Disclaimer - I don't own Cowboy Bebop

AN: hey y'all. long time no... write.... ok. soooo here we go!

Side note : since my computer wont' start the exponents at 1,I'm starting at 2 for things I'll explain later.

Deceptions

"Really?" Vicious asked, slightly amused. This surprised Faye. Why the hell was he smiling... No, not smiling... smirking.

She held the gun in her hands forcefully, aiming at Vicious's chest. "Wipe that smile off your face." Faye commanded. Her voice shook with anger.

Vicious's smirk grew wider. His eyes gained a devious glint. The rain made his white hair stick to his face, covering most of it, making him look even more ominous. It scared Faye for a moment, but she quickly recovered her courage.

"Why should I?" Vicious asked, more like a child who didn't want to give up a toy, then a man staring death in the face.

"Because, I said you're under arrest. Not something you should be laughing at. The law is not a laughing matter." Faye retorted, not really having an explanation for why he should stop smirking, other than it was annoying the hell out of her.

"The law," Vicious scoffed, pissing off Faye even more.

She aimed it at his head. "Stop," she hissed.

Vicious shook his head. "You know what's funny?" he said, turning his back to her and picking up a soaked carton on cigarettes from the pocket of a dead henchman. Faye scowled. He showed his back to her. He's not afraid of me... son of a bitch.

"Nothing's supposed to be funny."

"But this whole situation is, Faye." He looked at the cigarettes with a scowl, finding them too wet to light. "You think you have me cornered."

This got a gasp of surprise from Faye.

"Do you play poker, Faye?" Vicious asked.

Faye didn't answer him.

"If you're familiar with the game, then you know what a trump card is." he looked at Faye, to make sure she was paying attention.

"I know how to play poker and I know what a trump card is." she spat, trying to show him she wasn't ignorant or stupid.

"You just used your trump card, Faye." Vicious said, slowly walking towards her. "Bad move," he whispered, as he got closer.

Goosebumps started popping up in Faye's skin. Not because of the rain, but because of Vicious. His apparent lack of fear for her.

He grabbed her gun and twisted her arm so that the gun was pointing to her chin. His finger overlapped hers on the trigger.

"I could kill you right now."

"So why don't you?" she choked out.

"You're going to do something for me."

"Fuck you." Faye spat.

"You're going to get Spike to come out. He'll listen to you." Vicious whispered in her ear, making her hair stand up on end. His hot breath on her shoulder made her involuntarily shudder.

"I won't"

Vicious pressed the gun harder on her jaw, making her wince in pain. "Call for him."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike watched from the window. The motel was vacant now. He couldn't hear exactly was Vicious and Faye were saying, because of Julia's soft whimpers. He looked at her. Her crying, which had been forcefully quieted, and now amounted to sobs.

"I don't get it." Spike said, sitting on the floor.

"Don't get what?" Julia wiped the tear streaks from her face, and gathered herself back together.

"Why you're crying. You've killed people before."

"Vicious did it for no fucking reason. No hesitation. I never did that. I killed people in my way. I killed people who deserved it. I didn't kill innocent men." Julia protested quietly, her voice growing in volume and laced with anger.

"Shh," Spike quieted her as he strained to hear what was going on outside. He heard a weak cry of "Spike," followed by a louder, "SPIKE,"

Faye was calling to him.

"Dammit." Spike said, checking his gun and making sure he had enough magazines.²

"He's got her." Julia said in realization, her eyes widening.

"Yeah," Spike reached for the doorknob, but Julia stopped him.

"Spike, you're kidding. You can't!"

"Why not?"

"Because, he'll kill you the moment you step out of the room."

"He's gonna kill Faye." Spike said, turning the knob of the door and swung it open.

"Vicious." he yelled into the rainy night. "Put it down."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vicious watched as Spike raised his gun. He smirked. "So you've finally decided to come out of hiding."

Julia followed Spike cautiously.

