Cursed
Chapter 5 pt. 1: Our Greatest Mistakes
Jet Black stood at the railing of Dock 6, his fingers loosely draped on the wet railing before him. There was a time when Jet would have been elated for this meeting; a time when he would have jumped at this chance no matter the circumstances that surrounded it. That was a time long ago, when he was known as the Black Dog by most of ISSP and a time when Helena Winters was his heart's desire.
Those were memories of a time long ago, a time when Jet's heart hadn't been closed off by the harsh ways of the world. Strange to think that his comrades on the Bebop would laugh out loud to hear him think that way. To think of Jet Black as closed off in the heart department was blaspheme. He was the man who let three free-loaders (four if you counted the dog) live on his ship, and bring him nothing but trouble. The truly strange thing was that those free-loaders were the only things in his heart now, the only things he would make room for.
Other things, things like Helena Winters, had lost their appeal long ago. Those things were mistakes to anyone who lived life the way he did, the way any of them did. Those things were mistakes never to be made again.
So, Jet thought as he watched the ship approach from the distant horizon, why exactly was he standing here on this dock? And better yet, why did his stomach feel like it was trying to fly out through his throat?
Simple, because all lessons in life are learned the hard way. Jet lit a cigarette and inhaled the acrid smoke deeply. And in Jet's life, they are learned over and over again.
Spike Spiegel stood at the small dock bar with a cigarette firmly in place between his tightly clamped lips. Beside him Faye stood with a hip to the railing, cigarette held loosely in her own crimson lips, and arms crossed over her chest. Spike smirked slightly at the way her cigarette bounced impatiently on her lips as they waited. Both bounty hunters stood in comfortable silence staring intently at the back of their partner's head.
They had followed him off of the ship, even though he had made it painfully obvious that this was a private meeting. Both Spike and Faye (along with Ed) had at once decided that to let him go without any back up would be a clear mistake and completely against the rules of Bounty Hunter Camaraderie.
They also realized just how difficult it would be to spy on their one and only Mr. Black, considering Ed was pooling all of her resources on locating the next piece to the ECHO.
"Spy is such an ugly word," Faye had said as they stepped off of the Bebop and onto the wet wooden docks this morning. "I like to think of it as keeping an eye on our assets."
Spike had merely laughed. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized just how right Faye had been. They were keeping an eye on their assets, and Jet Black was probably the biggest asset either of them had.
Jet lifted the collar of his jacket slightly as he watched the ISSP class nine cruiser ship slowly decelerate and dock. He swiveled his eyes to watch as Helena Winters stepped easily out of the ship, her dark blue coat whipped at her ankles, and her eyes met his.
Helena Winters was Jet's Julia, at least that's how he rationalized it to himself now, although his obsession was not nearly as dangerous as Spike's. She was beautiful, always had been, and Jet had found himself in love with her from the instant he met her. He was twenty-one when she first walked into his life. They were both new to ISSP, and both head of the class in their respective departments. The only problem with their relationship was that Helena was Internal Affairs, a microscope for the department, and Jet's partner had been the one under the microscope. A few dinners, led quickly to a few more, and even more quickly to bed.
His affair with Helena Winters was short lived, only two years, but it was two years of his life that he would never forget. There was something strange about his attraction to Helena; every time they saw each other they ended up hurting each other. Not that Jet was complaining, considering the path they took to that end was anything but painful.
Jet felt himself smile as he watch Helena step towards him. Her brown hair blew past her face, and as she lifted her hand to remove the hair Jet caught a glimpse of the ring on her finger. His heart fell, though he couldn't really explain why. Or at least he knew he didn't want to.
Helena's hazel eyes shifted to follow his gaze, and she smiled sadly at him as she lowered her hand. "It's been a long time, Jet." She said.
"Years." Jet said back, his cigarette bobbing slightly as his lips barely moved. He turned his body to face her completely, and watched as she came to a quick stop only a foot from him.
Spike watched Jet's body language as the woman approached him. He was stiff as a board, completely uncomfortable. It was a reaction that Spike had never seen the man exhibit, a reaction that he had never expected to see.
"It's weird." Spike said quietly as he took a long drag off of his cigarette. He slowly bent and put his forearms on the railing, relaxing for what looked like a long exchange.
"You mean icky," Faye retorted as she turned and leaned her butt against the railing. She let a slow stream of smoke escape her mouth, and looked over her shoulder at Jet and the woman.
"Yes, because I often think in terms of 'icky'." Spike said sarcastically. He shifted his gaze to catch the nasty look that crossed Faye's face, and then shifted it back. The small dock bar was once again silent, save for the small noises made as the paper of the cigarettes burned slowly down to nothing.
Faye let out a sigh, and turned to lean on the railing beside Spike. She tossed her cigarette out to the water and ran a hand through her hair.
"I know what you mean," she said keeping her eyes on Jet. "It's strange seeing him with someone. He's always..." She stopped and searched for the right words. "I've always thought of him as kind of a priest."
Spike barked out a laugh. "A priest, huh?" He said turning his smiling face towards her beautifully furrowed brow. "You ever run that thought past him?"
"Thinking about Jet and sex hurts my head." She said putting her fingers to her temple. Spike let out another laugh, smaller than the first and tossed his cigarette out at the water. He watched as Jet and the woman began to talk. They were too far away to hear what exactly was being said, but not too far to miss the way Jet's hands remained in fists at his sides.
"I've known him for about six years now," Spike began staring at Jet's hands. "Six years, and he's never once discussed women with me." At this Faye turned her head to look at Spike.
It was strange to hear Spike talk this way about Jet. Strange to hear that the two men did not share everything that was on their minds, as Faye had felt they did. For the past three (closer to four now that she thought about it) years that Faye had know these two men, she had always felt a bit out of the loop. Hearing the strange tone in Spike's voice at this moment made her think twice about that previous assessment. The fact that she and Spike were probably closer than she ever believed the two men to be, sent a small shiver of unease down her spine. Faye, being Faye, decided that shiver needed to be doused with crude, easy humor.
"Oh come on," she said smiling. "I've walked in on a few of those testosterone filled, beer drenched conversations."
"All men talk shop, Faye." Spike said simply, emphasizing the word 'shop' with a quick fading smirk. "Not all men talk love. There's a big difference. And Jet Black has never once talked love with me."
"Huh," Faye said, or rather practically grumbled. That stupid shiver was back, and the lunkhead was not letting it be put to rest.
"Not even the one we had a run in with." Spike continued solemnly, his eyes narrowing further on the two figures in the not far off distance. "What was her name...Alice, Alicia, something like that. Never once. It's almost like he's shut off that part of himself."
"Or maybe someone shut it off for him," Faye said turning her eyes to Jet and the woman on the dock, for now forgetting her little shiver. "Maybe her." She pointed a finger and then looked at the water. Spike's eyes were on the side of Faye's face, trying to see through the veil of her hair. Sometimes he wished she still wore that stupid headband, so he could see her face all the time. "Women can do that you know, they can shut someone off completely. Only certain ones though, you know." Faye continued and turned her face to Spike. The eye contact was brief, but heavy, and Spike was the one to look away this time.
"Yeah." He said simply. He turned his head back just in time to catch Jet looking directly at them. He stood up straight and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Uh oh."
"Great assessment of the situation as always, Lunkhead." Faye grumbled as she too stood up and held her black sweater firmly to her body.
