A/N: Hey! Apparently, there's been some confusion with the end of chapter 11. You know when your dog is dreaming, and it barks, or paws like it's running? Or say, if you dream of going to the bathroom, and you wet the bed? (like my little sister…) Or in that poem where the man dreams of eating a huge marshmallow, and wakes up to find that his pillow is missing? That's what happened to Spike. He was subconsciously registering what was going on around him, and his subconscious reacted to it. See? If you still don't get it, just go along with the idea anyways… ^.^ Also, this chapter's rating might need to go up for the end… there's so heavy swearing… tsk tsk… hehe!

Now, REVIEWS!!! Ooooh! I got more!! And guess what?!? I'm almost to the 100 reviews mark!!! YAY!!!!! C'mon people, you can do it! One little review… It's not hard…

NAMI: Wow!!! ::her mouth gapes open:: What an awesome review!! You're too kind, too kind… I'm glad you like my story ::dances like ed:: Wheeee!!! I'm on Cloud 9!! ^.^

COWGIRL13: It was great talking to you today!! Stupid Fanfiction.net still hasn't put your story up yet… grrrrr.. ::goes off to pound things with The Rolled-Up Newspaper of Justice:: ahhhh… that makes me feel so much better… I like your piñata! If I break it, will happy reviews pour out?! Let's find out… mwahahahahahaaaa… ::pounds piñata for a while:: Dang… it'll take me a while… Yes, Silent Song is great…and I love him to pieces… ::huggles:: Talk to you later babe!

BEC126: You're back!! YAYAYAY!!! And you didn't complain about the unconscious thing!! YAY!!! Luv ya forever!

SAGAN FOX:  Thank you for all those wonderful compliments! I love this fic very much, and I'm glad you like it, because I've been working REALLY hard on it! (that's why I get so touchy when I get flamed….) And the 'stake knife' thing was just me having a brain fart. You know, when you forget how to spell a word like with (I've actually done that before…), so I just guessed… I realized my mistake after posting it, and it was too much work to repost, so I just let it slip… That's so cool! I have a fangirl behind the curtain! Does that mean I get like a big face, and those flamey-things!! Oooooh…fire…. Wheeee!!! ::runs off to consort with ed::

GRIEVER: Of course I mentioned you! How could I not mention someone who gives me such glowing reviews?!?! And yes, it's short… it looked longer on my computer… ^.^

UNWANTED: Yup. Unconsious. Well, conscious enough react subconsciously… ~.~;; Thanks for the great review! ::huggles::

FOENIXFYRE: Thanks for the review! Now this is a good constructive criticism review. NOT A FLAME!!! I congratulate you! And I explained the unconscious thing before. It's kinda like sleepwalking. Only Spike is sleepthreatening. ^_^;; Scary! Arigato!

DESANERA: Thanks for the compliment! And you understand why I was so pissed off!!!! I reported that author to the Fanfic.net police, and they took her story down. BWAHAHAHAHAAAAaaaaa…aa..a… eh-heh-heh… ~_~;;  You like Agatha Christie? If you look carefully, Madame Breiloulle's butler (the one that died from the poison) was named 'Pierrot'!! hehe! Arigato!

SILENT SONG: Thanks for the great review! How come you can't post? Is fanfic.net being bad again? ::grins, and goes off to threaten fanfic.net with Mr. Whack-a-Bat:: hehe! Altho, I guess I should be glad because that means I get these great reviews from you… ^.^;; Awww… huggles from Spike! I feel so loved… ::sniff:: YAY!!! You're off to hunt down Lady Spiegel!! Wait for me!! I want to hunt her too!! Me! Me! And you like the poisoning? Ooooo… I could kiss you, cause you're so sweet!!!! I'm so glad you reviewed!! Talk to you later!!

Well! That was nice!! Now, here's the next chapter!!

Shaking, Faye felt for the gold bangle anklet she always wore. It slid apart, exposing a tiny red button. She pushed it with a fingernail, and it beeped softly and began to blink.

Shortly, there was a huge gust of wind, and the RedTail swooped in, landing neatly next to the car.

Faye gently hoisted Spike out of the car, and dragged him over to her ship. But there she encountered a problem. Like Spike's Swordfish II, RedTail was built for one person.

Finally, she climbed into the pilot's seat, and hauled Spike into her lap. They fit- barely.

She flicked a few switches, and the RedTail soared into the dark sky.