"Julia," Vicious smirked. "How nice to see you again." Vicious was rewarded with Julia's middle finger.

"Put the gun down." Spike ordered.

"No."

Spike shot a warning shot, that landed in a puddle of rain water. Faye regarded Spike with a mixture of relief and horror. Her makeup had long since washed off and her hair stuck to her face.

"Why are you doing this. Why kill Faye?" Spike asked.

"Haven't you been listening?" Vicious asked, glaring at him. "Your lover is an undercover cop. She was going to turn you in."

Spike looked at Faye as if to inquire if it was true. "Spike..." Faye managed to get out. Her tone was apologetic one.

Spike looked at her disbelievingly. "Faye... this isn't true is it?" he asked.

Faye hung her head. This was all Spike needed.

Julia remained quiet behind him. Until something Spike's coat caught her eye.

Spike, you little fucker. Julia growled, seeing the corner of the card the jack of diamonds in his pocket. How long have I not noticed that. The Jack… he hasn't changed one bit. She took out her gun and placed it on the back of his head.

Spike jumped when he felt the cool, wet metal on the back of his head. "Julia, what the fuck are you doing?"

"What the hell is this?" Julia asked, pulling the card from his jacket.

Spike turned around. "It's the Jack of Diamonds." His pulse quickened. No outside feature showed that he was panicking. Spike stood as cool and calm as ever.

"I know what card it is. Why do you have it in your coat?" Julia glared at him, questioning him with a fierceness that made her look almost scared.

Vicious laughed. "You are quick, Julia." he threw Faye on the ground and she moved away from him.

Spike moved away from Julia, placid look on his face. He stood halfway between Julia and Vicious.

"I don't believe this." Julia breathed.

"Believe it." Vicious hissed.

Faye made her way to Julia. "Spike..." Faye watched as Spike stood next to Vicious.

"So what was this? Some elaborate plan?" Julia asked, her gun trained on Spike. "What, kidnap me, beat me and then bust me from jail?" Julia's pained eyes looked at Faye. "And how does she fit into this?"

Vicious fingered the tang of his katana. "This may come as a surprise to you, Faye." he ignored Julia all together and focused on Faye. Mud caked Faye's chest, and tears fell down her cheeks, mixing with the rain. "We've known about you the whole time."

"How?" Faye managed to choke out.

"We live in a corrupt world. Where money can get you anything. We have some one in the ISSP. He told us all about you, Faye Valentine. We've been watching you."

"No one on the force would ever sell out to a bastard like you."

"Think again, Faye." it was Spike who spoke up.

"I told you, that you played your trump card too fast, Faye. Well, now it's my turn. I've got an ace up my sleeve. Do you recognize these people?" Vicious lifted up a picture. Faye's eyes widened as crystal tears fell from them.

"Layla. Mia."

Julia gazed at Faye. "You know them?"

"Layla is my sister, Mia is her daughter." Faye said quietly. "What have you done them?" Faye shouted to Vicious.

Vicious held the picture tightly. "Nothing. Yet." Vicious walked toward Faye and Julia. Julia held her gun tighter and aimed it at Vicious's chest. "One step closer Vicious and I'll blow your fucking brains out."

Vicious glared at Julia.

"I have no love lost for you, Vicious. I don't give a fuck if you kill Faye's sister. So you stay right there or I swear to God, I'll kill you." Julia threatened.

He stood where he was. "Faye, we're prepared to kill your sister and her daughter."

"How?" Faye demanded.

"I have agents posted outside of their house. I give them the word, and your sister and her daughter are gone."

Faye bit her lip. "Why kill them? You want me."

"Yes. So here's my deal. You life, or theirs. No other options. And no other comments." Vicious glared at Julia.

"Haven't you tortured her enough?" Julia asked, already disobeying one of Vicious's rules.

"No."

Julia glared at Spike, who stood behind Vicious, a blank stare on his face. "I thought you were better than this."