"I'm sorry about Vic." Helena said. She was just as self assured as Jet remembered her to be. She didn't lower her head when she gave her condolences, instead she kept direct eye contact. She was watching him, watching for his reaction. She was a cop to the core, and that was probably what Jet found the most attractive about her; the thing that made him love her.
"I didn't kill him." Jet said steadily, the cigarette bouncing roughly. Helena stared at him a few seconds longer, and finally nodded her head slowly. Now her eyes dropped, to the ground, and her right hand fiddled with the ring on her left.
"I know." She said. "Jet---". She let out a disgruntled breath and smiled up at him shaking her head. "Why the hell is this hard? It's never been hard before."
"It's never been official before." Jet said.
"It's not official now," Helena said angrily. "I'm here because I'm your friend. I'm worried."
"You're after Frankie Tang." Jet said firmly, tossing the dwindling butt to the water. "That's why you're here, Helena. I don't blame you. If I was in your position I would be doing the same thing."
"You're an asshole." Helena said quickly. "You're getting in over your head, and I'm here to help." She shoved her hands into her pockets. "Jet, I know you met with Healy before he was killed. You're the last person to see him alive. So I know damn well, that you would be here if our positions were switched. I also know that you would be just as straight- forward about the situation as I'm going to be. So drop the tough, Black Dog persona, because it doesn't work with me."
Jet stood firm, and let the wind whip at his jacket. She was right. Damn it.
"Why did you meet with Healy?" Helena asked.
"I like to keep in touch, he's a good friend." Jet said simply, as he placed his hands into his pockets. It was his casual pose, his easy going, 'I'm not lying officer' pose. It was unbeatable.
"I was a good friend, but you never looked me up once when you stopped here." Helena said softly. And there it was, those little bells in her voice that totally destroyed his composure. The pose had been beaten by damn bells that weren't even there. "Want to try again?"
"I met him for lunch and then we went to his shop. He was looking at a few things for me."
"What kind of things?"
"Computer things." Jet said simply. "My ship's computer has been acting a bit weird."
"You're a bad liar, Black. Always were." Helena smiled at him, and his fists clenched in his jacket pockets. She stepped a bit closer, and leaned towards him. "Let me ask you a question you don't have to lie about." Jet raised a brow at her, and then watched as her smile fell. "Do you really not trust me? I mean, did you really think I would do something to you? The bodyguards are a bit much."
Jet's gaze shifted quickly from her face to the dynamic duo on the dock not far off. He smiled slightly and rolled his eyes. "They're nosy, not bodyguards. They followed me from the ship, and I didn't have the energy to yell at them."
"Partners?" Helena asked amusedly. Jet nodded, turning to face the two figures casually leaning on the railing of the small bar. "They're obviously good ones. Good friends. It would be terrible if something happened to them."
"Threats never did suit you, Helena." Jet said simply as he lifted a hand and beckoned Spike and Faye towards him.
"I'm not threatening them, Jet, you are." Helena watched as the lanky man, and the slender woman walked slowly towards them. Jet turned an angry, and slightly confused glare to her and she inwardly winced. He'd fixed her with glares before; the type of relationship they maintained over the years called for it. But this glare spoke volumes, it spoke to the deep feelings he had for these two people. She cleared her throat and maintained her eye contact. "Whatever the hell you are getting yourself into with Frankie Tang is threatening them, Jet. If you don't realize that, if Vic Healy's death hasn't opened your eyes up to that, then they are as good as dead."
"They can take care of themselves." Jet said turning away from her and walking away. The cold breeze that blew on her face as he turned served as all the slap to the face he was holding in. Helena moved slowly to catch up with Jet's retreating form, and she came to a stop slightly away from the three of them. Her eyes locked on the form of the young woman. She was beautiful, and obviously important to Jet from his reactions to her statements, and Helena found herself wondering as to what kind of relationship the woman shared with Jet.
"I thought I told you two to stay put," Jet grumbled, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket.
"Did you?" Faye asked feigning surprise. As they walked over she and Spike had discussed how best to handle the on-coming questions. They had both decided that Jet would simply not understand the 'looking out for our assets' thing. So they had decided that ignorance was the next best thing.
"Don't be stupid, Faye." Jet said rolling his eyes. "I told you two to stay put, and I meant it. This doesn't involve you."
"What involves one of us, involves all of us." Spike said simply.
"Bullshit." Jet barked back. "You are the last person allowed to say that kind of thing, Spike."
"I have to agree on that one, puff-head." Faye added. "That was pretty dumb coming from you."
Spike opened his mouth to say something back, but Jet put up his hands, sparing a quick glance back at Helena who was standing silently behind them. "All right, before you two start with the damn bickering, just shut up." He put down his hands and made eye contact with both of his partners, but lingering on Spike. "Spike, why don't you two head back and check on that list that Ed is making. I don't know how long this is going to take, could be all day. You two go out and get what we need, so that we are ready to take off when I get back."
Spike stared at Jet, his face stone serious as his eyes shifted to the woman with the brown hair behind them. Slowly he began to nod his head, placing his hands into his jacket pockets. Faye raised a slender brow slowly, realizing that Jet was willingly sending them to pick up the third piece to the key on their own. She swiveled her eyes to the pretty brunette behind Jet.
"What no introductions?" Faye asked amusedly.
"No." Jet barked out, more irritated than angry.
"Call us if you need us." Spike said taking Faye by the elbow and beginning to drag her away from Jet and his woman. "We'll get what we need."
Spike dragged Faye along a bit, before she finally wiggled out of his grip. As they walked, she turned her head and looked over her shoulders to see Jet turn rigidly back to the woman from ISSP. She stared at the woman, a straight-faced and obviously life-time member of the 'good side' of the law. Faye's eyes narrowed a bit, but then a smile snuck its way slowly onto her face. "At least she isn't blonde," Faye mumbled.
"What?" Spike said furrowing his brow and turning his head to glare at Faye.
"Nothing." Faye said still staring at Jet and the woman as they began to make their way down the docks. "Nothing at all, Spike."
"You want to try the truth now?" Helena said as she slowly sipped on her glass of water. "I mean, I think I've taken the bullshit with a patience that befits a saint."
Jet smirked slightly at Helena across the table from him, and interlaced his hands on top of the table. They had been spent the entire day together, and as the sun set on the Docks of Ganymede they had finally settled in for a light dinner and a no-name diner. After Jet had sent Faye and Spike on their merry way, no doubt to wreak havoc in many different and inventive ways, Helena had tried a new tact. Jet had been chuckling the whole time, as she tried her 'let's just be friends and talk about what's been going on' line of questioning.
They had talked about everything. Jet had explained the strange relationship between him and his crazy crew. And Helena had explained about her life, and the gold wedding band sitting uncomfortably on her left hand. They had both left out things; Jet about the ECHO, and Helena about her husband. Now, hours later, they were past the awkwardness that had been in the air when they first saw each other, and like all the other times they had seen each other in the past had moved easily into comfort.
This was step one on the way to a big mistake, but Jet didn't care.
"I've told you the truth." Jet said still smiling. "Do you still like your sandwiches on rye bread?" Jet asked eyeing the menu.
"You're being difficult." Helena said, but she was smiling. Jet smirked at her as he looked up from the menu. "Yes." She said rolling her eyes.
