Chapter 3: A Day at the Races

"Have you ever noticed? Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac."

- George Carlin

"But this could take forever, Jet," Spike complained.

"Stop complaining, it's not like you have anywhere better to go."

Spike sighed and gingerly lowered himself onto the couch. Ed sat Tomato down on the table in front of him.

"Go fish Spike-person!" Edward said then hopped away.

Not bothering trying to figure Ed out, Spike sighed again and looked at the screen. Ed had already brought up the full list of the women on Mars with bounties on their heads. Jet nodded his head and then started to head from the room.

"And where are you going?" Spike asked.

"I am going to try and find out more about Larson, without having to keep track of either you or Faye."

With that, Jet left Spike sitting alone in the room with Tomato humming quietly in front of him. Spike sighed again, and then winced at the flash of pain it caused. He gingerly reached out and sat Ed's computer on his lap and, since Jet was gone, pulled out a cigarette. Spike went to light it and then realized he didn't have a lighter. Giving up on the idea of getting up to go find one, he pouted and let the cigarette fall from his mouth right where he was. So much for that idea, he thought.

By the second page of pictures, Spike was bored and decided this was leading nowhere. The bounty hunter rested his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. He had only just awoken yesterday and the weariness he felt had not left yet. He knew it would take some time to pass. It was peacefully silent on the Bebop right now with Jet and Faye gone, and Ed… well, who knew where Ed was. Quiet moments like this didn't happen very often, which was a good thing… because Spike hated it. It left too much time to think about his past. Something that had no connection to now. Spike gingerly took a deep breath to push back his thoughts and tried to let the quiet wash over him.

Almost without realizing it his head began to get heavy and sink into the cushiony material of the couch, as sleep started to descend upon his weary body. In his semi-wakeful state images came unbidden to his wondering mind. Those haunting stormy blue eyes dominated his mind and he relieved the scene of her over again in his mind trying to pick out any detail he had missed. Everything was hazy and dream-like, making it hard to remember specific details.

A gentle brush of dark hair… deep icy eyes… a voice on the edge of his memory…

Nothing very specific and even now his mind couldn't remember what she had said to him, only the sound of her voice.

What was it about this woman that entranced him so?

Spike already knew the answer to that, although he would never allow himself to admit it. Those eyes, those stormy eyes, reminded him of another pair of steel grey eyes. Steel grey eyes belonging to a certain blonde that would be etched in his memory for the rest of his days.

"Julia," he said barely above a whisper… not even realizing he had said it out loud.

Half the population was women. Why out of all those numbers did this specific woman have to remind him of her?

Spike sighed and sunk deeper into the couch letting his mind wonder in the peace and solitude around him. A noise from somewhere deeper in the ship brought his mind back from his peaceful reverie and he cracked an eye open to see if there was any immediate danger of flying objects from Ed. One could never be too careful around kids after all. The light assaulted his senses and he squinted at its intrusion into his dark world. It was in that moment that two things came to him.

One, nothing was flying towards him.

And two, a memory skirted his consciousness.

Something forgotten until now… a brief hint of gold around the woman's neck. Spike closed his eyes again and focused his mind on remember the object. It was a locket, he was fairly certain. Great, he thought. Not only were half the population women, a good bit of them were known to wear jewelry too. A useless detail if ever there was one. Not unless he could remember what the locket specifically looked like and he was too tired to really care right now. Maybe a short rest while it was peaceful would help.

With another sigh Spike settled himself back down into the couch at about the same time Ed came barreling into the main room.

"Ed found it!!" the cat-like girl yelled with joy and presented the object with a flourish.

"So much for that idea," Spike mumbled and sat back up.

Ed went about whatever she was doing, but did it right in the same room and Spike knew there would be no sleep with her out here. So instead, Spike looked back down at the computer sitting in front of him.

"Jet-person said to find it and Edward did!" she laughed.

Spike looked over at the red head hunched over something and just shook his head. He watched as Ein picked up something small in his mouth and started to carry it away.

"No Ein-Ein that belongs to the Jet-person too too!" Ed said chasing after the data dog.

Belongs to… that was familiar.

"Bernard doesn't belong to you."

Words to go with the voice…

On impulse the bounty hunter brought up Bernard Larson on the computer.

"Lets see," Spike read out loud, "age 32, height, yeah, yeah, yeah… siblings, here we go. Sister… deceased? Hmm… there goes that idea."

Isabelle Larson. Died: 2065 A.D. June. 03. Cause: Natural Causes.

Natural causes at 17?

Just out of curiosity Spike pulled up a picture of the sister and nearly fell off the couch.

The picture was that of a young girl with shoulder length brown hair and delicate features, but there was no mistaking those stormy gray eyes. Eyes that he would never forget.

So, the big question was… how did a supposedly dead woman come to the aid of her extortionist brother? Or more importantly, was he just going crazy?

"Well," Spike though out loud again, "I guess there's only one thing to do."

Spike got up from the couch stiffly, aware of the pain in his not yet healed back, and went to change into a bit more appropriate attire for leaving the Bebop. He was either going to prove that that woman existed or that he had finally lost what grip on reality he had.