"RedTail requesting landing permission to dock in Port 13." A husky feminine voice floated over the comm.

The two guards grinned at each other. "Permission granted!" they chorused.

A sleek ship slid into the docking bay and anchored to Port 13. Sure enough, and gorgeous lady stepped out, wearing nothing more than a black lace bra, see-thru black pants, and black underwear. But the lady reached back into the ship and lifted a limp man down behind her. The man was quite handsome, wearing only a pair of black dress slacks. His chest and shoulder were heavily bandaged with strips of cloth, and he was unconscious.

The lady gestured to the guards, who eagerly ran to assist her. They hefted the man between them, while the lady hovered anxiously nearby, snapping at the men if they jostled their burden.

Spike slowly opened his eyes, blinking as his eyes focused on the white plaster ceiling high above him. He turned his head to look around, seeing if, just this once, he knew where he was.

No such luck. He was in a large studio apartment. Very large. The floor was worn wood, and the plaster was beginning to peel. Light streamed from the wall of French windows, each adorned with fluttering lace curtains. Faye was sitting in a white wicker chair, pulled up next to his bed. She wore a faded jean skirt that just brushed the tops of her knees; a thick black belt that rested outside the belt loops; a black silk bodice top, embroidered with ivory flowers; a necklace that featured an ivory charm on a black silk ribbon; matching earrings; and bare feet. She was reading a dusty copy of 'Nicholas Nickelby', an old book written back before anyone could remember.

"Feeling better?" Faye didn't take her eyes from her book, but a small smile curled the corners of her mouth.

He coughed and sat up, but his right arm couldn't support his weight. Faye immediately slid an arm around his torso and helped him sit up.

Groaning, he put his hand to his head. "What did I do now?"

She smirked and handed him a glass of water and two pills. "You got shot." She said, as he dutifully swallowed his medicine. "I got you into the RedTail, and flew you to Callisto. I called a doctor, and he just managed to patch you up, before Death made you pay that huge debt you owe. Then I got us this apartment, where we're going to be staying until you get your act together."

Spike opened his mouth to protest, but Faye glared at him, and he subsided meekly. "You know me too well."

She grinned, and picked up a large mug from the tray sitting next to her on the floor. "Drink this. It might be a little cool, but that's not my fault."

He took the mug from her and sniffed it warily. Faye glared at him, so Spike downed the whole drink in one gulp. It was only Green Tea- cold, and flavored with some spice he didn't recognize.
Faye took the mug from him, and watched him intently. "How do you feel?"

Spike lay back on the pillows and looked at the ceiling. "Trampled, and a little…tired…" He yawned twice, and felt his eyes starting to close. Fighting to stay awake, he slowly realized what the mystery spice was. "You…drugged it…"

Faye smiled as his eyes closed, and pulled the blanket up over his sleeping form.

When Spike awoke again, Faye was still in her chair. Her book was open on her lap, and her head lolled back. She was sound asleep. Some of her hair was tangled across her face, and the violet locks fluttered slightly under her even breaths.

Spike smiled to himself, and reached out a hand to stroke her jawline.

The slight touch of his fingers woke her, and she blinked sleepily. "I was waking up…"

He caught her eyes. "You don't have to sleep there you know." Slowly, a plan formed in his mind, tricking in like a summer shower.

Faye shook her head. "It's alright. You're recuperating. I don't want to chance those wounds opening. I'm fine in the chair."

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Faye, it's nothing. The bed is big enough for both of us. It's not like we're going to do anything…"  He scooted towards the wall, and peeled back the covers for her.

She started to protest, but the stubborn set of his jaw, and the inviting comfort of a real bed were too much. "Fine. But keep your hands where they belong!"

She climbed in beside Spike, pulling the covers over them both, and then turning away from him.

Grinning to himself, Spike slid his arms around her pulling her against him.

"Spike! What are you doing?!" she shrieked, struggling against his arms.

He grinned even bigger, and tightened his grip. "You said to keep my hands where they belong. They belong around you."

She turned to him, a question in her eyes. Wordlessly, he leaned down, and pressed his lips to hers, drawing her even closer.

Faye struggled for a second, then relaxed into the kiss, her arms drifting up to encircle his neck.

