A/N: First off, Thanks to both FIREmblemFAN and Kendra Luehr for reading! And I will pass your comments on to the other writers. And in my opinion, Rachel writes for Spike better than anyone else I've ever known in my life. Now, onto some story notes!

Thoughout Faye's residence with the Red Dragons, she and spike corresponded over their journals. While most of it was just for fun on the part of us players, it did develop their relationship somewhat and provides the background for anything Faye says to Vicious in regards to that.

Also, our two ship groups have agreed to initiate 'Mission: Rescue Faye'at some point in here.

Thanks!
Kajouka

---------------------

Kidnapped Woman

Footsteps could be heard echoing down the hallway. Softly at first, but louder, until they sounded like they were just outside her room.

Faye pushed the computer away from the bed. She was leaning against the wall, trying to keep most of her weight on her left shoulder. Sitting up in the first place had been hard, but with Vicious gone she had to tell Spike not to come. It was senseless for him to die, and she knew Vicious would never let her live.

The door opened slowly, and Faye fought to control her beating heart. With Spike's last message about refusing to come, she was sure her life was about to end. Why would Vicious keep her alive if he had no use for her?

Vicious pushed the door open slowly. He could see Faye trembling on the bed, and a small smile crossed his lips. Of course she should be afraid. He took a step into the room and closed the door behind him.

Faye could feel herself shaking. She was normally so calm and collected, but this time she was sans weapon, and the hilt of Vicious's katana could be seen peaking out from under his trenchcoat. Finally, she caught her breath, and spoke softly, "Are you going to kill me?"

Vicious didn't answer at first, choosing only to watch her silently. She was prey - and he took pleasure in seeing the fear on her face.

Faye's eyes finally hardened. "Answer me." She commanded, her voice changing from scared to strong. She was already sick of this shit. If she was going to die for him, she would do it bravely.

"Unless you can give me a reason why I should let you live," Vicious replied.

"He'll kill you, you know," Faye retorted, "Whether you kill me or not it makes no difference. He's coming for you. And he would have come whether you had me or not, and whether you kill me or not." Her heart was racing, but she ignored it. "I only wish I could be there to see it happen." She forced herself from the wall to the edge of the bed, holding her shoulder with her left hand.

Vicious only smiled. "He will die. There is nothing more in this world that I want more than to see him die."

"Why?" Faye asked, breathing hard, while ignoring the pain. She couldn't show this asshole that she was weak. She wouldn't.

"Because he was a beast. Like me." Vicious replied, "A beast who lost his fangs - and left. And for his betrayal, he must die."

"Spike was never like you," Faye shot back.

Vicious withdrew the Katana from its sheath and held it up. "You are wrong, Miss Valentine. Spike was always like me. And Spike is still like me. Why do you think he thirsts for my blood the way I thirst for his."

Faye pushed herself off the bed and forced herself to stand. There were still quite a few feet between them, still. "I think he just wants to see a madman like you die." Standing was hard enough, and Faye didn't think she could take a step forward.

"Regardless," Vicious replied, "He will come, because he wants to kill me, and for no other reason."

"Then why the hell do you need me." Faye replied, shaking a bit. "Why didn't you just kill me before. Why did you think that using me would have accomplished something if he would have come anyway."

Vicious shrugged, "If he cared about you, you could have been useful." He was testing her.

"And what makes you think he doesn't?"

"So you think he does." Vicious replied, "Then why doesn't he come here for you."

Faye bit her lip. This was a trap. She knew it was a trap. No matter what she said he would exploit it or kill her. She didn't answer.

Vicious took four long steps across the room and swung the Katana up, stopping it at her throat. "It seems to me, Miss Valentine, that you know whether or not he's bluffing." The blade nicked her throat softly, but she made no sound.

"And what if I do?" Faye replied, fighting to stay on her feet. This would be easier if she wasn't wounded.

"Enlighten me," Vicious replied, pulling the Katana away for a moment "Or next time, I won't stop."

