself." He smoked in silence, waiting for a sarcastic comment to hit him anytime.

"Want a drink?" Faye shrugged.

"It'll cost ya." She slid her back against the wall, collapsing to the ground in a heap. Spike threw her a towel.

"Go take a shower, you'll feel better. When you come out, there'll be a Prairie Oyster waiting for you on the table." Faye caught the towel, and stood up shakily. Walking slowly to the restroom, she looked like an empty shell, worn dry of all her emotions.

---

Faye didn't know what to do.

She hadn't felt very active from the moment she woke up, and giving Spike the cold shoulder didn't do much for her at all. She had woken up feeling like someone had implanted a one hundred kilogram weight inside her skull, and it'd take a million painkillers to get rid of the damned throbbing. However, she had taken Spike up on his suggestion and decided that maybe a good shower was all she needed to get back into the beat.

But her nightmare had been certainly disturbing.

Faye Valentine usually slept dreamless nights, free of delusion and imagery. Only blackness in her mind. Not only had that vision startled her, it intrigued her. What did it all mean? She'd heard from some crackpot on the street that there are symbols inside each dream, each with a different meaning behind it. She had ignored the thought at the time of course, but at that time, Mr. Sandman hadn't visited her in ages.

She threw the towel on the side of the sink and undressed. She looked in the mirror. Her eyes were red and small, grey bags hung under her lids. Her face looked tired and weary. She turned on the water, and stepped in the shower, feeling the warmth trickle onto her skin.

Though this hangover was not particularly enjoyable, she had missed the feeling.

The feeling of being intoxicated, that is.

Alcohol had never really interested Faye. Up until now. Yesterday she had felt so loose, so carefree, like she had nothing to worry about in the least. Of course, Spike coming to rescue her as the knight-in-shining-armor hadn't been a part of the plan, but it was a bonus.

And about Spike..

Why were all these feelings stirring up inside of her? Petty high-school feelings of puppy love that seemed to make her heart beat faster every time she saw him weren't supposed to be having any effect. Even when trying to ignore him, a knot had grown in Faye's stomach, twisting and turning every time that voice escaped his lips. She wanted him so bad sometimes..

She didn't want to want him. She liked being alone.

Alone meant no heartbreak and no heartbreak meant no pain.

---

Spike leaned over Ed's shoulder, surveying the screen behind her.

"Got anything?"

"Nope nope nope, no good bounties for Spike-person at the moment! Please take your seat in the waiting room!" He sighed in defeat. How could there be no more bounties? The universe was full of ruthless criminals just waiting for Spike to bag, but where could they be?

He sighed and shook his head, walking towards the kitchen. He pulled out a glass and did as he said, cracking an egg yolk into the cup. Surprisingly, he felt like he had an obligation to take care of Faye, since she had taken care of him before.

Which was a bit odd, since Spike hadn't given her much thought before.

He shrugged, maybe his conscience was kicking in a little late. He set the glass on the counter while he plopped back down on the couch, kicking his feet up on the table, the remote control in his fingers. After grabbing another cigarette, he turned on the television, surfing through the channels for the latest episode of Big Shots.

---
Wrapping the towel around her head, Faye breathed in the fresh air as she opened the door, letting the steam flow out. Her head was still aching terribly, even after a warm shower. Her head was full of mixed thoughts.... Spike, dreams, heartbreak, drinks....

She had decided that she'd ask Ed later on to look up a few references for dreams; after all, Ed would be less of a hassle then Jet or Spike would be. Hell, Faye was smart, but everyone knew she wasn't computer-savvy.

Faye looked at the carton of cigarettes she'd earlier let fall to the floor, and bent down to pick it up. Reaching for the lighter on the table, she saw the drink Spike had said he'd make. It seemed altogether repulsive, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Exactly the thing I need to start off my day. Great, just great."

---

"It's not that bad, if you ignore the taste." Spike had heard footsteps enter the room, and looked up from the TV screen just in time to see the look upon Faye's face.

"How could I ignore the taste?!" Faye lit the cigarette and pouted. Women.

"Just drink it and get it over with it."

"Isn't there anything else I can drink? This thing spells like dog crap." Ein whined.

"No offense." Spike smirked, and laid down on the couch.

"It's either that, or suffer the rest of the day with a headache. Your choice." He chuckled as he reached for the lighter.

"This is so gross.... I'll probably end up puking all over myself...." Faye winced, pinched her nose, and picked up the glass. Closing her eyes, she swallowed the whole drink in one gulp. Dropping the glass in complete abhorrence, she clenched her teeth as she breathed in deeply. Spike caught the glass with his foot.

"Ought to be more careful." He had to fight back the urge to laugh at the bĂȘte-noir [1] written all over Faye's face. By her expression, you'd think someone had just shoved a dead snake down her throat. He felt the corners of his mouth twitch.

"Shut up," She muttered angrily, and stuck the cigarette back in her mouth, an annoyed pout on her face.

---

After she finally recovered and the headache finally went away, Faye did as she planned. Spike and Jet had gone out to investigate a new bounty by the name of Figaro DeLour, a man in his mid-forties who had a tendency to come off as a creepy son of a bitch. Always dressed in black and was extremely tall, DeLour was wanted for armed robbery and shuttle hijacking. Up for two million woolongs, DeLour was supposedly the only bounty Spike could find, which gave him all the more determination to nail the guy.

Faye stayed behind, due to her 'condition.'

She painted her nails bright red, a cigarette clasped tightly between her teeth, when she realized that now was the perfect time to ask Ed for her assistance. She capped the nail polish and stuck her head over Ed's shoulder.

"You busy?"

"Uh uh Faye-Faye, Ed just running a check to see where Spike-person's bounty-person could be!"

"Alright, well forget that. Spike and Jet can do very well on their own. They're big boys."

"Mmkay."

"Now, I need you to me a favor."

"Mhm."

"You happen to know any dream sites?"

"Hmmm?" Ed stared blankly at Faye, who rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Dream meanings, dream explanations, stuff like that."

"Ah! Yes yes, Ed knows! Ed had a dream about yum-yum chocolate once! And Ed wanted to know what it meant!"

"Wouldn't that mean you had a craving for chocolate...."

"No no, silly Faye-Faye! It meant that I was happy!"

"....Ok."

"Now, lemme see here...." Ed typed in the website, and waited for it to load. Suddenly, an animation of a big teddy bear and a milk bottle popped up. "Bingo!" Faye blinked. This looked like a kid's site.

"Are you sure this is it?"

"Yep yep!" Faye shrugged and took another drag from her cigarette.

"So, is there like a list to choose symbols from or something?" Ed shook her head.

"No no no! What Faye-Faye is going to do is tell Ed what her dream was and Ed types it in! Then the site will examine it and decode it and you will get a reply with what your dream-mean is!" Faye sighed, releasing the smoke in a long breath.

"Get a chair and get comfortable, because this is going to take a while." Ed nodded.

"Ed is ready!!"

"Alright.... Well, it all started like this...."

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[1] bĂȘte-noir - Another word for hatred or loathing. I can't help it. I JUST LEARNED THIS WORD. XD