Disclaimer: I do not, repeat do NOT OWn Cowboy Bebop or any other copyrighted items I may mention in this fic. The end
Thank you to my reviewers! I get so happy when I see notifications in my mail box!
Shadowfox38: Do you think Faye should stomp Spike's ass? It would definitely be interesting! Not quite original though...we will have to see what happens!
"Honey, are you ok? You look as if you just saw a ghost!" Lil was the manager of the bar. She cared for all the girls as if they were her own daughters.
"Lil, I hate to ask this, but I need to leave." On the spur of the moment Faye decided to make up an outrageous lie. "My ex is out there. After we broke up he started stalking me. Wouldn't leave me alone. Kept calling. Lying in wait for me. He's out there and I don't want any trouble. It's only twenty minutes till close. Just this once? Is it ok if I leave early?" Faye gave her best 'I'm-an-abused-delicate-innocent-woman-how-do-these-things-happen-to-me' look combined with huge eyes pooling with tears. Lil tried to be strong but gave in.
"Just this once Faye. You know it's only because you 're such a good worker I'm letting you go. If he shows up here again let me know. Tonight we don't want any problems. The last thing I need is some crazy bastard taking down my club like the one who took down the Dragons syndicate two years ago. Now that was a mess!"
Faye visibly paled hearing this. How right you are Lil.
"Thank you so much. I promise I won't make this a habit!" Faye hugged Lil and ran out. She stopped into the locker room long enough to get her bag, didn't even change her clothes. Her mind was arguing with her heart about what she should be doing. The mind won. Running out the side door she speed walked to the Redtail and jumped inside.
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Spike sat in shock as the girls began to circulate through the room talking to customers and doubling as waitresses. His eyes kept searching for one in particular. I'm supposed to be dead already. Nothing to lose by talking to her. But where is she?
Emerald green caught his eye. There she was! Quickly Spike got out of his seat and proceeded to follow Faye.
"Hey man, where ya goin'? You can't leave yet!" Raze sounded disappointed and offended.
"I just woke up from a dream. Make my excuses for me Raze." Spike didn't wait for an answer as he dashed out the door. Visions of purple and green spurred him on
"Spike? SPIKE!" Raze shook his head. Spike had always been sort of a lone wolf. Some things never changed.
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Faye flew back to her tiny apartment at top speed. Landing the Redtail she darted into her building praying no one saw her. She wanted to be alone. Her knees were rubbery. Her stomach was rebelling. Faye prayed to make it home before she fell apart.
Opening the lock and pushing through the door Faye felt a sense of relief. She had made it home. Grabbing an ashtray she sat on the couch and lit up. The tears started silently. The only clue that she was crying was the salty rivulets running down her cheeks. Looking out the only large window in the place she kept crying.
It had affected her seeing him. Seeing him as a Red Dragon especially. She wanted to stomp on the bastard. She wanted to spill his drink in his leather-clad lap. She wanted to pull her Glock and shoot him dead.
Faye wanted to crumple into a pile and let him hold her. Have him tell her it would all be all right. Give her a believable story about why he never returned. An excuse for being with the Dragons. All the things that would never happen.
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It was easy for Spike to tail Faye through the streets. She was not trying to hide her trail or be sneaky. She was just moving rapidly. Once she took to the sky it became difficult. Hailing a taxi he followed the Redtail, not to the Bebop like he expected, but to a tall apartment building. He noticed the neighborhood. Not the slums, but not the Ritz either. Faye wasn't doing too badly for herself. I wonder what guy she's screwing for this place. The thought made Spike angry. It couldn't be because he was jealous. It was because of Faye's loose morals that she could do such a thing. Yeah, that was definitely it.
He hid in the shadows of a doorway and watched her enter her building. With his head low and his black trench coat she never noticed him. Getting sloppy Faye. Good way to get killed.
A light came on in the third floor corner section. That must be where she lives. Brilliant observation Spike-o. Waiting a few minutes Spike climbed the fire escape to her apartment. There was one large window big enough to fit through. He carefully and silently pried it up. Feels just like the old syndicate days...I'm even dressed for it. The only thing missing is Vicious backing me up. Banishing all thoughts of Vicious he carefully planted both feet on the sill.
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The bath was just what she needed. That and the bottle of Yukon she was steadily putting away. On the Bebop she could have never done this. Due to Spike, there would never be enough hot water and he always pilfered her booze. She felt so relaxed...so mellow. So what if Spike was back from the dead. He didn't matter in her life. Her life would go on turning without him. She would survive. She had always been a survivor. Faye let the steam from the bath and scent from the bubbles lull her to sleep.
Faye was dancing on the bar. She spotted Spike from across the room. Everyone in the room froze and ceased to be. His eyes were on hers, pulling her to him like a magnet. She was powerless to resist.
"Faye...I finally found you." It was whispered in that deep husky voice of his. "Like you looked hard Cowboy. It's been almost two years. Where have you been?" Her voice started out cold and broke at the end betraying her true feelings. "Faye, I was captured after I killed Vicious. I thought I was really and truly dead. Finally. I awoke three days later in a Red Dragon hospital. They brain washed me. I finally got my memories back the other day. Now I know how you felt. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I cared when you got yours back.
I knew I would find you here. Heard stories about a beautiful woman who was a bitch to cross. I knew it had to be you. I was right. You were the reason I kept on living. I need you Faye Valentine." His voice broke saying her name. Catching her hands in his he pressed them to his lips. "Say you need me to." Faye looked up into his mismatched red eyes.
"Spike, I've always needed you. I love you." She knew it was a lame and unlikely story but she wanted to believe. The only other alternative would to believe that she just hadn't mattered to him. That wasn't an option. Her eyes began to pool. "Faye, don't cry, please." Spike pulled her close and covered his mouth with hers. With a sob Faye gave in, kissing back with her body and soul.
Her eyes snapped open mid sob. What had woken her up? Who ever it is better have a recent will because they are going to die. Wiping the tears from her face she stood in the tub letting the water sluice off her. Reaching for her new silk bathrobe she stepped out making as little noise as possible tiptoeing to the door. Clutching her gun she burst through the door and aimed. The gun quickly clattered to the floor as she looked in shock. There was a man perched on her windowsill on the balls of his toes. He was incredibly handsome and devastatingly familiar.
"Spike?" It was barely a whisper.
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Spike stared. Faye had been beautiful dancing on the bar. Now she was stunning. The cream robe clung to her wet body in all the right places. Her violet hair was piled up on her head spilling softly down her neck. He wanted to lift the tresses and caress the skin beneath. Her crimson lips were parted slightly. With her cheeks flushed form the heat of the water she looked like a goddess.
"Yo."