"Some things never change." Jet said shaking his head.
"And some things do." Helena said. "Jet, I'm only trying to help."
"You keep saying that." Jet said setting the menu down. "How many years have you been after Tang now? Six? Seven?" Jet looked up at her and smiled sadly. "I'm pretty sure the last time we talked you mentioned it. You were looking into some reports that cops were hiding evidence for him, right?"
"You remember that?" Helena said a bit surprised. "I would have thought.--- "
"I remember every conversation we've ever had, Helena." Jet responded, lowering his head. He was embarrassed, that was something new. "So you've been after Tang for seven years right? And you've managed to stay alive. So why are you worrying about me. I'm not that old."
"No, you're not," Helena said smiling. "Not at all." The two of them locked gazes over the table, and neither had the will to break it. "But I'm worried just the same."
"Why?"
"I'll play Jet, but not alone." Helena said leaning forward a bit, her expression going serious. Jet nodded his head slightly, and then held out a hand for her to continue. Jet Black was a firm believer in the 'lady's first' area. "I've been watching Tang's movement's for the past seven years, and over those years he's been expanding his business. The man is insane Jet, and it's just becoming evident in the last five years. He's obsessed with some stupid old legend, the ECHO." Jet's brows raised slightly at the mention of the ship and the action did not go unnoticed by Helena.
"Obsessed how?" Jet asked.
"Obsessed like he's killed ten people in the last year alone because they couldn't get what he wanted." Helena shot back. "Obsessed like, he probably killed Vic Healy for that same reason." Helena leaned forward and took his hand. "Jet, they tortured him. Healy was shot six times, none of them truly the cause of his death. They chopped off two fingers, and took out an eye. They finished him off by jamming a screwdriver down his throat."
"Jesus," Jet said in a harsh whisper snatching his hand away from her and standing up. He had to get out of there, suddenly he needed some air. "Damn you." He hissed as he left the bar, his stomach began to clench and as the cool air of evening hit his face, he thought he would throw up.
Vic Healy's death was his fault, it was something that would weigh on his soul for the rest of his life. However long that would be. He ran his metallic hand down his sweaty face, and clenched his hands tightly around the wet railing. Hearing the extent to which Tang had taken the murder of Healy was horrifying. The thought of the torture, just proved how insane Tang was, and proved how far the man was going to take this. As Jet stared at the waters below him, he finally realized that perhaps he had bitten off more than he could chew. He also realized that he wasn't the only one in trouble.
"You always did take everything onto your shoulders." Helena said as she walked came up beside him, and stared down at the dark waters. She watched as the yellow light from the above street lamp reflected in the water slightly distorted their own reflections in the water. "It's one of the things that I loved about you."
Jet's eyes remained on the water, but his heart had skipped completely out of his chest. He felt her warm hand land on his, and he heard the damn bells in her voice as she spoke again.
"You can't blame yourself, Jet. Tang would have killed him eventually anyway." Helena squeezed his hand slightly. "Tang had contacted Healy earlier about the ECHO mystery, and Healy had come up with nothing. Tang didn't like that, he had offered Healy a second chance, and Healy graciously declined." She lightly pulled at his hand and turned him to look at her. "Jet, you didn't kill him."
"I sped it up rather nicely." Jet said looking away from her inviting gaze.
"Talk to me, Jet. Tell me what you're looking for. Let me help you." Helena stepped into him a bit, and tightened her grip on his hand. "Jet, I'm not your enemy. I could never be your enemy. I love you too much."
Jet's eyes snapped to hers, those beautiful and intelligent hazel orbs staring deep into his heart. She stared up at him, and he could feel that tightening in his stomach again, only this time he recognized exactly what the feeling was. And that was a feeling he thought he put a stop to a long time ago. Slowly Jet lowered his head and kissed her.
Step two on the road to a great mistake, had been achieved.
It had taken Ed all day to figure out where the third piece to the ECHO key was hiding. After four hours of trying to pin point the exact location, and sending Spike and Faye on six different outings to find nothing, Ed finally discovered the problem. Each piece of the puzzle led to the other piece.
"So Ed, who was using the first piece she had been given to locate the others, was doing it all wrong." Ed explained to Spike and Faye nearly an hour ago. "The first piece led to the second piece, the one Ed stole from the bad man. But that was it." At this point Spike and Faye had exchanged annoyed glances but remained silent. "The other dots Ed saw were merely reflections of the second piece. It seems as though the great and powerful men who designed the ECHO key's internal mapping system also created a simple way to confuse would be treasure seekers. Ed is very impressed."
Spike and Faye rolled their eyes at this but again remained silent. With Jet MIA they were trying very hard to maintain their cool 'we're adults and can handle things' exterior. This was something very hard to do with Edward around.
"So, to find the third piece Ed must hook up the second piece and decrypt the codes in that one. Very hard to do. Very hard. The encryption gets more difficult. But Edward can do it! It will just take some time."
And time was what they had. They had all the time in the world, or so it would seem. Spike had convinced Faye that it would be best to stay on board until Ed figured out where the next piece was. That way they wouldn't be targets for Tang's men.
Both of them were worried about Jet, even Ed had voiced a bit of unease at his being gone all day, but they knew Jet could take care of himself. Plus, they both silently agreed that who ever this woman was, Jet needed to spend some time with her. It had been in the air around them at the docks that morning. Jet's past was something he kept pretty close to himself, that was one of the reasons he fit in so well with the rest of them on this ship. So Spike and Faye had decided to let the old man go, this was his adventure as much as it was theirs, so he deserved a bit of the story.
Through out the day, Spike and Faye had pretty much maintained a big buffer zone between them. They didn't linger in the same room for too long, and while they did occupy the same space the didn't really talk. There wasn't really much to say to one another. Neither of them could work up the nerve to discuss what was left unfinished between them, and probably never would. Once or twice they would discuss where they thought Jet was, or if they thought he was okay. And only once did Faye ask about the Blue Port, to which Spike had responded with nothing but silence. Other than those simple minute long conversations, they said nothing, and simply sat in silence.
It was that same comfortable silence that they had grown into during their last adventure. A silence that had not existed during the early months of their working together. But it was a bit different now, that comfortable feeling was not as long lived as it had been. In fact, it was easily done away with whenever they would lock eyes. It was that point when Faye would usually leave the room, and Spike would angrily glare at his ceiling fan.
It was well-past eight o'clock at night when Ed finally got a lock on the third piece, and the duo now found themselves walking the darkened docks of Ganymede on yet another search. Jet had not checked in, and to say that they weren't a bit apprehensive was a lie, but they dealt with it in stride. 'He's a big boy', was there mantra as they walked.
Spike walked with his shoulders hunched, and his hands deep into his pockets listening as Faye talked with Ed on the comm.
"Are you sure about this one Ed," Faye said the annoyance clear in her voice. "Because if this is another dead end, I'm going to wring your little neck when we get back."
"Ed is positive, Faye-Faye." Ed said her excited tone muffled a bit by the static on the line.
"Good." Spike mumbled.
"Ed still thinks she should have been able to come along." Ed's disappointment was evident. Faye smiled as she could envision the pout on the teenager's expressive face.
"Sorry, kid, you heard the big guy." Faye said giving a sideways smirk to Spike beside her. "Jet says your grounded, so that's that. Maybe next time."
