~Fallen Seraphim~
~Pocket Change~
"Tell me something Jet…exactly how reliable is this reliable information?" Spike muttered into his comm-link. He signaled to the bartender to top off his now empty glass.
"It's reliable, alright?" Jet's voice crackled through the comm. "He comes here every Friday night…supposedly."
"Supposedly? Supposedly doesn't sound very reliable!" Faye's voice practically yelled through the link. "And for your information, it's Saturday morn-" Spike reached to the small earpiece and switched it off. Supposedly reliable information and half a bottle of scotch didn't exactly mix very well for a bounty hunt. At least the mind numbing sensation from the scotch was enough to dull the smell. Spike wasn't too sure, but it seemed to be somewhat like booze, vomit, and pretzels, with three-week-old cheese thrown in for good measure. Is there really that big of a difference in class? Ten million equals opera. Three million equals crappy bar. Spike grinned at the thought. From now on, nothing below five.
The sound of a door being opened drew Spike from his contemplations. His eyes turned to the now filled glass, the reflection of the door and a figure on its curved surface. Spike reluctantly pulled his head out of his arms and placed it in his hand, at the same time turning the link back on. Static buzzed in his right ear, then slowly shifted into words.
"Spike? Spike you there?" Faye's voice breaking through the static.
"I'm here," Spike answered, barely moving his lips, his eyes now focused on the mirror behind the bartender. A rather tall, dark haired man walked silently down towards the end of the bar. A heavy leather coat covered him but Spike could see the slight outline of a holster on his back. The only sound to come from him was his boots hitting the floor. "That our guy?"
"Yeah, that's Tindera."
"Balls in your court. He's armed." Spike watched as Faye made her way from the far corner towards the opposite end of the bar. The slight sway in her hips, not to mention those extremely short yellow hot pants and top, caused every male eye in the bar to turn her direction.
"Check out that ass," one of the guys sitting two seats down from Spike muttered. Spike glanced over at the man. He was currently leaning back to see around Spike and watch Faye walk, more like strut, across the bar. Spike's eyes turned back to see Faye lean in front of him. Spike smirked when he saw Tindera lose himself in Faye's cleavage.
Spike knew what was next. He saw one of Faye's hands drop to the counter and work its way behind her back. She quickly brought her hand up, placing the barrel of her Glock against…. her own head?
"Do you really think I'm that stupid?" Tindera yelled, then the realization sank in. Tindera held Faye's arm, pointing the gun back at her temple. Spike had not expected this turn of events. The look in Faye's eyes shone with confusion, then the realization of what had just occurred. She snapped out of her confusion and slipped back into her casual nothing-matters-in-the-world attitude. She turned her eyes away from the imposing figure before her and looked towards Spike. It only lasted a second before Tindera forced her gaze back towards him.
"Yeah, yeah, Faye, I got the message," Spike muttered into the comm. Finishing the last of his drink, he set the glass back on the table. His hand slowly made his way into his jacket.
"Hey JT! Whatcha got there?" Spike froze with sound of the new voice. He relaxed his grip on the handle of his pistol, and turned in the direction of the new voice. The "ass" guy was walking down towards Faye with his bar buddy.
"Some bounty hunter wench," Tindera grinned evilly, his eyes narrowing as he turned his attention back to Faye. She struggled helplessly against the grip on her arm and her collar. Her demeanor faltered slightly, fear flashing in her eyes for a brief moment. But that was all that was needed. The fear that briefly filled her eyes made Spike cringe, but there could be more.
"Jet," he muttered through clinched teeth. "We've got a situation."
"What? What happened?" Jet worried voice cut through the tense silence in the bar.
"Tindera's got Faye at gun point, I haven't made a move," Spike answered, his hand once again gripping his pistol.
"I say we shouldn't waste something nice like this without having any fun first," the buddy said, reaching up and placing a hand on Faye's breast. She tried to draw away, but Tindera's grip didn't budge. Instead, she shut her eyes and turned her head. The buddy snickered at her reaction.
Spike snapped. He bolted to his feet, knocking the bar stool over. His hand was in and out of his jacket, Jericho in hand, before the seat hit the floor. The crash of the bar stool hitting the ground caused the three men to look his direction. Leveling his sights, Spike's finger tightened on the trigger. Too late…
A gunshot rang out within the bar. The single 9mm round punched through Tindera's head, spraying blood across the bar. Tindera's body slumped to the floor, taking Faye with him. His two buddies glanced at their fallen friend, then turned to stare at the shooter.
"What the hell? Who the fuck are you?" ass man yelled, his buddies hand slowly reaching for his gun.
"I'm her partner you little shit!" Spike yelled back, not quite sure why he was yelling, but it felt right. "And if you don't wanna end up like 'JT' over there, get your hands out of your jacket and put 'em over your head!" The two complied. "Good, turn around and face the wall."
Spike cautiously made his way down to the where the body lay. He glanced over to check on Faye. She looks okay; she was sitting a few feet away from Tindera, her gaze locked on his now lifeless eyes. She slowly looked up, her eyes meeting Spike's. She sat there, huddled against the bar, the confusion filling her eyes. Slowly, he reached out his arm for her. Hesitantly, she took his hand and he pulled her from the floor. Faye stepped behind him, her hand clutching her pistol yet it hung forgotten at her side.
"Head for the door, I'll follow you," Spike said coolly, never taking his eyes from the two men facing away from him. He could feel her presence drift away from him. Spike slowly backed towards the door, his gun still trained on the two figures. When he finally reached the door, he pushed it open. Taking one last look at the interior, he stepped out into the chill night air, his pistol quickly returning to its place within his jacket.
