Disclaimer: I don't own Cowboy Bebop, it's characters, or "Wherever I May Roam" by Metallica. Please don't sue me, Lars.

A/N: Ok, bear with me here. This chapter jumps around a lot, time wise. Everything is still in chronological order, with the exception of maybe a few parts happening at the same time.

Session 10:

Wherever I May Roam

But I'll take my time anywhere
Free to speak my mind anywhere
And I'll redefine anywhere
Anywhere I roam
Where I lay my head is home

"What the hell are you doing here!?!?"

"Hello to you, too, Faye."

"Don't you fucking 'Hello, Faye' me!!"

"Ok... don't you think maybe you should back up a little?"

"NO!! If I backed up, I'd be too far away to kill you!!!"

Inserted scuffling sounds, a few loud bangs, and cries of pain here. This was Jet's soundtrack as he stirred up his beef and peppers, sans beef, specialty. His prodigal children had returned. As he prepared their return meal, he began to wonder whatever made him take up adopting kids like them.

Ed, who had previously taken residence with her head buried in the fridge, looked towards Jet. "Oooooh.... Faye-Faye sounds mad."

Jet 'hmph'ed as he took that night's dinner off the burner. "You have no idea, Ed. But, unless you want one of them to bite your nose off or something, stay out of it."

Jet's left the peace of the kitchen and entered the dangerous battle field that had become the living room. He also left Ed on the floor, battling the confusion left with her. The hacker sent a curious, cross-eyed gaze to her nose. Would Spike-person or Faye-Faye really do that?

As they saw Jet enter the room, Spike and Faye whined, simultaneously, "Jet!"

He continued, undeterred, to his seat, simply shaking his head. "I have no opinion. But there is a new rule - if you talk, you don't eat."

"But-"

"No." He quickly shoveled out the peppers into each of his companions respective plates. He hoped that would shut them up - at least long enough to eat. And surprisingly, it did. Or maybe they cut off the arguing because he told them to. Could they both really have been gone so long that they had forgotten that they never listen to him?

In the meantime, Ed and Ein had made their way into the room. The hacker happily dumped the data dog's food into his bowl. She then hopped her way over to Jet, leaning over, attempting to whisper, but still speaking loud enough for everyone to hear her. "Is Faye mad about Spike-person's hair?"

Spike and Faye had both done as requested - shut up during 'dinner.' Now, with the food gone, hell was free to reign again. But, instead of the loud, raging, boiling pits of hell, the Bebop crew found themselves in the quiet portions of the netherlands - each sinner silently suffering with their problems.

That was, until Spike stood, not caring to remain within the uncomfortable silence any longer. "I need a shower," he mumbled to himself.

"Good. Maybe some of that stupid looking hair-dye will wash out."

"Shut up, Faye."

"Fuck you, Spike."

"Fuck me?" Spike whirled around, pointing an accusing finger at Faye. "I'm not the one who came in here all pissed off, attacking people for no reason. Fuck you, Faye."

"Well, I'm not the one who disappeared for a year and then just waltzes back in, expecting a warm welcome.... No! You know what? Forget coming back. I'm not the one who took off in the first place - leaving behind the only people who would take you in!"

"People!? Don't forget I was here before you. Jet took me in. Person. Singular."

His final comment struck Faye into silence. No matter how right she thought herself to be about everything else, Spike was correct in this instance, and even she had to admit it. Jet was the one only person who would take Spike in, and the one person who would take her in, too.

With a satisfied smile, Spike continued on his way, not noticing the ice being shot at his back from Faye's glare.

...And my ties are severed clean
The less I have the more I gain
Off the beaten path I reign

Who the hell does he think he is?! Now I remember why I hated him so much. How could I have forgotten? To think, I almost missed him. Not only that, but I tried to stop him from leaving! You really are turning into quite a fool, Faye Valentine. I can't even believe I protected some of his stuff from Ein's teeth!

