Okie dokie. Now some of you, (I'm not naming anyone…) think that Faye wouldn't have gone off to get drunk so soon, and that she's acting a little pathetic. And I do agree that she wouldn't have gone to get drunk so soon. But see the thing is, I don't exactly plan on extending this story to be real long. Maybe eight or ten chapters at the most. Plus, you have to remember that on the show, these episodes aren't exactly all that long, so there wasn't a whole lot of time either. Also I don't really have a whole bunch of ideas to put in to extend this story! So sorry about the Faye thing, I try! ^_^ Now Julia, okay so she is seeming not like a tough girl. But this IS Faye, who is a team mate and comrade to Spike, someone who saved Julia's life back on Mars, relayed Julia's message to Spike, I'm not making her all mean to Faye because (I think I pointed this out in the story) she feels that she owes Faye a lot. (At least, I think she does) But trust me on this, things pick up in Chapter 5(hah! I've already gotten there!) More action, more rough and tough and mean and all that good stuff! So like I said, things might be happening a little fast, but that's because I don't WANT it to be all slow and long and take forever! This is not going to be a 15 or 20 chapter story, sorry. ^_^ So please forgive me all you guys! I'm not the Bebop writers board you know! And I know that Faye isn't that pathetic, sorry but I thought it'd give it more depression and excitement and all that. It probably would take her longer to act this way and all, but like I said, I don't want to drag this out to seven or ten chapters before the action starts happening! Okay enough of my babbling! On with the story…please R and R!!!! Thanks guys! ^_~
Chapter 3
"So did you get her?" Jet asked quietly.
Spike nodded. "Yeah."
"Good." Jet said. "We can finally leave here. I don't want to get attacked by the Syndicate again." He glanced at Spike. "And it'll keep you, and Julia, alive."
Spike was silent for a minute as he just watched Jet. "We can't leave Jet."
The older man arched an eyebrow. "What are you talking about Spike?"
"We can't leave. Not yet."
"I heard you the first time." Jet mumbled. "Now do you want to tell me why not?"
"Because Vicious is still alive." Spike answered.
Jet sat in
silence for a while before looking away from his partner. "I'm gonna need more
than that, Spike."
"It we leave, and he's still alive, Julia and I will be hunted for the rest of our lives." Spike explained. "Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I understand." Jet blew out some smoke and looked up at Spike. "So what're you gonna do?"
"Wait."
"What?"
"Wait…for Vicious."
Jet sat and thought about this. Then he narrowed his eyes and clenched his teeth. "And what? Put both Faye and I in danger? How do you know he'll even come?" He spat out angrily.
Spike closed his eyes and smiled faintly. "You're right, Jet. I'll just go after Vicious right now."
"That's not what I meant, Spike." Jet said sternly.
"Then what do you want me to do?"
Jet sighed and ran a hand over his head. "Can't you just run? Just leave it all behind and live your life?"
"I already told you, we'd be living the rest of our lives with a gun in our pocket. Looking over our shoulder at each corner. Wherever we go, we'd be pursued. Tell me Jet, is that really living?"
"No, I guess not." He smashed his cigarette out on the ashtray. "So what're you gonna do? I won't let you wait around here, wasting time."
"I don't know." Spike answered. "I'll have to talk to Julia about it."
* * * * *
Her head hurt. It was like no thing she had ever felt before. Sure, she's gotten drunk before. But this time she really went too far. Oh well, she had good reason to. She moaned as she shifted in her bed. Wait…she was in a bed? How did she get there? The last thing she remembered was Julia crouching in front of her with this worried look on her face.
Oh great. I probably did something really stupid.
She put a hand on her aching forehead as she slowly sat up. The pain made her head feel heavy. She waited for it to subside a little before putting her feet on the ground. She braced herself against the wall as she weakly stumbled to her door. She gripped the doorknob and leaned against the door. She sighed; she couldn't do this. This hangover was far too bad to be getting up now. So she threw herself back onto her bed and curled up under her blankets.
She couldn't help but wonder what she had done or said to Spike or Julia when she was drunk the night before. She considered that she might not want to know. But she knew that when she was drunk, she was an open door. So she could have spilled all her feelings out to them. And that was not a good thing.
Faye heard the quiet sound of her door opening. "Who's there?" She mumbled in a groggy and raspy voice.
There were a few footsteps. She could hear the person walking to her bed. "It's Julia."