"Yay! Ed gets to go on the next treasure hunt, with captain Faye-Faye!" Ed's sing-song voice brought a smile to both Spike and Faye's faces as Faye cut the line.
"You got her hopes up, you're going to have to deal with it." Spike said simply, watching as Faye shoved the comm. back into her pocket. She waved him off and rolled her eyes as they continued their stroll down the dark docks.
"I still think we're heading the wrong way." Faye said after a few moments of silence. She crossed her arms over her chest, and let her eyes survey the area. Spike watched her eyes move, and the respect he had for her abilities as a bounty hunter were reassured. Over the years Faye had developed a keen sense of her surroundings, and she had become a formidable bounty hunter and a great partner. He watched as her hand slid over the fabric of her black sweater, right where her guns were hidden. She was on edge.
"Relax." Spike said simply. Faye's eyes snapped to him, and she stared at the side of his face. They walked in silence for the next five minutes, until finally Faye couldn't handle it anymore.
"So, you never answered my question before. About the Blue Port." Faye began nonchalantly. She glanced over at Spike and noticed a small almost imperceptible smirk on his lips, lit by his lighter as he lit his cigarette. "So, Jet kept it for me, that much is clear. The question is, why?"
"Maybe you should ask Jet." Spike responded quietly. This was the second time today that she had resorted to this subject as a way to alleviate the tension in the air around them. And honestly he didn't want to deal with it.
"Huh," Faye said eyeing him. "Maybe I will." She turned her eyes forward, and let the silence settle around them again. She hated the comfort of their silences. She hated the fact that they knew each other so well, that they didn't even need to signal when to stop or turn, or discuss bringing back up weapons, or even really make plans anymore. She hated the fact that they could read each other like children's books, and it didn't help their volatile relationship. They were made to clash, it was that simple.
The silence hung this time for fifteen minutes, and this time it was Spike who broke down. He walked beside her watching as her eyes shifted around the area, watching as she would scoot slightly away from him if they happened to venture near the vicinity of one another. He watched as she would constantly feign interest in her nails, and do other obvious moves to try and prove to him that she wasn't completely uncomfortable walking with him. This damn apprehension in her was infuriating.
"Why are you here, Faye?" He asked, his eyes not leaving the wet wood below his feet. When she didn't answer, he looked up at her and found her staring at him in disbelief. She had stopped walking, and was simply looking at him in shock. He'd surprised her, he felt the smirk come to his lips unbidden. As Faye saw the smirk, she shook her head and her shock was covered with annoyance.
"I think we already went over this, Lunkhead." Faye began walking again and caught up with him, and then past him. "Remember Ship of Gold. Treasure. I think you're getting senile in your old age."
"You know what I'm talking about, Faye." Spike said quietly, his voice a gruff whisper as he moved into step beside her once again. Faye looked at him from the corner of her eye. "I can see it, Jet can see it, hell I'm sure even Ed and the dog can see it. You don't want to be here. You're uncomfortable, jittery as hell on the ship; you're not yourself." He paused and looked her in the eye. "So I'm asking you, as a partner, as someone who depends on you for back up, as a friend, though I use the term lightly. Why the hell are you here? Why are you standing on this dock, walking with me? Why did you come back to the Bebop? Why are you here with us, why are you here with me, when I know that all you've wanted to do since you stepped foot on board is run away again."
Faye stopped walking again, and stared into Spike's eyes. They stood there on the dock, trying to read each other for what seemed like hours, but was really only seconds. Faye tried to figure out where all this was coming from, she tried to figure out what the hell he was so upset about. And oh, he was upset. She could see it as clear as day. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, no matter how even a tone his voice had maintained through out his little questioning, she could hear that little bit of anger boiling just below the surface. But why? She finally gave up and answered in the only way she could.
"I don't know."
There was another pause, not a long one, but an essential one. At the same instant they both began to walk at an even slower pace towards their destination.
"You don't have to be, not if you don't want to." Spike said evenly as they walked.
"Maybe I should want to." Faye said quietly. The sound of her voice caused Spike to look at her. "Maybe that's why." She stared at the ground as she said it, even though she could feel his gaze on the side of her face. She resisted the urge to look at him, and instead looked the buildings in the far off distance. "Why do you care?"
Spike turned his gaze to the front as well, and let out an exasperated sigh. He ran his hand through his unruly mop and answered the only way he knew how. "I don't know."
They walked a few more steps in silence, and then Spike heard it. Her voice seemed to come from inside his own head. It was nothing but a whisper, and barely that, but he heard it as clearly as if she had yelled it.
"You don't have to," she began quietly, almost reluctantly. "Not if you don't want to."
That was it. That was the first step on the road to destruction. He knew the second he asked the question, that this whole conversation was a big mistake.
They walked the rest of the way towards the location of the third key, in complete silence. The location turned out to be a small floating warehouse in the middle of the water. Men in worker uniforms and some in suits and ties were walking in and out, and the lights were all on.
"Pretty busy for after hours." Spike said, looking through a pair of binoculars. He handed them over to Faye.
"A little too busy, cowboy." Faye said looking through the binoculars. "Those guys look like the one's that were chasing Ed and me. And they're packing some serious heat. But if you're up for it."
"No, it's too risky." Spike said taking the binoculars back and scooping the place out. "We'll head back to the ship, and then see what Jet wants to do. I'm thinking we'll need him for this one."
"Aye-aye, Captain." Faye said jokingly. Spike smirked at her and they turned towards home. Oh, how easily we forget our mistakes, especially when they are simple and small.
The greatest mistakes of our lives do not come on all at once. They are built up to, planned in a sense by the fates that dictate our lives. People are given warning, they are shown the signs and the steps necessary to make them, and it is up to the people to either heed the warnings or ignore them.
As Jet sat in the small chair by the bedside staring out at the window, he realized for the first time that he was just as much of an idiot as Faye and Spike. Jet inhaled from his cigarette and let his eyes linger on the skyline before him.
The greatest mistakes are the most often repeated. And as Jet turned his gaze from the starlit sky to the bed, he knew that if given even half the chance he would repeat this mistake as many times as the devil would let him.
There in the bed, with the moonlight shining on the white sheet and her skin, lay Helena Winters. Her body was curled on its side, her one arms slung over on to the empty area that he had only recently vacated. Her slender fingers curled into the sheets and the moonlight struck off of the small gold band on her finger.
Jet looked away instantly.
Spike had contacted him ten minutes ago, and informed him of the activity at the location of the third piece. They would need him if they had any chance of getting the piece. He knew what he had to do, he just had to force himself to do it.
Finally Jet, butted out his cigarette on the wall next to the window, and stood up. He retrieved his shirt from the floor and put it on. As he placed his gun in the holster and put on his jacket his eyes strayed to Helena in the bed. He took two slow deliberate steps towards the bed, but stopped mid-third. He closed his eyes and turned back around walking towards the door.
Walking away was the another mistake he was always repeating. Walking away was the only mistake he repeated with Helena that he regretted the second he did it. Walking away was the greatest mistake, it was the mistake that cursed his entire crew.
But, as Jet walked towards the docks and made his way back home, he smiled. With out walking away, there isn't any chance to walk back in.
