Disclaimer: same as the previous 12 chapters. Blah blah, you get the point by now. Not mine!
I wish this chapter was longer, but it just didn't want to be. I'm sorry it's been taking me so long to update lately. Too much going on to write. But here it is, a slightly humorous interlude in the darkness that is my story.
Chapter 13: Stray Dog Woman
Jet leaned over the deck rail, staring gloomily into the green water sloshing against the hull. The storm had finally rained itself out; only a few vestiges of gray clouds tarnishing the pale blue morning sky. It was a good thing Tharsis had a decent drainage system or the city would have been flooded.
Jet pulled slowly on his cigarette, savoring the calming effect it supplied his frazzled nerves. He had spent the better part of the previous evening trying to get a hold of Spike, but the idiot had shut off his phone. He hadn't responded to the direct calls to the Swordfish, either. Faye had simply ignored him after she left the Bebop.
"Stupid, good for nothing young people," he muttered, smoke filtering through his teeth.
He took one last drag down to the filter and flicked the spent butt into the water with a shallow plop. He watched the ensuing ripples dance across the glassy surface. Jet was a little surprised Ed hadn't yet come out to bother him, something she'd been enjoying overly much lately. Maybe she was still tied to that computer of hers, looking for any signs of their missing crewmates. The familiar roar of an engine broke his reverie.
Quickly descending was a red monoracer. It glided gracefully across the water toward the Bebop, slowing to a stop by the rail Jet was squeezing. The hatch popped and a familiar lanky man jumped out.
"Where is she?" Spike demanded as he hopped over the railing, landing lightly next to Jet. He didn't look very happy.
"Well, if you mean Ed—she's inside," Jet frowned at his partner knowing full well which 'she' he meant.
"Thanks, Jet. You're a lot of help," Spike said rolling his eyes at the older man.
He sauntered across the deck and went inside. Jet stared at his swaggering form, shaking his head. He was no expert on women, that was for certain; but Spike was a complete idiot when it came to the fairer sex. Even though Faye had told him next to nothing about her situation with Spike, he guessed plenty. She had been angry whenever he brought him up. More than likely Spike had left her alone sleeping in some hotel room, thinking he had to go face Vicious before she did. She most likely thought he had used her.
"What a couple of idiots," he muttered as he followed Spike inside.
He found Spike rummaging in the refrigerator for a beer. With a frustrated growl, he emerged empty handed. There was nothing in there, not even a bell pepper.
"Why is there never any food on this damn ship!" he yelled as the door slammed shut.
"Because two of the bounty hunters on this ship are too busy sleeping and fighting with each other to make any money," Jet's deep voice retorted.
Spike stiffened at the comment and slowly turned to face Jet. His expression was murderous. How does he…who told him…
"That's none of your business," he warned, his fists clenching at his sides.
Jet ignored him and continued "Keeping this ship in working order, not to mention your ships, is my business. And when two of my crew aren't pulling their weight, that's my business too."
"Jet, we're not discussing this—"
"Oh yes we are."
"Damn it, Jet! Just—"
"Just what, Spike? Ignore the fact that you're being an idiot?" Jet asked, raising black eyebrows at the flustered man in front of him.
"I'm not being an idiot. You obviously don't understand anything," Spike sulked.
"Let me tell you something about women, Spike—"
"Oh, no! I don't think so. I hate to be the one to break it to you, Jet, but you are the last person I would ever ask for advice on that subject!" Spike said with a grimace, knowing his protests were falling on deaf ears. Once Jet decided he needed to give a speech, very little could dissuade him.
"C'mon, Spike, listen to me for a half a second for once."
"Fine, fine," Spike grumbled as he leaned against the counter and lit a cigarette.
"Ok, women are like pets. They're dependent on someone else all the time."
"Ooookaaay…" Spike mumbled unconvinced.
"They need someone to make the rules and take care of them. Ya know?" he asked hopefully.
"No, not really."
Jet groaned and rubbed his forehead. This wasn't coming out like he had planned. He crossed his arms once again and tried to explain.
"Ok, let's say you got a stray dog—"
"Like Ein?"
"No not li—well maybe a little like Ein—but that's not the point!"
"Well what is the point?"
"I'm getting to it! Stop interrupting!"
Spike groaned and gestured for him to continue.
"All right, you have this stray dog that just shows up one day. Now this dog isn't going to trust you, but it will take a handout if you offer it. So you feed the damn thing 'cause you feel sorry for it. Next thing you know you're buying dog food and a collar, but the animal still doesn't really trust you. You have to keep giving it everything it needs, like food and a bed, a pat on the head now and then. Eventually, after a lot of time and money, you might end up with a good pet that will love you. But if you give it one reason to distrust you, like abandoning it or abusing it, then you've lost any chance of making a good pet out of it," Jet finished his analogy, hoping some of what he had said leaked into Spike's thick skull.
Spike just looked at him, puzzled. His cigarette dangled limp for his lower lip as he mulled over what Jet was trying say to him. He scratched his head, then threw his hands in the air.
"I still don't get it, Jet," he admitted finally.
"Faye's right. You really are a lunkhead."
"Lunkhead, lunkhead. Spike is a lunkhead," Ed sang as she skipped into the room.
"Like you would understand it either, Ed," Spike mumbled crossly.
"Aahhh! Edward understands much, lunkhead-person," she replied with a mysterious grin.
"You don't even know what we're talking about," he accused, getting a little annoyed with her.
"Yes Ed does. Ed was lissstennning."
Jet's eyes narrowed at the girl. "Ed, that was a private conversation. You can't—"
"All right, genius, you explain it if you so 'all-knowing'!" Spike interrupted, kneeling in front of her, smoke curling around them.
Ed just glared at him with one of those "you are such an idiot" looks that he thought only Faye was capable of. He backed off a little. It was kind of creepy.
"Jet-person is simply saying that if you want to get Faye-Faye back, you're going to have to give a little; maybe think about someone besides yourself for once. Show Faye-Faye she is more important to you than the nasty nasty Vicious-person," Ed said smugly. She stuck out her tongue then looked up at Jet. "Did Edward get it right?"
Jet passed his hand over his balding head, then shrugged.
"Yup, that pretty much covers it, Ed," he replied. He turned to Spike and frowned. "The kid gets it; why don't you?"
"Well, if you said it like she did, I would have!" Spike glowered.
Jet just shrugged and lit a smoke of his own. Ed scampered off to another part of the ship, wearing Ein as a hat. Spike and Jet stood in silence, surrounded by a haze of smoke. When he finished his third cigarette, Jet spoke.
"So, have you thought about what I said?" he asked the younger man. He looked at him, really looked at him, for the first time since he'd come back to the ship. Rusty stains covered his clothes; his dark eyes were sunken and his skin was ash. He looked like he'd vacationed in Hell. Even his shoulders were slumped more than usual.
"Yeah," Spike replied, still focused on his shoes.
"And?" Jet urged.
Spike lifted his head, dark strands of hair falling across his forehead. A mischievous sparkle danced in his eyes' brown depths. His thin lips curled into a wry grin.
"I don't think Faye would appreciate being compared to Ein," he said dryly.
"No, I don't suppose she would," Jet chuckled.
"Faye didn't come back here last night, did she." It was more of a statement than a question.
"You already know the answer to that. Why did you think she was here, anyway?" Jet asked.
"Wishful thinking."
Hope to post next chapter very soon. Please R&R!