And Jet's just as bad. I've busted my poor, delicate, feminine ass for almost a year to make up for Spike's leaving. I even stopped gambling to save the Bebop some money. Well, I stopped gambling as much. And what thanks do I get? 'I have no opinion.' I wonder if he knows how stupid he sounds when he says that?

And now that cocky bastard is back from the dead and using up all my hot water! No one's even told me why he's still alive, or how the hell he got back here?! AHHH!

I should've stayed with Gren. So sweet - so understanding - so hospitable - so willing to listen - so... NOT SPIKE AND JET!

...And the earth becomes my throne
I adapt to the unknown
Under wandering stars I've grown

Bonsai plants were beautiful things. They were especially so to Jet - they were the only living things on his ship that didn't yell, sing annoying songs, or bark. The beauty in their silence is what he enjoyed. Gave him time to listen to his own thoughts every now and then. Unlike the other organisms he lived with - all they gave him was a headache. And as he thought it, a headache walked in the door.

"What's her problem, Jet?"

With a heavy sigh, Jet lowered his pruning sheers. His eyes remained fixated on his plants, as if in denial of the intrusion - but he wouldn't let foolish denial make him accidentally damage one of his quiet, oxygen giving pets. "I have -"

"- no opinion. I know. But seriously. What the hell have I done to deserve this? I lost count of how many times she flushed the fucking john while I was in the shower!"

As Spike situated himself comfortable against Jet's doorframe as the older man went back to his plants, seeing a specific small branch that he thought needless. They remained there in a comfortable silence. Jet was content with the shape a particular bonsai was taking - Spike content with just getting the load off his chest.

Then, with a randomness akin to Edward, Jet spoke. "You're back, Spike."

The man leaning casually, halfway in the room, thought silently for a moment. His search for a deep meaning came back without results. "That's awfully nice of you to notice, Jet, but what's that got to do with anything?"

Jet paused again - this time seemingly more for dramatic effect than anything else. "You were gone for a long time, Spike. For all we knew, you died a year ago. She's tried to get over it, and she's done a pretty good job of it. She was even starting to pick up your slack for a while. She even stopped wasting all of our money. But now you're back - and so is she."

In the middle of Jet's blurb, Spike lit a cigarette. After taking a long drag, the smoke seeped out of his lungs as he spoke. "Are you doing this to confuse me on purpose. I get that I'm back, but where the hell did she go?"

Jet's serene face remain focused on the greenery in front of him. "She's back to her old self. She's acting the way she did when you were here. She fought with you then, why not now?"

"You better not be trying to say that I'm the reason she's a bitch." Spike took another drag, longer than this first, and slowly blew out the smoke, watching it fill the air in front of him.

Jet turned to eye Spike, the serenity gone from his face. When he spoke, the bonsai induced zen was missing from his voice, as well. "No, but you'll be the reason I'm a bitch if you keep blowing that damn smoke at my bonsais!"

...And with dust in throat I crave
Only knowledge will I save
To the game you stay a slave

Faye sat up abruptly from her bed. She couldn't sleep well as it was, and Spike turning the thermostat down so low wasn't helping matters.

As she stood, she knew she was doing the wrong thing. Nonetheless, a white t-shirt slide over her head, covering and protecting her delicate skin from the cold. They were followed by jeans slipping over her legs. As she wrapped her favorite red jacket around her shoulders, she though it might be over kill. It wasn't that cold, but she knew it would add effect to her argument. An argument she knew she should be avoiding, but couldn't deny the urge. He got the last word before, but she wouldn't rest that night without taking a few more shots at him.

As an after thought, she grabbed a pack of cigarettes on her way to the weight room.

It was one of Spike's favorite places to be on the Bebop. If he wasn't listening to his oversized headphone's while taking up all the room on the couch, he was lifting in there. And, considering when she caught him shirtless lowering the air, his excuse was that he 'needed to keep cool - sweat wasn't his style', Faye assumed that's where he'd be tonight.