As soon as the Katana had left her throat, Faye fell to her feet. In one fluid motion, her left hand reached out and pulled Vicious's gun, as her right shoulder hit the ground. She screamed in pain, but held the gun up underneath. Her left hand was shaking, both because it was her weaker hand as well as from the pain rushing through her body. "Don't move, or I'll shoot you."

Vicious smirked as he looked down at Faye's trembling form beneath him. "You have the same look in your eyes."

"What look is that?" Faye replied, knowing she should have already pulled the trigger.

"The look of a beast." Vicious replied. In a motion as smooth as Faye's the katana came down, knocking the gun out of her hand before she could react.

He reached down and grabbed her shirt, pulling her up until her face was level with his. "I think he's bluffing. You are too much like her." He set her back on the bed. "I think I might have use for you yet." He turned and picked up the gun. "It wasn't loaded anyway."

Faye's eyes widened. Had Vicious known what she would have done? She wrapped her left arm around her body, trying to shield herself from him in the best way she could think of.

Vicious looked over his shoulder before he left. "Do enjoy your stay with us, Miss Valentine."

Faye leaned back against the wall, "Damn you Spike," she whispered. "Damn you." He would come - and Vicious knew.

---------------------

Bob looked at the man strapped to the table before him. The room was dark and musty, a storage closet that had seen better times, and less ruthless uses.

"Tim died because of you," Bob said, tone a slight snarl, but held remarkably calm considering the situation," Did you like it? Did you laugh as the blood poured from his gut?"

"Yeah I did," said the Syndicate man with a laugh," and you can't do anything about it cop. You can't even hold me like this, it isn't legal."

"It isn't," said Bob with a bit of a smile," But you see, I don't trust the courts to deal with cop killers like you."

"Yeah right," snorted the man," Like you'll do anything."

Bob gave him a small and wicked smile as he brought his fist into the strapped down man's stomach. There was a definite squish of flesh hitting flesh, and then a small painful sound was choked out by the man on the table.

"So let's start this nicely. I ask a question, you give an answer," said Bob calmly," and if you don't answer, I hurt you. Alright?"

The Syndicate man was a bit taken aback by the fist to his gut, but still he said," Yeah right..."

"Who gave the order to kill my partner," asked Bob, voice cold as a polar cap wind.

"Can't say," replied the Syndicate man amused.

Bob leaned in," Really?"

He reached down and grabbed the man's shirt with his right hand. With his left he brought out a knife from his pocket and cut the shirt down the middle. As it fell off he smiled knowingly at the man on the table.

"Dude, I don't go for S&M," said the Syndicate man, feeling he would soon be raped," 'sides, I'm not that way."

"I don't either," said Bob," Now I ask this again. Who gave the order to kill my partner?"

"I swear I don't know where it came from," said the Syndicate man, still thinking he was going to be raped.

Bob's eyes narrowed and he brought down the knife to the skin of the man's chest. With a single rough motion he drove it in and brought it down to the pelvis. The man's scream reverberated through the small storage room, and surprisingly little blood flowed from the long wound.

"So this is how we'll do it," said Bob, bringing up the bloodied knife for his prisoner to see,"We're going to dissect you alive. Now I can't make it last days like some folks, but I guarentee that you're gonna wish for death by the time I'm done you little bastard. Now...who ordered it?"

"I really don't know," grimaced the Syndicate man," I just followed it."

"How can you not know," asked Bob, moving the knife inside the wound and giving the stomach's exterior a small inch long cut.

The Syndicate man screamed in pain before answering," I swear I don't know. We low level guys just get letters, or e-mails, or phone calls."

"Which did you get," asked Bob icily.

"I...I don't remember," stammered the Syndicate man, lying badly.

"Wrong answer," said Bob, giving the small intestine a jab with the knife," Now tell me the truth."

"Letter," gasped the Syndicate man in pain, his face contorting as he struggled not to show how intense it was.