A long chapter, a long time coming. This one was more just the drama stuff, the characters and the dialogue. Hope you guys enjoy, and keep reading and reviewing. Let me know what you think. Next Chapter 5 pt. 2: Happy Birthday
Chapter 5 pt. 1: Our Greatest Mistakes
Jet Black stood at the railing of Dock 6, his fingers loosely draped on the wet railing before him. There was a time when Jet would have been elated for this meeting; a time when he would have jumped at this chance no matter the circumstances that surrounded it. That was a time long ago, when he was known as the Black Dog by most of ISSP and a time when Helena Winters was his heart's desire.
Those were memories of a time long ago, a time when Jet's heart hadn't been closed off by the harsh ways of the world. Strange to think that his comrades on the Bebop would laugh out loud to hear him think that way. To think of Jet Black as closed off in the heart department was blaspheme. He was the man who let three free-loaders (four if you counted the dog) live on his ship, and bring him nothing but trouble. The truly strange thing was that those free-loaders were the only things in his heart now, the only things he would make room for.
Other things, things like Helena Winters, had lost their appeal long ago. Those things were mistakes to anyone who lived life the way he did, the way any of them did. Those things were mistakes never to be made again.
So, Jet thought as he watched the ship approach from the distant horizon, why exactly was he standing here on this dock? And better yet, why did his stomach feel like it was trying to fly out through his throat?
Simple, because all lessons in life are learned the hard way. Jet lit a cigarette and inhaled the acrid smoke deeply. And in Jet's life, they are learned over and over again.
Spike Spiegel stood at the small dock bar with a cigarette firmly in place between his tightly clamped lips. Beside him Faye stood with a hip to the railing, cigarette held loosely in her own crimson lips, and arms crossed over her chest. Spike smirked slightly at the way her cigarette bounced impatiently on her lips as they waited. Both bounty hunters stood in comfortable silence staring intently at the back of their partner's head.
They had followed him off of the ship, even though he had made it painfully obvious that this was a private meeting. Both Spike and Faye (along with Ed) had at once decided that to let him go without any back up would be a clear mistake and completely against the rules of Bounty Hunter Camaraderie.
They also realized just how difficult it would be to spy on their one and only Mr. Black, considering Ed was pooling all of her resources on locating the next piece to the ECHO.
"Spy is such an ugly word," Faye had said as they stepped off of the Bebop and onto the wet wooden docks this morning. "I like to think of it as keeping an eye on our assets."
Spike had merely laughed. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized just how right Faye had been. They were keeping an eye on their assets, and Jet Black was probably the biggest asset either of them had.
Jet lifted the collar of his jacket slightly as he watched the ISSP class nine cruiser ship slowly decelerate and dock. He swiveled his eyes to watch as Helena Winters stepped easily out of the ship, her dark blue coat whipped at her ankles, and her eyes met his.
Helena Winters was Jet's Julia, at least that's how he rationalized it to himself now, although his obsession was not nearly as dangerous as Spike's. She was beautiful, always had been, and Jet had found himself in love with her from the instant he met her. He was twenty-one when she first walked into his life. They were both new to ISSP, and both head of the class in their respective departments. The only problem with their relationship was that Helena was Internal Affairs, a microscope for the department, and Jet's partner had been the one under the microscope. A few dinners, led quickly to a few more, and even more quickly to bed.
His affair with Helena Winters was short lived, only two years, but it was two years of his life that he would never forget. There was something strange about his attraction to Helena; every time they saw each other they ended up hurting each other. Not that Jet was complaining, considering the path they took to that end was anything but painful.
Jet felt himself smile as he watch Helena step towards him. Her brown hair blew past her face, and as she lifted her hand to remove the hair Jet caught a glimpse of the ring on her finger. His heart fell, though he couldn't really explain why. Or at least he knew he didn't want to.
Helena's hazel eyes shifted to follow his gaze, and she smiled sadly at him as she lowered her hand. "It's been a long time, Jet." She said.
"Years." Jet said back, his cigarette bobbing slightly as his lips barely moved. He turned his body to face her completely, and watched as she came to a quick stop only a foot from him.
Spike watched Jet's body language as the woman approached him. He was stiff as a board, completely uncomfortable. It was a reaction that Spike had never seen the man exhibit, a reaction that he had never expected to see.
"It's weird." Spike said quietly as he took a long drag off of his cigarette. He slowly bent and put his forearms on the railing, relaxing for what looked like a long exchange.
"You mean icky," Faye retorted as she turned and leaned her butt against the railing. She let a slow stream of smoke escape her mouth, and looked over her shoulder at Jet and the woman.
"Yes, because I often think in terms of 'icky'." Spike said sarcastically. He shifted his gaze to catch the nasty look that crossed Faye's face, and then shifted it back. The small dock bar was once again silent, save for the small noises made as the paper of the cigarettes burned slowly down to nothing.
Faye let out a sigh, and turned to lean on the railing beside Spike. She tossed her cigarette out to the water and ran a hand through her hair.
"I know what you mean," she said keeping her eyes on Jet. "It's strange seeing him with someone. He's always..." She stopped and searched for the right words. "I've always thought of him as kind of a priest."
Spike barked out a laugh. "A priest, huh?" He said turning his smiling face towards her beautifully furrowed brow. "You ever run that thought past him?"
"Thinking about Jet and sex hurts my head." She said putting her fingers to her temple. Spike let out another laugh, smaller than the first and tossed his cigarette out at the water. He watched as Jet and the woman began to talk. They were too far away to hear what exactly was being said, but not too far to miss the way Jet's hands remained in fists at his sides.
"I've known him for about six years now," Spike began staring at Jet's hands. "Six years, and he's never once discussed women with me." At this Faye turned her head to look at Spike.
It was strange to hear Spike talk this way about Jet. Strange to hear that the two men did not share everything that was on their minds, as Faye had felt they did. For the past three (closer to four now that she thought about it) years that Faye had know these two men, she had always felt a bit out of the loop. Hearing the strange tone in Spike's voice at this moment made her think twice about that previous assessment. The fact that she and Spike were probably closer than she ever believed the two men to be, sent a small shiver of unease down her spine. Faye, being Faye, decided that shiver needed to be doused with crude, easy humor.
"Oh come on," she said smiling. "I've walked in on a few of those testosterone filled, beer drenched conversations."
"All men talk shop, Faye." Spike said simply, emphasizing the word 'shop' with a quick fading smirk. "Not all men talk love. There's a big difference. And Jet Black has never once talked love with me."
"Huh," Faye said, or rather practically grumbled. That stupid shiver was back, and the lunkhead was not letting it be put to rest.
"Not even the one we had a run in with." Spike continued solemnly, his eyes narrowing further on the two figures in the not far off distance. "What was her name...Alice, Alicia, something like that. Never once. It's almost like he's shut off that part of himself."
"Or maybe someone shut it off for him," Faye said turning her eyes to Jet and the woman on the dock, for now forgetting her little shiver. "Maybe her." She pointed a finger and then looked at the water. Spike's eyes were on the side of Faye's face, trying to see through the veil of her hair. Sometimes he wished she still wore that stupid headband, so he could see her face all the time. "Women can do that you know, they can shut someone off completely. Only certain ones though, you know." Faye continued and turned her face to Spike. The eye contact was brief, but heavy, and Spike was the one to look away this time.
"Yeah." He said simply. He turned his head back just in time to catch Jet looking directly at them. He stood up straight and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Uh oh."
"Great assessment of the situation as always, Lunkhead." Faye grumbled as she too stood up and held her black sweater firmly to her body.