Jet walked through the rotating walkway toward the main meeting room of his ship. He was in high spirits for the mean time after his meeting with a source. You never know, he told himself, maybe Faye had returned with the side bounty on her way back from the races, or maybe even Spike had had some luck looking through the pictures.

Jet ducked through the doorway and stepped onto the platform…

To be greeted by the site of no one.

Well, there was someone there. Ed was curled up around the table asleep and Ein was lying close by. Already he could feel his good mood slipping away. This means that Faye hadn't returned yet. And where was Spike? He was supposed to be searching through profiles! Jet calmed himself as he descended the stairs. There still might be hope for Faye not messing this one up and perhaps Spike was resting. Actually, Jet hoped he was. Spike had only gotten up and around today and he knew quite well his partner's tendency to push himself. He could use all the rest he could get until that wound healed.

Jet let his mind wonder as he walked towards Spike's room. He hated to admit it, but that had been a close one, close enough to worry him. Spike couldn't keep doing this. Even if he didn't have any self-appreciation, there were others that worried about him.

Jet stepped up to Spike's door and listened. It was quiet inside from what he could hear. Maybe he was asleep after all. Good, Jet thought. He started to walk away from the door when he got a gut instinct. Nah, it couldn't be, he tried to tell himself. But his gut was hardly ever wrong in the past. Jet walked back to the door and knocked lightly. No answer. He knocked again louder and still no answer. Getting irritated Jet opened the door.

There was no one in the room.

"Now where could he be?" Jet thought out loud.

Jet immediately went to where the ships usually docked. Just as he suspected, the Swordfish was gone. He smacked himself in the head in frustration for not noticing it was gone when he came back. Growling a bit in frustration Jet went back to the common room.

"Ed! Wake up!"

Ed turned sleepy, half lidded eyes up to Jet as he came down the stairs.

"Uh?" was all she could manage.

"Did you see Spike leave?"

"Spike-person left awhile ago," Ed said sleepily.

"Did he say where he was going like that?!"

"To chase a dream…" Ed mumbled before going back to sleep.

Now it was Jet's turn to go "uh?"

To chase a dream? What was that idiot thinking?

"Fine, I don't care! If he wants to get himself killed so badly than that's his business," Jet fumed, instinctively on his way to his bonsais.

Faye heaved a sigh and threw her tickets into the garbage bin.

"Oh well, it's all a game of luck anyway, you can't win them all."

Out of money to bet anymore on the dog races she exited the building. It was midday and the sun gleamed down brightly at her. Faye pulled out her sunglasses, from who knows where, and lit a cigarette as well. Now for the quick side stop, she thought.

Faye crossed the street and walked towards the ship landing area and the Redtail. Before she could climb into the ship, however, a familiar form caught her eye. Faye blinked a few times just to make sure, but the figure didn't disappear. There, crossing the street and heading downtown was Spike. What was he doing up already?! The blockhead. Jet was going to be so angry.

Faye jumped down from the ship and headed after Spike. She kept her distance and followed him through the crowded streets. Where the hell was he going? After following him a few blocks she saw him disappear. He must have gone down a side street. Faye rushed through the throng of people to catch up and skidded to a halt once she turned the corner.

"If you wanted to know where I was going, you could have asked," Spike said coolly.

The bounty hunter was leaning lazily against the building wall waiting for her.

"And would you really have told me?" Faye asked.

Spike cracked a small smile at the dark-haired woman and she knew he wasn't going to answer that, one way or the other.

"Well, I hope it's important, you shouldn't be up, you know?" Faye said crossing her arms.

"Faye, you're starting to sound like Jet."

"Well at least he has more sense than you," she answered easily.

"Like you're one to…"

Spike's sentence died off when something caught his attention. A sheen of red mingled with brown flowing around the shoulders of a woman. His mind quickly registered that it could be anyone with that color hair, but then she subtly turned her head to the side and he saw her.

"Spike?" Faye asked confused at what was happening.

"That's her!" Spike yelled before taking off out of the alley.

"Spike? Spike!" Faye yelled and took off after the man.

Spike had obviously lost what mind he had; Faye decided, pushing through the people to keep up with the lanky man.

For every jolt he received running into a person, a sharp pain flared from Spike's head all the way down to his feet. He clenched his jaw hard to keep from groaning in pain. The short sprint was tiring him quickly and his legs began to feel like led weights, but he was gaining on her. He could see her image getting closer and for a brief moment, time seemed to slow down and she turned her head to the side. Stormy gray eyes meet with deep brown ones. Those eyes were the same; there was no mistaking it. They held recognition for him as well. Did she know he would show up?

The moment was broken when Spike ran head on into a man and practically doubled over in pain. Spike's reaction surprised the man and he reached out to steady the other. After sucking in a breath Spike merely pushed the guy out of the way and looked up. She was gone! She must have gone down an alley, Spike thought.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Faye yelled finally catching up.

"Damn it, she can't get away that easily," Spike cursed and took off for the closest alley near where she disappeared.

