A/N: Hey, all you people out there in Cowboy Bebop Fanfic land! See? I told you I'd be updating soon! I have the rest of the story written, I just have to edit it…

GUESS WHAT?!?! 'The Real Folk Blues: Part 1' is going to be on Cartoon Network tonight! 1:30-2 am (technically it's morning-so sue me), so drink lots of coffee, and set your alarm clocks!

Well, I'm going to attempt to reply to my reviewers like I used to…

FEI (like the spelling!): Thanks for the compliment! I'm sure Faye caused several of the geezers heart attacks before she managed to grab Sedgewick… hmmm… I think I'll mention that in my story!! Hehe! And yes, I know the home movies were mushy, but I was in a mushy mood, and listening to mushy music… s'all good. I didn't actually include all the scenes that were on the tape, only a choice few. Besides, in Misu-Misu, I think they all would have relaxed a little, you know? Being cooped up in the Bebop for months on end would probably make you pretty tense… And yes, I know, I keep forgetting to mention the series, and what's going on in the strange universe in my head, but I will give you something to go on here… Julia and Vicious are dead, but Spike walked out in one piece (more or less). Other than that, everything's same old, same old.

BEC126: Arigato mas!

RAYE: Don't forget Ed! And Ein! They'll be there too! ::covers mouth:: whoops… shouldn't have said that…

COWGIRL13: Hey you! This isn't going to be terribly long, cuz I left you a pretty long review on your new story. ::bashes Lady Spiegel while talking:: She ::whack:: needs ::whack:: to back ::whack whack:: OFF!! ::WHACK!!!:: Let me tell you, if I ever figure out which stories are hers, I'm gonna give her a piece of my mind! Dissing on me, that I can stand. But when she starts dissing on my friends, that's crossing the line!! ::points to line:: See that line?! You crossed it girl!! YEAH!! LADY SPIEGEL, WHEREVER YOU ARE, YOU CROSSED THE LINE!!! ::coughs:: heh-heh…

And aim, yeah I got that. My sn is midnitecowgrl676 so im me!!! Ttyl!

VANILLAROSE: There was a club?!?! HOW COME NO ONE TOLD ME THERE WAS A CLUB?!?!?! Grrr… I'm always the last to know… Gren… Hmmm… I dunno. I know he met Faye in Blue Crow (I think that's on Jupiter (I think)) then set out for Titan, but I don't know where that was… Nice to hear from you again! TTYL!!

RED NINJA: Thanks for the Welcome Back! And I knew something was wrong with steak… just had one of those brain farts, where you forget the spelling of the most stupid words… Oy…

SILENT SONG: Thanks for the great review!!! And yes, Cowgirl13 DOES rock!!! And I'm happy someone's Spike likes my story!! ::breaks into tears:: I feel so appreciated… ::receives uber hugs from Spike:: awww…

GRIEVER: THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!! You make me feel all mushy inside! ::sniff:: It's because of reviewers like you that I keep writing, not so I can diss on ppl like 'Lady Spiegel'… I appreiciate it!! THANK YOU! I LUV YOU FOREVER!!!

VOLK ZYTA: Thanks for the review! And I'm glad you enjoyed my flame protection…Good stuff!

Wow! Thanks you guys!!!! And at the request of FEI, I have a few things to clear up…

This takes place 4 and a half years after episode 26 The series ended like normal, except Spike didn't die (at least not in this sad little universe…) after ep 26, the crew got back together for a few months, but things just got too weird, and Faye and Spike split. Jet stayed w/ the Bebop, and Ed/Ein stayed w/ Applederry. The rest will be cleared up shortly…

Now enjoy the latest installment!!!

Spike awoke to someone thumping on his wall. Probably Faye. I bet she can't sleep and wants to talk.

Stifling a groan, he opened his eyes, to find himself staring down the barrel of a gun.

Reacting purely on instinct, he kicked his attacker right below the ribs, causing the man to double over in pain. Rolling over onto his stomach, Spike slammed his left heel into the side of the man's head, and then kicked him forcefully in the chin, snapping the man's neck.

He grabbed his Jericho from under his pillow, and sprinted for Faye's room.

The door was locked, but a bullet in the door handle solved the problem. He grabbed the top of the doorframe and kicked the door open with both feet, shooting the first things that moved.

Faye was lying on her bed, bound and gagged, and had apparently been banging on the wall, trying to wake Spike up. There were already several goons lying dead on the floor, testament that Faye had not gone down easily.

Five thugs were still standing, three of them holding Faye down. Spike had one of them down with a bullet in his neck before any of them could do more than blink.

He was aiming at a second attacker when a cold voice cut through his anger. "Spike Spiegel. Drop your gun, or Ms. Valentine is going to find an inch of metal lodged in her throat."

The largest of the goons pulled Faye's head back by her hair, and pressed his gun against her jugular. Spike slowly let his arm drop, his eyes locking with Faye's. But in a flash, Spike's arm shot back up, and a gunshot rang out. At that exact moment, Faye threw herself backwards, somersaulting over herself until she could struggle to her knees.

Spike shot Faye's attacker once more, just to be sure he was dead. A fiery pain in his shoulder told him that he had been shot, and reminded him that there were three goons still standing. He shot another in the leg, dodged a rapid fire of shots, and shot the same man cleanly through the neck.