"I'm sorry about Vic." Helena said. She was just as self assured as Jet remembered her to be. She didn't lower her head when she gave her condolences, instead she kept direct eye contact. She was watching him, watching for his reaction. She was a cop to the core, and that was probably what Jet found the most attractive about her; the thing that made him love her.
"I didn't kill him." Jet said steadily, the cigarette bouncing roughly. Helena stared at him a few seconds longer, and finally nodded her head slowly. Now her eyes dropped, to the ground, and her right hand fiddled with the ring on her left.
"I know." She said. "Jet---". She let out a disgruntled breath and smiled up at him shaking her head. "Why the hell is this hard? It's never been hard before."
"It's never been official before." Jet said.
"It's not official now," Helena said angrily. "I'm here because I'm your friend. I'm worried."
"You're after Frankie Tang." Jet said firmly, tossing the dwindling butt to the water. "That's why you're here, Helena. I don't blame you. If I was in your position I would be doing the same thing."
"You're an asshole." Helena said quickly. "You're getting in over your head, and I'm here to help." She shoved her hands into her pockets. "Jet, I know you met with Healy before he was killed. You're the last person to see him alive. So I know damn well, that you would be here if our positions were switched. I also know that you would be just as straight- forward about the situation as I'm going to be. So drop the tough, Black Dog persona, because it doesn't work with me."
Jet stood firm, and let the wind whip at his jacket. She was right. Damn it.
"Why did you meet with Healy?" Helena asked.
"I like to keep in touch, he's a good friend." Jet said simply, as he placed his hands into his pockets. It was his casual pose, his easy going, 'I'm not lying officer' pose. It was unbeatable.
"I was a good friend, but you never looked me up once when you stopped here." Helena said softly. And there it was, those little bells in her voice that totally destroyed his composure. The pose had been beaten by damn bells that weren't even there. "Want to try again?"
"I met him for lunch and then we went to his shop. He was looking at a few things for me."
"What kind of things?"
"Computer things." Jet said simply. "My ship's computer has been acting a bit weird."
"You're a bad liar, Black. Always were." Helena smiled at him, and his fists clenched in his jacket pockets. She stepped a bit closer, and leaned towards him. "Let me ask you a question you don't have to lie about." Jet raised a brow at her, and then watched as her smile fell. "Do you really not trust me? I mean, did you really think I would do something to you? The bodyguards are a bit much."
Jet's gaze shifted quickly from her face to the dynamic duo on the dock not far off. He smiled slightly and rolled his eyes. "They're nosy, not bodyguards. They followed me from the ship, and I didn't have the energy to yell at them."
"Partners?" Helena asked amusedly. Jet nodded, turning to face the two figures casually leaning on the railing of the small bar. "They're obviously good ones. Good friends. It would be terrible if something happened to them."
"Threats never did suit you, Helena." Jet said simply as he lifted a hand and beckoned Spike and Faye towards him.
"I'm not threatening them, Jet, you are." Helena watched as the lanky man, and the slender woman walked slowly towards them. Jet turned an angry, and slightly confused glare to her and she inwardly winced. He'd fixed her with glares before; the type of relationship they maintained over the years called for it. But this glare spoke volumes, it spoke to the deep feelings he had for these two people. She cleared her throat and maintained her eye contact. "Whatever the hell you are getting yourself into with Frankie Tang is threatening them, Jet. If you don't realize that, if Vic Healy's death hasn't opened your eyes up to that, then they are as good as dead."
"They can take care of themselves." Jet said turning away from her and walking away. The cold breeze that blew on her face as he turned served as all the slap to the face he was holding in. Helena moved slowly to catch up with Jet's retreating form, and she came to a stop slightly away from the three of them. Her eyes locked on the form of the young woman. She was beautiful, and obviously important to Jet from his reactions to her statements, and Helena found herself wondering as to what kind of relationship the woman shared with Jet.
"I thought I told you two to stay put," Jet grumbled, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket.
"Did you?" Faye asked feigning surprise. As they walked over she and Spike had discussed how best to handle the on-coming questions. They had both decided that Jet would simply not understand the 'looking out for our assets' thing. So they had decided that ignorance was the next best thing.
"Don't be stupid, Faye." Jet said rolling his eyes. "I told you two to stay put, and I meant it. This doesn't involve you."
"What involves one of us, involves all of us." Spike said simply.
"Bullshit." Jet barked back. "You are the last person allowed to say that kind of thing, Spike."
"I have to agree on that one, puff-head." Faye added. "That was pretty dumb coming from you."
Spike opened his mouth to say something back, but Jet put up his hands, sparing a quick glance back at Helena who was standing silently behind them. "All right, before you two start with the damn bickering, just shut up." He put down his hands and made eye contact with both of his partners, but lingering on Spike. "Spike, why don't you two head back and check on that list that Ed is making. I don't know how long this is going to take, could be all day. You two go out and get what we need, so that we are ready to take off when I get back."
Spike stared at Jet, his face stone serious as his eyes shifted to the woman with the brown hair behind them. Slowly he began to nod his head, placing his hands into his jacket pockets. Faye raised a slender brow slowly, realizing that Jet was willingly sending them to pick up the third piece to the key on their own. She swiveled her eyes to the pretty brunette behind Jet.
"What no introductions?" Faye asked amusedly.
"No." Jet barked out, more irritated than angry.
"Call us if you need us." Spike said taking Faye by the elbow and beginning to drag her away from Jet and his woman. "We'll get what we need."
Spike dragged Faye along a bit, before she finally wiggled out of his grip. As they walked, she turned her head and looked over her shoulders to see Jet turn rigidly back to the woman from ISSP. She stared at the woman, a straight-faced and obviously life-time member of the 'good side' of the law. Faye's eyes narrowed a bit, but then a smile snuck its way slowly onto her face. "At least she isn't blonde," Faye mumbled.
"What?" Spike said furrowing his brow and turning his head to glare at Faye.
"Nothing." Faye said still staring at Jet and the woman as they began to make their way down the docks. "Nothing at all, Spike."
"You want to try the truth now?" Helena said as she slowly sipped on her glass of water. "I mean, I think I've taken the bullshit with a patience that befits a saint."
Jet smirked slightly at Helena across the table from him, and interlaced his hands on top of the table. They had been spent the entire day together, and as the sun set on the Docks of Ganymede they had finally settled in for a light dinner and a no-name diner. After Jet had sent Faye and Spike on their merry way, no doubt to wreak havoc in many different and inventive ways, Helena had tried a new tact. Jet had been chuckling the whole time, as she tried her 'let's just be friends and talk about what's been going on' line of questioning.
They had talked about everything. Jet had explained the strange relationship between him and his crazy crew. And Helena had explained about her life, and the gold wedding band sitting uncomfortably on her left hand. They had both left out things; Jet about the ECHO, and Helena about her husband. Now, hours later, they were past the awkwardness that had been in the air when they first saw each other, and like all the other times they had seen each other in the past had moved easily into comfort.
This was step one on the way to a big mistake, but Jet didn't care.
"I've told you the truth." Jet said still smiling. "Do you still like your sandwiches on rye bread?" Jet asked eyeing the menu.
"You're being difficult." Helena said, but she was smiling. Jet smirked at her as he looked up from the menu. "Yes." She said rolling her eyes.