"Return Address," asked Bob.

"None," replied the Syndicate man honestly.

"Damn, doubted it would," muttered Bob," how about your payment?"

The Syndicate man stayed silent, and Bob skillfully moved the knife along the man's liver, tracing a small pattern.

"Your payments," asked Bob again, to the man on the table.

"My life," said the Syndicate man, his voice fairly screeching in the pain," They'll kill me if I say any more..."

"Will they," asked Bob amused," So any prisoners being held by the Syndicate that I should know about?"

The Syndicate man said nothing, this had moved beyond the cop's partner. Now it was just to make him feel pain and squirm, he was sure.

Digging the tip of his knife into the man's right kidney Bob asked," Any prisoners? You know you don't want to lose any of these organs, replacements are too costy for scum like you to afford."

"None," hissed the Syndicate man through clenched teeth.

"Why do you lie to me," asked Bob," Do I have 'big stupid idiot' written on my face? Prisoners...any cops, maybe bounty hunters?"

"None," the Syndicate man hissed again.

Bob noticed the man's lower lip was quivering, in fear or in shock from mounting blood loss, he wasn't sure which. Best to start moving this along.

He drove the knife through the Syndicate man's right kidney, and brought it back out, internal organ pieces and blood dripping from it. Though the Syndicate man screamed with a shriek, he stayed silent.

"Now, any prisoners," asked Bob once again.

"Maybe," admitted the Syndicate man.

"Who," growled Bob.

"I...I can't tell, they'll kill me," stammered and hissed the Syndicate man.

"If you don't tell me I'll kill you slower than they will," growled Bob," Now stop stalling and tell me who it is!"

"Faye...Faye Valentine," murmurred the Syndicate man, his body beginning to succumb to the shock.

"Where," demanded Bob with a shout.

"In...in...so cold," murmurred the Syndicate man.

"Where," demanded Bob again, with a growl.

"Basement...headquarters...so cold in here..."

Bob looked down at the poor excuse for a man. The man's blood covered Bob's hands, and his internal organs were fairly slashed up and starting to fall from his body.

Spike and Jet would probably want to know where their partner was, even if the girl was a damn large amount of trouble. He'd find out who gave the order to kill his partner eventually, but his was gone, Jet and Spike's was still alive.

He looked down distastefully at the Syndicate man, laying there in shock on the cold steel table. He had served his purpose.

He drew his sidearm and aimed at the head. The bullet exited the barrel once the trigger was squeezed, and soon after slammed into the man's head between the eyes. This sent out blood, bone fragments, and a few slivers of brain matter.

He'd have to dispose of the body and clean up. It wouldn't do for a cop to have been found out as torturing and murdering someone, even if the murder was scum like this.

---------------------

Alaura had been planning this hit for a while, maybe too long, but it was foolproof. No one could screw this up. Yet, she did get it easier then most. She had planted a bug in her targets flat. As she listened on, eating her dinner she heard him plan a dinner at a ritzy restaurant that conveniently was down the street from her place.

She grabbed her gun and ran down the street and around the corner. Alaura had just cleaned it so she reassembled it as she ran. As she rounded the building she skidded to a halt. There he was. She fished around in her coat pocket and found the letter that Vicious had signed himself on a syndicate letterhead. It basically in a roundabout way told them to quit their arms dealing or more will die. How nice could he be? Alaura watched him get out of his limo and approach the restaurant. She snuck around to the window and saw where he was seated. He was sitting in a seat in the back but next to a window. "Sitting duck." She said to herself as she approached the door.

The waiter greeted her but she shook her head. She had pulled her hood up and it covered her face. "I just have a delivery for a customer." She spoke in a southern accent.

He waved her on.

Alaura approached the man and held out the letter. He looked up to her.

"What is this?" he spoke gruffly.