But, as she entered the hall, there was no soft clang of barbells in the air. Instead, she heard a few soft murmurs in the distance. As she followed, she soon realized it was music. Following a bit further lead her to discover it was coming from the hangar.

As she entered, she recognized the jazzy notes playing from the Swordfish II's radio. Her mind briefly traveled back to Spike's bickering voice. In a argument about music of all things, Spike had attempted to school her on some of the "classics" - like Duke Ellington. She didn't know how he could listen to the stuff. It sounded so boring.

But, as she entered, she didn't see Spike. So much for busting in and making a scene. When she had finished making her way between the Red Tail and Swordfish, she saw him - and she lost the urge to fight. His moves seemed flawless as he practice his Tai Chi, or something like that - Faye didn't bother to learn any of those fancy fighting styles.

He looked so smooth, so graceful - so not Spike. He looked almost like a normal person - someone who wasn't the biggest asshole in the world. That was, until he caught sight of her. A bit startled in mid stance, he fell promptly to his rear. He looked up at her angrily - that was the Spike she knew.

Before he could complain about her barging in on him, Faye jumped at her chance. "Why the hell is it so cold in here?"

He covered his anger with her as he pushed himself off the ground. His voice carried over his shoulder as he walked away, heading towards the wall of a window that protected them from the dead of space. "I don't hear Jet or Ed complaining."

Faye leaned back against the side of her Red Tail, lighting a cigarette. "That's only because their lips are frozen shut."

"Or maybe it's because you always complain about everything I do. Especially when I do things that have nothing to do with you."

"Or maybe it's because you always think nothing you do has anything to do with me. I don't give a shit about you learning how to dance or whatever the hell you're trying to do, but I think me shivering in my bed has something to do with me."

"Maybe she should start wearing clothes when you sleep."

Spike's comment brought a flush of anger to Faye's cheeks, but it still managed to lighten the mood. For once, he didn't feel like fighting with her. He still loved to watch her get all pissy, but it was too late at night and his muscles were too sore to deal with a purple haired ball of fury just then. "Mind if I bum one?"

Faye, with the anger at the thought of Spike looking at her in her sleep somewhat abated, looked thoughtfully at the pack in her hand. Taking a drag, she tossed the whole thing at him. "Take them. Their yours anyway."

Spike's face contorted in confusion. The realization came as he caught the pack - his choice brand. "You mean you still haven't smoked these yet? I'm surprised they lasted a day, the chimney you are."

"I don't smoke half as much as you." Even Faye couldn't deny the irony - smoke pouring out of her mouth as she said those words while Spike still hesitated to light up. "Besides, they taste like shit. I figured I should save them for a particularly shitty day. You coming back certainly counts as one."

Lips, smiling mischievously, held an unlit cigarette tightly as a flame rose to light it. "You know you missed me."

"The only time I missed you was when I was shooting at you." Shooting at you as you walked away from me, ignoring me - like you always do. A playfulness held onto her words, but the corner of Faye's lips dropped ever so slightly as she fought a disheartened frown.

By myself but not alone
I ask no one

The two sat in silence for some time, each enjoying their own bit of tobacco. But, as Faye's cigarette began to run out, so did her patience. She might've lost her will to fight for the time being, but she still had to confront him. A question needed to be asked - one she knew that Jet would never bring up. The duty of it had been passed on to her, or so she deemed.

"Why'd you go, Spike? What was so important that you just had to leave me and Jet."

Spike shook his head as he turned away from the window to face her. "You're breaking the rules Faye. On the Bebop, no one asks personal questions - and if they do happen to slip out, no one answers. That's the way it's always worked."

"Well, maybe things change." Faye fiddled with her hands as her nerves began to act up on her. Why did she have to go and give him the whole pack for? "Maybe that's not how it works anymore."

In a rare fit of compassion, Spike carelessly threw a cigarette to her, noticing her nervous hands. "But it is still how it works. Do you know why Ed left, or why she came back? Ever bother to ask Jet why he loves those stupid little trees so much?"