"Some things never change." Jet said shaking his head.
"And some things do." Helena said. "Jet, I'm only trying to help."
"You keep saying that." Jet said setting the menu down. "How many years have you been after Tang now? Six? Seven?" Jet looked up at her and smiled sadly. "I'm pretty sure the last time we talked you mentioned it. You were looking into some reports that cops were hiding evidence for him, right?"
"You remember that?" Helena said a bit surprised. "I would have thought.--- "
"I remember every conversation we've ever had, Helena." Jet responded, lowering his head. He was embarrassed, that was something new. "So you've been after Tang for seven years right? And you've managed to stay alive. So why are you worrying about me. I'm not that old."
"No, you're not," Helena said smiling. "Not at all." The two of them locked gazes over the table, and neither had the will to break it. "But I'm worried just the same."
"Why?"
"I'll play Jet, but not alone." Helena said leaning forward a bit, her expression going serious. Jet nodded his head slightly, and then held out a hand for her to continue. Jet Black was a firm believer in the 'lady's first' area. "I've been watching Tang's movement's for the past seven years, and over those years he's been expanding his business. The man is insane Jet, and it's just becoming evident in the last five years. He's obsessed with some stupid old legend, the ECHO." Jet's brows raised slightly at the mention of the ship and the action did not go unnoticed by Helena.
"Obsessed how?" Jet asked.
"Obsessed like he's killed ten people in the last year alone because they couldn't get what he wanted." Helena shot back. "Obsessed like, he probably killed Vic Healy for that same reason." Helena leaned forward and took his hand. "Jet, they tortured him. Healy was shot six times, none of them truly the cause of his death. They chopped off two fingers, and took out an eye. They finished him off by jamming a screwdriver down his throat."
"Jesus," Jet said in a harsh whisper snatching his hand away from her and standing up. He had to get out of there, suddenly he needed some air. "Damn you." He hissed as he left the bar, his stomach began to clench and as the cool air of evening hit his face, he thought he would throw up.
Vic Healy's death was his fault, it was something that would weigh on his soul for the rest of his life. However long that would be. He ran his metallic hand down his sweaty face, and clenched his hands tightly around the wet railing. Hearing the extent to which Tang had taken the murder of Healy was horrifying. The thought of the torture, just proved how insane Tang was, and proved how far the man was going to take this. As Jet stared at the waters below him, he finally realized that perhaps he had bitten off more than he could chew. He also realized that he wasn't the only one in trouble.
"You always did take everything onto your shoulders." Helena said as she walked came up beside him, and stared down at the dark waters. She watched as the yellow light from the above street lamp reflected in the water slightly distorted their own reflections in the water. "It's one of the things that I loved about you."
Jet's eyes remained on the water, but his heart had skipped completely out of his chest. He felt her warm hand land on his, and he heard the damn bells in her voice as she spoke again.
"You can't blame yourself, Jet. Tang would have killed him eventually anyway." Helena squeezed his hand slightly. "Tang had contacted Healy earlier about the ECHO mystery, and Healy had come up with nothing. Tang didn't like that, he had offered Healy a second chance, and Healy graciously declined." She lightly pulled at his hand and turned him to look at her. "Jet, you didn't kill him."
"I sped it up rather nicely." Jet said looking away from her inviting gaze.
"Talk to me, Jet. Tell me what you're looking for. Let me help you." Helena stepped into him a bit, and tightened her grip on his hand. "Jet, I'm not your enemy. I could never be your enemy. I love you too much."
Jet's eyes snapped to hers, those beautiful and intelligent hazel orbs staring deep into his heart. She stared up at him, and he could feel that tightening in his stomach again, only this time he recognized exactly what the feeling was. And that was a feeling he thought he put a stop to a long time ago. Slowly Jet lowered his head and kissed her.
Step two on the road to a great mistake, had been achieved.
It had taken Ed all day to figure out where the third piece to the ECHO key was hiding. After four hours of trying to pin point the exact location, and sending Spike and Faye on six different outings to find nothing, Ed finally discovered the problem. Each piece of the puzzle led to the other piece.
"So Ed, who was using the first piece she had been given to locate the others, was doing it all wrong." Ed explained to Spike and Faye nearly an hour ago. "The first piece led to the second piece, the one Ed stole from the bad man. But that was it." At this point Spike and Faye had exchanged annoyed glances but remained silent. "The other dots Ed saw were merely reflections of the second piece. It seems as though the great and powerful men who designed the ECHO key's internal mapping system also created a simple way to confuse would be treasure seekers. Ed is very impressed."
Spike and Faye rolled their eyes at this but again remained silent. With Jet MIA they were trying very hard to maintain their cool 'we're adults and can handle things' exterior. This was something very hard to do with Edward around.
"So, to find the third piece Ed must hook up the second piece and decrypt the codes in that one. Very hard to do. Very hard. The encryption gets more difficult. But Edward can do it! It will just take some time."
And time was what they had. They had all the time in the world, or so it would seem. Spike had convinced Faye that it would be best to stay on board until Ed figured out where the next piece was. That way they wouldn't be targets for Tang's men.
Both of them were worried about Jet, even Ed had voiced a bit of unease at his being gone all day, but they knew Jet could take care of himself. Plus, they both silently agreed that who ever this woman was, Jet needed to spend some time with her. It had been in the air around them at the docks that morning. Jet's past was something he kept pretty close to himself, that was one of the reasons he fit in so well with the rest of them on this ship. So Spike and Faye had decided to let the old man go, this was his adventure as much as it was theirs, so he deserved a bit of the story.
Through out the day, Spike and Faye had pretty much maintained a big buffer zone between them. They didn't linger in the same room for too long, and while they did occupy the same space the didn't really talk. There wasn't really much to say to one another. Neither of them could work up the nerve to discuss what was left unfinished between them, and probably never would. Once or twice they would discuss where they thought Jet was, or if they thought he was okay. And only once did Faye ask about the Blue Port, to which Spike had responded with nothing but silence. Other than those simple minute long conversations, they said nothing, and simply sat in silence.
It was that same comfortable silence that they had grown into during their last adventure. A silence that had not existed during the early months of their working together. But it was a bit different now, that comfortable feeling was not as long lived as it had been. In fact, it was easily done away with whenever they would lock eyes. It was that point when Faye would usually leave the room, and Spike would angrily glare at his ceiling fan.
It was well-past eight o'clock at night when Ed finally got a lock on the third piece, and the duo now found themselves walking the darkened docks of Ganymede on yet another search. Jet had not checked in, and to say that they weren't a bit apprehensive was a lie, but they dealt with it in stride. 'He's a big boy', was there mantra as they walked.
Spike walked with his shoulders hunched, and his hands deep into his pockets listening as Faye talked with Ed on the comm.
"Are you sure about this one Ed," Faye said the annoyance clear in her voice. "Because if this is another dead end, I'm going to wring your little neck when we get back."
"Ed is positive, Faye-Faye." Ed said her excited tone muffled a bit by the static on the line.
"Good." Spike mumbled.
"Ed still thinks she should have been able to come along." Ed's disappointment was evident. Faye smiled as she could envision the pout on the teenager's expressive face.
"Sorry, kid, you heard the big guy." Faye said giving a sideways smirk to Spike beside her. "Jet says your grounded, so that's that. Maybe next time."