"A warning." Alaura said before bringing out her pistol and shooting him in the side of his head. Subtlety was obviously not her style as she smiled, his blood splattering a crossed the room. "Your first and final one." She finished off in her fake accent.

The crowd scatted and he must have goons everywhere he went because they were on top of her and shooting. The female that was with him lunged for the letterhead as one of the men she shot fell face first onto the table, breaking it in half.

Alaura laughed as she ran out of the restaurant. "What a rush." She said to herself as she was chased down the street by two of the remaining men.

---------------------

Faye laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She was bored to tears. There was nothing to do in this place except check the comm network and think, and Faye had been doing mostly the latter. Thinking about her situation, thinking about Spike, and thinking about how she was going to ask Vicious the thing that Spike wanted to know.

She should have expected him to ask her that, but she hadn't. She hadn't wanted him to. The more she thought about it, the more obvious it was that Julia was the woman who Spike had been referring to when he told her he had dated a lady in the past. Julia cared for Spike, enough that she did not want to see Vicious kill him, and Spike wanted to know where she was and what they had done together. Of course, because Spike would want to know if his woman had been with Vicious.

Faye balled her hands up into fists. Why was she doing this? Why was she here. Why the hell had she bothered to care about him. She pounded the bed softly with her left fist - This was exactly why she avoided men in the first place. Although Faye would not admit to herself that she had feelings for Spike, she knew. And she would not admit to herself that she was jealous, but she was.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of footsteps coming down the hall. Faye pushed herself up into a sitting position, in time to see the door of her room push open. A syndicate guard walked in with a tray of food, and placed it on the table next to her bed. He said nothing, though he paused for a moment to look her up and down, and started to turn.

"Wait," Faye replied, to which the guard paused. "Tell Vicious I want to speak with him. Tell him I want to speak to him NOW."

The guard nodded, and quickly left the room. Faye glanced at the food, promised herself she'd resist it, then realizing how hungry she was, began scarfing it down. When she was through, she waited for what seemed like an eternity before the footsteps, although lighter sounding, could be heard again. Her door opened and this time, Vicious stepped through.

"Did you need something, Miss Valentine," Vicious asked, his voice low. There was an edge of curiousity hanging in his voice. He had not expected her to want to speak with him after their last encounter.

Faye fought to keep herself from shuddering. The memory of the katana close to her throat had not faded, and she could see he was still wearing it. "I wanted to talk." She replied. "I've sat here all day in this room alone. A woman could use a little company, even if it's from someone like you."

Vicious raised an eyebrow, but did not move from where he was standing. "Conversation was never my strong point." he replied, although he didn't consider leaving. If Faye wanted to talk, it meant she had something to say - or something that Spike wanted her to say. He resisted grinning - it would be easier this way to execute his plan - easier than he had originally expected.

Faye shrugged, "I could probably talk enough for both of us." She glanced at Vicious again. He wasn't that scary. If she had a loaded gun, she could take him down. And if she could take him down, Spike could do so easily. She bit her lip and reminded herself that Spike felt they were evenly matched.

"Then talk," Vicious replied.

"Alright," Faye said, suddenly at a loss for words. She'd been planning how to broach these questions all day and now she couldn't seem to remember any of her plans. Suddenly she blurted out, "Where's Julia?"

"The woman I was with? How did you know her name was Julia?" Vicious replied, already considering the implications of her questions. Faye did not want to know where Julia was. Spike did.

"You called her Julia when I was in the clinic." Faye replied. How could she have messed this up too? Oh why did she care? It was Spike's problem not hers. She could care less about the woman.

"I did. I hardly see why here wearabouts would be your concern, Miss Valentine." Vicious replied. "He asked you to ask, didn't he."

Faye shook her head. "Really, I was just curious." Damn it. She was so transparent to him. Faye wished she had never asked for him. She shivered at bit, as his eyes seemed to look into her soul. It was as though he could see what she was thinking - read her mind. She hated the feeling. The only other time she'd felt like that was when Spike was staring at her. Spike... and Vicious...