Faye moaned and turned her head away. "What do you want?"
"I just came to make sure that you didn't drown in your vomit." Came Julia's reply.
She smirked. "Thanks, but aren't you supposed to do that during the night?"
"Spike did. Twice." Julia said.
Spike did? She never would have thought…but then, he did come looking for her when she was drunk. Even if Jet asked him to, he still did it. And then there was that night he came out and sat with her for no apparent reason. Ever since Julia showed up, he had been a little different. Maybe Julia was bringing out his true self…
"Faye?"
Faye was a little hesitant before answering. "Yeah?"
"Do you…" She paused. "Do you need anything?"
That wasn't what Julia was going to ask, and Faye knew it. She knew all too well that her curiosity was going to get the better of her later. But right now, she really could use some water. "Water would be nice."
Julia nodded softly. "All right then." She studied Faye's sprawled out form for a second before turning to leave.
"Julia?"
She stopped at the door and turned around to look at Faye. "Yes Faye?"
"…Thanks…"
* * * * *
Julia walked into the main room and looked down at Spike, who was stretched out on the couch. She sat on the table next to him. "Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"What did you tell Jet?" She asked.
"The truth." Spike answered.
"And?"
"And what?"
"And what'd he say?"
"Well," Spike let out a heavy sigh. "He doesn't want to wait around and get attacked by the Syndicate again. But he doesn't want us to chase after Vicious either."
"So what does he want?"
"He wants us to run." Spike said. "I told him we can't."
"So what do we do Spike?"
He opened his eyes and looked straight into hers. "What do you think we should do?"
Julia just stared back at him for a minute. "I don't want you to go after him, Spike."
"No one said that I was going to do that." He stated.
"I didn't say that anyone did." She responded. "But I don't want you to."
Spike stood up and put his hands in his pockets. "Then I won't." He started to walk away.
"Spike…about Faye…"
He stopped. "What about her?" He asked, his voice suddenly much deeper.
Julia looked up at his turned away stance. She opened her mouth to talk, but then closed it and looked away. "Nothing. It doesn't matter."
"Yeah," He repeated softly. "It doesn't matter.
* * * * *
Why her Spike? What's so special about her?
That scene had replayed in her head a million times. She remembered the tone of Faye's voice, and the expression on her face. It was like it was engraved in her mind. Those words echoed in her head like ringing bells. It was more than obvious to her that Faye had strong feelings for Spike. But did Spike see that? Why was she even asking herself this question? Of course he knew. He had always been the expert at reading people. And Faye was an open book.
Ever since you came on board the Bebop, everything's been different. Nothing is the same.
She always knew that Faye held something against her. She had always been distant and spoke only when necessary when she was around. But when Faye spoke those words, it only strengthened her assurance that Faye hated her.
I'm not going back Spike.
Why?
Because…things are different now.
Is it because of Julia?
No answer. Silence meant yet. Faye hated her, it was all so clear.
But why should she care? It didn't matter what anyone thought of her or Spike. Because once Vicious is dead, everyone would be erased from her and Spike's lives. They would be alone together somewhere, living the life they always wanted. Living a dream. Nothing else mattered.
It doesn't matter.
* * * * *
Faye's eyelids fluttered open. The glowing numbers on her clock seared into her eyes. She closed them again and hid her face in her pillow. It was already eight-thirty, she had slept all day. At least she felt better. She reached out to grab the cup of water on her nightstand. Her hand hit air. She growled; Julia never brought the water.
Nothing sounded better than a nice hot shower at the moment. And if there was nothing but cold water, she was going to kick the butt of whoever used the hot water. She smiled a little at that thought. Of course she'd never be able to get anywhere near Julia with Spike around. Not that she would actually do anything. Just a thought.
She climbed out of bed, now able to stand up right and walk. She wobbled out of her room into the main room. She stopped when she spotted Spike. He sat with one arm hanging over the back of the couch, his right leg stretched out onto the table with his left foot resting on his knee. With his free hand he held a cigarette to his lips and took a drag.
His eyes moved over to her. He removed the cigarette and let out a line of smoke. "Hey."
"Hi…" She responded wearily.
"Feeling better?" Spike asked, his voice lazy and tired.
Faye nodded. "Yeah…"
"You were pretty drunk."
"Was I?" She sighed. "I can't remember."
He shrugged. "No big surprise."
"Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"Did I…do anything?" She could feel the knot forming in her throat.