"You thought wrong." Spike replied, his expression placid. "You knew from the beginning what I was capable of."

Julia averted her gaze from Spike to Faye. "Obviously not love." She looked at Spike again. "I thought you loved her."

Spike continued to stare blankly at Julia. "You also thought I loved you."

Julia swallowed. She held her head high. What could she possibly say to that? She did think he loved her. She had believed it with her whole heart.

"Faye," Vicious's haunting voice invaded Faye's mind. He watched her stone cold eyes, silently begging her to let him pull the trigger.

"What the fuck is this, Sophie's Choice?"³ Julia asked, earning a glare and a finger from Spike.

"You want me to choose between my sister and myself?" Faye choked out. She was at a loss for words. Vicious nodded.

"I need an answer, Faye."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

"Me."

A smile crept across Vicious' face. "You?"

Faye stood tall and proud. She stuck out her chest, as if boasting. "Kill me."

"Faye?" a static voice broke the dreadful silence in the motel parking lot.

"What the fuck is that?" Vicious asked vehemently.

"My radio," Faye said breathlessly.

"Your radio?" Vicious asked, his glare like daggers.

"My police radio. I turned it on, and gave my position."

"You mean they know you're here?" Spike asked.

Faye glared at him. "And if I don't answer back, they'll send reinforcements." Faye said this with a hidden smile.

"Where is the radio?" Vicious demanded.

"Why should she tell you?" Julia's hands had folded up across her chest, silently watching.

"This doesn't concern you. We'll deal with you soon."

Julia scoffed and sighed.

"Find the fucking radio, Faye."

Faye walked to the car, with Spike and Vicious following her. She opened the door and pulled out a radio from the passenger side.

"Valentine, do you read? Over,"

"Well, answer him." Spike replied pointing a gun to her head.

"This is Valentine, over."

"Valentine, we've been trying to reach you for an hour. What's going on? Over." the voice over the radio sounded relieved she was alive.

"You tell him that you accomplished your goal."

"I've accomplished my goal. Over." Faye repeated.

"Roger that. We're going to send agents over there anyways. Over."

"No!" Faye quickly recovered herself. "I mean, that's not necessary. Over."

"It's for your safety, Valentine. Over and out." the radio went dead and all Faye could do was stare blankly at it. Damn it. Damn it all.

"We'll have to take her somewhere else." Spike sighed, keeping the gun poised at her head.

"No. If she's not here when they get here…" Vicious replied.

"So what?"

"They'll start searching for her."

"Let's take that risk, Vicious." Spike said with a smirk. "Live life on the edge a little."

"Oh yes, because a mafia hit man can just be so boring." Julia scoffed. "I mean between the killing and paying off Cops… What a drag."

"You know, I don't remember asking for a wise ass side-kick." Spike folded his arms across his chest, mimicking Julia.

"I don't remember asking you to be an ass and a turncoat." Julia said with a raise of her eyebrows.

"Just get them into the car, and we'll keep them in the Containment Wing until we decide what we want to do with them. " Vicious whispered to Spike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Faye sat awkwardly in the backseat, hands tied behind her back. She looked at Julia who sat next to her, looking very blasé. How does she do it? Faye allowed herself to admire Julia for a moment.

"Are we there yet?" Julia said in a whiny voice.

"I swear to God, Julia, if you don't shut up,"

"You'll kill me? Do it."

There was no response from Vicious or Spike.

"Fucking pussies." Julia scoffed.

Vicious gritted his teeth. "You know when we get what we need from you, I can't wait to kill you."

Julia allowed her self a small smile. Then just do it, Vicious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soon, Julia stood in front a large grey door with the marking of A43 carved into the door. "Home sweet home." she murmured as the door opened and her and Faye were thrown in by two muscled men. Vicious and Spike stood behind them, smirking.

The door closed with a violent slam, and once again, Julia was enveloped in darkness.

Julia sat still and stayed very silent for a while. All she could hear was Faye's labored breathing.