Faye clenched her fists and growled out loud. This was becoming ridiculous! She thought as she followed. She should have stayed at the races, at least then she wouldn't be in one!

Spike cleared the crowd and stepped into the dark, empty alley panting from the spent energy that he didn't have, and from the pain in his jostled wound. He put one hand against a building wall and leaned on it as he caught his breath. She had to have come down here; there was no other explanation.

"Where did she go?" Spike thought out lout.

"Where did who go?"

Spike turned his head and looked at Faye as if it finally registered that she was still following him. The motion didn't stop there for the man, though, as Faye's image seemed to want to keep going spinning around. Before the bounty hunter's mind knew what was going on, Spike found himself sliding down the cold, hard wall to the ground. Spike let himself slide to a sitting position and rested his head in his hands to block out the spinning scenery until his head calmed down.

He felt a surprising gentle touch on his shoulder and looked up to see Faye crouched beside him. He barely believed his eyes when he saw the open worry in hers. Faye never was the tender type.

Faye admitted to herself that she was worried. Spike was the most annoying person she knew, but they were comrades, right? And she could tell that he had just exhausted himself, the lack of color to his complexion couldn't be hid.

"You shouldn't be running around yet," she restated quietly.

Spike gave her a ghost of a smile. It was one of their rare moments of understanding, and he actually thought of telling Faye whom he had seen. It was likely she would find out anyway, she had this annoying knack for getting in the middle of Jet and his bounties somehow.

"Isabelle Larson," Spike said suddenly.

"What? Who is she?" Faye asked confused.

"The woman I just saw, Larson's sister, it was her, it had to have been. And it was her in the alley the day I almost had Larson."

"Oh," was all Faye could think to say.

She was a little to shell shocked that Spike had opened up to who he was after, for her to say anything else, but she regained her composure quickly. Just in time for her to break the quiet moment.

"Well, if you found out who it was, why didn't you have Jet come after her, you block head? You are still healing, if you haven't forgotten?!"

Faye was surprised again when Spike didn't retort like usual. Instead he remained quiet and stared at the ground.

"Forget about it," Spike finally answered.

With a sighed he slowly raised to his feet once again with a still confused Faye staring at him. What was going on? What had gotten into him?

"Come on, you should go back and rest for a while" she said as they exited the alley.

More of, what had gotten into her? Chasing around after the frustrating man and now this mothering, it was embarrassing and she wanted nothing more than to be away from him as soon as possible.

The two walked in silence back towards the ships, each caught up in their own thoughts. Faye's thoughts were interrupted when someone bumped into her. The man said a mumbled apology and quickly moved on before Faye could react. Her eyes narrowed and she turned to give the guy a piece of her mind, and then froze with her eyes going wide.

Spike looked up and gave Faye a have you lost your mind look.

"What?" he asked.

"I don't believe it!" Faye said beaming.

In the confusion Faye had totally forgot about the side trip she was supposed to make. A quick pick up of a wanted hacker, and now of all the luck, right there he was! Calmly walking away from her, right after bumping into her. She didn't even have to look for the guy. She took it as a sign that her luck had improved since this morning.

"Head on back to the Bebop, I've just got a quick matter to settle," she said quickly to Spike.

"You're mine now," she thought out loud and for the second time that day, started pushing though the crowded streets racing after someone.

This would be a more profitable race than the two this morning, she was sure.

Caught up in trying to catch up, Faye never saw two very important things. One, that she wasn't alone in her chase as she hoped to be, and two, that the man she was chasing was smiling…

TBC…
A/N: I apologize again for the agonizingly long wait. Out of all the genres I write in, I find Cowboy Bebop to be the hardest of them all. As you can guess, the action is about to pick up again in the next chapter.
Niani – Thanks! And welcome to the story! I'm glad you like it, and I'm glad I don't write romances either. P

Bebopnangel – Thanks, I try to put a lot of effort into keeping characters in character, unless there is a god reason for it. Welcome to the story and I hope you like it!

Skye Dragon – Well thank you! Haha, now if I told you why Larson said that, it wouldn't keep the suspense now would it? Hehe. And don't worry; you can poke at Larson all you want.

NeptuneHelena – Wow, it's a little odd writing that name now! Thanks for pointing that out, btw. Hehe, that's what happens when you write things during the night because you have no time during the day. Hope you liked Hiraki!

ShinyFairyLights – Haha, thanks, you too! And now we know there are at least two of us, ne? Well, if she's already making you mad then I've done my job! Hehe, and that was an amusing scene to write. Glad you liked! And I have missed ya around myO!

Aurus – Haha, of course no one in THAT would stalk anyone, right? Looks innocent Yeah, I have seen them use the devices. And yes, it 'tis a good thing!

AnonymousTrigunOtaku – Thanks again, you're such a sweetie. It's been quite a while since I've talked to you, hope you're doing well.

Red Tigress – Yeah, I bet you were especially now that you know how slow I am! P Haha, and you are right, you're rather nice in your reviews. Well, I didn't get a chance to post it last night, but here it is now!