- - - - -
The fighter shuddered slightly as the landing gear made contact with the deck of the fishing ship. Spike reached down to the controls, and removed the ignition key from the console of the Swordfish II. Spinning the key on his finger, he quickly deposited it within his jacket; dropping it into his breast pocket. His ship rolled to a stop as the clamps pulled the ship into the hanger.
Pressing a button on the console, the hatch slowly opened. The hiss of the stale air that had been trapped in the cockpit escaping into the reprocessed air of the Bebop filled now silent hanger. Spike quickly pulled his body from the seat, swinging out of the cockpit and landing on the wing with a metallic clank that resounded throughout the hanger.
Glancing around the hanger, he noticed that although Faye had docked before him, she still hadn't left the cockpit of the Redtail. Her hunched form barely visible through the tinting of the window. Dropping to the ground, his hands quickly found their way into his pockets, and he slowly began to make his way to her craft. His footsteps echoing in the large metal hanger, like the ticking of a clock in a vacant room.
Ever since the bar…she hasn't said a word…As soon as he had made his way out of the bar, she had regained her composure. That cool, casual…distanced attitude. Not the normal, fiery Faye. But a Faye who looked at the world and seemed as if she just realized this was her life. Spike knew that attitude, he knew it all too well. It's the way of showing the world you could care less about anything that happens to everyone; including yourself. It's when you've seen too much happen in life. When you start thinking that you don't deserve this, you start questioning your reasons for being stuck in this hell that you call life.
I know it all too well.
Spike slowly reached up to the side of her cockpit. She was still in her own world, her eyes hidden, but her head looking towards the hanger door…out into space. Glancing towards the door, Spike knew what she was going through…he'd been there before. Wanting to leave this so-called life and find what was actually meant for you. The job where you weren't shot at. The job that gave you food everyday instead of one meal at a time. The house with a green lawn, a white picket fence, a loving spouse and 2.5 children.
Spike grinned at thought…Would it even be possible to deal with me as a child?
Shaking his head and clearing his thoughts, he rapped his fingers on the side of the cockpit. Her head snapped towards him. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out his pack of cigarettes and his lighter. Lifting one up to his lips, he lowered his eyes and watched as the flames danced from the lighter to the tip of stick of tobacco. Inhaling, he turned his gaze back towards her, her arm now reaching towards the console to open the hatch.
A soft metallic click was heard from within the cockpit, the magnetic seal releasing the hatch. The hatch opened slightly, the quiet hissing of air filled the hanger. The hatch slowly opened the rest of the way. She just sat there, unmoving. Her arms by her sides, her head hung limply from her shoulders…she looked like a rag doll.
He exhaled slowly, the smoke lazily curling its way up towards the distant ceiling. Faye's head turned slightly, her eyes focused on the cigarette. Aww…what the hell. Might as well make peace for now. Flicking his wrist, the tip of a cigarette shot through the small opening. Meeting her eyes, he offered it to her.
The slight amount of surprise shone in her eyes, the first trace of emotion he'd seen since the bar. She hesitantly reached out and removed it. Dropping his hand, he replaced the pack with a lighter. Lighting the cigarette, Spike once again lowered his hand, this time, it found its way into his pockets. He leaned back against Faye's craft, it rocked slightly, then settled with the new weight pushing against it.
They both remained in silence. Spike watching the smoke rise to the roof, Faye's eyes returning to the hanger.
"Spike…" she mumbled softly, the words seeming foreign. "I…about the bounty….in the bar…I-"
"Don't worry about it," Spike answered casually, removing the smoldering butt from his lips and dropping it to the floor.
"But I-"
"We didn't need the money, no matter what Jet says," Spike didn't want to hear her say it, she didn't need to say anything. Sometimes things just go to hell and we don't know why.
He felt the Redtail tilt slightly, then heard her shoes hit the floor. Tossing her a quick glance, he noticed a slightly contemplative look shone in her eyes. She snatched the cigarette from her lips and flicked it across the room. The smoldering butt leaving a faint trail of light as it floated through the hanger.
"I've never been…scared by a bounty head before," she said softly, almost to herself. Spike threw her another glance, but kept looking this time. She hung her head, almost in disgrace it seemed. She's never opened up to me…why is she now? "There was something about him…in his eyes…" She trailed off, her voice becoming a silent whisper. Her body stood rigid, unbending; but her hand trembled slightly.
"Faye…why did you come back?" Spike asked softly. Maybe it has something to do with what happened.
"I…I…came back…."she suddenly broke off, her mouth still open. She stood like a statue, almost as if she wanted to say something, but was forcing herself not to. After a few seconds, she closed her mouth and took an unsteady step forward…then another…then another...the hanger door slammed shut.
Spike merely stared after her, unsure what to do. The Faye he knew did not show emotion. The Faye he knew would not nearly break down in front of him. The Faye he knew wouldn't…this isn't the Faye I knew.
Author's Note: Now after reading your reviews (and thank you so much for taking the time to do that) I was somewhat tentative about posting this chapter. I know at least one person stated that they liked the fact that the characters weren't overemotional so I was kind of afraid because I was worried that I might have made Faye a bit too emotional…although I hope it didn't seem like it. But just trying to justify myself, remember, this happens right after Hard Luck Woman so Faye just realized that everything that she spent three years looking for is gone. Anyway, even if that doesn't justify it, tell me what you thought. Oh, and I'll try to post a chapter roughly every week so you know when to look for it.