He looked up at her. "You didn't want to come back."
"I didn't?"
"Nope." He put the cigarette back in his mouth and let it hang there. His head fell back and hit the back of the couch. "Because of Julia." He mumbled, his cigarette bouncing from the movement of his lips.
Faye's eyes widened and her back straightened. "Did…did I say that?"
"Pretty much."
She looked down. "Oh…"
Great. She hated it when everyone knew how she felt about something…or someone.
"You takin' off?" Spike asked. His voice was still that low, relaxed tone that he used so often.
Faye looked up at him. He was in the same position; his head back against the couch. But now his eyes were closed. A thin trail of smoke curled up from his cigarette resting gently between his lips. His chest moved up and down slowly in a relaxed motion, and the lighting of the room softened his face. He looked so relaxed…
She was too absorbed in watching and studying Spike that she failed to notice that he had opened his eyes. He was watching her from the corner of his eye. "Faye?"
She snapped out of her trance. "What?"
He raised his eyebrows. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. Why?"
"Because I asked you a question."
Faye swallowed. "Oh…what was it again?"
"I asked if you're taking off."
Her eyebrows furrowed. "And what makes you ask that?"
He closed his eyes and sighed lightly. "Well, the only reason you agreed to come back last night was because I told you that you could leave today, if you wanted."
She blinked a couple times. "Oh…no, I'm not going anywhere."
She waited for him to say something. An 'oh' or 'good.' Something…anything…But he was silent and back in his completely laid back state that she liked to watch. It was then that Faye realized Julia should be in here to; all snuggled and close to Spike. She grimaced.
"Where's Julia?"
"In the shower." He mumbled in reply. His eyes opened and he was looking at her from the corner of them again. "Why?"
Faye turned away from him. "Just curious."
She could feel his eyes on her, his gaze seeping to her bones. She shivered. Why did she have to ask about Julia? Why did she always have to stick her nose in places that would get in her in trouble?
She quickly ran down the stairs to the lower level, escaping his gaze. Escaping the heavy silence that choked her. She almost bumped into Julia. Faye took a step back and stared at her. Her hair was damp, the bangs hanging in her eyes. Her skin was a soft, pale color, making her deep blue eyes stand out. She sort of…glowed…
Julia smiled that faint smile of hers. "I'm sorry Faye." Faye only blinked at her. "I left the warm water for you. I thought you might need it."
Faye was surprised by this. Was she serious, or was she throwing some cruel joke? Why would Julia take a cold shower to leave all the hot water for Faye? This had to be a prank.
"Thanks." Faye answered with a small smirk. She stepped passed Julia and walked into the bathroom. Once she closed the door, she turned on the water and stuck her hand in.
It was warm.
* * * * *
Spike stared at the fan on the ceiling slowly spinning as he gently ran his hand through Julia's hair; the damp, golden strands separating between his fingers. Even when it was wet, it was so silky and soft. Her shampoo washed away the smoky air and swirled around them. He took in a deep breath, inhaling the clean scent. He loved how she smelled.
She shifted slightly, getting in a better position to rest her head against his chest. Her hair brushed against his neck and tickled him slightly. He closed his eyes and smiled. Things weren't like this before. Sure they could cuddle like this. But there wasn't the peace and sense of security they had now. It was beautiful…like a dream.
"Spike?"
He could feel the vibration of her voice against his chest when she spoke. It was a feeling he had missed.
"Hmm?"
"Why do you love me?"
His eyes shot open. She had asked him this before, back on Mars. He didn't answer, and the question drifted away and vanished. It was forgotten and he never had to answer. But now…now it was not the same.
"Does it matter why?" Spike asked softly. "I just do, and that's what counts."
She sighed quietly and closed her eyes. That was all she needed. It didn't matter why, as long as he loved her, she was happy. They were never real big on speaking those three words that couples usually say to each other. In fact, she had never once heard Spike say them. And she never had said them either. Because they didn't need to, they already knew. And that was enough.
Then she found herself asking a question that she already knew the answer to. "Do you ever miss it Spike? How it use to be?"
His hand stopped, no longer running through her hair. He narrowed his eyes as he stared at the ceiling. "No."
She closed her eyes once again. "Neither do I."
So um…what did you think? Please don't beat me up! Be nice! LOL Just do your thing, like always. Thanks for reading! And I'll have Chapter 4 up once I get some reviews! Thanks again. ^_~