A bit of a pause came between them, confirming Spike's suspicions. "I didn't think so. You're still breaking rules, Faye, not me."

Hoping to avoid the full scale battle he could feel building, Spike slipped back in to his loose fitting t-shirt and started to leave. He even managed to make it as far as the Swordfish - far enough to turn off the radio - before Faye struck. "You know, Julia isn't the only person if your life anymore. We're all here, too. Maybe you should think about us next time you decide to go get yourself killed."

Oh, the things he could say - the ways he could easily throw her comments back into her face. What of the times he had risked his own death for their sake - for her sake. And what about him coming back instead of just staying in his new life? And then there was always the simple, ever angering fact that Faye knew nothing about him and Julia, so she had no idea what she was talking about!

But instead, he kept a calm, steady voice, and began walking again. He paused as he stood a short ways past her, looking over his shoulder.

"Be careful, Faye. My best friend crossed this line before - he ended up my most violently hated enemy. I'd hate to see what you'd end up being."

Carved upon my stone
My body lie, but still I roam

A.N: I almost don't want to post this after reading Cassandra's latest chapter. I was half way through writing this when I read hers. Same basic idea, only she does it a fuck of a lot better than me. Everyone should head on over and check out "Ain't Afraid to Die" if you don't already read it religiously, like me.

To My Reviewers:

LANCE!!!: Ok, I know you don't review through FF.Net, but live action feedback is better than anything else. And you kick ass. Have I ever mentioned this. Anyone else reading this, this here lil lady (and her sister's boyfriend) picked this song. All 'tallica fans, thank her. Rock on.

Kyra: Yeah, guys are nice to each other, but those Syndicate bastards are, well... bastards! I know the surprise didn't work so well. Not too many people seemed pleased with it. Suppose I should just stick to being blatantly obvious (blatantly obvious?? doesn't that mean obviously obvious?? God I'm bad with grammar). Anyway, thanks once again for that awfully nice review of yours. Glad you liked the scene where Jet seems Vicious. I tried to make it stand out, simply for the purpose of emphasizing that Jet didn't already know him. A lot of stories I've read just kinda make everyone know Vicious, for some reason.

Eisha: Yay! You're new! I like new people. Anyway, thanks for the awesome review. I'm glad you found it too. Even gladder (me speaks goodz inglilsh) that you liked it. Yeah, I know the idea's overused. But I sacrificed creativity for something easy to write. Ahh, the sign of a true sell out.

Bluefuzzyelf: You're new too! That make two. Yes, I do know I'm evil. In fact, I take pride in my evil, underhanded ways of life. Thank you.

Rashaka: You bring up a very good point. A point I'm surprised no one else brought up - I certainly would've. Yes, it's a very unlikely scenario. Jet should've recognized him right away. You are absolutely correct. But, in defense of myself, I shall make up a reason. Different color hair, new clothes (which does make a difference, for someone who wore the same thing the whole time Jet knew him), sunglasses, different voice, plus he hasn't seen him in about year. That, mixed in with Jet never really took a good look at the guy. For the most part, he just looked at him out of the corner of his eye. So, there's my excuse. Now for the truth - I had originally wrote it with Jet noticing all these things and pretty much figuring it our pretty quickly, but staying in denial. But if I would've done that, all the readers would've know write away too. A foolish, and pathetic attempt at creating a twist. Can't blame a guy for trying, right?

SweetPsyche: And number three on the new reviewers list. Yay again! Glad you liked it so far. I'll be trying to return to that style again in later chapters, but I'm taking a break. Hard to develop a plot with all that inner monolog going on. But I love writing like that, and can't wait to again. And about the episodes, yeah, I'm dumb. Someone told me it was between 11 and 12 (or which ever episode is right before Jupiter Jazz), and I blindly believed them. A few other people have reviewed mentioning that, but you have by far been the kindest. Thanks for not chewing me out about it. :)