Vicious continued to stand, unmoving across from Faye. His eyes wandered to her plate, and he noticed with satisfaction that she had eaten everything on it. "He wanted you to ask, Faye, because he cares more about Julia than you."

Faye opened her mouth to protest, but nothing came out. She blinked a few times as she started to feel as though her head was getting cloudy. She rested it in her hand for a moment, before sitting back up. "He cares about me," she replied. Wait, that wasn't the right thing to say. "No, he doesn't care about me. Remember." Could she be making this any worse?

"Does he or doesn't he, Miss Valentine," Vicious said, his voice soft and low. The coldness was gone, and instead there was an almost melodic tone to his voice. "It seems to me, that he values killing me over saving you."

Faye was quiet again. It seemed to be taking her longer to think about Vicious's words than before. He cared about her. He had said so. In his room, while holding her hand. He had wanted her to stay behind, so that she wouldn't get hurt. And she had told him not to come and save her. That she was better off dead. But he was still going to come - not to save her, but to kill him.

"I..." Faye said softly. "I... no, you're wrong." She tried to stand up, to be face to face with him, but she felt more weak than she had before, and ended up falling to the floor.

Vicious smirked. She was falling easier than he had expected. He crossed the room and bent down, picked her back up and placed her on the bed. "Faye, you might want to think about that a little more," he said, standing over her looking down.

Faye pushed herself back up to a sitting position and leaned against the wall. "I don't need to think about it, Vicious. I know he cares about me." Faye muttered sighing again. She wouldn't show him weakness, and she certainly wouldn't tell him that only a moment ago, before he came, she had been wondering the same thing.

She looked up at him. "It's like... It's like you can read my mind," she whispered, the drugs that had been in her food taking full effect.

Vicious reached down and let a hand cup her cheek. "No Faye. I can read your face. I can see in your eyes that you love him, and that you know he does not return that love."

"I don't love him." Faye barked back. She didn't. Just because she cared about him - well, it wasn't the same thing.

Vicious stood back up. "Just remember." He tilted her chin up so that he could look her in the eyes. "Spike wants Julia, not you. If it were Julia in this room, he'd have been here already. I can promise you that. No one knows Spike better than I do - not even you."

Faye resisted the tears that threatened to flow. Had it taken Spike's only enemy to make her see the truth? That he wasn't going to come for her? That he loved Julia? That he'd rather see Vicious dead that see her alive. That that was his choice? It had been. He'd said it all along. He was coming for Vicious, no matter what - Vicious hadn't needed her to make Spike come. Spike wasn't coming for her.

The thought rolled over and over in Faye's mind until her eyes hardened. "How could I have been so blind?" she said, still staring up at Vicious, but seeing right through him.

"I was blind to him too," Vicious replied. "I thought that he put me first, but he didn't." He let go of her chin. "Now, Miss Valentine, I think you need your rest." He helped her back into a laying position.

After watching her for a moment longer, he turned and opened the door of the room. A glance over his shoulder told him Faye was already sleeping, her eyes closed and her breathing steady. He motioned to one of the guards, who came in and removed the small computer from her room.

Vicious couldn't afford to have her talking to Spike anymore.

---------------------

note: Rated R section

Mei had already finished off a bottle of some form of alcohol and was well through her second when she finally decided to go pester Kade. He might know what was going on. She knew something was going on but not what or with whom. It was driving her crazy. She hadn't been able to contact Faye. That woman was her legit ticket onto the Bebop and now she'd disappeared. Shit.

Grabbing a fresh bottle--noting it was a pretty good brand of whisky--Mei got up from her bed and stumbled to the door next to her bedroom. Kade's room. How convenient. "Yo! Kade! You in there?" she asked, leaning against the wall with her shoulder when she felt herself tilting slightly.

The door was open, and Kade turned around to see Mei leaning against the wall. "Yeah, I'm here," he said walking across the room. He took note of the way she looked, standing there with bottle in hand, and concluded almost instantly that she was drunk.

