More appreciation…

Well, O my. Chapter 5! Ahh! Wonderful reviewers, thank you profusely. Special thanks to the newest reviewers Dreamer and Suki.

I was wondering if anyone got the really lame Starr, light joke in chapter four, but oh well. Ed had a big part in the last chapter for a reason, you'll see. For almost two chapters there was no Ed, and no real character development. The latter will be coming in larger quantities in the next couple of chapters. Okie Dokie, here is Chapter 5. Please don't shoot me I had to use something! O.O

Disclaimer: I do not own Cowboy Bebop.

Thoughts are in Italics

(Stuff in parentheses are when a character answers him/herself)

Middleman Pt. 1

Calm down! Breath! Ok don't lose your head, Wait! What the hell am I worried about? I can handle this no problem. I wonder what this freak wants with me anyways…he could have just called me or met me in person; he didn't have to go and kidnap all these people. No worries, nothing I can't handle. She told herself as she approached the building. She stopped in front to of the glass doors expecting them to open. They didn't. She pressed her hands together anxiously. She looked towards the right corner and saw a camera turning, and focusing in on her. That's got to be Pizzaro, I hope Ed isn't detectable. The doors slid open, as she walked in a greasy, low voice came over the intercom, "Welcome Miss Valentine, I was wondering when you were going to pay me a visit. Please feel free to proceed to the tenth floor at your leisure."

At the sound of Pizzarro's voice through the Tomato's speakers, Ed leaned close and growled as if the noise could somehow scare him. Spike watched Faye's body disappear as she ascended a stairwell. Ed sat cross-legged in a chair in front of her Tomato, while Jet and Spike stood together behind Ed. Benzo was sitting next to Jet in another chair. Tensely they watched Faye's every move on the Tomato's screen.

When Faye reached the stairs that would take her from the ninth to the tenth floor, she hesitated, only for a second.

"Please, if you will, we shall be in the third conference room on the left of the main hallway. You're awfully quiet is there something on your mind Miss Valentine? If you would like we can discuss it upon you arrival." This statement was accompanied by mirthless laughter that faded a couple seconds later. I've got a gun; I can just take this guy out if he gets too annoying. She told herself, patting her right thigh as she walked.

The pushed open the door. Pizzarro sat at a desk facing a wall that was one huge tinted window, with a computer, and a microphone on it, in the far end of the room. He swiveled in his chair to face her. Thank god there was a long table separating herself and Pizzarro, or she would have punched him then and there. He seemed to be enjoying this. But then, didn't they all until they were caught? She smirked, Spike's smirk. An annoyed glint passed through Pizzarro's eye. He frowned, and then smiled, and said pleasantly, "Wouldn't you like to meet my other gusts?"

He gestured to a French door; in the room was a table with a coffee maker on it. And the hostages, three women with blue uniforms, nine women ranging in age from elderly to, a teenager, and one little girl who was sitting close to a middle aged woman, crying. She seemed to be five years old. All of them were bound and gagged, except the little girl who wasn't gagged.

Controlling herself, Faye sat down near Pizzarro's end of the table and said nastily, "Shall we begin?"

"Ahh, a business woman, I like that quality in a lady. What do you like?"

Outside, Spike snorted, lady? He thought as he heard Pizzarro's remark. Jet and Benzo looked at him. He stared back and they turned away.

Stomping on her rising anger, "I would like to discuss what it's going to take to get those people freed." She said sharply. She reclined in her chair, and crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't like how he was looking at her. She had already assessed the situation and knew that her usual tactics weren't going to work on this one. She glanced at his desk. The computer was how he had been able to track her as she moved to through the building; she could see the hallways that she had just passed through. And no doubt the speaker was connected to the P.A. system.

"We both have things we want." He stated simply, she raised one eyebrow, "You want the hostages, and I want your shipmates."

Outwardly she remained unphased, but inside was a raging storm of confusion, and turmoil. What the hell does he want them for?! There's no way this is going to work! Shit! What am I going to do? She took a deep breath, I have a gun and he doesn't know I can just shoot him if things don't go my way. Why don't I shoot him now? (ISSP, maybe?) Damn justice... She took another deep breath, here goes.

"Well, my shipmates are very stubborn, I want to make sure that this transaction is going to be worth my while." She said staying cool, she knew that outside they would all be watching and listing, she prayed that they knew she was lying. "What can you give me in exchange?"

 At Faye's remark Jet's cigarette fell from his mouth, Benzo's jaw dropped and Spike's eyes widened and he finally decided that he should pay attention, What kind of game is she running? Ed didn't respond at all, Spike wasn't sure if she even understood what was going on.

"I was wondering when you would ask me. I can give you your past. Oh, sure you remember a lot of things, but that's not all of it. You and I both know that. I can give you things you don't remember, things you wouldn't be able to achieve on your own." He elaborated. He turned slightly in his chair, opened a drawer in the desk, and pulled out a stuffed panther.

NFA: Sorry that was so short; it's easier to write if I do it in shorter parts. Please review. Oi, having brain cramps from trying to finish the Middleman stuff before the first day of school. Ahh 2 days! O well. Please don't kill me for the stuffed animal more will be explained in the next chapter. See ya then.