***(Still Sleeping) ***
"Spike?" Jet peered into Spike's dark room. No answer came. "Spike I know you're awake." He shut the door behind him and flicked on the small light. "You have to come out sooner or later." Jet walked across to the large bed in his room. "Spike?" Jet pulled back the covers, two pillows sat stuffed underneath. Jet sighed and walked back out.
"Where is Jet-person going?" Ed came up beside Jet in the hallway.
"To find Spike-person, I mean Spike." Jet shook his head.
"Where has Spike Spike gone?" Edward chimed.
"Somewhere not good for Spike."
"Oh? Why would Spike go somewhere not good for him?"
"He doesn't have hope." Jet said more to himself.
"Ohhhhh." Ed said in faux understanding.
"Stay here and watch over Faye, I'll be back soon." Jet said grabbing his coat near the staircase.
Ed gave a salute. "Yes Sir." She turned back to Faye on the couch as Jet headed out the door. Ed sat down on her perch on the metal coffee table. She slowly began to hum and sway. "Sleeeeping Beauuuuty will wake up, don't lose hope and don't give up." She sang to her own tune.
*** (No Regrets)***
Spike breathed out intoxicating smoke. It swirled high into the already smoggy air. Slow jazz filtered through the atmosphere. People stirred at the bar in their usual fashion. Spike hung his head before taking the last gulp of his scotch. He lazily nodded to the bartender.
"Another one? Haven't you already had---"
"Give me another." He said through gritted teeth.
"Alright." The tall man said behind the long bar.
Spike took a long drag off of his cigarette, pulling it deep into his lungs. He eyed a blond beauty pass by into the smoke. A smile tugged at his lips.
"Spike. I knew I'd find you here." Jet's husky voice came through the smoke.
"You win, you found me." Spike turned back to his drink's arrival.
"Spike, you can't keep doing this. You'll drink yourself into oblivion." Jet sat down beside him.
"Incase you haven't noticed by now Jet, that's the point." He finished off the new glass he got.
Jet sighed heavily. "She'll come around Spike."
He froze. "Who?" He tried to sound casual.
"Spike. Don't do this. She only slipped into the coma three weeks ago."
"Four."
"What?"
"It was four weeks ago." Spike turned to his comrade. "And with each passing day she slips further. You heard the doctor." He turned back to his empty glass.
"Ya know how the doctors on Mars are. Besides, the bleeding stopped." Jet offered. Spike shot him a dark glance. "Look, why don't you just come back to the Bebop and we'll take her to another hospital on a different planet. What do you say?"
"I'm staying here." Spike nodded to the bartender again who grabbed his glass in compliance.
"Spike—"
"I'm not going back there!" Spike suddenly lashed.
Jet lowered his head. "Fine." He said softly. "Stay here, poison yourself."
Spike sighed. "Jet…."
"No regrets Spike, you do what you want. Wouldn't want us to be a burden on you." Jet grabbed his hat and took his leave.
Spike turned back to his awaiting glass and closed his eyes tightly. "No regrets." He whispered to himself. He then chugged down the scotch.
*** (Gleaming) ***
Three AM, chimed the door to the Bebop. Spike staggered in. Silver eyes gleamed in the moonlight, from the coffee table. "Vicious." Spike's voice rumbled deep with hatred. Spike jumped over the rail and lunged at him, finding nothing. Spike snapped his head to the side, trying to clear his mind. "I'm losing it." He admitted to himself. "I'm losing her." He looked down to Faye wrapped in a blanket on the couch. He sighed sitting down on the coffee table across from her.
Spike hung his head once more, sighing. He looked up to Faye. "Dammit Faye, wake up." His voice cracked.
Silver eyes gleamed in the moonlight……..
Spike leaned down and softly kissed Faye on the lips. He took one last look at Faye before heading off down the hall to his bedroom.
His door clicked closed.
The figure encased in shadows glided to the ship's Sleeping Beauty. Faye's eyes remained closed. His lean frame hovered over her. His hand ran over her china doll face. "You still sleep." His deep voice flowed. "You shouldn't have gotten in the way Miss Valentine." He stroked her cheek, crouching down to the couch. "You called my bluff though, Spike did come for you. How predictable, that's just like him." A vicious smile curved his lips. He shook his head taking in her features. "And just like him, you remain out of sight. Well not for long Miss Valentine. Not for long."
*** *** ***