"Yay! Ed gets to go on the next treasure hunt, with captain Faye-Faye!" Ed's sing-song voice brought a smile to both Spike and Faye's faces as Faye cut the line.
"You got her hopes up, you're going to have to deal with it." Spike said simply, watching as Faye shoved the comm. back into her pocket. She waved him off and rolled her eyes as they continued their stroll down the dark docks.
"I still think we're heading the wrong way." Faye said after a few moments of silence. She crossed her arms over her chest, and let her eyes survey the area. Spike watched her eyes move, and the respect he had for her abilities as a bounty hunter were reassured. Over the years Faye had developed a keen sense of her surroundings, and she had become a formidable bounty hunter and a great partner. He watched as her hand slid over the fabric of her black sweater, right where her guns were hidden. She was on edge.
"Relax." Spike said simply. Faye's eyes snapped to him, and she stared at the side of his face. They walked in silence for the next five minutes, until finally Faye couldn't handle it anymore.
"So, you never answered my question before. About the Blue Port." Faye began nonchalantly. She glanced over at Spike and noticed a small almost imperceptible smirk on his lips, lit by his lighter as he lit his cigarette. "So, Jet kept it for me, that much is clear. The question is, why?"
"Maybe you should ask Jet." Spike responded quietly. This was the second time today that she had resorted to this subject as a way to alleviate the tension in the air around them. And honestly he didn't want to deal with it.
"Huh," Faye said eyeing him. "Maybe I will." She turned her eyes forward, and let the silence settle around them again. She hated the comfort of their silences. She hated the fact that they knew each other so well, that they didn't even need to signal when to stop or turn, or discuss bringing back up weapons, or even really make plans anymore. She hated the fact that they could read each other like children's books, and it didn't help their volatile relationship. They were made to clash, it was that simple.
The silence hung this time for fifteen minutes, and this time it was Spike who broke down. He walked beside her watching as her eyes shifted around the area, watching as she would scoot slightly away from him if they happened to venture near the vicinity of one another. He watched as she would constantly feign interest in her nails, and do other obvious moves to try and prove to him that she wasn't completely uncomfortable walking with him. This damn apprehension in her was infuriating.
"Why are you here, Faye?" He asked, his eyes not leaving the wet wood below his feet. When she didn't answer, he looked up at her and found her staring at him in disbelief. She had stopped walking, and was simply looking at him in shock. He'd surprised her, he felt the smirk come to his lips unbidden. As Faye saw the smirk, she shook her head and her shock was covered with annoyance.
"I think we already went over this, Lunkhead." Faye began walking again and caught up with him, and then past him. "Remember Ship of Gold. Treasure. I think you're getting senile in your old age."
"You know what I'm talking about, Faye." Spike said quietly, his voice a gruff whisper as he moved into step beside her once again. Faye looked at him from the corner of her eye. "I can see it, Jet can see it, hell I'm sure even Ed and the dog can see it. You don't want to be here. You're uncomfortable, jittery as hell on the ship; you're not yourself." He paused and looked her in the eye. "So I'm asking you, as a partner, as someone who depends on you for back up, as a friend, though I use the term lightly. Why the hell are you here? Why are you standing on this dock, walking with me? Why did you come back to the Bebop? Why are you here with us, why are you here with me, when I know that all you've wanted to do since you stepped foot on board is run away again."
Faye stopped walking again, and stared into Spike's eyes. They stood there on the dock, trying to read each other for what seemed like hours, but was really only seconds. Faye tried to figure out where all this was coming from, she tried to figure out what the hell he was so upset about. And oh, he was upset. She could see it as clear as day. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, no matter how even a tone his voice had maintained through out his little questioning, she could hear that little bit of anger boiling just below the surface. But why? She finally gave up and answered in the only way she could.
"I don't know."
There was another pause, not a long one, but an essential one. At the same instant they both began to walk at an even slower pace towards their destination.
"You don't have to be, not if you don't want to." Spike said evenly as they walked.
"Maybe I should want to." Faye said quietly. The sound of her voice caused Spike to look at her. "Maybe that's why." She stared at the ground as she said it, even though she could feel his gaze on the side of her face. She resisted the urge to look at him, and instead looked the buildings in the far off distance. "Why do you care?"
Spike turned his gaze to the front as well, and let out an exasperated sigh. He ran his hand through his unruly mop and answered the only way he knew how. "I don't know."
They walked a few more steps in silence, and then Spike heard it. Her voice seemed to come from inside his own head. It was nothing but a whisper, and barely that, but he heard it as clearly as if she had yelled it.
"You don't have to," she began quietly, almost reluctantly. "Not if you don't want to."
That was it. That was the first step on the road to destruction. He knew the second he asked the question, that this whole conversation was a big mistake.
They walked the rest of the way towards the location of the third key, in complete silence. The location turned out to be a small floating warehouse in the middle of the water. Men in worker uniforms and some in suits and ties were walking in and out, and the lights were all on.
"Pretty busy for after hours." Spike said, looking through a pair of binoculars. He handed them over to Faye.
"A little too busy, cowboy." Faye said looking through the binoculars. "Those guys look like the one's that were chasing Ed and me. And they're packing some serious heat. But if you're up for it."
"No, it's too risky." Spike said taking the binoculars back and scooping the place out. "We'll head back to the ship, and then see what Jet wants to do. I'm thinking we'll need him for this one."
"Aye-aye, Captain." Faye said jokingly. Spike smirked at her and they turned towards home. Oh, how easily we forget our mistakes, especially when they are simple and small.
The greatest mistakes of our lives do not come on all at once. They are built up to, planned in a sense by the fates that dictate our lives. People are given warning, they are shown the signs and the steps necessary to make them, and it is up to the people to either heed the warnings or ignore them.
As Jet sat in the small chair by the bedside staring out at the window, he realized for the first time that he was just as much of an idiot as Faye and Spike. Jet inhaled from his cigarette and let his eyes linger on the skyline before him.
The greatest mistakes are the most often repeated. And as Jet turned his gaze from the starlit sky to the bed, he knew that if given even half the chance he would repeat this mistake as many times as the devil would let him.
There in the bed, with the moonlight shining on the white sheet and her skin, lay Helena Winters. Her body was curled on its side, her one arms slung over on to the empty area that he had only recently vacated. Her slender fingers curled into the sheets and the moonlight struck off of the small gold band on her finger.
Jet looked away instantly.
Spike had contacted him ten minutes ago, and informed him of the activity at the location of the third piece. They would need him if they had any chance of getting the piece. He knew what he had to do, he just had to force himself to do it.
Finally Jet, butted out his cigarette on the wall next to the window, and stood up. He retrieved his shirt from the floor and put it on. As he placed his gun in the holster and put on his jacket his eyes strayed to Helena in the bed. He took two slow deliberate steps towards the bed, but stopped mid-third. He closed his eyes and turned back around walking towards the door.
Walking away was the another mistake he was always repeating. Walking away was the only mistake he repeated with Helena that he regretted the second he did it. Walking away was the greatest mistake, it was the mistake that cursed his entire crew.
But, as Jet walked towards the docks and made his way back home, he smiled. With out walking away, there isn't any chance to walk back in.
A long chapter, a long time coming. This one was more just the drama stuff, the characters and the dialogue. Hope you guys enjoy, and keep reading and reviewing. Let me know what you think. Next Chapter 5 pt. 2: Happy Birthday