Disclaimer : I do not own anything cool, especially Cowboy Bebop Or Bon Jovi or the song Dead or Alive. PLEASE don't sue me!

Spike awoke. It felt as though someone had been beating his head with a hammer for a month nonstop. He opened his eyes to see figures standing over him. Everything was bleary. Focusing on what he thought was a female nurse he smirked. Picking up his left hand he opened his mouth.

"Yo. Got a smoke?" The blackness over took him again.

*************************************************************************************************

Spike remembered waking up in similar situations two other times in his life. The first time was Julia. She had patched him up when he faked his first death. He felt physical pain thinking of Julia. His angel. She was no more.

The other time was Faye. She has been sitting with him after that encounter with Vicious in the church. Sitting by him, making sure he made it. She was there after his run in with the fat guy as well. He wondered what had ever happened to Faye. For that matter, how long had he been here? And what was he doing alive? How long till he could leave?

It's all the same, only the names will change
Everyday it seems we're wasting away
Another place where the faces are so cold
I'd drive all night
Just to get back home

"Good morning Mr. Speigel. How are you feeling today?" The nurse was perky and cute. Reminded Spike of the waitress at the diner where he met VT.

"I feel like warmed over shit. How am I supposed to feel?" Spike cast her a lazy grin. "Hey, you don't have a light do you?" Once more the lazy grin and a wink. The girl was unable to resist him.

"Here ya go Mr. Speigel. Just don't tell anyone. I could get into really big trouble." The nurse blushed as her hand brushed that of the extremely handsome green haired man in front of her.

Spike inhaled the sweet nicotine from the magic cancer stick. He felt almost normal again.

"So how long have I been out this time? A week, a month even?" Spike inhaled again.

"Two years Mr. Speigel. Two years."

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

Spike took another sip of his drink. His life had been miserable since leaving the clinic. The first thing he did was pay his respects to Julia's grave. After that he bummed around the universe trying to figure out where to go. He looked in the mirror over the bar surveying his surroundings. Old habits died hard.

If he went back to the Bebop, who knew what the welcome there would be. He knew Jet would be glad to have him back. They had been as close as brothers. He had had a brother in his last life as well.

Ed and Ein were gone, but if they were there, Spike knew they would welcome him.

It was Faye he was worried about. How do you face the woman almost declared her love for you and you turned your back and walk away from her like she is nothing? Because that's what he had done. Knew he was going to die. Didn't want to hurt her more than he already was going to. Didn't want to let her get close then of all times, when he was leaving to die. He had been afraid she might have been able to talk him out of going. What would you say to that woman? Especially when you have been gone for two years? He knew she wouldn't care whether it was his fault or not. Though she never said it, she cared for him. He left her. End story.

He didn't want to go back to the syndicate. There WAS a reason he left it, after all. But on the other hand, he would be the undisputed leader. He could change the syndicate, make them do good things instead of bad. Well, maybe not good things, but less of the pointless murder and mayhem.

Spike looked at the bottle in his hand.

"Turkey, huh? Guess that means its Saturday." Raising his glass to the image of himself in the mirror, he took a long pull. Lighting another cigarette he began his melancholy brooding once more.

Sometimes I sleep, sometimes it's not for days
And the people I meet always go their separate ways
Sometimes you tell the day
By the bottle that you drink
And times when you're alone and all you do is think


Spike was in the Swordfish II soaring above Mars. Old time cowboys had horses. He had his steel horse right here. Would never trade either. He flipped around doing barrel rolls and stalls. He was still undecided as to where to go.


I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

"Eight ball corner pocket." Spike had been short on cash. Since he didn't know of any bounties at the moment or anyone that needed his type of services he decided to do what he did second best. Spike was hustling hot shots at billiards.

Thunk. The ball dropped into the pocket pretty as you please.

"Amazing. All game you couldn't hit a shot; then you clear the table in four shots and hit the eight ball." Spike's opponent was in awe. Never had he seen someone play so well.

Spike slid a smoke between his lips. Speaking through it he uttered two words.

"Pay up."


I walk these streets, a loaded six string on my back
I play for keeps, 'cause I might not make it back
I been everywhere, still I'm standing tall
I've seen a million faces
And I've rocked them all

Satisfied with himself Spike strolled to his ship. He had made over forty thousand wulongs tonight. Not bad for just getting out of a hospital bed that morning. He had been pleasantly surprised to find that he had no huge bill to pay. Someone had generously picked up the tab. Suspicious but not arguing, Spike had gone with the flow. The last thing he needed was to live in fear of collectors like Faye did.

The thought of Faye hit him like a punch to the gut. Why was he so apprehensive of seeing her again? Why was it the thought of her alone that kept him from the Bebop? Just what was Faye up to these days? Spike's mind drifted back to when he met her. She had blatantly cheated and felt no shame about it. She did what she had to do and didn't fuss about it. She was independent and a survivor. How different from Julia she was...

If thinking of Faye was painful, thinking of Julia was crippling. Julia had needed him -

"Freeze Speigel. We mean you no harm." Armed men surrounded Spike. Women, always getting me in trouble... He threw his hands to the air and surrendered. Recognizing the Red Dragon insignia on their uniforms Spike grinned.

"You boys have just made a tough decision for me."

I'm a cowboy, on a steel horse I ride
I'm wanted dead or alive
I'm a cowboy, I got the night on my side
I'm wanted dead or alive
Wanted dead or alive

*************************************************************************************************Well? Whaddya think? I seem to be on this kick of using a bunch of song fics to make a whole story. Let me know how its working.

Has anyone else noticed all the parallels b/t Spike's past and present lives? I just wanted to point that out!

Always, read and review please! I am also open to suggestions for plot. I have it done to a certain point, but from there need some help. Maybe. We'll see.

If you like this story, read my other one as well, Bebop in the West.

Next chapter, find out where Faye works that she's so tired when she comes home!!!!