He reached forward and took the fresh bottle of whiskey from her hand, opened it, and took a swig himself. "I think you might need to share some of this, Mei. How much have you had?"

"Mmm... enough," she said, smiling. "Can I come in? I'm bored. I don't like being bored. Play with me?" Mei asked, a hint of teasing in her voice.

Without waiting for a proper response to what she had just said, Mei sauntered into the room and moved past him to go lay down on his bed, managing to not spill a single drop of the half-empty bottle she still held.

Kade raised an eyebrow and took another swig of the whiskey. He wasn't going to complain about this. As Mei moved past him, he followed behind her, and when she reached the bed, he stood next to her. "What kind of game do you wish to play?"

Another large gulp of whiskey followed before he reminded her gently, "You realize that you're drunk, right?" Hey, he could pretend to be a nice guy for five minutes.

"Truth-or-Dare? 20 Questions?" she asked, looking up at him. "And yes. I realize that I am pleasantly and sufficiently intoxicated," Mei managed, only barely managing to not slur her words too much. "Would you mind closing the door though? I don't really want to share the alcohol. I don't mind you since you're entertaining at least."

Kade laughed and did as Mei requested, closing the door, and sliding the lock closed as well. He didn't want Sam bursting in, and Sam was known for his lack of reasoning when it came to things such as knocking on doors.

Turning back around, he smiled. "Alright, Questions. Well, ask me anything."

"How old are you?" she asked, honestly curious. Besides, the question wasn't exactly personal. Maybe if she stayed away from the too-personal questions, he would to. Who knew though? Fuck it anyway. She'd play along.

"22," Kade replied, plopping down next to Mei. "That was a rather easy question." He said, wondering at the simplicity when she could have asked him so much more. He took another sip of the whiskey, and faced her. "Do you find me to be attractive?"

"Yes, but I'm sure you're used to that," Mei mused, a smirk pulling at her lips. "Lessee..." she said, trailing off in thought. "What made you change your lifestyle? I mean, now you're a bounty hunter. Why?"

Kade swirled the bottle of alcohol, watching the small whirlpool that formed. "I was a space pirate before this. It's not a very comfortable lifestyle, but i needed something wild. When I met up with him, I switched to bounty hunting. It's just as exciting, but legal. Maybe one day I'll swap back. Who knows. But for now, I'm happy with what I'm doing." He turned to Mei, "How did you become a mechanic?"

"I learned to pick up a lot of trades. When you have to fend for yourself, you learn quickly how to not depend on others for too much. Not to mention, having such skills comes in very handy while trying to sweet-talk your way onto a ship," Mei teased. And it wasn't like she hadn't been true to her word. She'd already fixed the washing machine and a couple small appliances. "What kind of woman are you looking for?" she asked with a grin before taking another swig from her own bottle.

Kade laughed, "Wild and crazy and willing to do just about anything." He leaned back a bit, propping himself up on his elbows. "Are you that kind of woman?"

Mei looked at him and chuckled. "Depends on how wild and crazy you mean," she answered. She streched a bit--almost cat-like--and slung her legs over his lap, dark eyes turned up to the ceiling. "Why'd you become a space pirate?"

"Because it was better than living in an orphenage." Kade replied, letting one hand slide onto her waist. He was starting to feel the five or six shots of whiskey he had already taken, and new it wouldn't be long until he was drunk. "I think I'm getting tired of this game," He said softly, staring into her eyes. "Why don't you just talk to me for awhile, while I admire you beautiful smile."

Mei looked at him with surprise while a blush made its way onto her cheeks, painting them a rosey color. She cleared her throat and looked away but then looked at him and smirked. "I'm not really the talkative type. One more question though," she said and tilted her head. "Do you know the Bebop crew? There's a woman there, Faye, that I'm sort of friends with and I haven't heard from her in awhile." As she said this, she crawled forward until she was straddling his waist.