One of Spike's shots went wild though it still hit the man in the arm, knocking the gun from his hand. Spike used the pause to jam another clip into his Jericho. The man drew a long knife from his belt, brandishing it with a snarl. Spike's next shot hit the knife, bouncing off the blade with a screech, and lodging in the last goon's eye. The man dropped with a gurgle, while his companion growled at Spike at charged. Spike fired a round, but the man dodged, slashing Spike across the chest. In the brief opening the path of his knife left, Spike hit the man with a backwards roundhouse kick, a rapid fire of hard punches, and then slammed their foreheads together. The man crumpled slowly, his knife falling to the ground with a clatter.

Spike stood panting in the bloodstained room, making sure no one was left standing. When he was sure they were safe, he turned to Faye, who watched him with worried eyes. He smiled at her. "You alright Faye?" She nodded, her eyes never leaving his face.

He grinned. "Don't worry. I'm perfectly fine myself. Nothing but a few…scratches…" he crumpled to the ground, as Faye's muffled shriek accompanied him into the welcoming oblivion of unconsciousness.

Faye watched Spike collapse, horrified. His shoulder wound bled steadily, and the cut on his chest was also looking bad. Desperately, she struggled against her bonds, but they were too tight.

Suddenly, her eyes lit on the discarded knife, lying partway under the dead goon. She rolled off the bed, landing heavily on her shoulder and knee. Grimacing, she pulled herself to her knees, and began to crawl towards the knife, like some demented inchworm.

After several terse minutes, she reached the goon. She lay on her back, and used her legs to roll him off the knife. Once the knife was clear, she grabbed the bloody hilt in one hand, and began to saw at the ropes with the other. Shortly, the rope fibers parted, and her hands were free.

Pausing for a moment to rub the circulation back into her hands, she glanced at Spike. A grim sight met her eyes. Blood pooled around him, and his bare chest was streaked with dark red rivers.

Tearing her eyes away from his still form, she bent to attack the ropes binding her ankles.

Once she could move, she scrambled over to Spike's side, wincing at all the blood. Gingerly, she probed his wounds, checking for more damage. Finding nothing more than a few scrapes and some bruises, she ripped the shirt from one of the fallen attackers, wadding it up and pressing it to his shoulder. She made use of the other goons' shirts, tearing them into strips and bandaging all Spike's other injuries.

When she finally determined that he was moveable, she slung him over her back, piggy-back style. His head flopped on her shoulder, and she grinned, thinking about how he'd be so embarrassed that she had seen him at this moment of weakness.

Deciding to avoid any unpleasant surprises that may have been waiting in the elevator, she headed for the stairs with a groan.

Almost fifteen minutes later, she staggered into the lobby, Spike still unconscious on her back.

Jonathan immediately stopped what he was doing and rushed up to her. "Mrs. Hart! Whatever happened?! Here, let me help you…" He reached for Spike.

"No." Faye's voice was level. "Please, I just need a car…"

Jonathan backed off quickly. "Of course!" After a minute or two, he produced a Rolls Royce, helping her lay Spike onto the back seat. He insisted that he would drive them, and assisted her into the passenger seat.

He drove for quite a while, as Faye's mind swirled, like the last bit of water swirling down the drain in the sink.

Jonathan stopped the car on a silent street. Faye was staring absently out the window, as her breath made cloud-like puffs on the cold glass. She was so preoccupied, that she didn't notice her danger until it was too late.

Jonathan leaned over her, bracing his hands on either side. "Mrs. Hart…" his breath was hot on her face, smelling of alcohol and many other things Faye didn't even want to think about.

"Jonathan, what-"

He covered her mouth with one sweaty palm. "Don't struggle. That will just make it worse…"

Puzzled, Faye stared at him. Then she noticed he was unbuttoning his pants.

Horrified, she tried to unbuckle the seatbelt, but there was a loud click that told her the car doors had just been locked. "Jonathan, get away from me!" she slugged him hard across the face, and scrambled as far away from him as the car would allow.

He kept climbing forward, face contorted in a smirk. "Is that the best you have?" He came on, a grim menace of terror, getting closer and closer, even as Faye struggled, spitting, scratching, and kicking, desperation giving her strength.

Lunging forward, Jonathan managed to trap her arms, and he sat on her legs, immobilizing them. He laughed, and began to kiss her neck.

"Jonathan! Get off! Stop it! SPIKE!" her voice cracked.

Suddenly there was the sound of a gun being cocked. A large hand holding a Jericho .941 emerged over the seat. "Get your hands off my woman." A hard voice, unmistakably Spike's, commanded.

Jonathan backed up quickly, freeing Faye, who immediately dived for her gun, which had been blocked off from her by Jonathan's angle of attack. She aimed it-not at his chest or head, but right between his legs.

"Get out of here now, or you'll shortly be unable to father anything other than the slimy lies you've been pouring in my ear!"

Pale faced and shaking, Jonathan flung open the car door, and ran away.

Faye sank down in her seat, her gun falling from limp fingers. "Oh god… Spike…" she threw open the car door, and promptly lost her dinner.

When she was finished, she wiped her mouth and closed the door. "Spike?"

She looked back at him, and her jaw dropped. He hadn't moved at all, his gun lying on the floor. The whole time he had been defending Faye, he'd been unconscious.