"How long do you think we'll stay in here?" Faye asked after what seemed like forever, breaking the silence between them.

Julia shrugged. "Who knows."

"How did you know Spike had changed sides?" Faye asked.

Julia didn't answer for a while. "The Past." was her simple answer.

"So you just had a gut feeling?" Faye asked skeptically.

"No."

"And what was the whole deal with the Jack? I don't get it. I mean… it's a freaking card." Faye commented to herself more than to Julia.

Julia scoffed again. "You didn't do your homework."

"What?"

"Do you know anything about Spike and Vicious's past? How it's linked with mine?"

"You guys worked together. You and Spike had a relationship and so did you and Vicious."

"Yeah, that's the Reader's Digest version." Julia said lightly, with a hint of mockery in her voice.

"So what's the whole story?"

Julia was silent for an even longer time. Faye tried hard to see Julia through the absolute darkness of their cell. She saw Julia's form leaning against the wall. The silence had grown so long, Faye thought for a moment, Julia forgot that she asked a question.

"Yeah, we worked together." Julia said, making Faye jump, for Faye wasn't expecting an answer. "But working together could mean that we were partners in a law firm. Or that we all worked the fry counter at McDonalds. Yeah we worked together. But we formed a group in the syndicate. It was indestructible. We were unbreakable. Back then, there were four of us. Me, Spike, Vicious, and a man named Jet Black."

"He wasn't in any of the data I looked up," Faye said out loud.

"Well , if you would let me talk, then I'll tell you about him."

Faye sighed and became silent, Julia's signal to continue.

"Jet was the so-called leader. We never really organized ourselves, never had a fancy-cutesy name. Jet got us what we needed, planned a hit. Jet was like a father to us. He would joke and laugh, but he knew when to get serious. He was trusted with the elders of the syndicate, and had an influential status in Martian society. So of course, we would get money from these hits that Jet arranged. So Jet told us, Me, Spike and Vicious, if we put all of that money in a bank, no one could take it and it would grow. So of course, we bit at the idea. Every time money came in from a hit, Jet put it all into a bank account that only he had access to. It was guarded by so many codes, and some many dead ends, that no hacker could really get into it. Jet never really told us the amount but it was understood that we would split whatever was in there. So one day, we find out from Jet, that there's a price on his head. Like a huge bounty."

Julia stopped as if she couldn't go on. But she took a deep breath and continued.

"So he told me the code. He told me and only me how to get into the account. This didn't sit too well with Spike and Vicious. Jet was killed soon after he gave me the account codes. I figured that everyone would want the code. I didn't figure the two men I trusted most would set a bounty for me. So with such a huge price on my head, I couldn't stay in the syndicate. So I faked my death and left."

"But you have the money."

"I've never taken any of the money out, but I could if wanted to."

"How much money is in there?" Faye questioned.

"More than you could imagine. That's what Spike and Vicious want from me. They want that bank account for themselves."

Faye sat and took it all in for a moment. "So what was the deal with the Jack?"

"You know a deck of cards? The top cards are a Ace, King, Queen and Jack. Jet was the Ace, Vicious the King, obviously, me the Queen, and Spike was identified as the Jack."

Their conversation died another death.

"Do you think they'll kill me?" Faye asked, in a tone Julia had to strain to hear.

Now it was Julia's turn to search for Faye in the darkness. Julia watched Faye's figure curl up into a ball on the floor. For some reason she wanted to give that woman some shred of hope.

"I don't know." Julia sighed. She desperately wished for a cigarette. "I don't know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

² = magazines are basically spare bullets. When they're grouped together, they are called magazines, and you put them in the handle of most hand guns.

³ = Sophie's Choice was movie where a mother (Sophie) had to choose which of her children would live. Only one would live and the other would die.

So there we have it. Stay tuned for more

NEXT TIME : Faye fights death and Julia is back to square one. Will Spike and Vicious get what they want? Will Spike realize the error of his ways?