Kade kept himself propped up, but tried to adjust himself slightly. Mei had conviently brushed against his manroot while straddling him - enough to arouse him. "Yeah, I've met Faye. She's a bit of a wild woman herself. Last I saw her, she and that Spike dude were flying off in their zips."

Mei raised an eyebrow and then leaned forward a bit--giving him a nice view of her cleavage while looking like she didn't realize it--and rested her arms on his chest. "So are you saying she's more your type?" she asked teasingly.

Kade eyes focused on Mei's breasts. Damn they were good. "I never said that," he replied, still a little fixated on Mei's goods. The whiskey was definately taking over. "Are you jealous?" he said, finally raising his eyes to look at hers, a small smile crossing his face.

"Jealous? Hardly," she said with a soft chuckle. "I'm not really the jealous type. Rather, I tend to get rid of the competition," Mei teased and tilted her head so that her hair fell over one shoulder. "Should I be jealous?"

"And I thought Faye was your friend," Kade replied, propping himself up higher so that his face was close to hers. "Remind me not to get on your bad side." With that, he let his lips touch hers softly.

When his lips touched hers, she pulled back slightly in surprise and looked at him silently. But then a smile broke out and she leaned in to kiss him, eyes closing as their lips touched again. Mmm... yes. Alcohol was quite nice.

Kade let his head fall back towards the bed as one hand reached up, guiding Mei's with him. The other found its way to her back. He kissed her softly, the whiskey taking over him as well. "Mei," he said softly.

"Mmm..?" she murmured in response, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingertip. Damn, he still smelled of smoke. With this thought, she leaned in and kissed him again. All thoughts of having to get on the Bebop and thus get Spike to Vicious were gone from her head at the moment.

Kade closed his eyes, and let his hands find their way up the back of her shirt as they kissed. He rubbed her soft skin, hugging her. He tugged on the shirt a bit, and finding it was fairly loose, slipped it over her head, breaking their kiss only long enough for the shirt to pass her lips.

The temperature in the room was cool and she shivered a bit when her shirt was discarded. She thought to herself that it wasn't far that he got to wear his shirt--besides, she wanted to see his body--and thusly followed his lead and slid her hands under his shirt, feeling the hard muscle beneath her fingers. With some effort on her part--and Kade's help, she pulled his shirt off as well. "I must say... I'm not disappointed so far," she murmured playfully.

Kade grinned, "I'm glad that I fit your criteria,' Kade replied pulling Mei down on the bed beside him. He kissed her again, then let his mouth move to her neck. He left a trail of kisses as he reached her breasts, sucking softly. He wanted her right then and there.

She moaned softly and lifted a hand to run it through his hair. "Kade," she said before biting her lower lip. She wanted the rest of their clothing gone and to feel him completely. Her hands moved to the waistband of his pants and tried to get them off. But given their positions, it was difficult.

Kade took the hint, and slid off the bed, long enough to strip himself and Mei of the rest of their clothing. He climbed back on the bed, and hovered over her, kissing her lips softly again. He was drunk, but not a drunk as she - and he hesitated for a moment, as though he needed another invitation.

She took the lead and moved her legs to accomodate him while wrapping her arms around him and kissing him back fiercely, lips opening under his as she gave her invitation.

Kade pludged inside her, eagar to feel her warm envelop him. He had wanted her from the moment he saw her, and that thought spurred him on. He thrusted slowly at first, speeding up with each movement. He continue to kiss her with deep passionate kisses, pressing his lips hotly against hers. He moaned softly, and his eyes closed. "Mei," he cried out as he pumped faster.

Her hips rose to meet his eagerly and almost whimpered at the pleasure she felt as he moved. Her lips found his throat and she kissed it, licking it once before sucking on the flesh softly. Her breasts rubbed against his chest and she moaned softly. After awhile, she could feel the heat spreading through her body until she cried out softly and then felt herself climax as she called his name, the word muffled against his shoulder as she clung to him.

