A/N: Hello people! I hope you like the chapter! I really appreciate all the positive feedback, but constructive criticism is welcome.

Disclaimer: I don't on Cowboy Bebop. (Eeeek, I don't think I had one before this!)

On with the story...

***

It was 3 a.m. when I opened my eyes. Ed was sleeping next to the alarm clock, the red numbers glowing on her face, appearing as if she were blushing. I sighed while moving my hands behind my head. I could barely see the ceiling fan spinning above me, but after a while my eyes adjusted to the darkness.

I was surprised to find that I was glad that Ed wasn't living in Spike's room. It was uncanny how she had subconsciously (or maybe consciously) changed to become similar to Spike. It wasn't that I was upset that she had admired him so much that she tried to be like him; it was just that I didn't want him to be replaced.

A scuffling sound in the darkest corner of the room caused my head to whirl in the direction it originated from. There was no sign of anyone in the room, but I had no proof that it was completely safe. Without showing any sign of hearing the noise, I slowly reached for my gun. I decided against waking Ed. There was no use disturbing her until I knew there was a problem.

The Glock resting comfortably in my grip, I used my left hand to switch on the light on the box next to the mattress, sitting up and aiming my gun in the same swift movement.

Ein looked at me quizzically and I felt foolish, setting my gun aside and reaching for the lamp. The dog waddled over to the mattress and I patted his head, glad that it was only him. Just as he was about to walk away, I noticed something stuck under his collar.

"What the hell?" I muttered to myself, sliding the piece of paper out from under the collar and unfolding it slowly. I read it to myself slowly, feeling the blood drain from my face and goosebumps forming on my arms.

You do not remember me, but I could never forget you. The people who locked me up for four long years will regret for the wrongdoing they have committed. Be warned: those who reside on the Bebop will pay for interfering with a soldier of the Lord. You will feel God's wrath.

"Faye?" Ed mumbled, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Why is the light on?"

I tried to come up with an excuse, any excuse to keep her from being afraid. "I was, uh, just trying to find some, um, liquor."

"There's some in the cabinets," she said, sitting up and stretching. "I'll show you where."

I stuffed the note into my shirt, following her out of the room and accepting a bottle of brandy. She took a Dr. Pepper out of the refrigerator and sat down across from me on the yellow chair. "What was really up Faye?"

"Uh, nothing!"

"When you say 'uh' and 'um,' you're trying to think up excuses."

"There is seriously nothing wrong," I said slowly and clearly.

"You were consciously trying not to say those two words!" Ed said, grinning at me and taking a drink from her soda. I remembered the bottle of Presidente and taking a sip of the burning liquid.

"Okay, do you really want to know?" I asked carefully, looking her straight in the eye. She nodded, and I handed her the note. She read it softly aloud, her eyes showing confusion.

"What is this about?" She asked, placing it on the table.

"I don't know," I admitted, rising to my feet and walking over to the steps leading to the hallway. "Let's call Jet."

"No!" Ed said loudly, jumping to her feet and grabbing my arm. "If you tell him about this, he won't let me go anywhere or see anyone anymore!" Desperation was the only emotion I could see in her eyes.

"Your lives are in danger!" I said, my voice higher than usual. "Edward, I'm not going to be here forever! Jet needs to know about this!"

"Why can't you stay here?"

I felt a pang of guilt stab through me at that moment. I had never really understood the magnitude of my decision to leave these people behind. Seeing this girl standing before me, never knowing why I left, was torture for me. I was so angry at Spike that I had never realized that I had done the same as him.

It was hard for me to accept that Ed was a normal teenage girl. I was so used to seeing her as a child that it was hard for me to accept her growing up. She had friends and a life, and it was hard for her to see that not seeing your best friend or your boyfriend for a little while was not nearly as bad as never seeing them again.

"Edward, please listen—"

"What's going on?" We both looked up at the doorway where Jet was standing, blushes tinting our cheeks and matching guilty looks mirroring our surprise.

"Um...."

"Uhhhhhhhh...."

***

Jet frowned, absentmindedly folding the paper over and over again while staring down at the floor. I offered him the brandy, but he shook his head, his forehead wrinkled with concentration.

"Do you remember any religious 'Let's kill in the name of God!' nutcases you guys brought in?" I offered, trying to be helpful but getting the cold shoulder. I glanced at Ed, who was rolling her eyes and twirling the gun around on her finger.

"Hey, Cowgirl, is that thing loaded?" I asked her, raising my eyebrows when she smiled and nodded. "Of all the people in the world, she had to admire Spike," I said sarcastically, making her laugh and receive a dirty look from Jet. I was surprised that I was making jokes. Maybe it was that fact that I didn't have to worry about betraying Ed. Maybe I was glad to not have to think of the best solution for the problem. After three years of constantly depending on my self and myself alone, having comrades was a nice change.

Ed gestured for me to follow her outside, so I did, stepping into the cold air, the sky a dark gray and the black waves slapping against the metal sides of the ship. I leaned against the rail, standing next to Ed and looking at her smiling. "What're you so happy about?"

"I was just thinking about my friend," she said in the innocent voice she had used in the Swordfish.

"Tell me about this friend," I said using the same tone.

"His name's Jamie."

"Yeah?"

"He was coming over today, but, you know." She trailed off, nodding her head in the general direction of Jet. I patted her arm, thinking about the person I had wanted to be my 'friend.'

"I'm sorry, Ed," I said abruptly. She turned her head to face me.

"Why?"

"I abandoned you like that. You're like my little sister. I'm sorry I was never there for you or to see you grow up." We stood there for a few minutes, silent, until Jet called us in to talk.

***

"Someone broke into the ship and left this note here, 'warning' us that they were going to get revenge for being in prison. The basic questions are 'who is it,' 'what are they willing to do,' and 'what kind of advantages do they have over us?'" Although retired from bounty hunting, Jet still had the same knack for organizing information so it made sense.

"The note says 'four years,'" I said, tapping the paper with my fingernail. "Do you keep records of the bounties you catch?"

"It's all in Tomato." Ed got up to retrieve the computer, and I turned to face Jet.

"Please don't keep her from seeing her friends because of this," I said to him. "She seems so worried that she won't be able to keep her friends. Maybe we should deal with this and not have it affect her life."

"Are you coming back on the ship?" Jet asked. I looked down at my hands folded in my lap. Was it really all right for me to go back to this ship? Was it really best for everyone? Was it really best for me?

***

A/N: Hiya! I was pretty pleased with this chapter. I mean, this actually has a plot and everything. *giggles* I was surprised to see that some adults were reading my story and they liked it!!!!!!! I was like "Ohmygod!"

Oh, if anyone's offended by the religious fanatic stuff, sorry. I didn't originally intend to include it, but *sigh* what's an atheist to do? Lol, sorry. I'm not taking it out though, lol.

Thanks to all who reviewed! You guys are great!

Cheerio,

Qui