They moved on to something a lot more interesting than sleep. (A/N: If that wasn't a HINT, I don't know what is…)

Spike gazed contentedly at the ceiling, his vision slightly blurred due to the remnants of the meds Faye had hidden in the tea, or giddiness. Right now, Spike didn't really care. The past experiences were strangely fuzzed, but a sense of contentment covered him like a warm blanket.

His mind drifted, pulling up half-real memories of his mother holding him tightly against her, as she stood near a window, looking out onto a dreary street.

He realized that someone was humming near him, and he could feel his chest vibrating slightly. The haunting tune swirled around him, hovering comfortingly behind his eyes.

"Julia…" he murmured, remembering that she was the only one that sang like that.

The humming abruptly stopped, and something near him tensed.

Confused, Spike looked down. Faye Valentine stared up at him through hurt-filled emerald eyes.

Faye felt her heart drop and shatter into splintered pieces on the smooth wood of the floor. Like a priceless statue rummaged from the barren wasteland of Earth, it was destined to fall from its pedestal, to lie broken on the floor, wasting away like a withered rose.

She sat up, and rescued her shirt from where it was lying at the foot of the bed.

"Faye…" Spike's voice sounded horrified. "I'm sorry, I don't-"

Faye didn't even turn. "Shut up, Spike. Just shut up…" Despite her effort to keep it stable, her voice wavered and shook.

"But Faye, I-"

"You just don't get it, do you?!" She whirled, eyes blazing. "JULIA IS DEAD! D-E-A-D, DEAD! MORTE! FINITO! LE FIN! END OF STORY! She's never coming back! Ever! She never loved you, and she never will!"

Spike sat up, glaring. "Keep your mouth off her! She was more of a woman than you! Although that's not saying much, is it?!"

"Oooh! I know I'm just a replacement for her, but you could have at least picked someone who is much better in bed than I'll ever be, right?"

Spike winced inwardly. Their recent endeavors came up crystal clear in his mind, and he could feel heat rising in his cheeks. It would be hard to find a woman who is better in bed than Faye, wouldn't it? A nasty voice in his head murmured. Shut up! Said another voice, this one shoving the first voice into a secluded corner of Spike's mind. "Well at least I wouldn't have been wasting my time playing baby-sitter for a megalomaniacal bitch!"

Faye's eyes hardened. "Wow. Megalomaniacal. That's a biiiiiiig word. Should I get you some ice before your brain overheats?"

His expression shifted into the self-satisfied smirk he always wore when he fought with Faye, his mask once more in place. "Sure. Maybe you can chip some off your heart. If you can find it…"*

She froze, and turned her face to him. She was the angriest he'd ever seen her. Cold fury radiated from her body like warmth rolls off a space heater. Her fists were clenched, and Spike wondered if she was going to punch him. "Look at yourself, Spike. You can't live in the real world anymore. You're always so caught up in your goddamn tragic whore, always playing the distraught lover." Her words fell from her mouth like rocks, sending out ripples of anger. She was so mad that she didn't have to scream. Instead she spoke very softly, her cold words freezing on his face. "You're too caught up in keeping a wall between you and everyone. You're too concerned in holding onto your goddamn mask. The only person who ever got behind your façade was Julia, and she didn't even care about you. She just got tired of sleeping with your best friend! She's like a goddamn spider, and she trapped you in her web of lies… And you fell for it, Spike. You fell hard. Now I come along, just trying to pull you out of your slump, and you refuse to get up, you just continue to fall. I can't reach you, Spike. But that's the way it's always been, so I guess I should be used to it by now…" The anger began to fade from her voice, and she turned from him.

Spike closed his eyes, mentally kicking himself. Think of something to say. Anything! "Uh…" He rubbed his face, wondering how much worse it could get. My… don't we have a large vocabulary…Say something to make her stay, genius! "Faye…" he reached for her, but the distance was too great, and his arm dropped back to his side.

Suddenly, she whirled, and slapped him with all her strength. His head turned with the force of the blow, and when he looked back at her, he was surprised to see tears running down her face. "Fuck you, Spike Spiegel! If you fucking can't see what is right in fucking front of you, then I am fucking not going to tear down that fucking wall, and fucking tell you!" She turned and ran from the apartment, slamming the door so hard it bounced off the hinges. He watched her disappear down the stairs, the sounds of her sobbing haunting his thoughts, as he lay in the cold, empty bed.

*Yes, I borrowed this from 'XXX'… but it was so good, I could help myself… Don't sue!