When Mei started calling out his name, Kade felt himself falling over the edge. He cried out hers as well, as he pumped as fast and hard as he could. He felt himself explode inside her, and even when the last of his member was spent he thrust, gently and slowly, a few more times before collapsing completely. He laid there, his weight across her body, as one hand softly played with her hair.

When he collapsed upon her, she closed her eyes. Mei tilted her head toward his hand and opened her eyes to look at him. When he finally moved to lay on the bed, she curled up at his side with her head resting on his chest while an arm lay loosely across his abdomen.

Jin was furious. He had just read Cloria's journal and there was no way he was going to let her go on this mission. "Clory!" he shouted down the halls of the SeaDog in search of her.

Cloria looked up from the book she was reading. "What?" she replied, hearing Jin calling her name.

"What the hell are you playing at?" Jin asked zoning in on her. He grabbed her book from her and placed it down on the table so that he would have her full attention.

"I don't know what you're talking about Jin," Cloria replied, confused by his apparent anger.

I just read your journal!" he accused. "There's no way I'm going to let you go to a gunfight at the headquarters of a syndicate!"

Cloria looked up at him, "Jin, everyone is helping out to save Faye. I've got to do my part too." She shook her head, "Besides, I volunteered for the search team."

"Then do your part by staying here," Jin said exasperated. "They'll be enough bleeding bodies when we get back you don't need to add your own."

Cloria stood, "Jin, I'm going to help. I'm not going to sit here on the ship. I've hunted bounties with you before and this is no different. Besides, I probably know more about these people than any of you!" Her voice had raised a bit as she spoke. She was going!

"Hunting bounties and attacking a syndicate are two very different matters," Jin said taking one of her hands in his. "I wouldn't be able to focus knowing that you were there too."

"Jin, I've got syndicate blood in me. Do you think I don't know how they think? Why don't you trust me that I can do this?" Cloria said, letting him take her hand. However, she refused to back down.

"I trust you, Clory. I don't trust the massive amounts of men who are going to be pointing their guns straight at you if you go!" he was an impatiant man, stubborn, and possesive, he wasn't about to give in on this. "Why can't you understand that I ust don't want you to get hurt?"

"And why can't you understand that I have to do this?" Cloria voice raised another level. "Why are you so stubborn Jin? Why can't you let me make my own decisions?"

"Fighting the Red Dragon's won't be hurting your father Clory!" Jin said reading in to her words. "If it was Kade or Sam, someone you knew better that would be one thing. But you hardly know this girl."

Cloria's face fell. He thought this was about her father? She pulled her hand away. "Dammit Jin. You think you know everything. You barely know this girl either, but you're willing to put your neck on the line because it's the right thing to do. Well, so am I!"

"Maybe I'm not being fair Clory, but I'm just thinking about you," Jin said standing up and kicking the coffee table. "I just want to keep you safe. Unlike going after a bounty I won't be able to protect you there!"

Cloria felt some of her anger drain. "I know you're just trying to protect me Jin. But I can protect myself too. I have to do this... please." She looked up at him, her eyes pleading with him. "There are things about myself I have to find out."

"Like what?" Jin said softening and collapsing onto the couch next to her. "Are you really willing to throw away your life to do some soul searching?"

"I don't think I'm throwing away my life. I think I'm learning how to live." Cloria said, turning to face Jin. "I just..." she reached over and kissed him softly. "Look, I'm going to go. You aren't going to talk me out of it. Why don't you just kiss me instead and enjoy the time we have before we leave?"

Despite the nagging little voice in the back of his head, Jin smiled. The girl had a way of controlling his temper. Jin obliged with her request pulling her close and kissing her with all the passion he had left from their fight. "You're going to be the death of me princess."

Cloria shook her head as she pulled back, "No Jin, I'm going to be your life." She leaned forward, and kissed him again.