I know it's been like forever since I updated! Sorry, I just haven't been motivated. Find out who won the rodeo, I swear it's this chapter!

Disclaimer: If it's cool, it aint mine...

Where we left off...

Bone Cruncher began to bellow in rage and bucked harder, except now he was swinging his two and a half foot head topped with six foot horns trying to hook the man on his back off. One horn caught Spike's sleeve and tore the fabric, leaving behind a bloody scratch. It seemed like an eternity to Spike but the horn blew signaling eight seconds.

Letting out a huge whoop and holler Spike released his hold on the strap and prepared to land on his feet.

Spike let go but his hand was still trapped in the suicide grip.

Bone Cruncher sensed he had been defeated. With another bellow he looked for something vent his rage on.

His eye caught Spike dangling from his back.

His lethal horns swung in Spike's direction.

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Faye heard Spike's name called as she was saddling Star. Quickly she tightened the cinch and mounted. There was a better view from this vantage point. She watched as Spike urged the bull to greater rage, sticking like a burr. Spike was having the ride of his life. She knew when she was. Loosing an oath, she turned away from the arena, dreading a day of playing manservant. A collective gasp from the crowd made her turn back around. Probably awed by his high score, she grumped to herself.

What she saw in the ring made her blood run cold. Spike was dangling from Bonecruncher's back and flopping like a ragdoll attached at the hand. The bulls horns were hooking around from the front looking for any kind of purchase. Though the clown was frantically trying for Bonecrunchers attention, the bull didn't care. The pickup riders circled warily, trying to get to Spike yet not get slashed to ribbons.

Spurring her Star Faye charged into the ring, hollering ot clear a path.

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Desperatly Spike tried to slip his hand from the bucking strap. Dirt filled his nose, mouth eyes. There were numerous wounds on his body from hooves and horns. His life flashed before his eyes.

Julia, the first day he saw her, with golden hair streaming down her back and sky blue eyes sparkling in the sun like tiny lakes.

Placing his grandmothers diamond on Julia's finger in a cloud of orange lilies

Leading a posse into Arizona after a dangerous man

Returning home to a burning homestead, hearing Julia scream as the roof fell in

Faye's eyes spitting fire.

Faye kissing him on the cheek.

The smell of lilac.

Faye kissing him on the cheek.

Faye wearing emerald green on her red horse.

He began to wonder if this was it...if this was the final ride he wouldn't make it back from...

"YEE-HAW!"

CRACK!

A rebel yell in Faye Valentine's voice split the air followed by the crack of her bullwhip as it whipped out and wrapped around one of Bonecruncher's horns. Faye quickly wrapped her end of the whip around her saddle horn and kneed Star to the side, pulling the wicked horns away from Spike. A pickup man darted in and cut the strap binding Spike to two tons of hell. As Spike fell to the ground the bull changed his focus to Star.

Quickly Faye unfurled her whip from his horn and used it as a weapon to keep the raging animal at bay as Star nimble avoided his attacks.Every time he got too close a small cut would appear on his face. Once more the tip of the whip flicked out and split the skin on his soft nose. Blood mixed with snot dribbled from his face, making him look even more horrifying.

Just as it looked as though the bull was going to brave the pain of getting too near to take out the person hurting him, a gunshot echoed in the small arena. Bone cruncher stopped, with a black hole between his eyes. He emitted a huge groan and sank to his knees then his side as the sand under him grew dark. One last breath was wrenched from his body and the great beast was still.

Spike stood in the sand with a smoking pistol in his hand. He turned and from the ring without even a glance for Faye.

Faye was left in the arena wondering why she had even bothered saving his ass.

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The air on the upper floor was hot and heavy. It was making everyone cranky, and most definetly didn't help Faye's temper at all. At the moment she stood over a small basin and pitcher trying to soak off her bandages. The wound in her shoulder was sore, but almost healed. The new one on her knee didn't look very good. At first it was just a small cut. Energetic movement had opened it up to a long gash with blackened edges curled back.

Though the top of her kneecap was a terrible place for stitches, the cut would never heal properly without them.

She hobbled with out bending her knee across the room to her leather saddle bags. She took out a small sewing kit meant for emergencies like these and a bottle of whisky. Taking a long draught of the fiery liquid she removed a length of silk and a fine needle. Pouring some whisky in a small dish she soaked the thread and needle. She sat on the edge of the bed and pushed her short slip higher splashing some alcohol on her wound for good measure.

A knock sounded at the door. "Faye, are you in there? I want to talk to you!" Spikes voice was muffled but she could still hear the anger. With a sigh she debated pretending sleep and not answering the door. Figuring he would just barge in anyway she pulled a blanket over her lap and stayed seated.

The door crashed open leaving Spike standing in the doorway. "What the hell did you think you were doing today?" His eyes blazed in her direction. Ignoring him Faye turned her back and took another healthy draught of whisky. The smell of raw spirits filled the small stuffy room. A hard hand yanked the bottle from her mouth as Spike swung her around to face him. "Faye! Don't get drunk while I'm talking to you!"

A weary sigh escaped from her lips. "Honestly, I'm too tired for this emotional bullshit Spike. Bottom line is that I saved your life and you can't stand that it was girl doing it! Do you think any of those other people would have faced that bull for you? Hell no! Now get the hell out!" She picked up the bottle and took another swig. Self medication...it had it's merits.

Spike was beginning to yell at her again, but everything was becoming fuzzy. She was hearing his voice, but no words...

"Faye, are you even payin attention to me?" Spike grasped her knees and looked closely at her face. The Faye's gasp of pain finally took his attention away from yelling at her.

"What, I didn't hurt you! Quit being a baby..." Spike felt something sticky under his hand and realized Faye was bleeding. "Shit Faye, thats why you're getting drunk."

Faye fell back on the bed, eyes half closed. "G'way Shhhike." She had wanted to get her knee sewn before she really was drunk. Lookes like all hope of that was now gone.

Spike took in Faye's prostrate body and slurred speech and realized she was incapable of tending her own wounds. I guess it's the least I can do for her. She did save my life...not that I didn't have it all perfectly in hand...

He threaded the needle and pushed away the blanket to see the cut. He had never realized just how fine boned Faye Valentine was. Her knee cap showed hard and white through the ivory skin that covered a shapely calf. He resisted the urge to run his hand down her leg.

With a mental shake he began to stitch. Every few stitches a whimper would come from Faye, but that was it. She did better than most men Spike knew would have done. The last few stitches in, Spike realized Faye hadn't whimpered at all. Soft snores were slipping through her ruby lips.

Smiling and shaking his head he removed the almost empty whisky bottle from her grasp and placed it on the nightstand. Gently picking Faye up he rearranged her comefortably on the bed. Late evening sunlight streamed through the window turning her skin a rosy hue. Spike was entranced. He stood there looking down on her for a moment, admiring the scene.

Running a hand over her face he smoothed dark violet hair from her brow. Once more in his mind, the violet hair turned to blond and back. He pictured blue eyes where the emerald ones rested.

Not many women could give him a run for his money in a rodeo, save his life from a crazed bull and them go back to being a desireable woman in less than twenty-four hours. Yes, Faye Valentine was certaintly special.

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I know it took forever, but I had to wait for inspiration to strike me...

I think it was worth it! Don't worry, from here on out there should be more Spike/Fayeness...

Review, tell me how much you are DYING for the next chapter! LOL